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ACE Credits

StraighterLine

Introduction and Recommendation:

StraighterLine is our recommended provider for Math, English, Healthcare courses, and Python.

I have always thought Math & English are a little less of a headache on StraighterLine compared to other sources, and I think StraighterLine's Healthcare courses and Python course are the best or on par with the best I have seen for an ACE Provider or Community College.

My Own Experience at StraighterLine:

I did most of my college credits on StraighterLine, 68+ credits in less than six months. I found them to be quite fast, courses well-organized, learned the material, and overall enjoyed using the platform everyday. Even if slightly pricier than the other ACE Credit options, I highly recommend them due to speed + quality.

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I am actually taking the following courses at StraighterLine myself currently:

Lifespan Development, Anatomy & Physiology I w/ Lab, Anatomy & Physiology II w/ Lab, and General Chemistry. I want to get a healthcare degree as a backup pivot, such as WGU Nursing. And may end up doing it as a full career as I prefer being a Tech Entrepreneur (Software Apps) + Having a stable job (healthcare) rather than working in tech itself. I may document this entire journey publicly.

StraighterLine General Information + How It Works:

StraighterLine offers a wide variety of general education and introductory courses that transfer to many colleges and universities. And is well known for their Healthcare courses which many aspiring Nurses and Healthcare Professionals take. They also have many programming courses for tech majors. They're a great option for knocking out core requirements quickly and affordably.

Course Structure:

StraighterLine courses consist of Checkpoints and Benchmarks. Checkpoints are quick, open-book knowledge checks on important course concepts, usually with 1-3 attempts allowed. Benchmarks test your mastery of course concepts and allow 3 attempts, with your highest score counting.

All course material is available immediately—work through the content at your own pace and take assessments when you're ready. This is how college-level courses should be.

Taking notes during the readings is highly recommended.

Grading Criteria:

StraighterLine uses a points-based system. For example, BUS101 Introduction to Business has 1000 total points distributed across checkpoints and benchmarks. A passing score is 70% or higher. Usually the final exam/benchmarks are 30% of your grade while the rest of the course is 70% of your grade. So theoretically if you get 100% on the rest of the course, you can get a near 0% on the final and still pass the course. Similar to StraighterLine's old grading system and Study.com's newer grading system.

Cumulative Benchmarks (final exams) only allow 1 attempt, so make sure you're prepared before attempting them.

User Interface:

StraighterLine redesigned their User Interface recently and it genuinely looks amazing. It's a modern, sleek, and straight-forward design that I really enjoy.

Pricing:

StraighterLine uses a membership + per-course model:

  • $99/month – Membership fee
  • $79 per course – Each course costs $79 on top of membership

This means your first course costs $178, but additional courses in the same month are only $79 each.

Is StraighterLine Proctored?

No live proctoring. As of September 2025, StraighterLine no longer proctors their courses.

Average Course Length:

Completion time varies by person. Most general education courses can be completed in 5-7 days if you're putting in several hours daily. Upper Level courses, English courses, Lab courses, Healthcare courses, and courses involving programming or heavy writing may take 7-14+ days each. These are conservative timelines—faster completion is possible depending on your schedule and familiarity with the material, especially if you're able to put six hours a day into this investment.

If you are doing a Nursing Program, I'd take a little more time with the courses, as you'll need to pass a lot of hard exams to become a nurse. Speeding through it is fine, but still digest the material.