College Network or Excelsior for LPN to RN ASN degree?? So Confused!!!

Published

Hi all,

I am trying to decide between TCN or Excelsior for my nursing classes, at some point I would have to transfer all my CN classes to excelsior anyways right? How much did excelsior end up costing you all who have completed it?? How did you pay for it?? Are there financing options? Every time I have tried to speak to someone over there I am on hold forever or they seem rude, like I am asking stupid questions. I would like to start ASAP and finish ASAP, but I wonder if I should just take a personal loan to pay for all of it?? It's getting frustrating! I have been "trying" to get my RN now for about 6 years...I have taken all the non nursing classes at local community colleges. Any advice would be a huge HELP!!!:loveya:

Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

It took me a year to finish. I enrolled December 29, 2008 and graduated December 18, 2009

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I enrolled in Oct. 2007 and didn't start until Feb. 08. I had a hard time studying since I worked M-Fri. That job entailed a lot of emotional baggage and it was difficult for me to want to study when I get home. I did however do all of my NC exams in 6 months (3 in 2008 and 3 in 2009). I'm now waiting for the CPNE.........!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

TCN offers a valid option. They are a publishing company, and they develop modules for gen ed and prereq courses, so nurses can study at home and at their own pace. EC is a great school, and you can earn your RN from EC, while going through TCN. Nurses study course materials in TCN modules and then go to a local test center and take a college-level equivalency exam. Passing grades go to a nurse's transcripts, and these are accredited, transferable college credits. Otherwise, these grades would not be able to go onto transcripts.

TCN works with colleges such as Indiana State University and Regis. Would these major universities work with TCN, if TCN was not fully legitimate? Would state boards approve or recognize degrees from Indiana State or Regis for nurses who went through TCN? There are many, many nurses who successfully graduated from these colleges and from EC, who took advantage of TCN's program. Plus, a nurse can't fail any gen ed or prereq through TCN. TCN is a very viable, valid option for working nurses and nurses with families. No classes ever again!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

work for tcn do ya......tcn is a completely unnecessary middle man.....so many other options without spending thousands .....

tcn offers a valid option. they are a publishing company, and they develop modules for gen ed and prereq courses, so nurses can study at home and at their own pace. ec is a great school, and you can earn your rn from ec, while going through tcn. nurses study course materials in tcn modules and then go to a local test center and take a college-level equivalency exam. passing grades go to a nurse's transcripts, and these are accredited, transferable college credits. otherwise, these grades would not be able to go onto transcripts.

tcn works with colleges such as indiana state university and regis. would these major universities work with tcn, if tcn was not fully legitimate? would state boards approve or recognize degrees from indiana state or regis for nurses who went through tcn? there are many, many nurses who successfully graduated from these colleges and from ec, who took advantage of tcn's program. plus, a nurse can't fail any gen ed or prereq through tcn. tcn is a very viable, valid option for working nurses and nurses with families. no classes ever again!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sounds like your mind is made up already.I called TCN the first time, they sounded like the best thing that could ever happen to you in your search for the right RN Bridge program! Then I came here only to read about how much stress a lot of people have gone through with The College Network! I "ran" as most members here advise you to "run" when you come across those salesmen! I have opted to go with EC because it made more sense to me. My friend just graduated from EC in 2010 as RN and she too told me that TCN should be a "NO GO AREA" for me if I want to save myself from complicated loans at the end of the day! Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

By the way I have learned a lot from here, thanks to all of you guys for stretching out your hands to help others! LunahRN, Caliotter3, and many others here, you guys are so willing to go an extra mile to explain just so people that are just getting into the program can have all (if not then most) of their qeustions answered. I pray that God also sends you people to help you in your areas of need!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am sorry. I am not an employee of TCN's. I do work with them, though. I know several nurses who have gone through TCN and earned degrees from Indiana State, Regis, and Excelsior. TCN is no more of a "middle man" than any community college is. TCN is an option for those who can't do the school thing. TCN works with area credit unions to offer reasonable finance packages. I compared these rates to other banks and credit unions, and the finance terms, which are clearly spelled out for nurses, beat any other bank or credit union found. Anyone can anything on sites like this, which is fine, but I hope nurses will check facts. Check with the BBB. Check with the state board of nursing. Check with the schools with which TCN partners with. Aside from Indiana State and Regis, TCN also provides degree programs and certification routes through major universities, including Cornell, Purdue, The George Washington, and several other notable institutions. Words are easy, but I am stating facts that TCN has in writing. TCN is NOT a college and has never suggested that it is. Please review the name, The College Network. It simply offers a streamlined way for working adults to earn a real degree. TCN's courses are all accredited. When a nurse graduates from a TCN program, they walk on the stage at the college with campus-based grads. That is for real!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

your telling me that tcn is not a college but at the same time telling me that people graduate from "tcn programs" and they have accredited courses..... tcn offers/grants no credits whatsoever and does not offer degrees of any kind....this right here is the reason people get ripped off left and right....people that twist the truth. point is tcn is the middle man and they are unnecessary. excelsior offers their own financial aid and does not support the use of tcn at all....on the same note one who pursues a bsn from isu can completely by-pass tcn so yeah they are a middle man....also, you cannot compare a community college to tcn...definitely not the same thing......

i am sorry. i am not an employee of tcn's. i do work with them, though. i know several nurses who have gone through tcn and earned degrees from indiana state, regis, and excelsior. tcn is no more of a "middle man" than any community college is. tcn is an option for those who can't do the school thing. tcn works with area credit unions to offer reasonable finance packages. i compared these rates to other banks and credit unions, and the finance terms, which are clearly spelled out for nurses, beat any other bank or credit union found. anyone can anything on sites like this, which is fine, but i hope nurses will check facts. check with the bbb. check with the state board of nursing. check with the schools with which tcn partners with. aside from indiana state and regis, tcn also provides degree programs and certification routes through major universities, including cornell, purdue, the george washington, and several other notable institutions. words are easy, but i am stating facts that tcn has in writing. tcn is not a college and has never suggested that it is. please review the name, the college network. it simply offers a streamlined way for working adults to earn a real degree. tcn's courses are all accredited. when a nurse graduates from a tcn program, they walk on the stage at the college with campus-based grads. that is for real!
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Dear txspadequeenRN,

Ma'am, I know you care about nurses, and so do I. Please read my response more carefully. TCN partners with two well known universities. These universities deliver the on-line portion for nursing classes. TCN provides materials for nurses to study for gen ed and prereqs, which nurses can then pass through taking an exam at a local test center. These nurses receive the same education as nurses who take prereqs at local community colleges, nursing colleges, 4-year degree schools, or on-line colleges. TCN offers an option for nurses who are too busy to attend traditional classes due to work and/or family obligations. TCN provides study materials so nurses can study at home at their own pace on gen ed and prereq courses. Once a nurse studies these materials and receives immediate academic support M-F, a nurse goes to a test center and takes a college-level equivalency exam. The grade a nurse receives on this exam goes onto a nurse's transcripts, exactly as if this nurse attended a community college or took gen eds and prereqs at any traditional college or any accredited on-line institution.

TCN courses are not accredited--yet--as they are study materials, but the exams taken at a local test center are ones administered by Dantes (DSST), CLEP, and Excelsior. These exams are fully accredited, and TCN study materials simply prepare nurses to pass these accredited exams. Remember, college-level equivalency exams allow nurses to earn credits while bypassing classes. College-level equivalency exams are nothing new.

Nurses pass these exams to satisfy requirements for nursing programs at TCN partner schools (Indiana State University and Regis University). Nurses begin working with TCN (on gen eds and prereqs) and then enroll into one of these colleges, where nurses complete their degrees on-line. This approach is a a streamlined approach. In the end, nurses are invited to attend graduation ceremonies at whichever college program they entered into through TCN.

Nurses once saved my life, and I quit teaching at colleges to help nurses. I would never associate with a business that "rips off" nurses. TCN provides no-fail guarantees for all gen eds and prereqs, unlike anywhere else. TCN does not partner with EC, but nurses can earn a degree from EC through TCN as well. The only difference is whether nurses take gen eds and prereqs through EC or TCN. EC is a great school, one that is NLNAC. TCN's LPN-to-BSN distance-learning bridge program is NLNAC as well. The National League for Nursing (NLN) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) would never work with TCN if TCN were a rip off.

