Advisory regarding Southern California wildfires

Advisory regarding Southern California wildfires

On behalf of everyone at Thomas Edison State University, we hope that students affected by the wildfires in Southern California remain safe. The University is offering accommodations to students affected by the wildfires:

  • Students who are directly impacted by the fires and who are currently registered in courses for the November 2024, December 2024 and January 2025 terms have the option of receiving a free eight-week course extension without mentor approval; or, a 100% tuition credit for their course(s) to a future term. Affected students should submit a Request for Course Extension Form or a Request for Course Withdrawal Form indicating “Southern California wildfires” as the reason for the request. Please note that TECEP exams in these terms cannot be extended, nor credited for tuition after the exam has been taken.
  • Impacted students who are currently on a course extension for the September 2024 and October 2024 terms can request a second eight-week extension on their current term at no additional cost.

Request an Accommodation: Students affected by the wildfire and evacuations who need an accommodation should contact the Office of the Registrar by email at registration@tesu.edu or by phone at 609-777-5680. Accommodation requests should be submitted by January 24th. Requests after that date can be accommodated if the student provides documentation of the reason for the late request.

Military Spouses, Dependents & DoD Civilians

Prospects and New Applicants: Your Gateway to Success

Top Five Spouse/Dependent Degree Options


The below are our five most popular degrees, which generally represent the most open or flexible options for our spouse and dependent students, based on their experience. Does a program below fit your needs? If so, we invite you to apply, as we can get you started quickly, and free-of-charge.

  1. Associate in Arts
  2. Associate in Science in Business Administration
  3. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
  4. Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
  5. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Human Resources Management/Organizational Management

Not connecting with the above, or looking for a more specialized route? We realize every student is unique and as such, you may be looking for a degree that reflects this. Browse our more than 100 available degree programs.

Our Promise to You


In order to ensure your success in completing your degree, Thomas Edison State University strives to meet or exceed the following Principles of Excellence, as established under Presidential Executive Order 13607.

  • Up-front and transparent pricing in order to gain a better understanding of the total cost of education.
  • Minimize out-of-pocket expenses by identifying potential military and veteran education benefits.
  • A no-pressure, self-determined educational experience, emphasizing degree completion over institutional compensation.
  • Delivering only high quality accredited educational programs.
  • A seamless readmission process, should a service member experience an interruption to their education.
  • Accommodations for our deployed Service members should they need to drop or extend a course as a result of service in the field.
  • Academic evaluations outlining degree requirements, credits that have been earned and a clear path to completion.
  • From application to registration, each student is assigned a dedicated enrollment counselor who is there to help.

Thomas Edison State University is a participating institution with the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU). We provide the following information and resources to ensure military and veteran students, and their families, make an informed decision about the university they plan to attend.

Please visit the The College Scorecard and The College Navigator, provided by the U.S. Department of Education, for statistics and information about colleges and universities that you may find helpful.

Meet Our Team


Kacie LynchKacie Lynch
Regional Base Representative
Joined Thomas Edison State University: 2020
Phone: 609-777-5696, ext. 4533 | Send a message

Kacie Lynch proudly serves our Military student population with Thomas Edison State University. Kacie began her services in higher education in 2020 as regional base counselor on O’ahu, Hawaii. She now proudly supports 50% of the newly admitted Army students. Kacie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Hawai’i.

Why It Matters


Thomas Edison State University understands that being a military spouse or dependent brings along its own challenges. Because of this, we extend the benefits of our Military Degree Completion Program, including a tuition discount, to eligible family members.

Thomas Edison State University offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs that may be completed entirely through the University’s online and distance learning courses, so that you can continue with your degree progression regardless of where your sponsor is stationed around the world. We offer multiple associate degree programs in portable degree fields that may be eligible for MyCAA funding.

Chartered by the New Jersey Board of Higher Education in 1972, Thomas Edison State University pioneered and established distance-learning options, long before “online” became our present everyday reality. We have not been idle through the years, as we have also worked to help you take full advantage of your prior work and learning experiences by developing competitive and relevant degree programs, which enable you to transfer the maximum amount of credit.

Financial Aid and Financial Planning Resources


All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid, which can be used in conjunction with Tuition Assistance and Veterans Education Benefits.

Thomas Edison State University has established scholarships to recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. Active Duty, Reserve, and Air or Army National Guard service members, their spouses and dependents, Veterans and wounded warriors.

These free resources can help you understand your financial cost and benefits available for attending Thomas Edison State University: