TL;DR: Yes, StraighterLine is legit! It offers self-paced, affordable college courses that students can take online and then transfer the credits they earn to over 3,000 accredited colleges and universities. It’s the smart choice for anyone looking to save money and have more flexibility on the path to earning their degree.
“Is StraighterLine legit?” It’s a valid question that students are sure to have as nontraditional degree paths become mainstream.
Whether you’re a high school or college student looking to finish general education courses on your own schedule, a working professional balancing your job and family with school, or returning to finish your degree after some time away, this guide will help you understand what StraighterLine is all about — what works, what doesn’t, and whether it’s a fit for you.
Table of Contents
What Is StraighterLine?
At its core, StraighterLine is an online education platform designed to provide students with an affordable, self-paced learning experience, specifically when it comes to earning college credit. It offers more than 75 online courses, especially in general education subjects like English, Math, Science, and more.
So, what does this mean for you? It means you can save thousands on your tuition by figuring out which courses your school will allow you to take with StraighterLine. Some students have even cut the cost of their degrees in half by knocking out their lower level classes with us.
The Mission Continues
StraighterLine has come a long way since launching in 2008 as the first entirely online college course provider with the goal of shaking up the traditional higher education model. Since then, the goal remains the same: to make college more affordable and accessible to anyone working towards earning their degree — no matter their stage in their academic journey.
The mission hasn’t gone unnoticed. EdTech Digest named StraighterLine the winner of its EdTech Trendsetter Award in recognition of the work being done to reshape the education industry.
Is StraighterLine Accredited?
Accreditation
When people ask “Is StraighterLine legit?”, they usually follow up with questions about accreditation. While accreditation is mostly reserved for traditional colleges and universities, every StraighterLine course is approved and recommended for transfer credit by the American Council on Education (ACE) — an academic association of more than 1,800 accredited colleges and universities that ensures our courses meet educational standards. So while StraighterLine itself isn’t a degree-granting institution, our course curriculums are developed by educators from leading colleges and universities and align very closely with the equivalent courses at these accredited institutions. This means you can easily transfer your completed credit hours from StraighterLine to your school.
Degree Validity
This is where StraighterLine’s legitimacy shines. Our platform’s direct partnerships with 180+ accredited colleges and universities guarantees that the courses you complete are not only legit, but you can also count them towards your degree. Easy credit transfer is what makes StraighterLine the preferred choice for students who want more savings, flexibility, and control over their education. In addition to the 180+ partner schools guaranteed to accept StraighterLine credits, more than 3,000 other schools have accepted StraighterLine credit, including Harvard (yes, that Harvard). As you can see, StraighterLine is straightforward. You can start your education here, and finish anywhere.
What About Course Quality?
High Quality Courses for Budget-Conscious Students
StraighterLine is about cutting costs, not corners. We offer a variety of courses across different subjects, with a primary focus on general education. Our course catalog includes Accounting, Biology, Economics, and more — all designed by experienced educators, as previously mentioned. Not only is StraighterLine legit, we're also widely recognized as such by thousands of colleges and universities who have reviewed the courses we offer and have confirmed that the quality and rigor matches that of their own courses.
Your Academic Allies: The Faculty Who Make It Happen
Our courses are entirely self-guided, but there is a strong team of faculty members behind the scenes making sure you have a positive experience and accomplish what you set out to achieve with StraighterLine. These are the same academic leaders who have designed courses and taught at universities across the country — from their big names to the hidden gems. Needless to say, StraighterLine’s faculty expertise is second to none, and ensures that you’re getting a solid academic foundation similar to what you’d expect from a traditional college class.
More Choices for Your Academic Success
To put things in perspective, we mentioned how over 3,000 schools have accepted StraighterLine credit. Now, compare that to some of the other online college course providers who have had their credits accepted by less than half that amount. If you’re looking at options for transferable online college courses, StraighterLine is where you’ll get the most bang for your buck.
