I only gave a one star because it was required. I would not recommend this institution to anybody. Invest your money, knowledge, time, and reputation to an institution that appreciates your efforts and wants to invest just as much into you as you go into them. They are currently on a probation with conditions status by national nursing accreditation agencies, as well as involved in many legal cases. Simply an institution that has shown the lack of trustworthiness, competence, and ethical standards. Please use caution when choosing institutions to further your education and do your research; do not be a victim of this institution's actions. read more

The worst nursing school, please don't waste your money or your time. Excelsior Love to mislead people so think over before signing up with them. I would rate them O. read more

It was horrible experience in my life, when I had failed CPNE exams after 8 years of study. I was not able to repeat the exam and this program is designed to fail. I was studying LPN to RN transition course. read more

I had a great experience at Excelsior. Beginning from admissions, to the staff at the registration & records, academic advisors, professors.... all were awesome ! The processing speed and understanding of the needs of the student made me feel cared for. Thank you Excelsior !! read more

Excelsior College is an elaborate scam. Their fee structures and exam refund polices are set up so that the student losses. I would strongly recommend to those considering excelsior to GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. You can get a degree faster and cheaper at a traditional college. I was an ADN nursing student and while the coursework is not hard, the fees and such are a tremendous burden and if you reschedule anything you will loose money. read more

Currently Excelsior College is charging me $1800 for 2 classes that I did NOT take and had dropped. They denied my appeals despite evidence given that I had dropped the classes. Their response to me was "too bad". I can't help but feel like I have been bait and switched. I am now going to have to pay $1800 for an education I did not receive. To say that I am furious and disgusted is an understatement. I received my BSN through Excelsior, have been an upstanding student, have recommended multiple people to their BSN program and was even on their MSN student liaison board. I have withdrawn and will be pursuing my Master's Degree elsewhere. read more

I've been enrolled here for a few years! Don't get suckered in like I did. This educational system is nothing short from another Trump University. The prices are ridiculous and they don't care about your educational future! Their not willing to work with anyone especially military personnel so don't let them sell you on that. I highly DO NOT recommend them! read more

Although it was a little rocky and it took way longer than expected I didn't have a bad experience with the ADN program. I did find it frustrating how they group your class into phases and you cannot blend or take a class from each phase at the same time. The classroom set up was okay and I didn't have issues with any of the instructors not messaging back or responding to questions. I did have a grievance with the CPNE wait time. it took a year to get a clinical date and the only reason why it didn't take longer was that I took a cancellation which they update weekly on the CPNE portal. I had Lubbock as my site and found the majority of the preceptors to be friendly and of the seven students we had only two didn't pass and although they may not agree I did not feel they were out to fail us. I did notice in some of the reviews people mentioned the school wasn't forthcoming with their state accreditation however I got constant emails and banners on the portal site which shows the list of state boards that accept excelsior college for licensure. As for the people that have transferred out before graduating saying their credits didn't transfer that is typical for nursing schools I have yet to see any college accept a nursing class as transfer credit because those are specific to a school program of study. Overall the experience was okay I did graduate, pass the nclex the first try, and was licensed to practice as an RN within three months of completing the CPNE. I would not recommend this college to anyone who lacks self-motivation or anyone that wants to be done quickly. read more

I am a ASN graduate from 1999 and have successfully precepted 2 other nurses who successfully graduated. I returned to obtain my BSN, took statistics had horrible instructor major IT issues during exams that instructor would not acknowledge and he was not AT ALL HELPFULL!! Got a D!!! I withdrew & would NEVER recommend this college to anyone now, they only care about money and even after appeals they still do not acknowledge my valid appeal and IT issues that were clearly on their end. I at the time could cite which exam questions had errors and they did not care! My graduating GPA was 3.8 now I need my transcripts and they say I owe them money!!! THERE ARE OTHER DISTANT LEARN OPTIONS DO NOT GO HERE!!! I see other bad posts about their out to lunch statistics instructor when will they get a clue??? And I'm done precepting any more of their nursing students! read more

