Degree Programs at Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Great College Deals: Master of Public Administration Online.
Thomas Edison State University is in New Jersey. It offers full degree programs as well as transition and online programs. It has more than 100 programs to choose from. Students can easily find one that interests them and will help them meet their career goals. Some of these are non-credit programs that award students certificates rather than degrees. These programs include focus areas in radiation safety and policies and procedure writing for professionals.
All of the undergrad degree programs allow students to earn credit in different ways, including through the military and professional certificates that they have. The majors available range from accounting to theater arts. They allow students to earn a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) programs are available in select fields such as accounting and finance.
A few associate degree programs are also available, including an Associate in Science in Technical Studies. This program includes computer science and engineering courses. It can help students transfer into a bachelor’s program.
Students who already have at least 60 credits can enroll in one of the university’s Bachelor’s to Master’s programs. Instead of spending a lot of time working on a bachelor’s degree, they can finish that degree quickly and immediately begin a graduate program. The university offers options such as:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Science programs in Liberal Studies
- Management
- Homeland Security
- Data Science and Analytics
Students can study general management as well as human resources management and public service management. The university also offers a transition program in online learning for those who want to teach online classes.
To help students who already have a bachelor’s degree, the university offers several graduate degree programs. Two of the Master of Arts programs accept education majors and allow them to major in online learning or leadership. The MBA program features multiple concentrations. It shows students how all the different business concepts work together, including:
- economics
- management
- accounting
A Master of Science in Nursing program is only open to those who already have a nursing license and a bachelor’s degree. The university also offers a doctoral program in nursing practice for licensed nurses.
A number of online degree programs introduced over the years give students a new way to earn their degrees. The university accepts students into these programs whether they live in New Jersey or any other state. It offers 13 associate programs, including a general Associate of Arts and degrees in specific fields such as:
- applied computer studies
- nuclear engineering technology
- criminal justice
The more than 30 online bachelor’s programs include majors in:
- operations management
- psychology
- liberal studies
- data science and analytics
Thomas Edison State University also offers 11 online graduate programs in degree programs such as an MBA or a Master of Public Service Leadership (MPSL).
About Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University is a public university. The flagship campus is in Trenton, New Jersey. Established in 1972, it offers liberal arts programs to undergrads and graduate students. The university now focuses on the education of adult learners and other nontraditional students such as those enlisted in a branch of the military. Students can take assessments and go through evaluations to earn credits for any professional certificates or experiences they have. Also called TESU, it has a good reputation in Trenton because of the work it did to buildings in the city and for the number of jobs it brought. Enrollment at TESU across all programs includes more than 17,000 undergrads and close to 1,100 graduate and post-graduate students.
Thomas Edison State University Accreditation Details
TESU has program accreditation from organizations that include:
- the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
The university also holds regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Thomas Edison State University Application Requirements
The only requirements for undergrads at TESU is that:
- they are at least 21 years old when they start a program
- they have either a high school diploma or a GED
Students who are in the military can enroll in classes as soon as they turn 18, but students not in the military must be 21 or older. Those who want to transfer credits must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher and submit a transcript from the school where they took those classes. Students who have no college credits will need to take a placement test and score 216 or higher in all three sections of the test. TESU requires that students applying to a transition program have at least 60 credits of college classes and a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
TESU has different requirements for graduate students, including an evaluation of any transcript submitted. This evaluation will make sure students have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and that they took courses that will help them at the graduate level. Students will also need to write and submit two or more essays and provide two letters of reference. Other requirements include a personal statement and at least two years of professional experience.
Some programs require that students have at least three to five years of experience. The university asks students to submit their transcripts and other required documents when they submit their applications.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergrads attending TESU pay $396 as a New Jersey resident and $499 as a nonresident. Most graduate students will pay $668 per credit hour, as the university does not charge a nonresident rate for its graduate programs. Those enrolled in the MBA program will pay a higher rate of $714 per credit hour. Military students can get credit for their past experiences through exams. These cost $25 to $75 for each credit hour granted to the student. These students also qualify for a discount tuition rate of $250 per credit hour. TESU accepts all types of financial aid and allows students to submit the FAFSA to get federal and state aid. There are also some scholarships available from Thomas Edison State University for working adults who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.