CIU Kepha Institute integrates global high-quality educational resources, transforming the education model from a static, campus-centered approach to a dynamic, globally radiating one. Through innovative paths such as online courses, on-campus liberal arts education, and 1+2+1 joint programs, it breaks down geographical barriers, reduces education costs, and is committed to making high-quality education accessible to all.
Vision: To pioneer an excellent higher education path based on truth for Chinese families.
Mission: To focus on liberal arts and holistic education, cultivating high-quality talents who transform communities, bless society, and influence the world.
Core Values: The foundation of truth, the inheritance of life, the upholding of faith, the power of unity, and universal blessings.
Founded in 1923, Columbia International University (CIU) boasts a history spanning over a century. It is a private, comprehensive university—enduring and ever-relevant—firmly rooted in truth, and is situated in Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina. Located in the southeastern United States, South Carolina is a state steeped in history, renowned for its rich Southern culture, coastal scenery, warm climate, and friendly local character.
CIU offers more than 75 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, with schools such as the School of Arts and Sciences, the Cook School of Business, the School of Intercultural Studies, and the School of Education. It is committed to equipping students to embark on a life of mission, exerting leadership and service influence globally. CIU upholds the tradition of truth-based and academic rigor, focusing on holistic development. An experienced faculty team assists students in achieving their goals, enabling them to positively impact communities wherever they are. The history of the past century has witnessed CIU’s global influence.
All programs at CIU are accredited by SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges), qualifying the institution to confer Bachelor’s (BA/BS), Master’s (MA), and Doctoral (PhD) degrees.
CIU Kepha College traces its origins back to 2016. The name “Kepha”—meaning “The Rock”—embodies our aspiration that graduates, grounded upon a solid foundation of life, will mature into pivotal forces for community transformation. We are dedicated to education in truth, character, and professional expertise; we shape values to lay the groundwork for a sound and well-rounded personality, and we cultivate refined tastes in ethics, aesthetics, and the liberal arts. Furthermore, we prioritize academic and cultural heritage, strive for excellence in professional skills and competencies, and empower our students to become highly competitive leaders in their respective fields.
Currently offering majors including a , a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Master’s in Cybersecurity, with students and faculty located all over the world.
The undergraduate program is consistent, focusing on holistic development and life inheritance, covering liberal arts to lay a professional foundation, and striving to cultivate a global vision and service spirit.
The joint program aims to provide students in Asian communities with higher quality, more flexible, and more cost-effective higher education.
No matter where you are,every truth-seekingstudentcan obtain quality higher education at alowercost.
Provides high school students with the opportunity to take undergraduate courses early, saving time and money, and laying a solid foundation for university studies.
The Chinese Ministry of Education’s Education Foreign-related Supervision Information Network is a specialized website for the Ministry of Education to release supervision and management information on various foreign-related education activities. Information on foreign schools can be verified on the Chinese Ministry of Education’s Education Foreign-related Supervision Information Network.
Columbia International University, including all of its schools, is accredited to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees.
Columbia International University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.
Questions about the accreditation of Columbia International University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website.
The Kepha team is composed of experienced educators and professionals, dedicated to rigorous scholarship and holistic development.
Forbes ADVISOR Ranked #1 Best Online College in South Carolina for 2024
BEST COLLEGES Consistently Ranked #1 in South Carolina for Online Course Development
BEST COLLEGES Consistently Ranked #1 in South Carolina for Online Course Development
Ranked among the best universities in the 2025 Best Colleges rankings released by U.S. News World Report
CIU Ranked #2 in the “Social Mobility” Category Among Southern Regional Universities
CIU Ranked #16 in the “Best Value” Category Among Southern Regional Universities
CIU’s Overall Ranking Among Southern Regional Universities Jumped from #45 in 2024 to #29 in 2025
