Key Takeaways:
- Thomas Edison State University (TESU) offers 149 flexible degree programs, including online and on-site options, with credits for life experiences.
- TESU provides affordable tuition, with comprehensive plans starting at $7,519 for NJ residents and various financial aid options available.
- Accredited by MSCHE and other specialized bodies, TESU ensures quality education, particularly excelling in nursing, business, and engineering programs.
Flexible TESU Degrees Offered Anytime, Anywhere
Thomas Edison State University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Best Most Affordable Master’s in Emergency Management Online.
Ranked Forbes’ fourth-best college for adults, Thomas Edison State University has a 15:1 student-professor ratio for delivering all 35 associate, 68 bachelor’s, and 46 graduate majors either in Trenton or online via Moodle with credit for life experiences. For example, the A.A.S. in Polysomnography builds a 61-credit, CAAHEP-accredited curriculum toward board certification online with two clinical practica at Capital Health and St. Charles Sleep Disorders Center. Chaired by Dr. Michael Williams since 2013, the 120-credit B.S. in Marketing melds hybrid courses like Retail Sales Promotion, Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society membership, and 12-week internships, such as Hibu. The M.S. in Data Science uniquely partners with the Institute of Statistics Education for a 35-credit online sequence outlined by Dr. John Woznicki with an R or Python Track in Big Data careers growing by 22 percent.
Featured Programs
Other options include the A.S. in Aviation Maintenance, A.A. in General Studies, B.S. in Construction, B.S. in Energy Systems, B.S. in Dental Hygiene, B.A. in Religion, M.S. in Technical Studies, M.S. in Clinical Trials Management, and M.S. in Homeland Security.
About Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University originated on July 1, 1972, when the New Jersey Board of Education chartered it as Edison College in honor of the inventor and self-directed learning pioneer. That Fall, an inaugural Edison class of 70 enrolled for Associate of Arts degrees. Regionally accredited in 1977, it acquired its two-acre, eight-building Trenton campus in the State House Historic District in 1979. The following year, it was renamed the Thomas A. Edison State College for public status. Given the $1.8 million Challenge Grant from Governor Kean in 1986, it launched one of the first dial-up online courses in 1987. By 1994, The New York Times was labeling Edison as a “Bright Star” in higher education. On December 22, 2015, Secretary Rochelle Hendricks approved its latest Thomas Edison State University title. Worth $114.3 million, TESU now serves 18,684 adults from 60 nations at an average age of 36 online or on-site with clubs like Alpha Sigma Lambda. College Factual placed Edison 281st for business, 209th for engineering, and 158th for nursing nationally.
Thomas Edison State University Accreditation Details
On November 16, 2017, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accepted a Periodic Review Report from Thomas Edison State University to reaffirm the Level V accreditation through 2022 under its fourth president, Dr. Merodie A. Hancock, who once won the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. Located 33 miles down Route 13 in Philadelphia, this esteemed eight-territory East Coast accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and New Jersey Department of Education. The Center for Learning & Technology also lists the following specialized accreditations:
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education
- Teacher Education Accreditation Council
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Thomas Edison State University Application Requirements
Getting into Thomas Edison State University is labeled “non-competitive” by Peterson’s since the Fall 2017 acceptance rate for 15,238 hopeful applicants was 100 percent. Undergrads aged 21 and older must have culminated high school or passed the GED with 150 subject scores. Most have finished 24+ non-remedial credits graded “C” or better at regionally accredited colleges. Cumulative GPAs above 2.0 are mandated. Otherwise, first-year entrants need a minimum 236 Reading, 241 Sentence Skills, and 216 Arithmetic mark on the Accuplacer. Note the Online BSN only considers registered nurses who’ve passed the NCLEX-RN exam. A maximum of 80 community college and 117 university credits can transfer. The Graduate School seeks cohorts already holding four-year baccalaureates with 2.50 GPAs or higher. Three to five years of professional experience is strongly preferred. The M.A.Ed. in Leadership requires state-approved certification plus current K-12 employment. Master of Science in Nursing entrants need RN licensing, 3.0 GPAs, and clinical prerequisites. The School of Business & Management only demands GMAT scores over 400 for GPAs below 3.0.
Thomas Edison State University has rolling undergrad admission for 12 terms each year to avoid stressful deadlines. However, the Graduate School has final application dates of November 15th, February 15th, May 15th, and August 15th. School of Business & Management cohorts apply until the 15th of November, January, March, May, July, or September though. As such, complete the TESU Application online for $75 (fee waiver request available). Have official transcripts mailed to the Registrar’s Office at 111 West State Street in Trenton, NJ 08606. Social security numbers are required for IRS Form 1098-T. International visa holders must verify a minimum 6.5 IELTS or 500 TOEFL pBT English score. The Graduate School also seeks a 500-word background statement, two recommendations, current résumé, and essay questions. Learn more by contacting (609) 777-5680 or admissions@tesu.edu.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, Thomas Edison State University had a comprehensive tuition plan of $7,519 for New Jersey residents. Non-resident undergrads paid $9,967 per year. Studying part-time incurs $396 to $499 per credit. Non-matriculated students spend more at $525 per credit. Note the Cornerstone TES-100 course costs only $300 total. The BSN Program uniquely bills New Jerseyans $440 and non-residents $538 per credit. TESU budgets $1,700 for textbooks, $5,103 for off-campus housing, and $567 for personal expenses. Annual bachelor’s attendance averages $14,670 in-state and $17,190 out-of-state. The Graduate School generally charges $668 per credit. Online MBA tuition rises to $714 per credit or $21,420 total. The Doctor of Nursing Practice costs $740 per credit, which equals $26,640 overall.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in the A. Henry Cooper Kelsey Building gives 12 percent of TESU students median assistance of $2,137 for $2.92 million combined. University funds include the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Grant, W. Cary Edwards Scholarship, Thomas Eklund Scholarship, Susan Friedman Scholarship, Donald & Richard Gillespie Scholarship, Helene Fuld Health Scholarship, Norma Horton Scholarship, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Scholarship, Larraine Matusak Scholarship, Robert Sydney Needham Scholarship, Julia Cadiz Scholarship, and Francisca Reyes Scholarship. Since 2015, the Switzer Foundation has awarded $2,000 scholarships to Thomas Edison State nursing majors living within 50 miles of New York City. The Military Scholarship has a July 31st deadline for active duty and veteran service members with GI Bill benefits. Filling out FAFSA forms coded 011648 provides Federal Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, Work-Study, and Direct Loan consideration. New Jersey natives claim the Opportunity Grant, TAG Award, Stars Scholarship, BEST Scholarship, and more. The ABET-accredited engineering program qualifies for the $10,000 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Scholarship too.
Search through five accredited, adult-friendly schools with 100+ areas of study on the Thomas Edison State University website.