You may have heard that StraighterLine offers students a more flexible and affordable path to college credit compared to traditional learning. Understandably, the most common question we receive from prospective students before they enroll in our self-paced college courses is whether their credits will transfer. But a close second is “What is it like taking an online StraighterLine course?”
It’s a great question! Wherever you are in your academic journey, it makes sense you’d be curious about the learning environment before enrolling in a course.
Today, we’re sharing how StraighterLine really works — what to expect in a StraighterLine course including a look at course materials, how grading works, how to transfer your credits, and lots more. Let’s get into it.
What to Expect from Your StraighterLine Course
All StraighterLine courses are fully online and accessible from our interactive Student Dashboard. They’re also recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) for easy transfer and completely self-paced, with no schedules or assignment deadlines.
You don’t need to invest in expensive textbooks or materials to complete a course; all course materials are included. While every course is a bit different, inside most StraighterLine courses you’ll find:
A syllabus — get an overview of your course so you can stay focused and track your progress
Video lectures — learn from qualified professors anytime, anywhere
Quizzes and exams — reinforce learning with interactive assessments. In some cases, you’re even able to do multiple exam retakes!
Writing assignments — deepen your critical thinking on the subject with applied writing tasks
(For StraighterLine Science Lab Only) A complete lab, entirely online — virtual experiments, lab reports, and assessments with no special equipment needed
Tools to track your progress and stay motivated
Your membership plan also includes student support services, such as:
Academic Advising — get personalized guidance on which StraighterLine classes to choose so you can stay on track and reach your academic goals
On-demand tutoring (24/7) — help from subject-matter experts anytime you need it
Technical support and transcript delivery — reliable support so you can transfer your credits quickly and with confidence
The best part of it all is that you can take breaks and pick back up anytime. As we said, all StraighterLine courses give you online college credit on your terms.
→ Want to explore the StraighterLine experience for yourself? Get a Free Preview
How Do Online Assessments & Grading Work?
StraighterLine online courses are graded with both a percentage score and a corresponding letter grade. A 70% or higher score is considered passing — making your course eligible for credit transfer.
But how does grading work?
Your grade is impacted by assignment and assessment scores. Assignments are graded manually by graders who hold advanced degrees in their fields of study — Master’s or PhDs — and bring years of college-level teaching and tutoring experience when reviewing your coursework. Our graders are dedicated to turning your grades around quickly so you always know where you stand academically. If you don’t get the grade you hoped for, many StraighterLine assessments allow for multiple retakes so you always know where you stand academically. Most StraighterLine courses end with a final exam or assessment, which may or may not require proctoring — depending on the course.
StraighterLine Credit Transfer & Transcripts
After you’ve completed your course, transferring approved StraighterLine credit to your university or college couldn’t be easier. Over 180+ schools partner with us directly for easy credit transfer. Plus, 3,000+ additional colleges and universities nationwide accept our courses, so you can transfer your StraighterLine credits anywhere with confidence.
Inside your Student Dashboard, you’ll see a “Send Transcript” button. All you need to do is click the button, verify your information, select a transcript destination, and provide delivery details. Once we have all the necessary information, we’ll send your transcript to your school for you!
Quick reminder! Be sure to confirm your school will accept your transfer credits before enrolling in your StraighterLine course.
→ Download Your Free College Credit Transfer Guide
StraighterLine in Numbers: Success You Can Measure
When it comes to flexible, affordable education, the impact is measurable. These numbers highlight just how much time, money, and stress students save with StraighterLine.
StraighterLine offers 75+ affordable, self-paced prerequisite and general education courses that transfer easily to over 3,000 colleges and universities
Over 350,000 students have used StraighterLine to earn transferable credits — and get closer to graduation faster
Collectively, StraighterLine students have saved more than $300 million on tuition
91% of students say they would recommend StraighterLine to a friend
Taking just one StraighterLine course can save you up to $1,000 compared to the cost of the same course at a traditional college.
Some students have used StraighterLine to cut the cost of getting their degree in half
How They Did It: StraighterLine Success Stories
Thousands of students have saved money on their degrees and gotten to graduation sooner with StraighterLine. Their stories prove that getting ahead doesn’t mean falling into student debt — or sticking to the old way of college:
Chassity, a devoted parent and military spouse, had nearly given up on her academic dreams — until she discovered StraighterLine. Thanks to its flexibility, affordability, and self-paced structure, she was able to complete 10 courses on her own time and move closer to earning an educational examiner’s endorsement to complement her master’s in Special Education.
Here’s what she had to say: “I highly recommend StraighterLine for anyone who is wanting to succeed in higher education. StraighterLine is absolutely the way to go!”
Lauren is thankful her friend introduced her to StraighterLine during her freshman year. By knocking out 15 credits over the course of two summers, she was able to graduate a full semester early — with a double major in Business Administration and Environmental Sustainability!
She shared, “This semester, I’ll be graduating early and will have saved literally thousands of dollars with StraighterLine. If you’re a college student or even a high school student, I highly encourage you to sign up and take some classes!”
Is StraighterLine Right for You?
More than 350,000 students have successfully used StraighterLine to get their degrees — and so can you! Students just starting out, coming back to a degree, and testing coursework for a career pivot have all benefitted from flexible college classes where they can learn at their pace, with real support, and real credit.
Want to give it a try? You can explore our catalog of 75+ ACE-recommended college courses and get started with a free trial.
