Excelsior College in Albany

Cash grab sham of a college. You can get credits here but not an education.

This is directed specifically to NURSING students and the Nursing program: do NOT waste your time or money. The overall exams are good and easy to pass if you study. However, none of that matters because of the CPNE at the end of the program, that they tell you not to worry about until it's too late and you've already spent a lot of money on tests that don't transfer.The CPNE does not do anything it indicates it should achieve.  It is a highly emotional, draining experience that does not rate how well a nurse would perform as a RN.  The overall grading pass/fail is highly subjective based on the CE [clinical examiner] at the time.  For example, I failed a PCS for dropping a pen on the floor and picking it back up without sanitizing it; however, a CE picked up a dropped medication blister packet and said it was fine to administer as is.  There is supposed to be set standard, that is highly unachievable in the current testing situations as indicated by the high failure rate.  It is appalling that many nurses have over 10 years’ experience when taking the CPNE, but fail because of minor issues IE: forgetting to check mucous membrane.  This is not a critical element to any patient care, and would never lead to the death or injury of a patient based solely on not assessing mucous membranes; it is this piece of information combined with numerous other information that leads to appropriate patient care.  To fail students on such obscene standards is horrendous.    I highly implore the staff to review the entire testing process and adjust it.  For reference, please see how EMTs and Paramedics are tested on their skill sets.  You will see that there are critical failures, and percentage failing (or loss of points) for everything else that leads to pass/fail.  Or if you insist on absolute 100% score passing, then do each of the competencies in a stimulation laboratory that is controlled, standardized, and just like the medication pass and aseptic technique are currently done (one for each competency).  This would also decrease wait times for the CPNE, and allow for more students to test in a timely manner.   Your college expects students to wait over a year and then charges an enormous fee for this weekend, expects students to pay for traveling expenses, food, clothing, books. lodging, etc. to be judged by CEs who deviate from the protocols/standards and fails EXCELLENT nurses and indicates they are not RN material; but don't worry, you can reapply, REPAY all expenses, and come back to test again.  This entire experience was like a grand Ponzi scheme and psychological nightmare rolled into one.    Excelsior College should be ashamed of the high failure rate, and take it personally that YOU are failing your students.  Every nurse I have spoken to indicated that if they had known what the CPNE entailed prior to enrollment, and prior to be trapped mid-way thru their nursing criteria, they NEVER would have enrolled at Excelsior College.  You trap your students with non-transferrable credits, and then unload the CPNE on them.  This is horrendous, appalling behavior.  I will never recommend any nurse to Excelsior College based solely on the CPNE unreliable testing and scoring.  This entire test was based on the whims of the CE, and too highly subjective.  This should not be acceptable to any College.

I started going to this college many years ago. I have never had a problem with any of the personnel in the administrative offices. I do have an issue with teachers who want to use their own books at an exorbitant price for the class. As a military enrollee at this school, it has been a good opportunity to pursue and get my degree. They worked with me early on to consolidate a multiple number of colleges I had attended to compile college credits towards my degree. I was able to take the military exam for college credits and the Excelsior school exam for college credit. If you are an adult learner with a little motivation to finish the college degree you started way back when, this is the place to enroll.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. THE CLASSES ARE A JOKE, THE TEACHERS DO NOTHING, YOU WILL LEARN NOTHING EXCEPT HOW SHADY A COLLEGE CAN BE. CHARGED MY BANK ACCOUNT 2CE AND OVERDREW THE ACCOUNT WHEN I HAD FINANCIAL AID IN PLACE. THERE WAS NO REASON TO CHARGE THE ACCOUNT WHICH ACCRUED THOUSANDS IN BANK FEES AND NOT PAID BILLS. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THEY ASSURED ME IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN BUT EXCELSIOR WOULD NOT PUT IN WRITING THEIR MISTAKE OR REFUND MY MONEY SO NOTHING WAS RESOLVED AND I OWED MY BANK THOUSANDS. I GIVE THEM AN F- THIS SCHOOL IS A JOKE. IF YOU WANT AN EDUCATION GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I've had only one issue throughout the entire time I've attended and it didn't affect my schooling at all (though it did delay it a few months). They are so helpful and respectful! They're completely understanding of the unpredictable schedules of military personnel and were very helpful during the 2017 hurricanes. I will always recommend this college to those who pursue their offered degrees!