Some of the other reviews on Yelp our out dated. The cost per credit hour, as of this writing, is $490/hr., 30 hours (1 year) = $14,700. 120 (4 years of tuition) - $58,800. Some colleges cost more, some less. WGU is a lot less, but, I don't, specifically have a problem with the tuition, although, like so many colleges it's high, and questionable if its worth it. The main problem I have with Excelsior is things that should be uncomplicated, are instead complicated. Excelsior has two tuition options, the class option, and the multi-source option. The classroom option doesn't have an enrollment fee and is the option to take if you are taking 12 credit hours or more at Excelsior. Excelsior may advise you on their first review of your transcripts that you only need 4 classroom credit hours (cost $1960+enrollment fee), so you might pay over $1000 for the multi-source enrollment fee. Only to discover upon their second review of your transcripts that they are going to have you take 12 credit hours (cost $5880, but free enrollment). But no refunds on your multi-source enrollment fee. Now, through no fault of your own, and based entirely on Excelsior's own advice, you have paid a grand on an enrollment fee, even though, based on your new tuition budget, the enrollment fee would normally be free. And this is how it goes with Excelsior, they do what they want, when they want, and you pay for it. Every mistake benefits them with more money in their pocket, and you are just the fool for listening to them, apparently. I wish I could tell you every other college is better and Excelsior is alone in playing games - but the reality is, that some colleges are better, and others are just like Excelsior. Excelsior has, like other colleges, figured out that they can game the process to their financial advantage, and students have very little recourse and individually they have no influence against them. Sure, sometimes a group of students can get together and sue (as the nursing students sued and won) against Excelsior, but for the most part their shenanigans go unchecked. My recommendation is to steer clear of Excelsior, while their behavior is unfortunately somewhat common, it is still possible to find a better school. When graduating from a college your reputation is tied to theirs - be careful which college you choose. I would not be proud at all, to have a degree with the name "Excelsior" attached, because in my mind the name Excelsior is forever tied with sleezeball, used car showroom antics. read more

I will not make this mistake again, they do not give you credit for the classes you have taken they cost you a fortune in tests and that's no including registration or anything else. Now they are telling me I have to take a class again because they will not take due to time frame. Will not make this mistake again. read more

How do you Excelsior Scam institution Feel NOW,when you have been sued by Students , and lost the case, by acknowledging by doing wrong and settling the case for discrimination's, all lies, and unfair testing to students, because your goal was never to teach the students, but to teach "nursing teachers" how to fail students in order to make Dirty money for Excelsior owners and keep your job and have steady paycheck because you could not find the job in nursing with Honor. I am blessed to live by this day and find out that Finally someone will realize that these Legally -Scammed program should be closed with shame and finally students spoke out to let the Whole World to know what is going on on these" Cpne test" of Excelsior college. This is not the test which define your nursing skills, or will give your knowledge to be a nurse, these is"The Dirty Money Making Machine" to fail students , to retake test again, pay double and if you are lucky they will pass you on the third try, it depends on their mood, or direction from Excelsior how many students should pass Cpne this time. I was told this by previous teacher who worked for Excelsior. With this Law Suit future students will be able to decide if its worth to go to Nursing school online without any knowledge how to prepare for Cpne test because Excelsior 3 day workshop is useless it will not teach you anything and you have no choice but rely on other workshops like Shery Taylor, or Chansellors who are not affiliated with Excelsior. When I started the program I was told by counselor that at the end of the program students will be provided with clinical experience in order to pass cpne, but it was a Lie. Its more convenient for them to allow some other people tell you what is the right way to pass Cpne or how to prepare..... but not the college itself. Again and again this is strategically created game which involves students who passed Cpne, teachers who still work for the program blame students who failed because of being lazy, stupid or not preparing enough..... I am not going to be surprised that after my review I will be attacked by Excelsior helpers in order to conceal the truth about" Famous Passing Cpne". read more

