Saylor Academy is a nonprofit that publishes free, self-paced online courses. Anyone can study the materials at no cost. A smaller group of courses goes further: if you pass a proctored final exam, you can earn a credit recommendation that many colleges accept.
For students on a tight budget who are comfortable studying independently, Saylor can be the lowest-cost route to college credit available.
How Saylor credit works
Saylor courses fall into two broad groups:
- Free courses with no credit: you can earn a free certificate of completion, useful for learning or professional development but not for college transfer.
- Credit-eligible courses (often called Saylor Direct Credit courses): these have a proctored final exam. Passing it earns a credit recommendation from ACE Learning Evaluations or NCCRS, which colleges can accept for transfer.
The learning materials are free in both cases. For credit-eligible courses, you pay a modest fee for the online proctoring of the final exam. Check Saylor's website for the current fee and the current list of credit-eligible courses, because both change.
Some colleges also have partnership agreements with Saylor that state how they accept Saylor credit.
Who Saylor suits best
Saylor works well if you:
- Are disciplined and can study without deadlines or an instructor.
- Are comfortable reading textbooks and articles (Saylor uses open educational resources rather than polished video courses).
- Need general education or introductory business credit at a school that accepts ACE or NCCRS recommendations.
- Want to minimize cost, even if it takes a little longer.
It may not suit you if you need upper-level courses, lab sciences, frequent feedback or a structured schedule.
Step-by-step: earning transferable credit with Saylor
1. Confirm your college accepts it
Check whether your college is a Saylor partner, and whether it accepts ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations. Your academic catalog's transfer section is the place to look, or ask the transfer office.
2. Match courses to your requirements
Use your degree audit to list unmet requirements, then compare Saylor's credit-eligible courses against them. Note which organization (ACE or NCCRS) evaluated each course, because some colleges accept only one.
3. Study the course materials
Each Saylor course is divided into units with readings, videos and practice quizzes. A good approach:
- Read the course syllabus and learning outcomes first. The final exam tests these outcomes.
- Take notes unit by unit, and summarize each unit in a page.
- Use the practice quizzes to find weak areas.
- Supplement with other free resources where a reading is unclear.
4. Take the proctored final exam
When you're ready, register for the proctored final exam through Saylor. Before the exam:
- Read the proctoring rules (ID, room, allowed materials).
- Test your computer, camera and connection.
- Check the passing score and retake policy.
5. Request your transcript
After passing, request the transcript your college needs. Depending on the course, that may be through Saylor, ACE (via its online learner-transcript system) or NCCRS. Ask your college which one it wants.
6. Confirm the credit applied correctly
Check your degree audit after the credit is processed. Make sure each course filled the requirement you expected.
Tips for succeeding as an independent learner
- Set your own deadlines. Choose an exam date and work backwards to a weekly plan.
- Study at the same time each day. Habits beat motivation.
- Teach it back. Explaining a concept out loud shows whether you really understand it.
- Get help when stuck. A tutor can explain a difficult concept in minutes that might take you hours to untangle alone. See our Saylor course support.
All exams must be taken by you. See our academic integrity policy.
Saylor compared with other providers
Saylor is usually the cheapest option, but it has a smaller credit-eligible catalog than Sophia or Study.com and less built-in support. Many students mix providers: Saylor for the courses it offers, another provider for the rest. Our provider comparison explains the trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
Are Saylor courses really free?
The course materials are free. Credit-eligible courses charge a fee for the proctored final exam.
Will every college accept Saylor credit?
No. Partner colleges and colleges that accept ACE or NCCRS recommendations are the most likely to. Confirm before you study.
Can I use a free Saylor certificate for college credit?
Generally no. Only the proctored final exam in a credit-eligible course leads to a credit recommendation.
How long does a Saylor course take?
It depends on the course and your background. Many students take several weeks of part-time study per course.
Plan your credits with us
We'll check which of your remaining requirements Saylor (and other providers) could fill, and how confident each match is, so you don't study for credit your college won't accept.