Excelsior University Pursues Strategic Partnership with Fielding Graduate University: Frequently Asked Questions

A Bold Path Together

Excelsior University and Fielding Graduate University have entered into an agreement to merge. The agreement was approved unanimously by the governing boards of both institutions.

Once the required conditions and approvals are fulfilled, Fielding would merge into Excelsior and become the Fielding College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. The new Fielding College will honor the rich history of Fielding Graduate University and continue to offer its outstanding programs. This merger creates new pathways for learners, complementing and expanding current programs at Excelsior.

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Since 1971, Excelsior University has been a pioneer in higher education, empowering adult learners around the world to achieve their goals with an innovative, flexible, and accessible approach to higher education.

For more than fifty years, Fielding Graduate University has had a similar vision.

We stand for bold ideas, social justice, and education that meets students where they are.

Our universities have never been afraid to evolve, and today, that spirit of innovation takes a remarkable new step forward.

Together, Fielding and Excelsior are proud to announce that our boards of trustees have voted to move forward with a merger.

This is a celebratory moment.

It brings together two universities that share a deep belief in lifelong learning for adults, inclusion, and the power of education to transform lives.

And it is a partnership rooted in respect for each other’s histories and missions.

Fielding has spent five decades redefining graduate education for adult learners.

Our programs, our mentoring model, and our focus on behavioral and social sciences will now thrive within Excelsior University.

Fielding’s program portfolio complements and expands Excelsior’s existing programs.

Excelsior’s strategic evolution is built on expanding access and opportunities through academic innovation, and this merger creates the new Fielding College at Excelsior, opening new pathways for learners from certificates to doctoral degrees, complementing and expanding Excelsior’s existing programs.

For Fielding alumni, this ensures the Fielding name continues with strength and pride, backed by an institute that shares our dedication to excellence and social impact.

For Excelsior students and alumni, this means new programs, new opportunities, and more ways to achieve your goals together.

We are building a stronger, more sustainable future for adult learners everywhere.

This partnership is grounded in a shared purpose.

Both Fielding and Excelsior were founded on the idea that education is transformative for individuals, families, communities, and society.

As part of Excelsior’s strategic evolution, this merger strengthens our foundation and expands our reach to serve adult learners in even more powerful ways.

At a time of profound and dynamic change in higher education, we are shaping the future of learning, rooted in community, driven by purpose, and inspired by possibility.

We’ve already begun working with our accrediting bodies to obtain necessary approvals and support a smooth transition, and we expect this work to unfold over the next several months.

This moment marks the beginning of a new era of growth, and for higher education, this is something bold.

We are creating a new model for mission-driven universities, expanding access, strengthening opportunities, and reimagining what it means to serve adult learners in the twenty-first century.

So join us as we build this future together.

About Fielding Graduate University

Fielding Graduate University, founded in 1974 in Santa Barbara, California, is a private, nonprofit institution with approximately 1,000 students and 7,500 alumni. Fielding Graduate University is a leader in graduate education, combining face‐to‐face experiences and online learning. Taught by faculty representing a breadth of scholarship and practice, their rigorous curriculum offers graduate-level courses and degrees in psychology, leadership, and education for professionals living and working anywhere in the world. Fielding is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and additionally is the only American Psychological Association (APA) accredited clinical psychology doctoral program using a distributed delivery model.

About Excelsior University

Excelsior University is a private, not-for-profit institution of higher education based in Albany, New York, with an educational site in St. Petersburg, Florida. Excelsior was founded in 1971 with a mission to provide educational opportunity to adult learners with an emphasis on those historically underrepresented in higher education. With more than 200,000 alumni worldwide and approximately 12,000 current students, Excelsior offers 39 career-focused degree programs in the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels, in areas of business, health sciences, liberal arts, nursing, public service, and technology. Excelsior University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), with programmatic and specialized accreditation via the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), ABET, and International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

Both institutions are pioneers in distance and adult education, and share values rooted in student-centricity, social justice, and community.

