ISU or Excelsior? Pros and Cons ... ?

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Hello,

I am an LPN currently enrolled in EC and am working towards my first exam (Lifespan Development). Since I have only just started, I was looking into ISU as well but wanted to see what the pro's and con's of each were?

I understand you need to pass a CPNE with EC, but clinicals are Local with ISU. Is there a major cost difference? Are the classes the same? I understand both are approved in Florida.

Do they both off 'on your own pace' classes?

Any thoughts or suggestions from attendees of either would be great.

Thank you in advance!

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Well, ISU does not do an ASN, only the BSN. They run $500 a credit.

The up side of ISU is that everyone pretty much accepts them - except NY, I think.

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Well, ISU does not do an ASN, only the BSN. They run $500 a credit.

The up side of ISU is that everyone pretty much accepts them - except NY, I think.

Hmmm ... so if I need to take General Credits like the ones I'm taking now, it's better to do those at EC and transfer them in to ISU later?

Does EC do BSN? or are they RN only?

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EC is RN first, then BSN.

Don't plan on taking gen eds via EC and transferring them. A lot of places will give you a hard time on trandfer credits.

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EC is RN first, then BSN.

Don't plan on taking gen eds via EC and transferring them. A lot of places will give you a hard time on trandfer credits.

Instead of transfering, could I do EC to RN, and then once I have the RN, use ISU to go RN to BSN?

So with EC, I can do LPN to RN, and then RN to BSN.

With ISU, I can go directly from LPN to BSN?

Are the tests the same with each? ie: Visit Pearson Vue for testing, etc?

Is ISU then a quicker path to the BSN?

I've seen a lot of discussions here on the forums regarding Excelsior, but not much traffic with regard to ISU. I'm just trying to figure out why that is?

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There are a LOT states not accepting ISU, believe me I know. Please make sure your state accepts them. There is a list under their school name on this thread which was very extensive. ISU's online lpn to bsn program is fairly new so more states MAY start accepting them as time goes along.

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No, they are not the same. EC grants lower level credit by examination while ISU does actual courses.

If the goal is the RN and your state accepts it then EC is the winner, hands down. If it's a BSN, you'll be going a lot longer at the LPN level of licensure and pay while you work towards both the RN and BSN.

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Just make sure your state is okay with either program. The only gripe I had with ISU is the cost. I can do EC for about 1/3- 1/2 the cost of ISU and I have all my general credits completed. I had no choice but to go for the most economical way if I wanted to be an RN.

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No, they are not the same. EC grants lower level credit by examination while ISU does actual courses.

If the goal is the RN and your state accepts it then EC is the winner, hands down. If it's a BSN, you'll be going a lot longer at the LPN level of licensure and pay while you work towards both the RN and BSN.

I'm in Florida, so it looks like both EC and ISU are accepted.

My goal really is the BSN, so to understand, EC to RN and work as I go at a higher pay scale for the BSN versus working at the LPN scale to get the BSN directly from ISU?

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Just make sure your state is okay with either program. The only gripe I had with ISU is the cost. I can do EC for about 1/3- 1/2 the cost of ISU and I have all my general credits completed. I had no choice but to go for the most economical way if I wanted to be an RN.

I like the fact that I can do clinicals locally with ISU versus having to take a CPNE with Excelsior out of state. Are ISU's classes the same as with EC? ie: You get a Study Guide, take at your own pace, and then just call Pearsue Vue to take a test at a local center?

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I'm in Florida, so it looks like both EC and ISU are accepted.

My goal really is the BSN, so to understand, EC to RN and work as I go at a higher pay scale for the BSN versus working at the LPN scale to get the BSN directly from ISU?

That's certainly how I would do it. How I did the (almost) RN - wiating on an NCLEX date - and now I'll start the BSN.

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I like the fact that I can do clinicals locally with ISU versus having to take a CPNE with Excelsior out of state. Are ISU's classes the same as with EC? ie: You get a Study Guide, take at your own pace, and then just call Pearsue Vue to take a test at a local center?

ISU and EC aren't even close to being the same. EC you just test out of everything. ISU has actual classes with actual professors, assignments, papers, etc. Just like traditional school but your classroom is your computer. You have the same requirements as the on campus students which is why you pay for it like an on campus student.

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