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Navigating Your Excelsior University Degree Roadmap 🚀

twrix Follow May 01, 2025 · 8 mins read
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Navigating Your Excelsior University Degree Roadmap 🚀

Hey folks! If you’re aiming to earn a degree fast and cheap, Excelsior University is like a minimalist Linux distro among “The Big Three” (alongside Charter Oak State College and Thomas Edison State University). It’s transfer-friendly, accepting up to 113/120 credits, but its requirements can feel like parsing a cryptic config file. 📚 This guide, based on Excelsior’s degree plans from 2024, provides a clear roadmap for degrees like the B.S. in Business, Liberal Arts, or Psychology, with a focus on general education and transfer credits. Confirm current requirements with Excelsior advisors, as policies shift like a kernel update.

Big thanks to student communities for their insights on Excelsior. Let’s build a degree plan as clean as a well-organized Git repo! 😎

Note: Always verify transfer credits and degree requirements with Excelsior’s admissions team (admissions@excelsior.edu). Get approvals in writing to avoid surprises.

Table of Contents

Why Choose Excelsior?

Excelsior, a private, nonprofit, regionally accredited university, is a top pick for non-traditional students:

  • Transfer-Friendly: Accepts up to 113/120 credits, rivaling COSC (114/120) and TESU (114/120).
  • Affordable: ~$3,780 for a B.S. with max transfers, cheaper than SNHU ($330/credit).
  • Flexible: Online, asynchronous courses with no proctoring for Excelsior classes. Transfer credits from Sophia.org, free sources, or RA colleges.
  • Upper-Level (UL) Focus: Requires 30 UL credits (major + electives), achievable via Study.com or Coopersmith.
  • Diverse Degrees: Offers Associate’s (e.g., A.S. Liberal Studies) and Bachelor’s (Business, Liberal Arts, Psychology).
  • Student Support: Known for solid advising, similar to COSC, better than TESU.

Excelsior’s low residency (7 credits) makes it ideal for test-takers and transfer-heavy students, though its requirements need careful planning.

Excelsior Degree Options

Excelsior offers flexible degrees, optimized for transfers:

  • Associate of Science in Liberal Studies: 60 credits, but same tuition as bachelor’s. Consider alternatives like Pierpont’s BOG AAS (Free Credits Guide).
  • Bachelor of Science in Business: Focuses on management, finance, or marketing.
  • Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts: Broad, customizable for arts/sciences.
  • Bachelor of Science in Psychology: Covers behavioral sciences, research methods.
  • Catalog: Explore at Excelsior Degrees.

All bachelor’s require 120 credits, including 30 UL credits and 7 Excelsior credits (Cornerstone, Capstone).

General Education Requirements

Excelsior’s general education (GE) requires 90+ credits, with overlapping categories. Below is a breakdown with recommended providers, prioritizing cheap/free sources. Confirm equivalencies with Excelsior’s catalog.

Written Communication (6 Credits)

  • Requirement: English Comp I & II (CLEP not accepted).
  • Recommended: | Course | Provider | Cost | UL? | |——–|———-|——|—–| | College Composition I | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | College Composition II | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | English 204/205 | Study.com | $235/month | No | | ENC-101/102-TE | TECEP (RA) | $52/credit | No | | College Writing I/II | Olivet Nazarene University (RA) | ~$300/course | No |
  • Note: Sophia is fastest; TECEP/Olivet for RA credits.

Humanities & Ethics (9–12 Credits)

  • Requirement: 3+ credits in Ethics, plus humanities (e.g., literature, philosophy).
  • Recommended: | Course | Provider | Cost | UL? | |——–|———-|——|—–| | Introduction to Ethics | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | Philosophy 101/102/103 | Study.com | $235/month | No | | ETH-210-TE Ethics in the Digital Age | TECEP (RA) | $52/credit | No | | Art History I/II | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | English 101/102/103 | Study.com | $235/month | No | | Spanish I | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | Communications 102/120/301 | Study.com | $235/month | Yes (301) |
  • Note: Mix Sophia (cheap) and Study.com (UL options). Coopersmith or ASU also work.

Social Science/History (9–12 Credits)

  • Requirement: Psychology, sociology, history, or economics.
  • Recommended: | Course | Provider | Cost | UL? | |——–|———-|——|—–| | US History I/II | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | Introductory Psychology | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | Macroeconomics | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | Psychology 101/102 | Study.com | $235/month | No | | History 101/102 | Study.com | $235/month | No | | SOS-110-TE Critical Thinking | TECEP (RA) | $52/credit | No |
  • Note: Sophia for speed; Study.com for variety. Modern States CLEP (free) covers US History, Psychology.

Natural Science (2+ Credits)

  • Requirement: Biology, chemistry, or physics (3-credit courses common).
  • Recommended: | Course | Provider | Cost | UL? | |——–|———-|——|—–| | Introduction to Biology | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | Environmental Science | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | Science 101/102 | Study.com | $235/month | No | | BIO-101-TE Intro to Biology | TECEP (RA) | $52/credit | No |
  • Note: Pair with StraighterLine lab ($100) for B.S. requirements.

Mathematics (2+ Credits)

  • Requirement: College algebra, statistics, or higher.
  • Recommended: | Course | Provider | Cost | UL? | |——–|———-|——|—–| | College Algebra | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | Introduction to Statistics | Sophia.org | $99/month | No | | Math 101/102 | Study.com | $235/month | No | | MAT-121-TE College Algebra | TECEP (RA) | $52/credit | No | | CSM Learn Math | CSM Learn | $54 | No |
  • Note: CSM Learn ($54) is ideal for math-averse learners.

Arts & Sciences Electives (48+ Credits)

  • Requirement: Humanities, social sciences, history, natural sciences, or math.
  • Recommended: Use above courses, plus: | Course | Provider | Cost | UL? | |——–|———-|——|—–| | Psychology 301: Social Psychology | Study.com | $235/month | Yes | | Business 301: Marketing | Study.com | $235/month | Yes | | Spanish 105: Workplace | Study.com | $235/month | No | | TEEX Cybersecurity | TEEX | $0 | No |
  • Note: Stack free credits (Pima, TEEX) and Sophia for volume.

Information Literacy (1 Credit)

  • Requirement: Research skills, often fulfilled by Cornerstone (IND-101/301).
  • Recommended: | Course | Provider | Cost | UL? | |——–|———-|——|—–| | IND-101/301 Cornerstone | Excelsior | ~$510 | No | | LIB101 Library Research | Clackamas CC (RA) | $0 | No |
  • Note: Clackamas is free, asynchronous.

Free Electives (26+ Credits)

  • Requirement: Any credits (arts/sciences or applied professional, e.g., business, IT).
  • Recommended: | Course | Provider | Cost | UL? | |——–|———-|——|—–| | STU 100/107 | Pima CC (RA) | $0 | No | | FIN 211 Financial Literacy | Jacksonville State (RA) | $0 | No | | Google IT Professional | Coursera | $39/month | No | | Business 101/102 | Study.com | $235/month | No |
  • Note: Use free credits (TEEX, Pima, Modern States CLEP).

Major and Capstone Requirements

  • Major Courses: Vary by degree (e.g., B.S. Business requires finance, marketing; Psychology needs research methods). Check Excelsior’s catalog or contact advisors.
  • UL Credits: 30 total, with 12–15 in the major (e.g., Study.com’s Business 301, Psychology 301).
  • Capstone: 3 credits (Excelsior course, ~$510), required for bachelor’s. Focuses on integrating major skills.
  • Sources: Study.com (UL), Coopersmith ($150/course), or Excelsior courses. Sophia for lower-level (LL) major credits (e.g., Business Law).

Tips for Success

Approach Excelsior like a sysadmin optimizing a server cluster:

  • Maximize Transfers ✅: Stack 113 credits with Sophia.org (70–86 credits, $99/month), Modern States CLEP ($0), and Pima CC ($90/7 credits). Verify at admissions@excelsior.edu.
  • Hit 30 UL Credits: Use Study.com ($235/month) or Coopersmith ($150/course) for UL business/psychology (e.g., Communications 301, Psychology 301). Track in Excel.
  • Leverage Free Credits: Knock out electives with TEEX (13 credits, $0), Pima (7 credits, $90), or Clackamas (1 credit, $0). See Free Credits Guide.
  • Plan GE Overlaps: Double-count courses (e.g., Sophia’s Ethics for Humanities and Ethics; TEEX Cybersecurity for electives and applied professional).
  • Take Excelsior Courses Last: Complete Cornerstone (IND-101/301, ~$510) and Capstone (~$510) after transfers to minimize costs (~$1,020 for 7 credits).
  • Confirm Providers: Excelsior accepts ACE/NCCRS (Sophia, Study.com) and RA (Pima, Olivet). Avoid NA-only sources like Penn Foster unless ACE-approved.
  • Track Credits: Log in Excel (CTRL+C/CTRL+V) to hit 120 credits (90 GE, 30 UL, 7 Excelsior). Use Credly for Sophia transfers.
  • Associate’s Caution: A.S. Liberal Studies costs same as B.S. (~$3,780). Consider Pierpont’s BOG AAS ($350) for cheaper 60-credit option.

Final Thoughts: You’re Ready to Graduate!

Boom! You’ve got a roadmap to crush your Excelsior degree, as streamlined as a custom CLI tool. With 113/120 transferable credits, $3,780 total cost, and providers like Sophia and TEEX, you can graduate in months. Your next steps:

  • Apply at Excelsior and contact admissions@excelsior.edu.
  • Transfer 113 credits via Sophia, Study.com, TEEX, or Pima.
  • Complete Cornerstone and Capstone (~$1,020) at Excelsior.
  • Track credits in Excel to hit 120 (90 GE, 30 UL).
  • Celebrate with a degree that rivals COSC or TESU!

You’re building a degree as efficient as a well-optimized Dockerfile. Questions? Reach out to Excelsior advisors or student communities. Now go stack those credits and snag that diploma! 🌟

Based on Excelsior degree plans from 2024 and student insights. Confirm transferability and costs with Excelsior advisors.

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