Through the intended merger, Excelsior’s institutional infrastructure and curricular offerings can be complemented by Fielding’s strengths in graduate education in the social sciences. Disciplines and degrees offered by Fielding do not overlap with existing Excelsior programs, meaning Excelsior would gain new academic pathways – including doctorates – and lifelong learning opportunities for students. In addition, Fielding’s university press, professional centers, and international engagements could provide significant benefits to Excelsior’s students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
If realized, a merger will create extensive opportunities for learners across a range of degrees and disciplines. Combining Fielding’s expertise in graduate and doctoral education with Excelsior’s degree portfolio and leadership in online learning will open doors for learners and create pathways for career and professional advancement.

While much work remains to be done, signing this agreement moves us into the regulatory phase of the merger process and includes close cooperation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission, the American Psychological Association, and the U.S. Department of Education. The completion of the regulatory phase may take a year or longer and will occur in steps.

We are committed to transparency throughout this process, and we will share additional information as it becomes available. Refer to the FAQ below and direct additional questions to transformationalpartnerships@excelsior.edu.
For additional FAQs for Fielding students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors, visit fielding.edu/excelsior.

Pursuing a Strategic Merger

Fielding’s expertise in psychology and leadership graduate studies complements Excelsior’s existing programs and offers pathways from undergraduate to terminal degrees. A new college within Excelsior, the Fielding College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, would be created by the merger to open new educational opportunities with doctoral programs, master’s programs, and post-baccalaureate certificate programs in a curricular array not currently offered at Excelsior.The intended merger would build financial, operational, and programmatic stability for Fielding, while creating new market opportunities and curricular pathways for both institutions.
The Boards of Fielding and Excelsior have voted unanimously to proceed with the merger; however, the merger is not final.
While much work remains to be done, signing this agreement moves us into the regulatory phase of the merger process and includes close cooperation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission, the American Psychological Association, and the U.S. Department of Education. The completion of the regulatory phase may take a year or longer and will occur in steps. During this process, teams from Fielding and Excelsior will continue detailed planning to prepare for a possible integration that is as seamless as possible for our communities.
We will share updates and key milestones regularly as details progress and as we move through the necessary approval steps. As discussions move forward between the institutions and regulatory bodies, we will have a better idea of the timeline.
There will be no immediate changes at Excelsior, and no final decisions have been made. A core team is working on this project, but it is not expected to impact day-to-day operations for the majority of Excelsior staff and faculty. We are committed to transparency and will share updates regularly as details progress, decisions are finalized, and we move through the necessary approval steps.
During this new stage, Excelsior and Fielding are still independent institutions. Our teams are working together on detailed planning for a potential integration, including academic, operational, and administrative considerations.
At the same time, both institutions have begun seeking various regulatory approvals required for the merger to move forward. This process may take a year or longer and will occur in steps.
Until the merger is final, Fielding continues to operate as a separate institution. Academic programs, student services, and University operations will continue largely the same.
Excelsior and Fielding share a commitment to expanding access to quality higher education, with a focus on adult learners, social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Both institutions were founded in the 1970s as pioneers aimed at changing the demographics represented in higher education. They both value innovation, curricular agility, and experimentation with new modalities and instructional methods.
The partnership is designed to honor and build upon the missions and cultures of both Excelsior and Fielding, ensuring continuity and growth for all stakeholders. Both institutions have 50+ year histories of fulfilling academic aspirations for their students. We are confident that together, we can be even more impactful for our students.

Excelsior teams will work closely with human resources and leadership at Fielding to maintain culture and community throughout the process. Our institutions are closely aligned in values and methodology, our programs are complementary, and a partnership could provide enormous benefits to students, staff, and faculty of both institutions. By aligning with Fielding, we build on the Excelsior mission while also ensuring that Fielding’s legacy endures — with both institutions stronger and ready for the future.

