Hello everyone, I’m often asked by friends and co-workers about the different options there are available for online learning, and I try to give the best advice I can. This past week I got a question about “StraigherLine” an online service that provides a number of courses to students for a (relatively) small fee. This isn’t a degree-granting institution by itself, but students who pass their courses can then transfer their credits to a regionally accredited university (ex. Thomas Edison State College, Western Governors University, Fort Hays State University, etc.). After doing some research, it seems pretty straightforward, and a low-cost way for many students to get a jump on their education. Has anyone taken courses through this service? Pros/Cons, anyone?
Absolutely legit. I, as well and friends and colleagues, have saved thousands by taking SL courses which transfer to Partner Colleges, as well as some non-Partner colleges. I like that they are at your own pace. If it takes you two months to finish, then it’s only $99 x2, plus the $59 course fee. No books, you can do in your jammies, etc. *************************************************************************************************** Hello everyone, I’m often asked by friends and co-workers about the different options there are available for online learning, and I try to give the best advice I can. This past week I got a question… Read more »
I want to attend WGU but I have no previous college history. They suggested that I enroll in two courses from Straighterline (I had to get credits in two classes before I would be accepted). I took US History 1 and English Composition 1. US History was a joke and required you to read hundreds of textbook pages and then take tests. Because you’re not allowed to interact with anyone else and because the “tutoring” function is laughable, I just had to power through it. The test questions made absolutely no sense and, when I opened a ticket asking about… Read more »
Recently, 29 years after starting my undergraduate degree, I finished it. That was ONLY possible because of the credits I earned at Straighterline. I started college at a private college (costing $450 per credit hour), and could not afford it, so my degree had been on hold. Eventually, I learned about Straighterline, and worked with my college advisor to ensure which credits I needed could be transferred fully. Every class I put forth was approved for FULL transfer credit. I completed 28 credit hours of coursework, which would have cost nearly $13,000 at my school, for under $1,500 at Straighterline. That… Read more »
I haven’t used Straighterline, but was recommended to use it to gain some credits. I’d originally enrolled at Western Governors University (which is completely online, unless they’ve changed it) with no teachers and so you are essentially teaching yourself. I had originally enrolled in the Teacher’s College in Interdisiplinary Studies and was substitute teaching at the time. Long story short, I was able to complete my basic classes, but when I had to get into a classroom, the schools wouldn’t let me because they wer “too full” for any observation students or student teachers. So I ended up on hold… Read more »
I just finished (and Passed) a Straighterline Statistics class. I CANNOT recommend to anyone what I just went through and the review above from Kayleigh sounds like its from a Straighterline representative. The class was advertised falsely as $74. That does not include their monthly $99 fee. It took me 5 weeks to finish this class and cost $272. Still Pretty cheap right? Well you truly do get what you pay for and in this case it is very very little. First Straighterline they told me I could expect to spend studying about 75 hours (2-3 hours a day) and… Read more »
It is a pretty straight forward class method. The only courses that most would struggle with are the Math courses completely absent of any real professor or group study help. You can post a question and have it answered, but there is no one to look over your work and point out any weak points. It is more competency based and suited to individuals who already have a strong understanding of the subject covered.
I am glad I came across this information from Kayleigh because approimately twoyears ago I was considering taking two courses with Straighterline, but I ended up taking two classes with Strayer University which costed me a lot of money. I was eligible for student loans but now I have loans to pay back. Straighterline seems cheaper but I just need an understanding of why there is a $99/month subscription fee? on top of one time course fee of $59 for self-paced courses and $134 for Professor assistance courses. i can understand the course fees but not why a fee of… Read more »
We’ve had some emails about StraighterLine come in to GetEducated in the past few weeks. Most of the responses above are pretty old, so we’ve decided to provide a quick update. StraighterLine was one of the first providers of online college equivalent courses but is not an actual college meaning credit transfer was tougher and some questioned the company’s reputability. Today, StraighterLine has been through the ACE Credit recommendation process 9 times, and now has over 120 colleges with whom they have guaranteed credit transfer pathways (many of whom are household names and recommended by us). Their course selection has grown… Read more »
Adding more feedback. Big thumbs down on this school. Took a Calculus course and dropped because it was so disconnected with chapters not being consecutive. You would end a chapter with a question from the professor and the question was never answered. Then you’d start the next chapter and it was starting right in the middle of a problem that you had never seen before (but was being presented as if it was something you were already working on). Really, really disjointed and hard to follow. Can not recommend it at all.
I would have to agree. If you can find an [url=/online-college-ratings-and-rankings]affordable online bachelors [/url] you will be far better off. I would love to hear what others have to say about it though.
Hi David, I have to give this enterprise a thumbs down. I’d not enroll. I am a HUGE fan of affordable online education, so I like what the company stands for in principle, but when I look at their pitch to consumers: “A full year of college for $99 month ..” I don’t think it states their value proposition accurately. My problem is that Straighterline is NOT a college, but it pitches itself as one to consumers. This is a course design company. Many-many companies design online courses. In fact, most old textbook companies like McGraw Hill now write online… Read more »