TL;DR: When comparing StraighterLine vs. Study.com, both offer self-paced online courses that allow you to earn college credit on your own schedule.
Study.com stands out for its extensive catalog of 220+ courses.
StraighterLine is known for its affordability, a complete academic support package (included in your monthly membership at no extra cost), and a transfer network of more than 3,000 colleges and universities — twice as many as any other online college course platform.
Choosing the right platform depends on your goals. However, StraighterLine’s affordability and comprehensive support make it a strong option for an efficient, cost-effective path to college credit.
Curious how StraighterLine and Study.com measure up against each other? With so many ways to earn college credit, choosing the platform that fits with your goals, and that you can balance with life’s other commitments, matters. Let’s take a look at how StraighterLine compares with Study.com.
StraighterLine vs. Study.com: How Many Courses Do They Offer?
StraighterLine offers over 70 courses, while Study.com offers 220 courses for college credit. StraighterLine courses fall into the following categories:
- Business
- Computer Science
- English
- Foreign Languages
- History
- Humanities
- Math
- Psychology
- Science
- Social Science
Beyond college courses, StraighterLine also offers College Prep courses and professionally relevant courses, including courses in Health Science — all of which are designed to help you reach your goals. Given the quantity of courses it offers, Study.com is known for its broad selection of upper-level courses, offering additional opportunities for savings and flexibility in the later stages of your academic journey. Preview StraighterLine for Free
Where Can I Use My Credit From StraighterLine vs. Study.com?
When it comes to transferring credits from online courses, both StraighterLine and Study.com offer solid options. But how do they compare? Let’s break it down.
Partner Schools
Study.com: Has credit transfer agreements with 45+ partner schools.
StraighterLine: Has over 180 partner schools (public and private universities, community colleges, online institutions, and entire university systems)
Both platforms have agreements with colleges and universities to ensure a smooth credit transfer process. Study.com partners with 45+ schools, guaranteeing that credits earned through their courses will be accepted by their partners.
StraighterLine, however, takes it further with guaranteed transfer agreements at over 180 partner institutions. These include public and private universities — from big-name universities to regional powerhouses. We have partnerships with state schools, community colleges, and entire university systems. Some of our partner schools exclusively offer online degrees, while others offer on-campus classes and programs.
Non-Partner Schools
Even outside of partner agreements, both Study.com and StraighterLine are well-recognized in higher education.
Study.com credits have been accepted by as many as 1,500 schools.
StraighterLine credits have been accepted by 3,000+ schools
Looking to double your options for where you can transfer your credits? More than 3,000 schools outside of our partner network have accepted transfer credits from StraighterLine, including Harvard.
Here’s the proof: 97% of students who completed a course with StraighterLine were successful in having their transfer credits validated by their school. That’s based on a survey of several thousand students.
StraighterLine vs. Study.com: Comparing Costs
It’s time to talk about money. Tuition is one of the deciding factors for most college students — whether they’re pursuing their degree online, or going the more traditional route in person.
Example: If you want to take 5 exams in a single month:
Study.com total = $235 (base) + $70 + $70 + $70 for 3 extra exams = $445
StraighterLine total = $99 membership + ($79 x number of courses) — no extra fees for more than 2 exams
Study.com’s Membership Plan
Study.com’s “College Saver Subscription” is $235 per month and includes access to unlimited courses, study tools, and proctored final exams. While Study.com allows you to enroll in as many classes as you want at any given time, they’ve limited the amount of exams you’re able to take without incurring extra fees. Students are limited to two exams per month, but can purchase up to three more exam attempts per month for $70 each. So, if you wanted to take five exams in the same month, your total would actually come out to $445.
StraighterLine’s Membership Plan
StraighterLine’s membership plan is affordable and straightforward. Membership is $99 per month and unlocks access to the following, included at no extra cost:
Academic advising and support team
eTextbooks and course materials
On-demand online tutoring available 24/7
Exam proctoring
Free transcript delivery service
Not only does StraighterLine membership get you all of those perks and benefits, it also opens the door for you to enroll in the courses you want to take online for a fraction of what it costs to take them directly with your school. Most StraighterLine courses cost just $79, compared to $1,200 per course at the average public four-year university. To add to that, there’s no limit to how many courses or exams you can take at one time with StraighterLine. So you don’t have to pay extra if you want to take more than two final exams in a month, compared to Study.com’s $70 cost for each additional exam after the two-per-month limit.
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Multiple Subscription Levels
Beyond the College Saver Subscription, Study.com has different subscription types (including Teacher Edition and Basic Edition) designed for varied audiences like educators, self-learners, and corporate training.
StraighterLine is more streamlined: one membership model (plus course fees) that includes comprehensive support.
Specialty Programs & Scholarships
Study.com occasionally runs scholarship programs for select groups (for example, working parents, military), offering free or discounted access.
While StraighterLine does not typically offer scholarships in the same way, it maintains lower overall costs, which can be an equivalent or better benefit for many students.