For nearly a decade, Fielding’s Board and executive leadership have been exploring various options to preserve its long-term legacy. Forming an affiliation with another institution was one of four strategic priorities established by the Fielding Board of Trustees for 2025-2026. Higher education has been experiencing historic change — enrollment shifts, student demographics, rising costs, increased competition, and operational demands. As a small, mission-driven, tuition-dependent university, Fielding has had to act decisively to preserve its mission and strengthen long-term sustainability. The institution recognized that its current financial path and ability to remain independent are not viable in the long term. A merger or comparable partnership must occur for Fielding’s legacy to continue.

One of Excelsior’s 2026-2028 key strategic goals is to “forge new, market-driven programs, locations, and partnerships.” An important pillar of this strategy is to explore mergers with institutions with complementary curricula, services, and values to broaden Excelsior’s programmatic portfolio and geographic presence. Fielding’s programs offer new pathways for Excelsior learners with no overlap in current Excelsior degree offerings, expanding Excelsior’s reach and portfolio while continuing Fielding’s legacy of excellence in psychology and behavioral sciences.

Accrediting agencies regularly review mergers to confirm that institutions and programs continue to meet standards of quality as a result of the changes that are occurring. Excelsior and Fielding have begun working collaboratively with their accreditors through these processes. Under the intended merger, Fielding will remain separately accredited until the merger is final. At that time, the Fielding College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences will be included within the scope of Excelsior’s institutional accreditation.

Excelsior Staff, Faculty and Students

Fielding’s expertise in psychology and leadership graduate studies complements Excelsior’s existing programs and offers pathways from undergraduate to terminal degrees. The partnership opens new educational opportunities with doctoral programs, master’s programs, and post-baccalaureate certificate programs not currently offered at Excelsior.
Fielding staff will continue to operate their institution’s day-to-day operations during the initial phases of a potential transition. Some Excelsior staff may be needed to learn about the Fielding student experience and services. We expect this to be a limited number of people. During this stage of the process, we anticipate the impact on most of our staff to be minimal; a core group will be involved in the process, and a few may start planning for support services and other work to come. There may be additional opportunities for staff to assist in this process. Reach out to your cabinet member if you would like to be involved. We will continue to provide regular updates throughout our discussions.
Immediate next steps include initial conversations with accreditors, gaining a better understanding of the Fielding experience, and integration planning. Updates will be provided regularly as milestones are reached, and regulatory steps are completed. Leadership is committed to transparent communication throughout the process.

Fielding Students, Faculty, Alumni, and Programs

For a full FAQ for Fielding students, faculty, alumni, and donors, visit fielding.edu/excelsior.

Excelsior has expressed intent to continue offering Fielding’s current programs following the planned merger. Students enrolled in Fielding will continue to be provided with high-quality education to complete their degrees.
Excelsior University and Fielding have signed an agreement approved unanimously by the governing boards of each institution to eventually merge and create the Fielding College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, a new college within Excelsior to house Fielding’s existing programs, centers, and institutes. This merger creates new pathways for learners—from certificates to doctoral degrees—complementing and expanding Excelsior’s existing programs.
Fielding’s programs complement those currently offered at Excelsior and will continue under the intended partnership. The result of the merger will be the creation of the Fielding College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. The new Fielding College will honor the rich history of Fielding Graduate University and continue to offer its outstanding programs. Led by Fielding’s expert faculty, this college would offer the graduate and doctoral programs that Fielding is known for, with students supported by the increased resources and infrastructure of Excelsior.

Future Vision

Our vision of aligning Excelsior University and Fielding Graduate University is a transformative partnership that would create the Fielding College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, focused on continuing Fielding’s legacy of excellence in psychology and leadership graduate studies.

Through a partnership with Fielding, Excelsior students will have access to new educational opportunities with doctoral, master’s, and post-baccalaureate certificate programs not currently offered at Excelsior. The partnership would build financial, operational, and programmatic stability for Fielding, while creating new market opportunities and curricular pathways for both institutions.