Thomas Edison State College

Swat October 26, 2006 at 10:04 p.m.

I Did my first 90 credits via traditional colleges, but the constraints of those schools were going to make the final 30 or so credits very slowly earned.

I looked into a few alternatives, and settled on Thomas Edison State College because it's part of the NJ state college system. The fact that it was created by the NJ state gov. gave it some serious credibility in my mind.

As a NJ resident I was able to pay reasonable tuition fees (although the yearly comprehensive charge wasn't fun). Since I was able to do the work when I wanted to (middle of the night usually) I was able to take classes all through the year and earned my last 33 credits 2 years. Would have been quicker if I didn't drop Statistics twice.

I recommend the school, but I also recommend looking into other schools. There is a stigma attached to distance education, and many traditional schools offer online options now, so read up!

Calvin H February 6, 2007 at 9:54 p.m.

I have been a student for three years now (post AA Degree from local CC) and am very happy with my experience at TESC. I find their classes challenging and rewarding. Additionally, I am attending LSU Independent Study to transfer upper-level courses to Thomas Edison State College and the experience at LSU is very similar to my home institution (TESC). I give Thomas Edison a thumbs up and will be applying for graduation in the summer. We will see how well the final few months go and I will post again after the degree experience is finalized.

Sunny May 23, 2007 at 5:01 p.m.

Will be graduating from TESC in June and after attending 2 different traditional colleges, I can say that TESC really works with you to get your credits transferred on a timely basis. The work was challenging and the professors were readily available and answered emails within 24 hour turnaround. I completed most of my degree requirements while at Sea (I have since left the Navy), and found that I was able to complete my work after long shifts into the night and early morning hours. Highly recommend TESC as an accredited school and good choice for active duty military, businesspeople, stay at home parents, and any other adults with active, on the go lifestyles. Very flexible learning experience.

TESC Graduate June 19, 2007 at 12:53 p.m.

I transferred in the maximum, 80 credits, from traditional colleges. My experience at TESC has ranged from horrible to wonderful, all dependent upon the mentor and/or college representative dealt with. I believe the requirements for the courses, particularly history, are challenging. However, I feel the mentor's often (not always) put very little effort into giving a fair assessment of work submitted. IOW, it was an easy ride on many assignments.. so I often felt cheated on the review. I'd rather get a fair B than an easy A... but what is done, is done, and I have my BA now so it is time to move on to my MA elsewhere.

TESC is a Great Model January 5, 2008 at 5:52 p.m.

Our country needs more institutions like TESC. The college makes earning an ACCREDITED college degree a real possibility to the many Americans who would otherwise be unable to do so without tremendous hardship. TESC quickly reviewed and transfered credits for me from 4 separate universities, and made it possible for me at 46 years old to pick up where I left off many years ago. TESC honors and respects the body of my education and acknowledges that it still counts for something worthwhile. Now I am elibible for to enroll in a Masters program anywhere I want.

Ryan March 31, 2008 at 6:17 a.m.

I believe in TESC is an excellent college. While in the US Coast guard I wanted to complete a degree from this college, but I never did. After the military I attended Pacific Lutheran university one of the best colleges in WA State. However, I'm going to complete a BA in Political Science from TESC. I'm really ecited about their transfer policy for completing this degree.

lex April 16, 2008 at 1:36 a.m.

Decided to go back to school after 15 years. I transfered 70 credits from a college I went to 15 yeras ago. I was able to finish my BA in 3 semesters. I took a lot of CLEP tests and DANTES tests which are a great way to get your basic classes out of the way. This school is great for those of us who have to work or have a family and want to finish a degree or start a new one. You can submit proof of life experience for a class and get credit for it, which is wonderful. I'm happy I went.
Someone posted it was the same as a diploma mill, but it's not. You have to work for it. All the tests I took I studies A LOT for. All the classes had a lot of homework and a proctored final, which means someone (as in a teacher or a testing center) has to watch you t ake the test so you cannot cheat.
At any rate I was able to get into a popular nj campus based university for my master's and they did not mention anything about TESC so being an online college did not pose a problem.