Course Formats That Work for You
Our entirely self-paced course format is one of the most attractive features for StraighterLine students. You can finish your course(s) in weeks (even days) if you’re motivated, or spread it out over months if that fits your schedule better. We mean it when we say no timelines or deadlines. You can take as little or as long as you need to get through your course. You’ll be assessed through a mix of quizzes, assignments, and exams, giving you the chance to really retain the material and demonstrate your knowledge as you go. Best of all, StraighterLine offers a generous retake policy. So, if you don’t ace your assignment the first time, you can take multiple shots it.
Real User Experiences: Student Reviews and Testimonials
It’s worth repeating that 350,000+ students have used StraighterLine to fast-track their degrees and save big on their education. These student success stories highlight the platform’s ability to support you in earning your degree and getting to your next big thing in a way that traditional college can’t:
Jason is a military veteran who wanted the flexibility to knock out his prereqs away from campus and work on his own time. He also wanted to save his G.I. Bill money for his core nursing school courses. Even while welcoming a new child during the process (making him a father of six), he finished a year’s worth of school in just a few short months thanks to StraighterLine. Soon after, he moved into a direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing program.
Lauren needed just one course and didn’t want to pay $3,000 for it. As soon as she found StraighterLine, she enrolled in the Anatomy & Physiology course she needed and embraced the challenging curriculum, which, in her mind, legitimized StraighterLine’s quality at an ultra-affordable price.
Here’s where you can find even more StraighterLine success stories!
How Affordable Is StraighterLine?
Transparent Pricing: What Does StraighterLine Membership Get You?
StraighterLine offers a simple cost structure: a $99 monthly membership (which you can cancel at any time) plus the cost of the individual courses you want to take. The monthly membership grants you access to the following:
75+ ACE-recommended online college courses at their most affordable price
Savings of more than 90% on cost per credit hour
180+ partner schools guaranteed to accept your StraighterLine credits
The opportunity to transfer your credits to an additional 3,000 schools who know and recognize StraighterLine as legit
Free official transcripts verifying your completed courses, final letter grades, and credits earned
Academic advising and student success services
Financial Aid and Refund Policy
StraighterLine courses don’t qualify for financial aid. What we do offer is the opportunity for you to pay less for your general education and prereq classes, and then use the money you save to pay for your upper level courses at your school. As far as refunds go, we’re happy to accommodate students whose credits aren’t accepted by their schools (though we recommended confirming your school will accept your credits before enrolling in a StraighterLine course), or whose situation aligns with our refund policy.
The Cost Advantage
When comparing StraighterLine to other online learning platforms, our pricing often comes out ahead. Similar platforms may offer different pricing models, but few have our robust partnerships with accredited colleges, or focus as much as we do on offering resources to help you excel in your courses and get the most out of your education.
Flexibility and Convenience: Is StraighterLine Worth It?
A Unique Online Learning Experience
One of StraighterLine’s biggest perks is flexibility. The online learning environment allows students to log in from anywhere at any time, and work at their own pace. This is ideal for working professionals and students with busy schedules who need the freedom to work outside of the bounds of the traditional classroom experience … Or if you want to sneak in a little bit of coursework while on vacation anywhere in the world.
Learn How You What, Where You Want
The platform is also designed with mobile accessibility in mind, meaning you can work on your courses from your laptop, phone, or tablet. Should you ever need technical support, we’ve got your back. We’ll help you troubleshoot any issues and get you back on track.
Integrity Matters: How StraighterLine Maintains Academic Standards
StraighterLine takes academic integrity seriously. You’ll find proctored exams and other checks in place to ensure that students are doing their own work — as intended. And if you ever feel stuck, academic support is readily available, including 24/7 on-demand tutoring, advisors, and several other resources to help you ace your course.
Is StraighterLine Legit and Is it Right for You?
To bring it all together, yes, StraighterLine is a legitimate, affordable, and flexible option for students looking to complete online courses and earn college credit that will transfer to accredited institutions. With a focus on self-paced learning and a user-friendly experience, it’s the smart choice for anyone who wants to save money, advance their education, and have more control over their academic future.
Try StraighterLine for Free
If you’re ready to take the next step in your education, StraighterLine offers the tools, resources, and flexibility to support your success. Ready to see how it works?
Use the StraighterLine free trial to experience how easy it is to start earning college credit online, and risk-free!
