Excelsior College - Has anyone graduated from this online program?

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Specializes in Home Health, Community Health.

Has anyone graduated from an Excelsior College nursing program? If so, can you address the following questions?

- How long did the program take you?

- How much did it cost (ballpark figure)?

- How difficult did you find the clinical portion?

I'm interested to know if anyone has had a positive experience.. There are plenty of negative stories bouncing around on this site and others...

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This is a news thread?

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I graduated. It was awesome. Excelsior couldn't have been more helpful and attentive to anything I needed. I seriously can't brag about them enough.

AAS in Nursing 11/2009

RN 12/2009

I don't know first hand, but most of the negative stuff I've come across seems like they were from students who for one reason or another weren't able to succeed and needed to blame the college.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

It took me exactly one year, one month, and one day to complete everything, from my first exam (A&P) to the last day of the CPNE (the clinical exam). The CPNE was more stressful than difficult, in my opinion. You're not asked to do anything fancy at the CPNE -- just basic assessments and basic care.

Here were my costs; bear in mind that I graduated in 2008, so tuition has increased.

Info Lit..........$260

Enrollment......$895

Annual Fee.....$440

Classes.......$2,645

CLEP tests.....$160

CPNE..........$1,825

Grad fee........$480

Total...........$6705

I took Info Lit in 2006, so it was a little less expensive then. "Classes" includes NC1 through NC7 (including NC2), A&P, Micro, AND all the practice exams for each of those exams. The CLEP tests were Human Growth & Development (accepted in place of Lifespan Dev. Psych.) and Introductory Sociology. Each CLEP test was $65 plus a $15 site fee at the university where I took the exams.

Anyway, I was VERY fortunate to receive a $3K scholarship in May 2007 from the Ladies Board at the hospital where I work, and my employer reimbursed me for the CPNE ahead of time (thank goodness I passed, or it would have eaten at least a paycheck and a half -- you have to pay my employer back immediately if you fail, and they'll take it out of your paycheck first!!). I took A&P as my first exam, before I got my scholarship, and my employer reimbursed me for that as well. So out of my pocket, I only paid for Info Lit, the enrollment, the A&P practice test, and the CLEPs. Total for me: $1375. Can't beat that! :D And I had a $260 credit with EC -- a small surplus from my scholarship -- so my graduation fee was $220 (program completion fee of $480 minus the $260).

That figure does not include study materials, CPNE workshops, or travel expenses for the CPNE or workshops. That was probably about another $800.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Took me a 1 year. I graduated Feb 20,2009. The program was a great experience for me. Most people who are negative are the ones that failed the test or CPNE for whatever reason.(Not prepared, nerves etc.)

I spent about $8000. That included travel expenses to the CPNE and buying a bunch on supplies, books and studyguides and 2 EC workshops.

I also took a workshop for $370 and bought about $150 in books that was not included in the price above.

Some on here enrolled in EC this summer and paid $1500 if they could complete all the nursing exams within the year. Its didn't include the CPNE but I felt it was a heck of a deal.But its no longer Availible at that price. Good Luck! I am a EC advocate. This program is not easy. It takes alot of hard work and dedication.

Oh the CPNE was the most stressfull thing that I have ever been through but it is ,definetly doable once you understand the process. It requires you to do 4 labs and several assessements on real pt at the bedside. I think the 1st time pass rate is 55-58%. But thats about the pass rate of the average nursing program if not lower. Don't get caught up in the numbers. There are several of us on this board that passed the first time and some that passed with flying colors the second time.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.

Another thing that helped me get through the program was to focus on one task at a time. You gotta pass the Nursing test and get all your prerequistes out of the way before you take the CPNE. There is no need to agonize over the CPNE if its taking you forever to get motivated to study and sign up for a test.

This program is what you make it. Some people don't even get to the CPNE because they can't motivate themselves to take the nursing test. Its not easy sitting down(on your own)and reading nursing information. The ones that overcome and press on are successful in the end.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care, Palliative Care.

Excellent comments from the posts above! And Nurse Blondie, Excelsior is not an online program. It's a real college located in New York that offers Distance Learning programs. You'll have to take the exams at a Pearson Vue testing center in exception to the 1 credit Info Literacy exam which involves doing some research on the internet. The CPNE will be taken at a hospital. In my opinion, it's an excellent Distance Learning program. I have absolutely no regrets getting my nursing education from Excelsior!

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Specializes in Home Health, Community Health.

Sorry all, for posting this topic as a news thread. I am new to the site and was just figuring things out on here, yesterday. Thanks to everyone for all your responses - they were all hugely helpful!!

I filled out the online application tonight for Excelsior. I am excited and can't wait to get started!!

One last thing I am wondering about: The Excelsior website breaks down the program costs. These include a $240 fee for exams. Does this fee include a course?

For example, lets say I have to take Micro or Psych. I pay the $240 exam fee. Does that include material to study for this exam?.. Are you awarded a grade or are they pass fail?

Thanks again for all the input!

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Yo. RN last December.

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You get grades.

You get study guides that correspond to the recommended texts.

You do not get a course.

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Specializes in Home Health, Community Health.

Thanks Sue... You are a wealth of info!

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Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
Sorry all, for posting this topic as a news thread. I am new to the site and was just figuring things out on here, yesterday. Thanks to everyone for all your responses - they were all hugely helpful!!

I filled out the online application tonight for Excelsior. I am excited and can't wait to get started!!

One last thing I am wondering about: The Excelsior website breaks down the program costs. These include a $240 fee for exams. Does this fee include a course?

For example, lets say I have to take Micro or Psych. I pay the $240 exam fee. Does that include material to study for this exam?.. Are you awarded a grade or are they pass fail?

Thanks again for all the input!

The $240 fee is not for a course. EC nursing program is a test out system. So the $240 is for the test. The books are not included in the price. Click on the bookstore Icon and it will tell you the name of the books needed. Some people buy notes off ebay like Lisa Arends and Studygroup 101. Call EC tomorrow and have them to send you a free content guide that tells what the test will cover.

When you go to pearsonvue to take the test. You are awarded a grade of A-F.

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