Flexible Friend May 12, 2008 at 4:41 p.m.

TESC seems to be the most flexible school for adult education when it comes to accepting credit for military and commercial training. I was very surprised when I found out they would transfer in more than 50% of the B.S. credit requirements based on training. Their degree programs seem to be well accepted my corporations, since some HR departments recommend TESC to their employees and provide tuition assistance.

MSM 2006 July 15, 2008 at 7:01 p.m.

I graduated from TESC in June 2006 with a Master of Science in Management, Leadership concentration. My experience with TESC was mainly good, but I'd have to agree with a few other reviewers in that there are good, and bad mentors. I'd also offer that that's probably true in ANY school, any program, be it an online school or a "brick and mortar" campus. I've attended a total of 11 universities and colleges thanks to Mother Army moving me every 1.5 years, and have found consistently that all schools have the good with the bad, and all courses are as challenging as YOU make them. If you skate by and do the bare minimum, you may score an A, but have nothing to be proud of. Given the online forums within e-classrooms, I've found that the students who get in there and engage other students, bring up interesting points, etc., are the same who enjoy their experiences, say great things about the school and program, and basically get something for their tuition money. While comparing online with traditional programs, just keep in mind that you can go to the BEST traditional campus and have a horrific experience - if that's what you choose to do. It's all about your attitude. TESC has two thumbs up from this alumnus.

Ben October 6, 2008 at 5:09 a.m.

TESC has been the right approach for my education needs. I had 90 University credits that mostly transferred in, plus a ton a credits from military. All I had to do was complete the basic residency requirements, which included a couple core courses and a couple electives. The courses were not easy, but the grades were. Some of the work I submitted that I anticipated would be a C with university-brick-and-mortar standards almost always got an A. But why complain about that? If it were not for TESC it would not have been possible for me to complete my degree that I started almost a decade ago. Going to school is not as easy as it was right out of high school, and TESC makes accommodations for that.

anon December 4, 2008 at 7:29 p.m.

TESC had a great program. I spoke to an academic advisor and had a course map planned out. I was amazed at the credits from traditional college they accepted. I didn't think that many would transfer over. I have habitually entered a program and when the financial aid money runs out, I am forced to drop out. Spend X number of years paying off the loans and then going back to start again. When I first spoke to TESC, I chose them as a NJ resident because I was promised financial aid would more than cover the costs and I could easily complete my degree without facing the same financial roadblock. At the 11th hour, they added "fees" and changed the story that they would not allow the use of Federal loans to pay for books. They also forgot to mention that you have to pay proctoring fees to your local community college for testing. They also said I should start with one class to get in the flow, and then start the second class the beginning of the next month to break down the out of pocket costs for books and wait for the some of the tuition reimbursement to roll in to cover the next courses unexpected out of pocket costs. When it came time to register for class, I was could not register because they refused the financial aid disbursement. The story changed that to use any financial aid, I had to use traditional semesters Fall/Spring and their solution to reduce costs on books was to take "electives" that didn't require books such as basket weaving theory 101. If you can pay cash, it is an excellent low cost program you can get through in record time. If you are relying on any type of Federal Aid, expect a lot of different and inconsistent rules for your program. Ultimately, I was told the BA Degree did not accept any Federal Stafford disbursements at all. Currently picked up a part time job to pay for Clep tests when independently drive my local librarian nuts with taking out books for independent study. :) When I finish the CLEP's and get enough saved up, I am planning to just roll over into another school - more than likely FIT or AMU. FIT is very expensive but they allow financial aid to pay for books and out of pocket is about half the out of pocket expense of TESC. AMU also allows financial aid to pay for technology fees/books and runs maybe 10% more in tuition than TESC. A second possibility.

Brian 2008 December 26, 2008 at 8:01 p.m.

I graduated from Thomas Edison State College with a Bachelors of Science in Human Services Degree June of 2008 and continued on with TESC in a Masters of Science in Management degree program.

Thomas Edison State College is a regionally accredited academic institution that is geared to "self-directed, independent learners". If you need a professor to offer intensive 1:1 training in the subject matter, this is not the college for you. However, if you can follow a course syllabus, with some (limited) direction from a professor/mentor and you are a good problem solver, TESC can be a great option.

