TCN and EC Cost

click23 · Jan 29, 2007

Sorry for the double post

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2007

You do realize that TCN is a publishing company and you do not have to go though them to get a degree from EC. I can tell you this the units or books from TCN are anywhere from $350-400 a piece. It is very expensive especially when you can buy these items off ebay for a little of nothing....

click23 · Jan 29, 2007

We do. Just weighing all of our options right now. She just received her LPN in the fall, after being an aid for a few years. She wants to get out of nursing homes, she wants to do more than just pass pills. With what DRs offices and hospitals around here, they are her only option.

cjandmama · Jan 31, 2007

Questions...

Am I correct to say you don't have to enroll in TCN OR EC right away? If you have the material (shared persay) then you can test and the credit will go towards EC? I know you don't have to enroll in EC until you hit Nursing Concepts 3. But before that - you can still complete the necessary classes and apply it towards your EC degree? (Even if you chanced buying your TCN modules on ebay)

I posted this in the Excelsior blog too... just wanted to throw it out there in the TCN vs EC blog too....

I am on the verge of CN or EC. I had a CN "salesman" come out and show me all of the terms and small print. I didn't sign with them simply because I've not done all of my homework. He says,

CN Fee $5,705 to pay CN fee, book fees, bunches of other test preps etc.

Then your testing site fees (the classes I need) would be $2245

Enroll in EC at NC3 and pay them $3,465 for their application, enrollment, literacy course, clinical fee, and graduation fee. Total $11,495.

Now, I went to EC and found that my total would be almost $7,000 for all of their fees and my testing fees. That does not include books or any other study material. THEN, I also read they charge $275 per credit hour. That would be $5,500 more just for 20 credit horuse (which I need many more then that) AND that is not counting book fees. That would be approx $12,500 plus who knows how much in book fees???

????????? :smackingf:

Any advice on this? People say CN is so much more, but I am not seeing it. HELP.......... I want to get started....lol :lol_hitti:

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND OFFERING ADVICE!!! muah

Warm blessings,

mama

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jan 31, 2007

Mama,

I think you're double-counting some of your fees. A $220 testing fee (for 3 credit hours) is the standard ASN exam fee right now. I believe that your $7000 would include all of these fees, plus the CPNE (Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination) fee.

When you get into the BSN program, if you choose to do so, you'll take some online classes (rather than just exams) and I think that's the only place where the $275/credit hour comes into play.

At the ASN level, you should be able to fulfill almost every requirement with an examination (for the $220/class, rather than $275/hr). The possible exception is a one-credit Information Literacy course.

The advantage to enrolling at EC early is just that you'll have access to the college's Electronic Peer Network discussion area and the online practice exams. Some people find these resources to be a great help, while others choose to wait and enroll only when required.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2007

Beware! The College Network is not an LPN-to-RN program. The College Network is nothing more than an overpriced publishing company engaged in the business of selling materials that eventually lead to an Excelsior College degree. Therefore, Excelsior College is really the school you're dealing with.

Most people are able to earn their LPN-to-RN bridge degree from Excelsior College without going through expensive publishing companies such as the College Network and RUE. Buyer beware!

cjandmama · Jan 31, 2007

mama,
i think you're double-counting some of your fees. a $220 testing fee (for 3 credit hours) is the standard asn exam fee right now. i believe that your $7000 would include all of these fees, plus the cpne (clinical performance in nursing examination) fee.
when you get into the bsn program, if you choose to do so, you'll take some online classes (rather than just exams) and i think that's the only place where the $275/credit hour comes into play.
at the asn level, you should be able to fulfill almost every requirement with an examination (for the $220/class, rather than $275/hr). the possible exception is a one-credit information literacy course.
the advantage to enrolling at ec early is just that you'll have access to the college's electronic peer network discussion area and the online practice exams. some people find these resources to be a great help, while others choose to wait and enroll only when required.

:smilecoffeecup: eric, thank you! "(for the $220/class, rather than $275/hr)." this is where most of my confusion is. you cleared that up for me though. thank you so much. ok so, ec is cheaper then i thought!

commuter, i know they are a publishing company. my question had to do with cost of the two different pathways. i think i understand now though and i thank you all very very very much!

mama

click23 · Jan 31, 2007

Here is what I got from an EC worksheet:

Enrollment $ 895

Nursing concepts 7*220=$1,540

CPNE $1,725

Writing $ 190

Humanities 2*190=$ 380

Soc.Sci./History 2*190=$ 380

Nat.Sci./Math 3*190=$ 570

Info.Lit. $ 275

Arts & Sci. 3*190=$ 570

Completion & Grad $ 495

TOTAL $7,020

+Student service 450*the number of yeas after your first year

+Books

I guess we just need to talk with the girl from CN again and get a price out of her and ask why should we go with them if we can buy the study guides off of eBay.

I also spoke with a very helpful girl at EC, and when I asked her if CN gets info from them as to what to put in the study guide, she said no. They have no idea where they get the info to go in the study guides from CN or if it matches the exams, we will ask the CN rep about this

cjandmama · Jan 31, 2007

here is what i got from an ec worksheet:
enrollment $ 895
nursing concepts 7*220=$1,540
cpne $1,725
writing $ 190
humanities 2*190=$ 380
soc.sci./history 2*190=$ 380
nat.sci./math 3*190=$ 570
info.lit. $ 275
arts & sci. 3*190=$ 570
completion & grad $ 495
total $7,020
+student service 450*the number of yeas after your first year
+books
i guess we just need to talk with the girl from cn again and get a price out of her and ask why should we go with them if we can buy the study guides off of ebay.
i also spoke with a very helpful girl at ec, and when i asked her if cn gets info from them as to what to put in the study guide, she said no. they have no idea where they get the info to go in the study guides from cn or if it matches the exams, we will ask the cn rep about this

click,

i don't think you get charged the dollar amount times the credit hours. the $190 is the fee you pay at the testing center when you are ready to test out or clep out of the class. it is a one time fee unless you fail the test and have to retake it. then you pay the $190 again. i was confused about paying "per credit hour" as well. however, i called ec today and verified if you are enrolled in one of their online classes (i.e. offered from 5/07 to 8/07 and has deadlines etc) vs what we are looking into is set at our own pace.

just wanted to let you know - that definitely makes it look pricey!!

keep me posted on your endeavors. i am eager to get to the point i can begin. whichever way it is i go.... :banghead:

mama

click23 · Feb 1, 2007

Sorry for the confusion. For the "Arts & Sci. 3*190=$ 570" that would be three exams at $190 for $570 for three courses, and Nursing concepts "7*220=$1,540" would be 7 exams at $220 for $1,540 for 7 courses.

cjandmama · Feb 1, 2007

Sorry for the confusion. For the "Arts & Sci. 3*190=$ 570" that would be three exams at $190 for $570 for three courses, and Nursing concepts "7*220=$1,540" would be 7 exams at $220 for $1,540 for 7 courses.

OHHhhhhhhhhhhh Sheesh

I get it