EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Learning Services
Albany, New York

As a private institution with no residency requirement, Excelsior College—a recognized leader in distance education—has devoted itself to making college degrees more accessible to busy, working adults. The College accepts credits from a broad array of sources, including Excelsior College distance courses and Excelsior College Exams. As a result, many students find that most or all of their prior college-level credits transfer into their Excelsior College degree program.

Excelsior College offers undergraduate and graduate-level programs in liberal arts, business, and nursing and undergraduate degrees in technology. The College's self-paced degree programs are accessible worldwide, allowing students to complete their degrees from any location.

Excelsior College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; telephone: 215-662-5606. All of the College's academic programs are registered (i.e., approved) by the New York State Education Department, and its examinations are recognized by the American Council on Education, Center for Adult Learning and Educational Credentials, for the award of college-level credit.

The associate, baccalaureate, and master's degree programs in nursing are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, New York, New York 10006; telephone 800-669-1656 (toll-free). The NLNAC is a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. The baccalaureate degree programs in electronics engineering technology and nuclear engineering technology are accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) 111 Market Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21202; telephone: 410-347-7700. The TAC of ABET is a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

Distance Learning Program

Excelsior College programs are designed to help busy adults pursue their degree at a distance through whatever combination of courses, exams, and training fits their situation. The College accepts credits from Excelsior College Courses and Excelsior College Examinations; classroom and distance courses from other accredited colleges and universities; other college-level proficiency examinations, such as CLEP and DANTES; and military and corporate training recognized for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE), Center for Adult Learning and Educational Credentials, National Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI), or training evaluated for college credit by Excelsior College.

Currently, the College has more than 27,000 students enrolled in its associate, baccalaureate, and master's degree programs and has more than 110,000 graduates worldwide.

Programs of Study

Excelsior College offers thirty-four degree programs through distinct schools in three major areas.

In the School of Business and Technology, twelve undergraduate business programs lead to degrees in such fields as accounting, finance, global business, management information systems, management of human resources, marketing, operations management, and risk management and insurance. The College also offers a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program that can be completed entirely at a distance. The GMAT is not required. A dozen undergraduate technology degree programs educate students in fields such as computer technology, electronics engineering technology, electronics technology, information technology, nuclear engineering technology, and nuclear technology. The College awards college credit for approved industry training in several fields, including fossil fuel plant technology, information technology, and nuclear power.

Students in the School of Liberal Arts can earn associate or baccalaureate degrees in majors that include biology, chemistry, communication, criminal justice, economics, geography, geology, history, literature, mathematics, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, or world language and literature. In addition, a liberal studies option provides flexibility for students to pursue a range of interests while focusing on a particular discipline. The School offers two associate and two baccalaureate degrees as well as a Master of Arts in liberal studies that can be earned entirely online. Master's students can now focus studies to match their interests and career goals by choosing one of five new tracks: Issues in Today's Society, Global Strategies, Educational Leadership, Natural Science and Society, and Self-Design. The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are not required.

The School of Nursing is one of the largest distance education nursing programs in the world. The nursing components of associate and bachelor's degree programs are made up of guided independent study and nationally recognized Excelsior College Examinations. Students can earn credit for General Education requirements through of wide variety of sources. Important curriculum changes allow RNs to receive at least 30 credits in nursing toward the Bachelor of Science in nursing for an associate degree or diploma program education validated by successful completion of the NCLEXRN. Certificate programs for health-care professionals in nursing management and palliative care are offered online. Excelsior College offers an online Master of Science degree in nursing with a major in clinical systems management, an RN-M.S. in nursing program, and a program leading to an online graduate-level certificate in health-care informatics.

Special Programs

Through its Office of Military Education, Excelsior College has addressed educational needs of the members of the U.S. armed forces. The College awards credit for military training recognized for college credit by the American Council on Education. Four programs, including associate degrees in aviation, technical studies, and administrative/management studies, are specially designed to meet the needs of military personnel. DANTES-funded Excelsior College Examinations are free to all in active duty military, National Guard, and Reserve Component personnel. Special discounted fees and tuition are available to military personnel, military family members, veterans, and DoD civilians. Special partnerships allow active duty personnel to take Excelsior College distance courses that may be 100 percent covered by military tuition assistance. A college military deployment policy holds the status of deployed students without extension or penalty fees until their return.

Student Services

Excelsior College students draw on a team of experienced academic advisers who assist in the development of individualized degree completion plans.

Enrolled students can use Excelsior College Course Search, a searchable database of distance courses and examinations, to find credit sources to meet their degree requirements. It is the most comprehensive database of such offerings available today.

Students take advantage of a variety of online services through a customized Web user account, including paying bills online and viewing billing transactions, viewing transcript and graduation status, viewing course and exam registration status, and utilizing resources for career development, job hunting, resume writing, and other opportunities.

The Excelsior College Virtual Library gives students online access to millions of the world's most current and authoritative resources. The Electronic Peer Network (EPN) provides a Web-based community where students can join online study groups and buy and sell textbooks, among other things. For those who seek help as they study for Excelsior College Exams, the Online Writing and Online Tutoring Services connect students to experienced tutors and to select online practice exams.

Tuition and Fees

Undergraduate tuition for Excelsior College distance courses is $250 per credit hour. Excelsior College charges an $895 (associate programs) or $995 (baccalaureate programs) fee at enrollment, which covers a student's initial evaluation, academic advisement, and program planning services for one year; a $450 (associate) or $515 (baccalaureate) annual fee for each year after, which covers the ongoing evaluation of academic records submitted by a student; and a $465 to $490 (associate) or $495 (baccalaureate) fee for a final evaluation and verification of all academic records prior to program completion and graduation. Different fees and fee structures apply to military students, to students in the RN-M.S. in nursing, and graduate programs. Students can choose to pay their Excelsior College enrollment and annual service expenses through a special Payment Plan. Complete details can be found on the Excelsior College Web site.

Financial Aid

Excelsior College offers more than fifteen options for financing a degree, including ten scholarship and five private loan programs. Veterans Affairs educational benefits and New York State financial aid programs are also available. Excelsior College offers several flexible payment plan options that allow students to spread the cost of fees and tuition over several installments.

Applying

Students interested in the liberal arts and business and technology programs may enroll directly, but also have the option to submit an undergraduate application for admission as a pre-enrollment tool. They receive an unofficial, one-time review of prior learning that estimates the number of credits that may transfer. Enrollment online, by mail, or by fax is available.

Nursing students must first apply to the Excelsior College School of Nursing and, once accepted, can enroll in Excelsior College. The School of Nursing is open primarily to individuals with clinical experience, such as licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.

CONTACT

Admissions Office
Excelsior College
7 Columbia Circle
Albany, New York 12203
Phone: 518-464-8500 (press 2-7 at the prompt) 888-647-2388 (toll-free)
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.excelsior.edu