When I read one post on this board, I was concerned that the post while probably accurate did not tell the whole story. When someone says that they completed their degree in 110 days, sure that is possible, but in fairness what did that student "bring to the academi8c table"? Because of Thomas Edison State College's liberal credit acceptance policies (of accepting credits from other regionally accredited colleges and universities), if I entered the college with 99 credits, it is possible to complete another 21 credits in 4 months. However, the student must be very intelligent, well organized and motivated.

Thomas Edison State College offers a variety of course delivery methods: guided study, online, TECEP (college developed exams which cover standard course material), E Pack Courses (no professor, online independent self-directed study), and prior learning assessment (PLA) courses (these PLA courses, must demonstrate that the student has the requisite knowledge of key theories and can apply those theories ina a demonstrated manner).

So if a student were to take three (3) credit courses in a semester, the student might also be able to take a couple TECEP exams, if his or her personal schedule allows it (full time jobs, family obligations and other time commitments can affect the progress). However, for a person who does not have all the time commitments mentioned above, he or she could certainly meet all the course/credit requirements for graduation in a more expeditious manner and timeframe.

What Thomas Edison State College is not is a Diploma Mill. What it is is a good college with some excellent options for a student who has been in the workforce or militray and who has amassed some college credits. TESC is a great degree completion college/university and very financially competitive.

Brian

AngieG December 30, 2008 at 3:14 p.m.

I am going to finish my degree from TESC in a matter of weeks. I had a two year degree in horticulture and this was the only college that offered a BA completly online. I agree with a previous post...they are great at giving you options for previously earned knowledge. I was worried in the beginning that the degree wouldn't be taken seriously but after going through it - I can say without a doubt the program was very rewarding. Everyone around me sees how hard I have had to work and the commitment needed. No one doubts that this is "real" college. I will stress that some of the courses were more difficult then I had ever encountered before. I did hire tutors for things like pre-calc and chemistry. I guess bottom line is that I am extremly happy that TESC was an option for me. I feel that I recieved a great education that fit well into my schedule.

Trevor January 8, 2009 at 5:06 p.m.

Is a graduate degree from TESC respected? Someone with a graduate degree please answer.

Cut and Paste January 18, 2009 at 5:30 a.m.

The cut and paste worked for me. I did that for 18 credit hours. They don't run PLA through the plagairism checker as that is reviewed by non-faculty.

SONA February 11, 2009 at 6:22 a.m.

The PLA are for undergraduates. Hence, you are correct.

azmat May 4, 2009 at 2:41 a.m.

Sonia,You need to educate more about big 3, Its Legitimate degree ,respected and accepted by all other major schools

mongoose65 August 22, 2009 at 1:08 a.m.

You can cheat anywhere. It's your loss and it can come back to bite you later. There are Senators with diploma mill degrees. Sooner or late they are found out. A regionally accredited school is not a diploma mill. Even if it is non-traditional, they still have rigid criteria to follow and are audited by their accrediting bodies. TESC (and Excelsior) did not hand me a single credit I didn't earn either by testing (which required study or proven mastery of the material) or certification. In ten years, programs like these will be the norm. There will be a revolt. When a $50,000 degree does not guarantee someone a job, it stands to reason they will demand less expensive ways to acquire the degree. I have 25 years of business experience and had to spend 10 months taking exam after exam (including core courses that are not pertinent to my profession). I felt these were a waste of time, EXACTLY like I felt at my old brick and mortar school!! A diploma mill would have cost me $500 bucks, a short essay and I would have an UNaccredited piece of crap. From TESC I paid $3000 (plus exam fees), studied my ass off, took nerveracking exams and received a regionally ACCREDITED bachelors degree. I appreciate the opportunity. I hope jerkoffs like "TESC=Diploma Mill"'s moronic posts don't stigmatize a good thing for us 40 and over students with jobs and lives who need a degree to keep up with our resumes.

cmashelly September 19, 2009 at 4:15 a.m.