Indiana State University and Regis University would not partner with TCN, if TCN were a rip off. It's easy to slam a business from the outside, without truly researching facts. I just hope nurses will take the time to do just that. I hope nurses enroll with EC, Indiana State, Regis, other valid programs, and with TCN. The prime concern is for furthering one's education. Earning a degree through TCN and one of its partner schools results in the same exact degree as is conferred to campus-based grads at these same institutions. The only difference is the method of delivery. People used to disclaim on-line schools, but now that is common and accepted. TCN is the only program of its kind, and people tend to mistrust something that is different, but a degree, which is conferred by an actual partner school, through enrollment into a TCN-based degree program is equal to all other accredited degree programs in America.

All a nurse has to do is call her/his state board of nursing and ask if such a degree, again conferred by Indiana State, Regis, or EC with gen eds and prereqs through TCN, are RECOGNIZED. In most states, the answer is yes. In a few states the answer is no, so make sure before you enroll, but a program advisor from TCN can tell you, and you can verify.

I fully support nurses earning degrees from any regionally-accredited institution, not just through a TCN-partner university. However, please take time to ascertain facts before ripping on TCN. Please review ALL of your educational options. TCN may not be right for you. And you can't go wrong going directly through EC, Indiana State, or any other regionally-accredited college or university.

Earning your degree is the main point. Now, all nurses have 3 clear, safe options: Traditional schools, on-line schools, or through a TCN which ends up being from a traditional school. It is really just a different method of delivering education for gen eds and prereqs. Call Indiana State University or Regis. They would never, ever work with TCN, if TCN was not fully legitmate, would they? Of course not.

This forum is an excellent way to share ideas and opinions, and I dearly value it. I do not want to promote TCN over any other educational option, but I also don't want false information to be shared without some defense. I think most can understand this. I tell every nurse and paramedic who wants a degree to check all options to find which is best for each person. Find whichever option works best for you, but TCN is ONE valid option for earning a degree from a well-known, reputable university, among many options. Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

dear mr educationguy,

. i do not want to promote tcn over any other educational option, but i also don't want false information to be shared without some defense. [/quote]

lets get some general things out of the way ...i am very educated on tcn and the whole process about tcn....i was one of those ripped off nurses you see. you continue to post and post the same mess over and over trust me i am well versed on tcn. if you don't want mi-information to be shared then stop posting mis-information. your whole post is trying to represent that tcn "has programs" that lead to degrees when in fact they are nothing more than over priced study materials.

lets clarify some of your statements.....

"tcn does not partner with ec, but nurses can earn a degree from ec through tcn as well"

uhhh...no you cannot ear a degree through tcn you degree will always come through ec.

tcn's lpn-to-bsn distance-learning bridge program is nlnac as well

this right here is the reason many people get sucked in and spend thousands more than they need to. tcn does not have a lpn to bsn distance learning program...indiana state university does but not tcn....you need to get your facts straight.

"it's easy to slam a business from the outside, without truly researching facts" and "however, please take time to ascertain facts before ripping on tcn"

thats not even funny.....like i said before i am well well aware of the in's and outs of tcn....i urge you to research the facts and to stop leading potential nurses on to think that they can receive a actual degree from tcn. it is ridiculous to advocate for nurses to spend thousands extra when they can obtain their study materials (better study materials) other ways.

"all a nurse has to do is call her/his state board of nursing and ask if such a degree, again conferred by indiana state, regis, or ec with gen eds and prereqs through tcn, are recognized"

all a nurse has to do is call the state bon and see if the university she/he seeks their degree from is accepted and makes them eligible to be licensed as a registered nurse in their state....this aint got nothing to do with tcn...once again your are trying to make it sound like tcn is accredited by the state boards or is a university in some way that grants credits....

"please review all of your educational options. tcn may not be right for you. and you can't go wrong going directly through ec, indiana state, or any other regionally-accredited college or university."

lawd, i feel as i am talking to someone who is just copying and pasting pre-written material...maybe i am.... i am a registered nurse and a graduate of ec. i am also a former student of isu that got sucked into tcn....i am a professional distance learning student and im well aware of how this works.....i feel you need to research more and come back to reality .....nurses need help gaining their degrees not years of unnecessary debt...if you truly cared about the welfare of nurses and their education you would be advocating to help them through other avenues. as long as tcn continues to rip off nurses i will continue to advise and urge people against the use of this middle man company.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If one checks their state Board site for a list of approved nursing programs, they will never find The College Network on that list or any other publishing company for that matter. Sometimes, Excelsior College will be addressed by name, being an out of state educational entity, not a publishing company.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

IMO, I think Mr. EducationGuy is a 'salesperson' for TCN posing as a student Nurse on this blog.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion