Excelsior College

About Excelsior College

Excelsior College has pioneered adult education and distance learning since its founding in 1971, serving over 37,000 students who balance academic pursuits with work, family, and military service. Based in Albany, New York, the institution operates as a private nonprofit that never required students to physically attend classes, a revolutionary concept that predated online learning by decades. Today Excelsior continues that mission, offering degree programs designed specifically for working adults who cannot follow traditional college schedules. The college emerged from the University of the State of New York as an "external degree program" that recognized learning could happen anywhere. This philosophy shaped everything that followed. Excelsior grants credit for prior learning, whether from workplace training, military experience, professional certifications, or previous college coursework. Students build on what they already know rather than starting from scratch, making degree completion faster and more affordable for those with existing expertise. Academic programs focus on fields where working adults already have experience and seek credentials to advance. Nursing represents the largest program, helping registered nurses with associate degrees complete their bachelor's and even master's degrees while continuing to work. Business, technology, and liberal arts programs follow similar approaches, meeting students where they are in their careers and lives. The health sciences programs particularly serve healthcare professionals seeking advancement through additional education. Military and veteran students form a significant portion of the Excelsior community. The college was among the first to accept training and experience from all military branches toward degree credit. Service members deploy, relocate, and maintain unpredictable schedules that traditional colleges cannot accommodate. Excelsior built its entire model around such flexibility, earning recognition as a military-friendly institution consistently ranked among the best for veterans.

Excelsior College maintains open enrollment for most programs, reflecting its mission to serve adult learners who may have taken unconventional educational paths. The admissions process emphasizes evaluating prior learning rather than traditional application criteria like high school class rank or standardized test scores. Students work with advisors to assess what credits transfer and how quickly degree completion might be achieved. The application itself is straightforward. Prospective students submit basic information, academic history, and any prior learning documentation. There is no application fee, removing one barrier to exploration. Transcripts from previous colleges, military training records, and professional certifications all factor into credit evaluation. Excelsior maintains agreements with the American Council on Education and other bodies that evaluate non-collegiate learning for transfer credit. Nursing programs represent an exception to open enrollment, requiring current RN licensure as a prerequisite. Students must demonstrate competency through examinations or documentation of clinical skills. These requirements ensure patient safety while still providing access to nurses without bachelor's degrees. Graduate programs may require bachelor's degrees and minimum GPAs, though admission remains more accessible than at selective traditional institutions. Credit evaluation often surprises students with how much they already have. Military training frequently converts to significant college credit. Workplace training programs, especially in healthcare and technology, may earn credit through evaluation. Testing options like CLEP and DSST allow students to demonstrate knowledge and earn credit without taking courses. Many students discover they are closer to degree completion than expected once all prior learning is assessed.

Excelsior College structures its academic programs around the needs of adult learners, offering degrees through schools of business, health sciences, liberal arts, and nursing. Each program recognizes that students arrive with existing knowledge and aims to build upon rather than duplicate their learning. The credit-by-examination system allows students to demonstrate mastery of subjects through testing rather than seat time, accelerating progress toward degrees. The School of Nursing stands as Excelsior's largest academic unit, serving registered nurses seeking advancement. The RN to BSN program allows working nurses to complete bachelor's degrees entirely online while maintaining their clinical positions. Graduate nursing programs prepare nurse educators and nurse practitioners for leadership roles in healthcare settings. Clinical requirements are fulfilled through students' existing workplace experiences, supervised appropriately to meet educational standards. Business programs cover management, accounting, finance, and technology management with curriculum designed for practical application. Case studies draw from real business scenarios rather than abstract theory. Students often apply lessons directly to their current employment situations, completing projects that address actual workplace challenges. The MBA program serves mid-career professionals seeking executive advancement or entrepreneurial development. Health sciences programs beyond nursing address growing healthcare industry needs. Health sciences degrees prepare students for administrative and public health roles. Cybersecurity and technology programs respond to explosive demand in those fields, offering certificates and degrees that equip students with current skills. Liberal arts programs provide flexible paths for students seeking general bachelor's degrees, allowing customization around personal interests and career goals through concentrations and electives.

