EC-Fee Change Effective August 26

[TheMaskedMutant]

Saw this message pertaining to upcoming fee changes at Excelsior College.  I thought I'd share so that folks can update their cost estimates.

Dear Student,
 
I am writing to share the College's 2019–2020 fee changes, which will go into effect starting July 15. These changes were approved by the College's Board of Trustees in April 2019. For the first time in three years, there are several changes to fees, including the:

• Introduction of a $20 per credit/exam Technology Fee, effective on July 15, 2019
  
  
• Increase in the Graduation Fee from $130 to $260 for students approved for conferral on or after August 26, 2019
  

To maintain and improve our programs, services, and overall student experience, since 2017 the College has pursued critical new investments in our academic programs and technology, including the introduction of a new learning management system, a new financial information system, and a new student information system, anticipated to launch in 2020.
 
Additionally, over the next three years, the College will continue to recruit, develop, and retain high quality faculty to develop robust learning communities; revise and enhance more than 400 courses, including our capstone experiences; and map critical career competencies to the curricula to ensure all graduates are prepared to advance and succeed in today's economy.
 
Our targeted fee changes will fund these critical investments and help the College cover rising operating costs to ensure financial stability into the future.
 
Despite these changes, with our broad transfer policy, online courses, credit by examination options, and prior learning assessment, the College remains among the most affordable and flexible options for adult learners like you.
 
I encourage you to review your Excelsior College Partnership details and reach out to your admissions counselor or academic advisor to discuss these changes and prepare for the coming semester.
 
Sincerely,
 
James N. Baldwin, JD, EdD
President, Excelsior College

[Stoic]

Ridiculous.

What's up with the increase of tuition or fees by most universities this fall?

[bluebooger]

Ridiculous.

What's up with the increase of tuition or fees by most universities this fall?

they have that huge university and all those building to pay for  LOL

[dfrecore]

Ridiculous.

What's up with the increase of tuition or fees by most universities this fall?

Happens at most schools every year.  This is not shocking.

[sanantone]

Tuition goes up a little every year at many colleges, but Excelsior's situation is different. Excelsior is focusing on increasing fees because they have a larger demographic that takes few courses. Their generous transfer credit policy means that they depend on fees more than most other schools to break even. Excelsior used to have many different Excelsior Exams (now called Uexcels). If they went back to the model of primarily selling exams, they would be able to cut the cost of providing courses, and they would give their transfer students an alternative to CLEP/DSST and transfer courses. CLEP and DSST cover the general education requirements, and courses taken at cheaper colleges can be transferred in to cover the major area of study. There's almost no incentive to take courses at Excelsior. They probably made a huge mistake by going private because they're no longer subsidized by the State of New York.