Transfer and Evaluated Credit Sources
This policy governs the sources of credit which are considered for transfer into or evaluated for acceptance at Excelsior University. The credit application policy and degree program curriculum dictate which eligible transfer or evaluated sources of credit can apply toward an Excelsior University degree program.
All approved transfer or evaluated sources of credit will be assigned a “Pass" (P) grade on Excelsior transcripts and will not factor into the Excelsior GPA.
Excelsior operates on a trimester calendar. One unit of credit is equivalent to one-semester credit. A unit of credit earned at colleges on the quarter-hour system will be converted to the semester credit equivalent (i.e., one quarter-hour equals two-thirds of a semester credit). All other credit-hour systems listed on other college transcripts will be researched and converted to semester credit equivalents.
Regardless of the total number of transfer or evaluated credits awarded, students must meet minimum degree, program, and institutional credit requirements, as appropriate. Excelsior reserves the right to accept or deny credit from any specific institution or program. Transfer and evaluated credit will not apply toward all requirements within the Master of Science in Nursing (all programs) and the Executive Master of Business Administration, and within the major core/nursing component of the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing, Associate in Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the RN to MS in Nursing, and the LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree programs.
Accredited Institutional Transfer Credit
Excelsior will consider transfer credits from institutions holding institutional accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The accrediting body must be recognized by the USDE at the time of the student’s attendance. In addition, Excelsior will consider in transfer credits from higher education institutions within New York State that are authorized by the New York State Board of Regents to award college degrees and whose programs are registered by the New York State Education Department.
Such institutions must award at a minimum an associate or baccalaureate college degree. Transfer-eligible credit must be applicable to the previously mentioned college degree programs. Additional verification from a specific institution will be required if the student attended prior to its institutional accreditation or New York State Board of Regents recognition (i.e., during candidacy and/or earlier).
Transfer eligible credit includes credit-bearing challenge examinations from institutionally accredited institutions which have been developed for the matriculated students of that institution and reported for credit on their transcripts.
Restrictions
The following degree program requirements can only consider transfer course work from institutions accredited by the following accreditors: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Higher Learning Commission, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Senior and Junior Colleges).
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Associate in Applied Science in Nursing – Nursing Major Core, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, sociology requirement, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology.
Associate in Science in Nursing – Nursing Component, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, sociology requirement, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Nursing Major Core, Ethics, psychology requirement, sociology requirement, Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology.
LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Nursing Component, Ethics, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, sociology requirement, Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology.
RN to MS in Nursing (all programs) – Nursing Major Core, Ethics, psychology requirement, sociology requirement, Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology.
Technology Degree Programs – For accrediting bodies not listed above, faculty must review syllabi for core and concentration course work to be considered in transfer for the following degree programs: Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology (including dual degree with MBA), Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (including dual degrees with MBA and MS in Cybersecurity), Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. For the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, faculty must review syllabi for discrete mathematics, major core course in statistics, technology, computer science, information technology, and the concentration.
Military Credit
The primary method for considering college credit for military learning experiences is the submission of an official Joint Services Transcript (JST) listing American Council on Education (ACE)-recommended credits. Credit must be presented on a document to award credit. Therefore, additional official or supporting documentation may be needed to award credit. In addition, Excelsior considers degree applicable college-level transfer credit for the following military experiences:
- Air University and Community College of the Air Force – Excelsior will consider credit for institutionally accredited course work from Air University and the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript.
- Military Credit on Institutionally Accredited Transcript – Excelsior does not routinely consider military transfer credit listed on transcripts from other colleges. However, if one of the following criteria is met, Excelsior does consider transfer credit submitted on an accredited college transcript:
- An accredited college whose faculty are contracted to provide the instruction of the military service school course and awards college-level credit for the instruction.
- The military credit listed on the accredited transcript is a military-offered educational experience that has been evaluated by a college that is a member of the military or government partnership consortium. The college must meet the following criteria for the credit to be accepted in transfer: credit must be listed by course equivalency or requirement equivalency (block credit format not accepted); the college’s evaluation must adhere to standards from organizations with experience in assessing learning such as CAEL and ACE; the college must be a DoD MOU institution in good standing.
- Marine Corps Military Occupational Specialties – Excelsior will consider credit for Marine Corps personnel qualified in their MOS, which has not been evaluated by ACE, based on comparable Army MOSs which are evaluated and recommended for credit by ACE.
- Aviation Commissioned Officer MOSs and Ratings – Excelsior will consider credit for Army Commissioned Aviation Officers, whose Occupation has not been evaluated by ACE, based on comparable Army Warrant Aviation Officer Occupation which is evaluated and recommended for credit by ACE.
- Defense Language & Foreign Service Institute Courses and Defense Language Proficiency Tests – Excelsior considers in transfer credit for the Defense Language Institute courses, Defense Language Proficiency Tests (DLPT), and Foreign Service Institute courses. Credit must be presented on an official DLPT transcript or signed DA330 submitted directly by an Education Office.
