Thomas Edison State University

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Learn to Manage People, Training, and Development at Thomas Edison State University

Thomas Edison State University is also featured in our ranking of the 20 Best Master’s in Human Resources (Campus-based).

Students at Thomas Edison State University wishing to study human resource management have many choices. Because Thomas Edison State University is dedicated to adult learners, it offers all of its programs online, on-site, and as hybrid classes so that it accommodates the schedules of “nontraditional” learners.

Students may pursue certificates, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees. Students can focus either on Human Resources Management by itself or in conjunction with Business Administration. Students at all degree levels study the techniques and psychology of recruitment, training, and retention as well as ethics, performance management, and organizational development.


One of the online master’s degree, as an example, includes 12 credits of specialized classes as part of a Master of Science in Management. The Bachelor of Business Administration is a 120-credit program with 18 focus credits on Human Resources Management.

For the undergraduate certificate, students must complete 18 credits. Because of the nature of the university regarding study-life balance, any classes toward the certificate can be up to seven years old. The graduate certificate is 12 credits, and students choose four classes from a list of eight. The graduate certificate program is set up so that students can easily move on to the Master of Science in Management, Master of Science in Human Resources Management, or the Master of Business Administration With a Focus on Human Resources Management.

About Thomas Edison State University

The university’s first name was Thomas Edison State College. When it opened its doors in 1972, it was among the first schools in the United States tailored specifically for adults who were already either in the workforce or had been rearing families. The school is comprised of several buildings that serve as state and national landmarks, and it is also home to an art gallery of national renown.

Counting undergraduate and graduate students, more than 20,000 people attend Thomas Edison State University. According to College Factual, Thomas Edison State University ranks in the top 10 percent among “Best Colleges for Nontraditional Students.” Similarly, its Human Resources Management program is just as highly rated. Students who are veterans of the armed forces rate the university in the top 5 percent for online study.

Thomas Edison State University Accreditation Details

Thomas Edison State University first received regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in 1977, and it has retained that distinction ever since. Several academic programs have earned their own accreditation from various organizations. Some of those organizations include the:

  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing Inc.
  • Teacher Education Accreditation Council
  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc.

Thomas Edison State University Application Requirements

Without a waiver, nonmilitary students must be 21 years of age to apply for admission to Thomas Edison State University. Active-duty military personnel may be 18 years of age. Nonmilitary students between the ages of 18 and 20 must complete a waiver request. Usually, this means that the person must have completed 24 transferable credits at a college or university before applying.

All students applying for undergraduate admission must have a high-school diploma or GED. Certain students must complete waivers for other reasons as well. They should check the website to determine what paperwork is needed prior to applying. In addition, neither the SAT nor the ACT is required. Students who have taken the tests previously may submit their scores if they wish.

Graduate students need to submit a statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation. They must have achieved a 2.75 GPA at a regionally accredited college or university and hold a bachelor’s degree. Certain graduate degrees also require significant work experience in the field. In some cases, volunteer work counts. Although the Graduate Record Examinations, Graduate Management Admission Test, or Miller Analogies Test are not required, students may submit their scores for them if they have taken them in the past.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate students may elect to pay tuition either by the year or “as they go” on a per-credit basis. New Jersey residents pay $7,519 for a full year whereas out-of-state residents pay $9,967. These costs cover any study up to 36 credits in a 12-month period. Books, supplies, and various fees for different classes are not included.

New Jersey residents who “pay as they go” pay $396 per credit hour. Out-of-state residents pay $499 per credit hour. Nonmatriculated students pay $525 per credit hour.

Graduate students pay by the credit hour in all cases. For most classes, this is $668 per credit hour. Students in the Master of Business Administration program pay $714 per credit hour. There is a $332 graduation fee too. Books, supplies, and incidentals all cost extra.

Thomas Edison State University has Corporate Choice® agreements with many partners, and employees of these organizations or companies are eligible for discounted tuition at various levels. These groups include McDonald’s, Prudential, the American Red Cross, and UPS. In all, there are 67 partners that include companies, government organizations, and private organizations.

As with traditional universities, students begin their financial aid journey with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The college and the government will asses a student’s needs and then determine how much is relevant. Thomas Edison State University provides what it calls the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet, which students fill out once they receive their packet of information after having filed the FAFSA.

Financial aid comprises any combination of grants, scholarships, and loans. Students may, however, apply for private aid in addition to any need-based, federal aid they receive. They should consider, though, that any private aid they do receive will affect their amount of need-based aid. Most students get financial aid from many sources.

Students who begin college later in life can do so at Thomas Edison State University while maintaining a positive study-work-life balance.