Cost Comparison TESC Excelsior BSBA GM

[hsing]

I am trying to make a final decision on enrollment for BSBA General Management between TESC and Exelsior. Will some of you vets please look over this comparison and see if I am overlooking anything? THANKS!

TESC:
Application Fee: $75.00
Tuition: $2,300.00
Technology Services Fee: $97.00
Graduation Fee: $225.00
Total: $2,697.00

Excelsior:
Application Fee: $75.00
Tuition: $895.00
Technology Services Fee: $440.00
Graduation Fee: $495.00
Total: $1,905.00

Pros/Cons:
*TESC requires Pre-Calculus while Excelsior only requires College Algebra
* Excelsior requires Written English Requirement (LSU - $230)
* Excelsior requires Information Literacy ($290)
* TESC accepts FEMA (15+) directly while Excelsior will bank for $400

So, for me, in this degree plan, it seems pretty much a wash with TESC having a slight monetary advantage, albeit a stiffer math requirement.

Your comments, please?

[cookderosa]

I am trying to make a final decision on enrollment for BSBA General Management between TESC and Excelsior. Will some of you vets please look over this comparison and see if I am overlooking anything? THANKS!

TESC:
Application Fee: $75.00
Tuition: $2,300.00
Technology Services Fee: $97.00
Graduation Fee: $225.00
Total: $2,697.00

Excelsior:
Application Fee: $75.00
Tuition: $895.00
Technology Services Fee: $440.00
Graduation Fee: $495.00
Total: $1,905.00

Pros/Cons:
*TESC requires Pre-Calculus while Excelsior only requires College Algebra
* Excelsior requires Written English Requirement (LSU - $230)
* Excelsior requires Information Literacy ($290)
* TESC accepts FEMA (15+) directly while Excelsior will bank for $400

So, for me, in this degree plan, it seems pretty much a wash with TESC having a slight monetary advantage, albeit a stiffer math requirement.

Your comments, please?

I did the same as you, and broke it down dollar for dollar. You have to move the requirements of IL and WE into EC's cost column since they are necessary. $230 + $290, and if you will plan on using the FEMAs, that brings you up to $920.
For each class you take, you may also have a required book(s) to buy. That makes it at least:
EC: $2825 (plus books?)
TESC:$2700

I found a bigger cost difference in the way I could use my tests.
I planned on using as many CLEPs/DSSTs as possible, and TESC transfers in some CLEPs/DSSTs as 200 and 300 level courses, since they will accept 200s in your major, this is a major advantage in my situation.
Based on your own transfer credits, your major, etc. it will vary- but you should do a specific degree plan of the exams you would use for both schools to meet the criteria, and see what the cost difference will be.
If you will have to take Excelsior exams to meet the level requirement, they add $$ big $$ fast. (I think around $400 each compared to around $70)

For me, the final factor was that if I enrolled at TESC, I could get a Pell grant for $3000, but not at Excelsior. Since my husband is also in college, and we have 4 kids- the dollar rules here.

If money wasn't an issue for me, the math issue would be :eek: I would go for the algebra over pre-calc!!

[hsing]

Thanks, Jennifer for your detailed response!

Were you able to find this level of information (the specific pros and cons) BEFORE you submitted an application (plus $75 fee) to each institution? If so, how? (just by phone calls?)

Or, did you just apply to both and see how you would come out best?

BTW, I failed to included the required (BSBM) TESC online of Managerial Communications. A whopping $530!

I'm sure I've missed some other things here and there on both sides...

Yes. The ability to count various DSST and CLEP (200 level and above) in the Major area of study seems to be a big plus!

Here is the link to the TESC college catalog:

http://www.tesc.edu/catalog/pdf/catalog.pdf
On page 106 & 107 you will find a list of all the CLEP and DSST tests and how they fit into each level (100, 200, 300 or 400).

Does anyone know if Excelsior has a similar equivalence chart printed somewhere in their materials?

[barcotta]

You can cut down the Info Lit at Excelsior by taking a one credit course at your local community college. In CA, credits are $20 each and I photocopied the pages from the book so I spent about $10 on that. The course was Introduction to Research. There were only two meetings required--first day and last. I'm sure other community colleges have similar programs too.

[cookderosa]

[QUOTE=hsing]Thanks, Jennifer for your detailed response!

Were you able to find this level of information (the specific pros and cons) BEFORE you submitted an application (plus $75 fee) to each institution? If so, how? (just by phone calls?)>>


Well, I ended up applying to both ($150) because I have an Associate Degree that I had hoped would count (it didn't) and so I shelled out the bucks anyway. BUT, you should be able to do this without cost.

<<Or, did you just apply to both and see how you would come out best?>>


For me, I only had 1 course (2 credits) that either college counted. My other degree was NA and didn't count.

<<BTW, I failed to included the required (BSBM) TESC online of Managerial Communications. A whopping $530!>>

Yikes!

<<I'm sure I've missed some other things here and there on both sides...>>

I think you nailed the gist of it. I spent weeks playing with tests and fitting them into a plan. I found it fun in a type A kinda way. hilarious

<<Yes. The ability to count various DSST and CLEP (200 level and above) in the Major area of study seems to be a big plus!

Here is the link to the TESC college catalog:

http://www.tesc.edu/catalog/pdf/catalog.pdf
On page 106 & 107 you will find a list of all the CLEP and DSST tests and how they fit into each level (100, 200, 300 or 400). >>

That is what I used at TESC. You are lucky to find it! I thought it was quite hidden!

<<Does anyone know if Excelsior has a similar equivalence chart printed somewhere in their materials?

Here is what I did: You have to sign in and go to the course listing. (forgive me here, it has been a few months, so I can't recall the exact names of tabs and links from that website) Anyway, you open the course description and it will have a name/number PSY101 Introduction to Psychology and then there will be a listing of where it fits into each degree at the bottom. (lower level or upper level, in major or gen ed). Use that for the "exact matches" of course titles for the CLEP and DSSTs. (Intro Psych is Intro Psych) I didn't recall a course equivalency guide for other CLEPs and DSSTs, but there may be one- and someone here who is enrolled might really be better able to answer that question.>>[/B]

[bawhitsett]

BTW, I failed to included the required (BSBM) TESC online of Managerial Communications. A whopping $530!

I actually found a Business Communications class at my local CC that TESC accepted for this requirement. Was a little over $200. It's typically a part of the Administrative Assistant program that most CC's offer.

[mjstewie]

<<Does anyone know if Excelsior has a similar equivalence chart printed somewhere in their materials?

Check out the Student Guide & Assessment Catalog, page 39 has a brake down of LL/UL for CLEP, DSST, and ECE.

[BMWGuinness]

hsing.

Which college did you end up going with? and for what reasons?

Thanks!

[hsing]

Sorry. Haven't enrolled yet. Will let you know.

[zeroglory]

Excelsior:
Application Fee: $75.00
Tuition: $895.00
Technology Services Fee: $440.00
Graduation Fee: $495.00
Total: $1,905.00

The technology services fee... I assume you are referring to the Student services annual fee at Excelsior? After reading the prospective students tuition and fees information PDF, I can't tell if you have to pay that every year, or just if you take longer than a year to complete your degree.

Which is it?