International Credit
Students must forward their official documents to an evaluation agency recommended by Excelsior for evaluating and interpreting international credentials. Courses taken at postsecondary institutions without this status will not be considered for credit unless the credits fall under another acceptable credit source category.
Students who wish to submit transcripts from post-secondary institutions outside the United States should check the publication "Transcripts Accepted Directly From Institutions Outside of the U.S. and U.S Territories" on the University’s website. Transcripts from institutions on this list may be submitted directly following guidelines in the Submission of Incoming Official Credit Bearing Documentation policy.
For all other institutions, students must forward their official documents to an evaluation agency recommended by Excelsior University for evaluating and interpreting international credentials. International transcripts should not be submitted directly to Excelsior in this case. Students should reference the following degree program breakdown to identify the appropriate evaluation agency and report type for the degree program they are seeking. All evaluation agencies charge a fee for their services.
- Non-Nursing Undergraduate Programs – Students who are seeking enrollment in an undergraduate program and have completed a degree or some college credits from international institutions should submit a Subject Analysis Transcript from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
- Non-Nursing Graduate Programs – Students who are seeking enrollment in a graduate program and have completed a degree from international institutions should submit a Course-by-Course from World Education Services (WES) for consideration into Excelsior graduate programs.
- Nursing Degree Program – Nursing students with credentials from international nursing programs must submit their credentials to the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) for evaluation to determine Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse equivalency.
The evaluating agency makes recommendations to Excelsior University about the accreditation status of the international post-secondary institution, the amount of credit to be granted, courses to which the study is equivalent in the United States, and the degree status of students. Once the initial evaluation has been completed using an evaluation from ECE, WES, or CGFNS, a student will not be able to submit an evaluation from one of the other approved foreign credentials agencies for the same credits.
Non-Collegiate Sources of Credit
Excelsior reserves the right to evaluate and accept or deny transfer credit for non-collegiate learning experiences that have been evaluated and recommended for college credit by the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS), the American Council on Education Learning Evaluations (ACE), and non-collegiate credit that appears on an official transcript from institutionally accredited schools. Excelsior University will maintain a list of acceptable credit in an approved NCCRS/ACE Excelsior course list.
Learning experiences evaluated and recommended by NCCRS, or ACE must have been successfully completed during the period for which credit was recommended. An exception to this occurs in the case of documented advisor course/exam approvals, which will be honored for six (6) months from the date of the approval.
Documentation
Students seeking credit for NCCRS-evaluated or ACE-evaluated learning experiences must have official transcripts submitted to receive credit. Students need to request that an official transcript of the experiences they have successfully completed be sent to:
Excelsior University
Office of the Registrar
7 Columbia Circle
Albany, NY 12203-5159
The official transcript will enable Excelsior to verify successful completion and the dates of attendance. The transcript must have an original signature and a date not more than one year old. Photocopies of training records or transcripts are not acceptable.
NCCRS – To request an NCCRS transcript, contact the office within the organization responsible for administering the NCCRS-evaluated non-collegiate learning experiences.
ACE – To request an ACE transcript (preferred documentation) visit the American Council on Education National Guide web page. Transcripts submitted in a sealed envelope mailed directly from the company, on company letterhead, or in an approved transcript format are also acceptable.
Restrictions
Nursing Degree Programs: Credit from these sources will be accepted in a limited amount for students with an academic policy date on or after October 1, 2012. Excelsior nursing graduates who were awarded credit toward the degree from these sources will be able to apply those credits to another nursing degree provided they meet degree requirements. Acceptance of credit earned from military training, CLEP, and DSST examinations will not be limited.
- Associate in Applied Science in Nursing and Associate in Science in Nursing: Non-collegiate sources of credit will not apply to the nursing major core, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, sociology requirement, Anatomy and Physiology, or Microbiology. Up to 25% of the general education requirement can be comprised of non-collegiate source of credit.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing and RN to MS in Nursing (all programs): Non-collegiate sources of credit will not apply to the nursing major core, Ethics, psychology requirement, sociology requirement, Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology. Up to 25% of the general education component can be comprised of non-collegiate source of credit.
- LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Non-collegiate sources of credit will not apply to the nursing major core, Ethics, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, sociology requirement, Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology. Up to 25% of the general education component can be comprised of non-collegiate source of credit.
Technology Degree Programs: ACE and NCCRS evaluated credit will not apply to the following requirements.
- Bachelor of Science, Nuclear Engineering Technology (BNX): Calculus I and II; Physics I/Lab; Physics 2/Lab; Chemistry/Lab; Atomic/Nuclear Physics, Thermodynamics/Lab, Nuclear Engineering Technology Component/major core and concentration.
- Bachelor of Science, Electronic Engineering Technology (BEL): Calculus I and II; Differential Equations; Physics I/Lab; Physics 2/Lab, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering Technology Component/major core and concentration.
- Bachelor of Science, Information Technology (BIX): Statistics; Discrete Mathematics; Information Technology Component/major core and concentration.
