StraighterLine: Self-Paced Online Courses For Transferable College Credit

person sitting on couch taking an online course from StraighterLine

Imagine earning a college degree while bypassing the traditional obstacles like imposing campuses, packed lecture halls, inflexible class schedules, and skyrocketing tuition fees. StraighterLine rewrites the rules. This innovative platform paves a self-paced, budget-friendly path to earning essential college credits for your bachelor’s degree, all without setting foot on a campus or breaking the bank.

Explore a rich catalog of courses, conquer subjects at your own pace, and watch college credits seamlessly transfer towards your bachelor’s degree – all from the comfort of your own home. This is education liberated, disentangled from conventional limitations, and poised to propel you toward your academic and professional ambitions.

StraighterLine’s History

Founded in 2008, StraighterLine was the first alternative course credit provider to provide a new pathway for students to reduce debt, open opportunities, and achieve their goals. They help students earn college credit and meet their academic and professional goals. All their courses go through an intensive quality review process by ACE CREDIT before being available to students.

Each year, over 45,000 students take StraighterLine courses to upskill into new careers or earn transferable credit to over 3,000 colleges and universities worldwide. StraighterLine works with higher education institutions and corporate partners to provide their students and employees with flexible education options that allow them to work and learn at their own pace.

How StraighterLine Works

It’s pretty simple and straightforward, pun intended. All you have to do is sign up for a membership and enroll in your choice of StraighterLine courses. There are over 80 classes to choose from. All are self-paced and online, meaning you can study what you need to when you need to.

Once you’ve completed your courses with StraighterLine, you can request a transcript. This transcript will show which courses you’ve taken and the credits you’ve earned. You can then submit this transcript to your college of choice, and they can evaluate your transfer credits and course equivalencies to award you credit toward your degree.

I told you it was simple!

What Type Of Classes Does StraghterLine Have

StraighterLine has many foundational subjects like math, science, and English. They recognize that students need their general education and prerequisite classes to meet requirements across various degree programs. However, the course catalog extends far beyond these Gen Ed classes, offering a wide variety of other classes.

How Much Does StraigterLine Cost

The price of a Monthly Membership is $99, and courses start at $79. That means that the price for one course starts at just $178.

This is what your membership will include:

  • Unlimited courses: Your Monthly Membership cost stays the same no matter how many courses you take. You can purchase an unlimited number of additional courses with your Monthly Membership.
  • No application fees: There are no admission requirements, transcript evaluation, or application fees, so you can get started right away. No long-term commitment: You can start or stop your Monthly Membership at any time — and restart when you are ready.
  • Free one-on-one online tutoring: Includes writing center, scheduled or drop-in
  • Live support: Get the technical, membership, or course support you need from our dedicated Student Advisors.

Once you’ve enrolled in a StraighterLine membership, it will automatically renew every month. Each month, you will be charged a subscription rate of $99.

You can cancel your membership at any time. Regardless of when you choose to cancel, your membership will remain active until the end of that current billing cycle. At the end of the billing cycle, your membership will expire, and you’ll lose access to courses.

After canceling your membership, you’ll still have access to your dashboard. So if you want to re-enroll in future courses or you need to request a transcript, you will have access. You can renew your membership at any time — all of your previous progress will be saved, so you can pick up where you left off if you reactivate your membership.

book and computer sitting on a desk with a StraighterLine class on the screen

Why I Like StraighterLine

It Is Cost-Effective:

  • 90% lower cost: StraighterLine courses on average cost 90% less than traditional college courses, making them a highly affordable option for earning college credit.
  • Monthly memberships: For even greater savings, students can purchase monthly memberships that grant access to all courses for a flat rate.

Course Reach and Success:

  • 150+ partner colleges: StraighterLine courses are recommended for credit by the American Council on Education (ACE) and accepted by over 150 partner colleges and universities.
  • High completion rates: StraighterLine boasts a 90% course completion rate, demonstrating the effectiveness of its self-paced and flexible learning model.
  • Diverse subject offerings: With over 80 general education courses covering a wide range of subjects, StraighterLine caters to various academic interests and degree requirements.

Student Impact:

  • Thousands of graduates: Since its inception, StraighterLine has helped thousands of students earn college credits and jumpstart their educational journeys.
  • Time-saving: By completing StraighterLine courses, students can significantly reduce the time it takes to achieve their degree goals.
  • Flexibility and accessibility: StraighterLine’s online platform and self-paced format make education accessible to individuals with busy schedules or geographical limitations.

Here at Your College Sensei, we prioritize efficiency and direct routes to your academic goals. StraighterLine aligns perfectly with this philosophy, offering a streamlined path to fulfilling those pesky general education requirements. With StraighterLine, you conquer foundational subjects like math, science, and English from the comfort of your living room, conquering credits along the way. This affordable avenue can shave precious time and tuition costs off your degree journey, setting you firmly on the fast track to academic success. So, embrace the flexibility and effectiveness as it’s the smart move for savvy students seeking a smoother ride to earning their degree.

—Sensei