Learning Styles: StraighterLine vs. Study.com
Both StraighterLine and Study.com offer self-paced online learning through engaging formats like readings, videos, interactive tools, and study aids. But the way courses are structured sets them apart.
Study.com:
Uses a micro-learning approach with 5–7 minute lessons.
Offers quizzes, tests, assignments, and a proctored final exam for most classes.
Requires a 70% or higher final grade (varies by course).
StraighterLine:
Offers flexible, in-depth modules, allowing you to dive deeper into the subject at your own pace.
Includes quizzes, tests, assignments, and a proctored final exam for most classes.
You must finish with a cumulative score of 70% or higher to earn credit.
Courses are crafted by top instructors and academics from leading universities.
Many students complete courses in just a few weeks, saving time and money.
Study.com designs its courses with busy, on-the-go students in mind, using a micro-learning approach with 5–7 minute lessons. On the other hand, StraighterLine balances flexibility and depth, allowing you to dive into subjects at your own pace while keeping the freedom to tailor your schedule.
Like Study.com, StraighterLine courses include quizzes, tests, assignments, and a proctored final exam for most classes. To earn credit, you’ll need to complete the final and finish with a cumulative score of 70% or higher. What makes StraighterLine stand out is that all of our courses are crafted by top instructors and academics from leading universities, ensuring quality and rigor on par with traditional college courses — without the hefty price tag.
With StraighterLine, you also have the freedom to go as fast or as steadily as you like. Many students wrap up their courses in just a few weeks, saving both time and money while staying on track to achieve their goals.
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Course Approvals and Recommendations: StraighterLine vs. Study.com
Neither StraighterLine or Study.com are accredited, since they are not degree-granting programs. Accreditation is reserved for full-fledged colleges and universities through a number of authorized organizations.
Rather than accreditation, StraighterLine and Study.com’s courses are recommended as transferable to accredited institutions by the American Council on Education (ACE) — a highly respected nonprofit whose members are made up of 1,600 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities, and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations.
ACE is a driving force behind advocacy, research, and the development of initiatives that shape public policy to advance higher education. So, when you mention StraighterLine or Study.com courses, your advisor will know exactly what you’re talking about.
The only StraighterLine courses that are not recommended by ACE are our College Prep courses, because they are non-credit courses. Also, StraighterLine was selected for the U.S. Department of Education’s EQUIP Program, which was an effort to allow students enrolled in nontraditional higher education programs access to federal student aid to support their studies.
In addition to ACE, Study.com is also recommended for college credit by the National College Credit Recommendation Service.
Student Support: StraighterLine vs. Study.com
Something that really sets StraighterLine apart is the level of support that comes with your membership.
How StraighterLine Membership Provides Student Support:
Academic advising: StraighterLine’s academic support team will help you choose the courses that match your degree requirements and will transfer to your school.
On-demand online tutoring: Available 24/7 — you have the opportunity to:
Connect with a live tutor any time.
Drop off assignments for review.
Book sessions in advance or pick a favorite tutor for future sessions.
Generous retake policy: You get multiple attempts at exams and assignments in case you want to go for a higher score after your first try. However, all final exams are limited to one attempt.
Transcript delivery service: Once you’ve completed your course, send us a transcript request and we’ll take care of getting your grades sent to your school. Study.com also offers a transcript delivery service.
Tech support: For those moments when technology lets you down, our tech team can get you back up and running again.
Human support: If you happen to come across any challenges while using StraighterLine, there’s always a human on the other end to help solve it. Our dedicated Enrollment Services team is available to you seven days a week.
How Study.com Membership Provides Student Support
Tutoring Services: Available at an additional cost outside of the College Saver Subscription.
Customer Support: Reachable via an online form; they will respond to troubleshoot or address concerns.
FAQs
Are StraighterLine and Study.com courses accredited?
No. Neither StraighterLine nor Study.com is accredited because they are not degree-granting institutions. However, both have courses recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE), which many accredited colleges and universities accept.
How quickly can I complete a course on each platform?
StraighterLine allows you to take deeper dives into topics. Many StraighterLine students finish courses in just a few weeks, depending on how intensively they study.
What if I need extra help with course material?
StraighterLine’s membership includes 24/7 on-demand tutoring and academic advising at no additional cost. Study.com offers tutoring services for an additional fee.
How do I transfer my credits to my college or university?
StraighterLine: Has direct transfer agreements with 180+ partner schools. For non-partner schools, 3,000+ colleges have accepted StraighterLine credits. You can request free transcript delivery once you finish your course.
Study.com: Has direct transfer agreements with 45+ schools; 1,500+ other institutions have accepted credits from Study.com.
Make the Right Choice with StraighterLine
If you’re looking for an alternative path to pursue your degree, StraighterLine is your answer. You'll save a ton of money on your education while having the freedom to work on courses at your own pace, and you’ll have access to the most complete set of support services of any online college course provider.
Ready to see more? Explore our courses to find the class(es) you want to take and see how much you can save on your education.