The Evolution of Excelsior University
In a bold step forward for our institution, Excelsior College officially became Excelsior University on August 1, 2022. The university designation symbolized the start of a new chapter in a storied history. Like the chapters before—the creation of the Regents External Degree Program, the transition to Regents College, and the new charter and transition to Excelsior College—our current iteration further highlights the evolutionary transformation of the institution.
Our work as a comprehensive university is just beginning. In 2024, Excelsior launched two new Bachelor of Science programs in the critical fields of computer science and public health, meeting societal and workforce needs with in-demand, market-responsive opportunities. In 2025, Excelsior submitted the request to become a doctoral degree-granting institution. The first doctorate to be offered will be the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), scheduled to launch after New York State Education Department approval. Additional applied doctoral programs will follow.
Along with new degrees, Excelsior University is enhancing the ways in which students learn. In fall 2025, Excelsior will launch a new Executive MBA program, combining the flexibility of online education with immersive, on-the-ground residencies for an intensive learning experience that connects students with industry leaders.
This year, Excelsior will celebrate the graduation of its 200,000th student. We will commemorate this milestone at the 2025 Commencement ceremony in July, welcoming and celebrating all Excelsior graduates and their families.
As Excelsior University prepares for its 200,000th graduate to earn their degree, we reflect on the decades of innovation that created the Excelsior University of today. Much has changed since the institution issued its first diploma as the Regents External Degree Program in 1972, but its mission remains the same: to make the transformative power of education accessible to all.
I invite you to learn more about Excelsior University. If you are a graduate, become an active member of the Alumni Association. If you are considering finishing a degree or starting a new degree, there is no better place than Excelsior University to realize your lifetime goals.
Ever upward!
David Schejbal, PhD
President
Excelsior University President David Schejbal is a leading voice in adult and nontraditional higher education. His insights have been featured in such publications as Forbes, The EvoLLLution, and Inside Higher Ed. Stay up to date with some of President Schejbal’s recent interviews and articles.