This school is absolutely awful. I'm a full time dad, employed full time and trying to make use of my benefits. After being hurried into late registration I ordered my books. This occurred late in the week prior to class starting. So by the time my books arrive, I've already decided I've taken a bigger bite than I can chew so to speak. I unenroll in my classes, only six days after the first day of class. I somehow fall under the 50% clause. So now I have to pay for what equates to an entire class, for less than a week of enrollment. I received no help, or guidance. The message center is late to reply. They began contacting me as if I were a student once I was no longer enrolled concerned with my form of payment. Garbage, get a certification in person. read more

I do not recommend Excelsior College. They say you can get your Associate RN quickly and they will accept all previous college credits regardless of how old they are. That is the good news. After that, you will find yourself in limbo waiting to take the CPNE and out lots of money. I had read poor reports about this college before I started, but I thought it was just sour grapes from students not passing CPNE. Now that I have have experienced it, what those reviewers were saying is true. This "college" only has an outline to follow and when you feel have studied enough you take a test. Once the course work is completed, you then have to teach yourself to prepare for a very subjective final practical exam assessing real patients. There is no prep time or practice opportunities for this exam, which is why they are on probation with accrediting body of nursing. I have been a paramedic educator for 30 years, and in the accredited paramedic course practical exams, there is practice time and constructive, objective evaluation of performance before final exam testing. Please, do not waste your money on this program read more

I am a current student at Excelsior College, and I do not recommend the nursing courses for any reason. As a veteran, it is not worth the money. The workload in the Nursing AA course is extremely too much. The grading system is extremely hard. I have a Bachelor degree from a well-known school, and I did this amount a 4-year degree. Discussion question are usually fun, but not at this school. The discussion questions are like a mini research paper. It will take you at least 2 hours or more to post your initial posting. After all that time, you still not guaranteed to receive a 100%. The response to students is the same, and you must add citations to a response question. DON'T DO THIS SCHOOL, AVOID FOR ALL REASON. It's never a balance with the questions, either you get one part right and the other part incorrect. Once you correct that part, then the other part is incorrect. It is never a balance. I am not sure concerning the 5-star reviews that are posted here, but I am telling you the truth from my experience, it's not worth. I am not looking for anyone to give me a grade, I will work for my grade, The grading system is extremely unfair for a two-year diploma. I have thought this school was money-centered, and I now believe that. Excelsior College application fee is $100, and Harvard University is $75. Figure that out. Many people haven't heard of Excelsior College outside of New York. Harvard is a well-known school, and Excelsior application fee is higher than that college. That should have been my first warning sign. This school is all about the money, and there is no hiding it. The nursing courses are about $1400, and the amount of work that is required is unbelievable. If you have to use this school, I recommend taking the taken the exams for $345 ($60 Pearson Vue fee). I agreed to take 12 credits for the annual fee to be waived. I will pay the annual fee and complete my degree with the exams. I have four more courses to take to complete my degree. I can assure you that if I weren't going to law school, I would not attend this school for my Bachelors degree. They have changed the rules again; you can only take the exams when the courses are being offered. So you have eight weeks to take the exam but can ask for an extension if needed. Just buckle down and study for the exams. STAY AWAY FPOM THE COURSES, FOREMOST STAY AWAY FROMTHIS SCHOOL. There are study programs on Ebay that will help you pass the exams. I have read reviews prior about a lot of students feeling as though the school makes it hard for you to pass; I am now wondering if this is true. I graduated with a 3.82 GPA and getting ready to start law school, but this course has been more challenging than anything. Veterans take your GI bill to a real college. I regret ever starting this school. If I had to do all over again, I would have taken into account of the negative reviews that I read prior. I am not here to bash the school; I am here to give you the real truth concerning the nursing program. Another veteran made it all the way to the clinical and failed because they stated she contaminated the sterile field, which she knows that she didn't. Guess what $2500 down the drain. She refused to pay that amount again and obtain her degree from one of the transition programs here. IT'S YOUR MONEY, SPEND IT ON A COLLEGE THAT YOU WILL BE PROUD OF. read more

