Founded in 1923, Columbia International University (CIU) is a multidenominational higher education institution that exists for the purpose of educating people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Jesus Christ. In its residential programs, CIU serves students from more than 40 states and more than 30 foreign countries coming from more than 50 church denominations. To date, CU has over 17,000 alumni ministering in over 150 countries around the world.

The schools of CIU's university division, the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Counseling, the College of Intercultural Studies and the Seminary & School of Ministry, offer postsecondary degree programs ranging from Associate of Arts to Doctor of Ministry. The CIU Seminary & School of Ministry (SSM) offers undergraduate majors related primarily to church ministry and graduate degrees related primarily to ministry leadership. At both levels, the faculty seeks to equip Great Commission Christians for ministry in multi-cultural communities.

Dr. William H. Jones currently serves as the president of Columbia International University.