The Cooperative University is characterized by its wide distribution nationally, with 18 campuses around the country[1] in Apartadó, Arauca, Barrancabermeja, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartago, Espinal, Ibagué, Medellín, Montería, Neiva, Pasto, Pereira, Popayán, Quibdó, Santa Marta and Villavicencio.

[2][3] An investigation by the Ecuadorian Attorney General's office found that many students at the Cooperativa de Colombia campus had obtained their degrees through fraudulent means, such as purchasing fake diplomas.

In 2001, the Ecuadorian government officially closed down the Cooperativa de Colombia campus, citing the lack of proper accreditation and the widespread issuance of fraudulent degrees.

The closure of the Cooperativa de Colombia campus led to a major crisis for the thousands of students who had enrolled there, many of whom had their degrees and diplomas invalidated by the Ecuadorian government.

The Ecuadorian Council of Higher Education (CES) later had to undertake a lengthy process to regularize the academic records of former Cooperativa de Colombia students, in order to allow them to continue their studies at other accredited institutions.