Can someone tell me more about the tuition plans they offer. If I were to receive financial aid, would I still need to pay what they call either the comprehensive tuition plan or the enrolled options plan. Little confused on that. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

TypeA September 22, 2009 at 1:31 a.m.

(Continued) damn 3000 character limit!!

Those who are interested, just know there is always going to be a stigma associated with the college as “degree mill” because it is quote unquote easier to get a degree versus traditional schools. I can tell you from personal experience that every time someone says where is your degree from I feel I need to give them the whole story because it isn’t Penn State (which needs no explanation).

I sent in all my credits which took about 2.5 years after my first contact with TE, and I paid the $1,600 plus graduation fee to get my degree.

I joined the military because my parents couldn’t afford college and neither could I, nor did I want to walk away with a 120K student loan, from a school like La Salle in Philly. So, while I was in the military I took full advantage of tuition assistance and TE helped me finish my degree.

For all the negative people get a freckin’ life and go to your fancy “expensive” school and let the people who don’t have money or the resources -get their education anyway they can. For all you 40 and up congrats and it’s never to late to finish school!!!!!!

P.S I DON’T WORK FOR TE, I’m an Air Force Vet who lives in south eastern PA and I’m a bad ass triathlete –so suck it negative folks!

Jessica the Soldier January 8, 2010 at 1:44 a.m.

I enrolled in TESC and this school worked with me all before and during my surprise deployment. My teachers were just as flexible and helped/supported me the entire time as long as i kept in touch weekly. I got a surprise tranfer from kuwait to afghanistan during my deployment too..I was able to extend my classes and turn in my assignments a few weeks late. This school is flexible but sometimes you will have to fight with the little people and find a way to the top yourself (to the more understanding folks). I agree that the assignments are a serious workload.. but i thought thats what separates the determined students from the undetermined? Make it worth it- and enroll to this school. This is NOT an easy way out, if thats what you are looking for. As for myself, I believe in hardwork and mental stimulation. So TESC is the right school for me.

Educated Scholar January 30, 2010 at 8:59 p.m.

I sincerely hope that no one looks at any of the negative reviews here as reason to not go to a fully accredited university or college, either via the Internet or the brick and mortar classroom setting. Thomas Edison State College has been fully accredited by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education for decades. In fact, the famous New York Institute of Technology was first awarded accreditation from the very same higher education commission in 1969, Thomas Edison State College was first accreditation awarded in 1977. There is a very rigorous compass that a fully accredited institution must fulfill and continue to fulfill in order to, one become accredited and, two stay accredited. A word to the wise, there are negative reviews by ‘whiners’ about any and every university and college in the United States. There will be those that cry about how classes at Yale University didn’t meet the whiners’ particular standards or their own benchmarks. There are those that cry that Harvard University has been letting in too many minorities into certain programs over the majority race. There are ‘whiners’ that say MIT doesn’t providing enough ‘online’ learning for an institute that promotes technology, this is part of the reason MIT decided to create: (weblink ommitted) which is free courses offered by MIT online for no credit just to shut up critics. There will be reviewers, negative reviewers about any and every school you can think of. Whiners are just that, whiners, their dispositions and words are their own, please do not process their beliefs as the norm regarding Thomas Edison State College or any fully accredited school. Those that complain about essays most likely struggle with English Composition or have other issues and problems that they should address for themselves.

For those that commit acts of plagiarism to somehow point out that it can be done at Thomas Edison State College, well they are obviously engaging in acts of institutional sabotage, and it is them that do not have any creditability to boot. They are the ones that should be ‘reviewed’ based on their personal integrity matrix, not the school.

Ana C. February 2, 2010 at 5:22 p.m.

Hi all, I live in Trenton, I am in high school, and I am going to be taking courses there in the summer. For those who are saying TESC is a degree mill, or think it's not a "real school," you can always come here and visit the place. Walk into one of the buildings and yell "degree mill." Doubt any of you would, because you're not sitting safely behind your computer screen. Why are you spreading lies? Oh and PLAs can be done at TONS of schools,,,and 90 credits can be transferred to TONS of schools, TESC just accepts more...what is the big beef here?