Key Highlights

• Private non-profit institution with strong academic tradition
• Welcoming campus environment
• Research-intensive with extensive graduate programs
• Diverse academic programs across multiple disciplines

Student Life & Environment

Student life at Excelsior College differs fundamentally from traditional residential experiences because students never gather on a physical campus for classes. Instead, community forms through online platforms, regional chapter activities, and shared experiences as adult learners navigating similar challenges. The college works intentionally to create connection despite geographic dispersion, recognizing that learning benefits from peer interaction and support. Online learning platforms serve as virtual gathering spaces where students interact with instructors and classmates. Discussion boards, group projects, and video conferencing bring students together across time zones. Study groups form around shared courses, with students supporting each other through challenging material. The flexibility of asynchronous learning means students in different circumstances can still collaborate effectively. Regional chapters and alumni networks provide in-person connection opportunities. Nurses in the same metropolitan area might gather for networking events. Veterans' groups connect those who share military backgrounds. These gatherings offer professional networking alongside social connection, recognizing that adult students often seek both from their educational experiences. Student services extend to career development, academic advising, and personal support. Advisors help students map efficient paths to degree completion, maximizing credit for prior learning. Career services assist with job searches, resume development, and interview preparation. Mental health resources acknowledge that adult learners face stresses from juggling multiple responsibilities. Library services provide research support accessible from anywhere. The goal throughout is making students feel supported despite never walking into a physical student services office.

Location & Surroundings

Albany, New York serves as Excelsior College's administrative headquarters, though this matters little to most students who interact with the institution entirely online. The college maintains a physical presence in New York's capital city for staff, faculty offices, and regulatory purposes, but the true "location" of an Excelsior education is wherever students happen to be studying. This could mean a military base overseas, a hospital break room during night shift, or a kitchen table after children go to sleep. The distributed model means students don't relocate for education or commute to campus. They access coursework from home computers, mobile devices, or workplace stations during available moments. This accessibility opened higher education to populations previously excluded by geography, mobility, and scheduling constraints. Rural students without nearby colleges, caregivers unable to leave home regularly, and shift workers with unpredictable schedules all find pathways through Excelsior's approach. For the relatively small number of administrative staff working in Albany, the city offers a modest state capital environment. Government employment dominates the local economy, with healthcare and education sectors also significant. The Hudson River runs through downtown, and historic architecture reflects the city's long history as a political and commercial center. Cultural amenities serve the region without matching larger metropolitan areas. Students benefit from the ability to remain in their current communities while pursuing education. They don't uproot families, leave jobs, or incur relocation expenses. Career advancement often happens in place as employers recognize the credentials earned. The online model has become increasingly common across higher education, but Excelsior developed expertise over decades that newer entrants still work to match.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Excelsior College offers competitive tuition for adult learners, with costs varying by program and enrollment status. Undergraduate tuition runs approximately $510 per credit hour, while graduate programs charge around $725 per credit hour. These rates compare favorably to many private institutions, though they exceed community college pricing. The value proposition centers on flexibility and speed to completion rather than lowest absolute cost. Financial aid options include federal student loans and grants for eligible students. Military tuition assistance covers much of the cost for active-duty service members. Veterans's GI Bill benefits apply to Excelsior programs. The college participates in employer tuition assistance programs, and many students have employers paying substantial portions of their education costs. Scholarships specifically for adult learners and nursing students provide additional support options. Credit for prior learning significantly reduces total costs for many students. A student who enters with 60 credits already earned needs only complete remaining requirements rather than starting fresh. Military students often bring substantial credits from service training. Workplace certifications that convert to credit similarly reduce course requirements. Testing out of subjects through CLEP and other exams costs far less than taking courses. Career outcomes reflect the practical orientation of Excelsior programs. Nursing graduates advance from RN to BSN positions, often with immediate salary increases. Business graduates move into management roles or complete credentials needed for promotion. Technology graduates enter growing fields with strong demand. The college tracks graduate employment and salary data, reporting outcomes that support the investment in completing degrees.