This is a scam. A very expensive one. The CPNE has a 68% pass rate on the first try, but they still collect the $2,300 (rounded) with each attempt, travel and other accommodations not included. They give you a CD-ROM Study Guide to study from. They expect you to attend the several conferences and workshops, each about $300, and in faraway cities that require flying. In addition to this, it is $400 a year to even be enrolled with the college. The exams are $390, but go up every year. You study to pass the exams, but you get less than half of the education you would get out of a standard, preferred nursing school, and you pay 80% more money. Most standard nursing schools have a transitional LPN-ADN program that is only 2-3 semesters long and costs a lot less than Excelsior College. Plus, you also get to attend graduation. You have to fly to Albany, NY to attend graduation with Excelsior, as well as pay an additional fee, around $450, to even receive your degree. As hard as you work and as much as you sacrafice in nursing school, you deserve a proper graduation. You've earned it. If you are serious about getting your degree, consider how much money you are willing to spend. If you fail the CPNE and cannot afford to retake it, you will be without a degree and stuck with their loans for years. It's not worth it. You will learn so much more and get so much more clinical experience at a traditional nursing school. One more thing to think about: A lot of state boards and hospitals are not accepting Excelsior graduates. They require additional clinical time or more work experience than with traditional school graduates. Look it up. Try Maryland, Georgia, North Dakota, California, Virginia, Kentucky, Washington, Colorado, and Vermont state board websites. They all have additional requirements in order to receive a license in these states, and I'll bet they cost money. read more

Excelsior College's advertising is misleading because it leads you to believe that you can transfer a lot of credits. I paid the $100 it costs to have a credit review and very few of my many courses were approved for transfer. Had I accepted admission, I would have had to start almost at the beginning. I have to wonder how much money Excelsior is making from charging thousands of applicants $100 only to not accept their previous classes. The college I now attend reviewed my transcripts for free. read more

I really wish I never tried going to this college. It has been nothing but a horrible experience. I am in the military and went to another college until I received my associates degree. I liked some of the electrical options Excelsior College offered online, so I took two classes. The site kept crashing on me. I thought my internet was the issue. I called Excelsior and the customer service was horrible. I decided to cancel the classes, within the withdrawal timeframe, and go back to my other college. Now, a year later, I am receiving a bill in the mail for $70. It is a minimum credit requirement, which I have never heard of in my life!!! If I could, I would give this college negative stars. I will NEVER go to them or advise any military member to go to them. Many other colleges are offered to military members that will take care of its members. read more

This is my second semester with Excelsior college and I have had numerous difficulties with the financial aid department. I call them every week and I am told something different from week to week. I currently have a balance of almost $4000.00 and they are still taking $650.00 monthly from my account. When questioned about it they only say you will be getting a refund. With many years of college I have never experienced such overwhelming incompetence. read more

I graduated in September of 1979 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. The diploma was issued by "The University of the State of New York." Regents External Degree Program. I had been enlisted for 7 years at the time of graduation and was commissioned that same month. I retired from the Navy as a Lt. Commander. Matriculated at Vanderbilt University, received a Masters. Later attended Southern Methodist University where I earned a Doctorate in 1995. I have recommended this program to everyone who might be interested. Several through the years have also benefited by graduating. It gave me a huge leg up in life. My sister received her BS degree in 1992 and now has her Doctorate as well. To say that this program is accredited is an understatement, considering how my BS degree opened so many doors at other prestigious universities for me and so many others. This college pioneered the External Degree concept and gave it the respectability and prestige that other institutions have attempted to build upon. The difference between this institution and many others is that they genuinely do help you succeed. They do not try to exploit you. They seriously work hard to accept your transfer hours and evaluate your life experiences for college credit. Virtually all of my required 120 semester hours were earned through CLEP/DANTES Tests and by attending other colleges. They authenticated and validated my work by awarding the degree. I was 26 then. I am about to be 62 now, rapidly approaching retirement. Looking back, I know much is owed to NY Regents, now called "Excelsior College." And given the fact that my own educational and professional achievements are such a small part of their hugely innovative, important and impressive track record, I needed to offer this strong affirmation of Excelsior College. read more