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (BCY): Statistics; Discrete Mathematics; Cybersecurity major core and concentration.
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS): Discrete Mathematics; major core and concentration.
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology (BMET): General Chemistry; major core; and concentration.
Credit for Prior Learning
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) at Excelsior University is the process to evaluate, accept, and assign course credit for learning experiences which occur outside of the traditional academic environment and are not validated by another accredited institution or academic evaluation provider. CPL determines whether the learning experience aligns with our instructional practices and learning outcomes as affirmed by professional faculty evaluation and university leadership approval.
Learning experiences evaluated and recommended by Excelsior must have been successfully completed during the period for which credit was recommended. An exception to this occurs in the case of documented advisor course/exam approvals, which will be honored for six (6) months from the date of the approval.
This procedure applies to Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) that appears on an official transcript from institutionally accredited schools that meets the criteria of the Accredited Institutional Transfer Credit section of the Transfer and Evaluated Credit Sources policy. Credit from Excelsior’s CPL program, ACE, NCCRS, and military credit sources do not follow this procedure.
Excelsior may accept transfer credit based on prior learning assessment if supporting documentation provided by the originating school is deemed acceptable according to current federal, state, and accreditation standards and sufficient information is provided to justify applying that credit to the student's degree program or to permit Excelsior to classify the credit.
To be considered acceptable, credit for prior learning must be transcribed as course analogs with specific course titles included. The credits on the issuing college's transcript are acceptable if they meet the transfer credit grading standards outlined in the Transfer Credit Grading procedure.
Excelsior does not accept block credit, except for law enforcement block credit. When prior learning in law enforcement is awarded and the student submits additional coursework in criminal justice, the academic evaluator must obtain all relevant syllabi and program materials to ensure that the coursework is not duplicative. This process is not necessary if the law enforcement academy is listed in the originating college’s catalog as awarding degree-applicable credit. However, credit from law enforcement academies classified as block credit will not be applied toward Criminal Justice degree programs.
Rabbinical & Talmudic School Credit (AARTS)
Excelsior University will consider credits in transfer from Rabbinical and Talmudic schools accredited by the Association for Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS) on a sliding scale when a student has successfully completed between 30 and 60 semester hours of credit and the institution holds “accredited” status or held “candidate” status during the student’s attendance and subsequently achieved “accredited” status. “Correspondence” status and schools in “candidate” status that never achieved “accredited” status are not acceptable. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required.
New York University Foreign Language Proficiency Examination Credit
Excelsior University considers the credit recommendations for foreign language proficiency examinations administered by the School of Continuing Education at New York University.
International Baccalaureate Credit
Excelsior University will consider credit for the International Baccalaureate (IB) certificate or an IB diploma based on scores received on the Higher Level (HL) examinations passed.
| Scale | Credit Hours (Semester Hours) |
| 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 4 |
| 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 6 |
In addition, students who have earned an IB diploma may receive 3 semester hours for each standard level (SL) examination passed with a score of 5 or better, up to a combined maximum of 30 semester hours [HL+SL < or = to 30 semester hours].
Students must submit an official IB Transcript of Grades from International Baccalaureate. All IB courses will apply as lower level. Evaluators will refer to the above sliding scale to determine credit award.
IB courses listed as transfer credit on an institutionally accredited college transcript will be accepted if such acceptance is not in conflict with the above scale. When the IB is listed as transfer credit on an institutionally accredited college transcript and the score and examination title are not listed, the student will be required to submit the official IB transcript of grades.
Additional Procedures
Approved transfer and evaluated credit will be awarded a grade of "Pass" and are not factored into the student's grade point average (GPA) at Excelsior. Coursework accepted for transfer and evaluated credit in an undergraduate degree requires a grade of “C-” or higher, and graduate coursework accepted for transfer and evaluated credit into a graduate degree requires a grade of “B” or higher. If the program from which the student wishes to transfer credit awards grades using a Pass/Fail or numeric grading system, rather than a letter-grade system, the credit may be transferred only if a grade of “Pass” or the numerical grade issued by the institution as the equivalent of a “C-” or higher (70%) for undergraduate program transfer credit or “B” or higher (80%) for graduate program transfer credit.
Previously awarded letter grades will not be converted to “Pass” grades.
Pass Grade Exception
Undergraduate Coursework: In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the University will accept in transfer P graded undergraduate coursework from accredited schools taken during the Spring 2020 semester for ALL degree requirements, even if the external school equates P grades to a D or higher, and even if the Excelsior requirement indicates the student must have earned a letter grade of B/C or higher.
Graduate Coursework: In response to the COVID-19 crisis, students with P grades for graduate coursework from accredited schools taken in the Spring 2020 semester which the external institution equates to a D or C and higher can appeal to the dean of their school to have the credit accepted. Such appeals may include the submission of the instructor recommendation, copies of completed assignments, and/or a letter from the transfer institution providing the student’s P grade equivalency.
