Excelsior University gets asked about legitimacy more than most schools. It is fully online, heavily transfer-friendly, and accepts credit from military training and third-party platforms — a combination that raises questions for students, employers, and licensing boards unfamiliar with it. This page covers what Excelsior’s accreditation actually means, how its degrees are recognized, and what prospective students need to verify before enrolling.
Quick Answer
Yes. Excelsior University is a legitimate, regionally accredited nonprofit university. It holds Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation — the same regional accreditor as Rutgers, Penn State, and Georgetown. Founded in 1971, chartered by the New York Board of Regents, and consistently ranked among the top schools in the country for military and veteran students. Its degrees are recognized by employers and accepted for graduate school admission at regionally accredited institutions.
Table of Contents
1) Accreditation: What It Is and What Excelsior Has
2) Military and Veteran Recognition
1) Accreditation: What It Is and What Excelsior Has
Accreditation is the primary indicator of institutional legitimacy in American higher education. There are two types that matter: regional accreditation and national accreditation. Regional accreditation is the higher standard — it is what traditional nonprofit universities hold, and it is what employers, graduate schools, and licensing boards recognize when evaluating a degree. National accreditation is typically held by for-profit vocational schools, and credits from nationally accredited schools are often not transferable to regionally accredited universities.
Excelsior holds regional accreditation. This is not a technicality — it is the same standard as every major public and private nonprofit university in the country.
| Credential | Details |
|---|---|
| Regional Accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) — same accreditor as Rutgers University, Penn State, Temple University, and Georgetown University |
| Charter | Chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. Operates as a nonprofit institution under New York State education law. |
| Founded | 1971 as the Regents External Degree Program. Became Excelsior College in 2001, renamed Excelsior University in 2021. |
| Nursing Accreditation | Nursing programs hold additional accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). |
| Headquarters | Albany, New York. Fully online delivery — no physical campus attendance required for most programs. |
| Institutional Type | Nonprofit. Not a for-profit institution. |
| Big Three Status | One of three schools known in the adult learner community for maximum transfer credit flexibility, alongside Thomas Edison State University and Charter Oak State College. All three are regionally accredited and nonprofit. |
2) Military and Veteran Recognition
Excelsior’s flexible credit policies were originally designed for active-duty service members who needed to complete degrees around deployment schedules. It remains one of the most veteran-friendly regionally accredited universities in the country, and its legitimacy in the military community is well established.
| Recognition | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Military Friendly School | Consistently designated as a Military Friendly School by VIQTORY — one of the most widely recognized designations in the veteran education space. |
| GI Bill Approved | Approved for Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill benefits. VA education benefits can be applied to tuition and fees. |
| Military Credit Transfer | Accepts credit for ACE-evaluated military training and occupational experience. Many veterans transfer significant credit from service before taking a single Excelsior course. |
| Tuition Assistance Compatible | Accepts military tuition assistance (TA) from all service branches. Active-duty students can use TA to fund coursework while serving. |
3) Transfer Credit Policies
Excelsior’s transfer credit policies are among the most flexible of any regionally accredited university. The average undergraduate transfers in roughly half of their required credits before completing the remainder at Excelsior. Sources of accepted credit include prior college coursework, military training, standardized exams, and partner platforms.
| Credit Source | Transfer Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prior college coursework | Accepted from regionally accredited institutions with a passing grade | No cap on number of transfer credits from accredited schools |
| StraighterLine | Formal partner — guaranteed transfer for applicable courses | See our Excelsior + StraighterLine page for full details |
| Sophia Learning | Partner platform — select courses transfer with tuition discount available | Verify specific course acceptance with advisor before enrolling |
| Military training (ACE) | ACE-evaluated military training accepted for applicable credit | Amount varies by military occupational specialty and program |
| CLEP and DSST exams | Accepted for credit in applicable subject areas | One of the most CLEP-friendly schools in the country |
| Professional certifications | Select certifications may qualify through ACE evaluation | Varies by certification and program — verify with advisor |
Post-Admission Credit Evaluation Fee
Excelsior charges a fee to evaluate transfer credits submitted after initial enrollment. Students planning to use StraighterLine, Sophia, or other outside credits should submit those before or at the time of enrollment to avoid this fee. Always verify specific credit transfer eligibility with your Excelsior advisor before starting any outside coursework.
