Study.com offers hundreds of self-paced college courses that many colleges accept for transfer credit. It's particularly useful because its catalog goes beyond introductory general education: you can find upper-division courses in business, psychology, history, computer science and more.
But "transferable" does not mean "guaranteed to count toward your degree". This guide explains how Study.com credit works, what to confirm before you enroll, and how to get the credit onto your college record.
How Study.com courses earn credit
Study.com's college-credit courses have been reviewed by one or both of:
- ACE Learning Evaluations (American Council on Education), and
- NCCRS (National College Credit Recommendation Service).
Each review produces a credit recommendation: how many credits a course is worth and whether it's lower-division (first and second year) or upper-division (third and fourth year). Colleges use those recommendations to decide whether to award credit. Some colleges also have partnership agreements with Study.com that spell out exactly how courses transfer.
Read more in our explainer on ACE and NCCRS credit recommendations.
What a Study.com course looks like
Most credit courses include:
- Video lessons, usually short, with written transcripts.
- Lesson quizzes and chapter tests for practice and progress.
- A written assignment in many courses, graded against a rubric.
- A proctored final exam, taken online with webcam monitoring and identity checks.
Your final grade combines the graded components, and you need to reach the passing threshold for the course to be eligible for credit. Requirements are listed on each course's page; read them before you start.
Before you enroll: four checks
1. Does your college accept Study.com?
Look for your college on Study.com's partner list, then confirm on your college's own website. If it isn't a partner, check whether it accepts ACE or NCCRS recommendations (the academic catalog's transfer credit section usually says). Some colleges accept one organization but not the other, so note which recommendation each course carries.
2. Which requirement will each course fill?
Use your degree audit to list what's still missing. For each Study.com course you're considering, decide which requirement it should satisfy, then confirm. The strongest evidence is a published equivalency from your school. Next best is written confirmation from an advisor or the transfer office.
3. Do you need upper-level credit?
Many bachelor's degrees require 30 or more upper-division credits. Study.com is one of the few alternative providers with a substantial upper-level catalog, but a college may still decide to accept an upper-level recommendation as lower-level credit. Ask specifically.
4. What limits apply?
- Residency: a minimum number of credits must be completed at your college.
- Caps on credit from ACE, NCCRS or non-traditional sources.
- Major restrictions: some departments won't accept outside courses for core major requirements.
- Pre-approval if you're currently enrolled.
Planning your Study.com courses
Membership plans and the number of courses you can take each month have changed over time, so check Study.com's current pricing page. Whatever the plan, cost per credit depends on how many courses you actually finish.
A practical planning method:
- List the courses that are verified or approved for your degree.
- Group them: quick courses in subjects you know, then harder ones.
- Estimate hours per course from your background. A familiar subject may take 20 hours; a new one may take 40 to 60.
- Match that to your weekly study time and set target completion dates.
- Book your proctored exam slot only when practice tests show you're ready.
Preparing for the proctored final exam
The final exam is where most students lose time, usually from unfamiliar rules rather than difficulty.
Before exam day
- Read Study.com's current proctoring rules carefully: what's allowed on your desk, room requirements, breaks, and whether notes or calculators are permitted.
- Run the system check on the same computer, browser and internet connection you'll use.
- Have a valid government photo ID ready.
- Complete the chapter tests and the practice exam. If you're scoring comfortably above the passing mark, you're likely ready.
On exam day
- Use a quiet, private room with a clear desk.
- Close other programs and turn off notifications.
- Keep your face in view of the camera throughout.
- Read each question fully. Many wrong answers come from misreading "not" or "except".
If you don't pass, check the retake policy. Use the result to identify weak chapters before retrying.
Writing assignments
Many courses include a written assignment. To do well:
- Read the prompt and rubric twice before you start.
- Answer every part of the prompt; rubrics usually award points per part.
- Use your own words and cite sources where required. Submissions are checked for originality.
- Proofread. Our editing service can review your draft for clarity and grammar, but the ideas and writing must be yours.
Sending your transcript
Once you've completed the courses:
- Partner colleges usually receive transcripts directly from Study.com. Request them from your account.
- Non-partner colleges may want a transcript from ACE (through ACE's online learner-transcript system) or from NCCRS, depending on which organization evaluated the course. Ask your college which it needs.
Allow several weeks for transcripts to be sent and evaluated, especially near the start of a semester.
After transfer: confirm everything
When your college has processed the transcript, review your degree audit:
- Is each course listed?
- Is it applied to the intended requirement, or just general elective credit?
- Are the credits and level (upper or lower) correct?
If something's wrong, contact the transfer office with the course description and any equivalency you relied on. Most schools have a review or petition process.
Frequently asked questions
Is Study.com credit accepted everywhere?
No. Acceptance varies by college and sometimes by program. Partner colleges and colleges that accept ACE or NCCRS recommendations are the most likely to accept it.
Can Study.com courses count as upper-level credit?
They can, if the course carries an upper-division recommendation and your college accepts it at that level. Confirm before enrolling.
How long does a Study.com course take?
It varies widely: from a couple of weeks for a motivated student in a familiar subject to a couple of months for a harder course studied part-time.
Does Study.com credit affect my GPA?
Usually not. Many colleges record transfer credit without a grade, but policies differ.
Can I get help with a Study.com course?
Yes, legitimate help: tutoring, concept explanations, study schedules and practice. You must complete your own assignments and exams; proctoring verifies your identity. See our academic integrity policy.
Build your plan with us
We'll compare your degree audit with Study.com's catalog (and Sophia, StraighterLine and Saylor where they're cheaper or better), then give you a clear map of which courses could fill each requirement and how certain each match is.