Excelsior BS Liberal Studies vs. TESC BA Liberal Studies

[BMWGuinness]

I will be utilizing this thread to combine all of my findings on both programs and which will best suit my needs, and hopefully will answer questions for those who are in the same boat.

[BMWGuinness]

12-05-2007, 05:49 PM

I've been researching the most efficient, timely, and cost effective way to attain a bachelor's degree.

Originally, I had the idea of utilizing FEMA ISP courses through TESC to cover 45+ credits toward their BSHS Disaster Services degree.

Unfortunately, I know now that they will only accept a maximum of 25 credits through FEMA (any additional FEMA courses CAN be transferred from FCC, and any USFA courses that are ACE reviewed can also transfer seperate from the FEMA courses)

What's more, of the 25 credits, 15 can be transfered into the major, and 10 can be transfered into elective.

While this could be beneficial toward a Disaster Services Associate degree, pursuing the bachelor degree would require some, if not many online courses through TESC instead of Credit by Exam.

SO, tomorrow I plan to look into their policy on FEMA ISP Courses to transfer into a BA Liberal Studies degree through TESC.

AFAIK, Liberal Studies for TESC and Excelsior are both the most flexible programs as far as transfer of credit and credit by examination.

What I plan to determine is which program is more advantageous, with time and ease most important, and cost behind that.

The reason I put cost behind time and efficiency is also to help anyone who is Military (GI Bill, etc) or has Financial Aid, and wants to finish a degree with as much ease as possible.

[BMWGuinness]

12-05-2007, 06:09 PM

Cost Analysis

Assuming costs for exams/courses (CLEP, DANTES, Penn-Foster, ECE, TECEP, GRE) are similar, lets look at administrative fees for both Excelsior and TESC. Please note that costs for Active Military can be significantly different.


Excelsior

Application for Admission - $75
Enrollment Fee - $895
Student Service Annual Fee - $440 (if you cannot complete degree within 1 year)
Graduation Fee - $495
Other Fees - As Applies

TESC
Application for Admission - $75
Enrollment Fee - $2300 (Out Of State)
Annual Fee - $1995
Graduation Fee - $225
Other Fees - As Applies

So, if we assume that you graduate within 1 year of admission, Excelsior Fees would cost ROUGHLY $1465 and TESC Fees would cost ROUGHLY $2600

[BMWGuinness]

12-05-2007, 06:21 PM

Utilizing FEMA ISP Credit (Not USFA)

As of 11/1/2007 Excelsior College no longer accepts FEMA ISP Courses unless transfered through a RA college OTHER than TESC Credit Bank.

At this time, the only way I have found to transfer credit to Excelsior is through Frederick Community College for $60/credit

AFAIK both colleges accept USFA courses IF they are ACE reviewed.

Assuming (tonight, until I confirm) TESC accepts a maximum of 25 credits from FEMA, we'll use 25 credits as a comparison.

To transfer 25 FEMA credits from FCC to Excelsior, it would cost $1500
To transfer FEMA credits RAW to TESC would be free.

Excelsior accepts FEMA credit as Lower Level only
TESC accepts FEMA credit as both Lower Level and Upper Level

Additional FEMA credit can be attained beyond 25 credits, but will cost the same for both colleges, and will both be accepted as Lower Level (I am assuming since it would come from FCC, I could be wrong)

[BMWGuinness]

12-05-2007, 07:20 PM

3 personal factors for me include:

1. How many previously earned credits (community college) would transfer into the program, and whether they would be considered for upper level or not.

2. How many credits would transfer from IT Certifications, where they would be placed, and whether they would be considered for upper level or not.

3. How many credits would transfer from FEMA ISP Courses and USFA courses, and whether they would be considered for upper level or not.


The $1100 difference in fees would balance out if TESC accepts at least 18 credits RAW from FEMA.

[BMWGuinness]

12-06-2007, 06:19 AM

I found out some additional information today pertaining to AA and AS degrees

I was thinking about achieving an AS degree while doing coursework for a BA/BS Liberal Studies.

I called both campuses inquiring about if it was possible.

The answer is YES from both colleges, but there are some fee differences.

Excelsior requires that you enroll seperately for all degrees, which means you would have 2 enrollment fees and 2 graduation fees or $2780.

TESC does not require additional enrollment, only a graduation fee, so 1 enrollment fee and 2 graduation fees or $2750.

TESC also said you could qualify for more than 2 degrees on the same enrollment fee as long as you paid graduation fees for each respective degree (A 2nd Associate degree requires an additional 18 credits above to 1st Associate degree)

[BMWGuinness]

12-06-2007, 09:17 AM

There is one big difference between the 2 liberal studies degrees. Excelsior's BS lets you do 60 credits that are non arts and sciences where as TESC only has 27 free electives. For some people like me Excelsior makes much more sense because I already have well over 27 non arts and sciences hours that I would lose through TESC.

You are correct, FEMA ISP Courses would only translate as 27 free electives in the BA Liberal Arts at TESC. I just confirmed this with them.

Excelsior BA/BA Policy is as follows
https://www.excelsior.edu/portal/page?_p...ema=PORTAL

Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science degree requires a total of 120 semester hours. Within that total, at least 60 semester hours must be earned in the arts and sciences with at least 21 of those 60 semester hours earned at the upper or advanced level. The remaining 60 semester hours, of which at least 9 must be earned at the upper or advanced level, may be earned in applied professional courses, additional arts and science courses, or a combination of both.

Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires a total of 120 semester hours. Within that total, at least 90 semester hours must be earned in the arts and sciences with at least 30 of those 90 semester hours earned at the upper or advanced level. The remaining 30 semester hours may be earned in applied professional courses, additional arts and sciences courses, or a combination of both.

TESC Policy is stated here
Thomas Edison State College | BA in Liberal Studies Credit Distribution

1. Students complete 33 credits in the liberal studies concentration
2. At least two or more different subjects must be included to provide breadth of knowledge in the liberal studies concentration.
3. Courses transferred to Thomas Edison State College are equated to the following levels: 100, 200, 300 or 400. A maximum of two college-level courses equating to the 100 level can be applied toward the liberal studies area of study. A deeper knowledge of subjects is provided by requiring the remaining liberal studies concentration college-level courses equate to levels 200, 300 or 400.

There are several "perks" for both schools, while Excelsior is flexible in course credit for their BS Liberal Studies, TESC is flexible with 200-Level courses counting as Upper Level Credit, and will accept 27 FEMA courses RAW as credit for Free.

[BMWGuinness]

On the advice of ShotoJuku, I spoke with an admissions counselor about the changes taking effect 1/1/2008 for Excelsior College. After careful examination of the changes, we agreed that I would not be affected by these changes if I enrolled after that date.

At this time, I have put in my evaluation application to both colleges. I have made known to both colleges that I do not intend to submit my FEMA transcripts until I have received the evaluations, as FEMA credits would count toward electives at both schools. They have no problems with this arrangement. This will give me a better idea of where my current credits and certifications will fit.