If you're considering an affordable online education program that offers college credit courses, you may be considering either StraighterLine or Sophia. Both options can help you save time and money on your college education. Let’s compare the two programs so you can make an informed decision.
StraighterLine vs. Sophia: How Many Courses Do We Offer?
When it comes to your education, we know you want options. The more options you have, the more you can earn credits online before you even step foot on campus. And we know you want courses in a range of subjects so you can get those gen ed requirements out of the way. Sophia offers 40+ classes, while StraighterLine offers over 70 courses in the following subjects:
- Business
- Computer Science and IT
- English and Communication
- Humanities
- Language
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
StraighterLine also offers three online college prep courses to help set you up for academic success:
We also offer classes in Health Sciences for students planning a career in a healthcare-related field such as nursing or healthcare administration.
Where Can I Use My Credits From StraighterLine vs. Sophia?
Part of the appeal of taking classes online is you’re able to transfer the credits you earn to the college of your choice. We want to make sure your hard work pays off when you’re ready to move on! It’s important to note that Sophia limits the number of credits you can transfer to your chosen school, while StraighterLine lets you transfer as many credits as your school will allow.
Partner Schools
Sophia partners with 50+ schools that will accept credits from their online courses. StraighterLine has partnered with over 150 schools that are guaranteed to accept your credits from our courses.
Non-Partner Schools
What if your school isn’t listed as a partner college with Sophia or StraighterLine? Both programs have had courses accepted at non-partner colleges through the American Council on Education (ACE)’s credit recommendation program. All of StraighterLine’s courses have been recommended for credit through ACE and have been accepted at over 2,000 colleges and universities across the country.
Sophia vs. StraighterLine: Costs
One of the biggest considerations you’ll make when choosing an online education program will be cost. Earning college credit before you start school is a way to save money, so make sure you’re getting great value.
Sophia's Membership Plan
Sophia offers you the chance to try the first unit of one class for free. Should you decide to continue, you’ll need to sign up for a Sophia membership. Monthly memberships start at $99 per month or $599 if you pay for a full year upfront. With that, you can sign up to take as many classes per month as you’d like, but can only be active in up to 2 classes at a time. Your membership costs will cover everything you need for your classes, including eTextbooks.
StraighterLine's Membership Plan
StraighterLine offers you the chance to preview one of our courses for free, see sample course material, and get a feel for the online learning experience. Once you decide to study with us, you’ll pay for individual courses starting at $79 per class plus $99 per month for our membership. You’re never limited in the number of courses you can take at one time, and these fees cover all course materials, eTextbooks, and access to our 24/7 tutoring services.
Style of Learning at StraighterLine vs. Sophia
Both programs provide fully online, asynchronous classes that can be taken on your own time and at your own pace. Additionally, they both let you track your progress so you can see how far you’ve come. Sophia’s classes are pass/fail. That is, you won’t get a letter or number grade. There are also no exams. At StraighterLine, we offer a letter and number grade based on a mixture of exams, quizzes, and assignments. We also offer proctored exams to complete your courses. In most cases, schools require that courses specific to a degree program have letter grades. And many institutions “restrict the number of pass/fail credits that can be accepted” for transfer credit.
StraighterLine vs. Sophia Course Approvals & Recommendations
While neither Sophia nor StraighterLine can be accredited as colleges or universities because they don’t grant degrees, they can offer courses accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).
Approved Quality Curriculum
peer-review assessment service designed for providers of online courses delivered directly to learners.” The first two recipients of the AQC were StraighterLine and Sophia.
American Council on Education
As we mentioned, ACE allows the transfer of online credits to select institutions. All courses offered by Sophia and StraighterLine are ACE-approved.
Student Support Offered at Sophia vs. StraighterLine
As you embark on your online learning journey, you’ll need support. That support can come in the form of advisors, tutors, or student services.
Student Support with Sophia
Sophia has Learning Coaches that students can access by phone, email, or online chat during office hours. Some of their courses offer up to 10 hours of third-party tutoring via Pearson SmarThinking, for a fee.
Student Support with StraighterLine
At StraighterLine, we want to see our students succeed. That means providing student support at all levels of learning and for all types of learners:
- Student advisors are available 7 days a week via phone or live chat to help you with non-academic issues
- 10 hours of online tutoring and writing lab services are available for all courses at no extra cost
- Enrollment Counselors are available via live chat to help you navigate your learning path
Make the Right Choice with StraighterLine
StraighterLine is your best option for online learning and earning transferable college credit. With over 60 courses in 10 subjects, you’re guaranteed to find a class (or several!) that fit your needs. We support you every step of the way. And when you’re ready, the credits you earn are transferable to over 150 partner schools, plus thousands of others than accept ACE credit! Don’t wait another minute to start your online learning journey with StraighterLine. Start exploring our classes to find out how you can earn the college credits you need for success.
Want to try an online class? Preview one of our online courses today!