I should have gone to a traditional program. I hate the fact that I went to RN school online. The world frowns on that. Other nurses seem more prepared than I am to take care of patients sometimes. But than in some situations I run hoops around them. Sometimes the LPNs seem to have a better handle on things than I do. But, I used to be an LPN. But now some of my LPN colleagues refer to me as a glorified LPN or fake RN. I think it might be my depression that holds me back and makes my thinking fuzzy sometimes. I remember this doctor said something that hurt my feelings one day and it just upset me to the point where it was hard for me to focus on my job. Sometimes I think I would be a much better nurse if I would have gone to a traditional school that have an instructor who could have taken time and mentored me in clinical, not given me an unfair exam. I passed the CPNE on the first try, but I don't think it makes up for clinical experience. I think I would have a much easier time with doctors and other nurses if I had that. I have been so broken by doctors, managers, nursing staff, patients, and families that I have really started considering leaving nursing in recent years. Maybe a stronger nursing education would have made a difference. Online classes basically want you to be an English major these days. Is that really going to teach you how to be a nurse? I feel sorry for those students that have to take the classes. When I was at Excelsior, we studied independently based on the study guides and tested out by taking exams. I think if we would have had the clinical hours to go with it, maybe we would have been much better nurses for it. Excelsior has never really been the best route to go for an associate degree in nursing. There are much better LPN to RN bridge programs out there. Every now and then, there's an exception to the rule. I know a nurse practitioner and some RNs who went to traditional programs and don't have a clue in hell what they're doing. How is it that they don't know their ass from a hole in the ground, I seriously don't know. Can anyone explain that? But at the end of the day, I guess it still looks good to have that prestigious traditional program in your background on a resume. read more

With the user experience of attending several schools and obtaining three Associate's degrees, two Bachelor's degrees, one Master's degree, and on-route to Doctoral degree, I will try to evaluate the quality of the Excelsior College's education for you. I earned one Bachelor's degree and Master's degree with Excelsior College. During the last ten years, my expatriate lifestyle did not allow the "luxury" of the brick and mortar school. Prior starting every of my degrees, I did a thorough research trying to find the best college/university that could accommodate my educational needs, previous educational history, choice of degree and viable financial framework. I did not want to waste my money and attend the college that would provide watered-down online courses and give me the worthless degree. I selected Excelsior based on a personal recommendation and available information on the web. The tuition price and fees were affordable. I made the right choice--my experience with the Excelsior was excellent. The Excelsior College is the user-friendly, serious business that responds to the student's needs in a best possible way. The Student Services and Student Advisors answered to my emails in 24-48 hours. Library had everything I needed for my research and assignments. All courses and their learning objectives were set in the high-quality programs of study. Some of these courses were really labor-intensive and demanding, but I was happy because they were also very interesting. However, the best part was the interaction with instructors. All of them were good, but some of them were truly exceptional, and I consider myself very fortunate to be in their classes. I enjoyed EVERY moment of being the Excelsior's student. read more

They're a convenient institution if you want to get the most credit for what you have done in the past. They are very liberal in their acceptance of transfer credit. Once they have you in however, the advisers seem to see you as nothing but another paycheck. I was most interested in the fact that I could test out of a lot of classes which Excelsior offers for cheap, however, in the few months that I've been enrolled in the college the number of exams they had said I could take in order to fulfill my degree has been cut in half. I'm now locked in and have no recourse. The school charges a hefty yearly maintenance fee and now that I have to take the more expensive courses as opposed to the exams and spend longer to complete my degree taking these time consuming courses the college stands to gain much more money off me. If I decide that this is not what I agreed to when I signed up and decide to drop out the school charges yet another fee. I feel completely let down and taken advantage of and have been met with hostility every time I try to bring up my concerns to advisers. This school may be right for you but I would suggest doing your research and reading all the fine print. read more