4) Degree Recognition and Graduate School
The practical question for most students is not whether Excelsior is accredited — it is — but whether its degree is recognized where it matters. For the vast majority of employment, licensing, and graduate school contexts, it is. There is one area where verification is essential before enrolling.
| Context | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General employer recognition | Recognized | Regional accreditation is the standard employers and HR systems use. An Excelsior degree appears as a regionally accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree. |
| Federal government jobs | Recognized | OPM accepts degrees from regionally accredited institutions. Excelsior graduates are employed across federal agencies including DOD and VA. |
| Graduate school admission | Generally accepted | Most regionally accredited graduate programs accept Excelsior degrees. Highly selective programs weigh institutional prestige as they would for any less-selective undergraduate school. |
| Nursing licensure (NCLEX) | Verify by state | Most states accept Excelsior nursing programs for NCLEX eligibility. California has historically had restrictions. Verify with your state board of nursing before enrolling. |
| Professional licensing (non-nursing) | Generally recognized | Most state licensing boards recognize regionally accredited degrees. Verify with your specific licensing board if licensure is the goal. |
If You Need the Degree to Get a License, Verify First
For nursing and other licensed professions, state boards set their own requirements independently of federal accreditation standards. The majority of states accept Excelsior’s programs, but exceptions exist. Contact your state licensing board directly before enrolling if licensure is the end goal of your degree. This is especially important for nursing students in California.
Enrolled at Excelsior and need help with a math or science course?
FMMC completes Excelsior math courses on MyMathLab with an A/B grade guarantee. See our Excelsior University help hub for the full list of courses we cover, or contact us directly with your course and deadline.
5) Frequently Asked Questions
Is Excelsior University accredited?
Yes. Excelsior University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Regional accreditation is the highest standard of institutional accreditation in the United States and is held by traditional nonprofit universities including Rutgers, Penn State, and Georgetown. Excelsior is also a nonprofit institution chartered by the New York State Board of Regents.
Is Excelsior University a for-profit school?
No. Excelsior University is a nonprofit institution. It is not affiliated with any for-profit education company. It was founded in 1971 by the New York State Board of Regents as a public service institution and has operated as a nonprofit throughout its history.
Will employers recognize an Excelsior degree?
Yes for the vast majority of employers. Regional accreditation is the standard that employer HR systems and credential verification services use. An Excelsior degree is a regionally accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree from a nonprofit university — it will appear as such on a background check or credential evaluation. Federal government positions, which use OPM standards, also recognize regionally accredited degrees.
Can I use GI Bill benefits at Excelsior University?
Yes. Excelsior is approved for both Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill benefits. Military tuition assistance from all service branches is also accepted. Excelsior additionally accepts ACE-evaluated credit for military training and occupational experience, which can significantly reduce the number of courses a veteran needs to complete at Excelsior.
Is an Excelsior degree accepted for graduate school?
Generally yes. Most regionally accredited graduate programs accept undergraduate degrees from other regionally accredited institutions including Excelsior. Highly selective graduate programs may factor in institutional prestige in their admissions decisions, as they would for any less-selective undergraduate institution. For professional master’s programs and most doctoral programs at state universities, an Excelsior degree is a standard qualifying credential.
Is Excelsior’s nursing program accepted in all states?
Most states accept Excelsior’s nursing programs for NCLEX eligibility, but not all. California has historically had restrictions on licensure for graduates of certain nursing programs. Before enrolling in any Excelsior nursing program, contact your state board of nursing directly to confirm that the specific program satisfies licensure requirements in your state. This is a critical step that should happen before enrollment, not after graduation.
How does Excelsior compare to other online universities?
Excelsior is one of three schools in the adult learner community known as the “Big Three” for transfer credit flexibility — alongside Thomas Edison State University and Charter Oak State College. All three are regionally accredited, nonprofit, and designed for students with significant prior credit. Compared to for-profit online universities, Excelsior’s nonprofit status, regional accreditation, and 50-year track record put it in a substantially different category.
What math courses does Excelsior require?
Math requirements vary by program. Most programs require at least one quantitative course. Common requirements include MAT 101 for liberal arts and general studies programs, MAT 114 Intermediate Algebra as a prerequisite, MAT 201 Statistics for nursing, psychology, and business, and BUS 233 Business Statistics for management majors. See our Excelsior University help hub for the full course breakdown and links to each course page.