Frequently Asked Questions
To help improve your StraighterLine experience, we've compiled a list of the questions we hear most often.
Click through the topics below to find the answers you're looking for.
Q: Is StraighterLine a college?
A: No, but our courses are recognized for REAL college credit at a growing number of colleges and universities. As the first non-college to offer ultra-affordable and high-quality online courses, StraighterLine has been recognized as among the .
StraighterLine offers general-education courses that are covered in the first two years of most college degree plans and can be easily transferred to the college of your choice. In short, you start with us and finish with them, earning the same degree at an enormous savings—and taking college courses at your own pace.
Getting credit is easy. The first step is to determine where you'd like to finish your degree—and if you don't know what degree you want to pursue yet, our Career Paths and sections can help you decide. If you select one of our , your StraighterLine credits are . To have us send your transcript, simply submit a Transcript Request from your StraighterLine account.
ACE Credit has evaluated and recommended our courses. More than 2,000 colleges and universities consider ACE CREDIT recommendations in determining the applicability to their course and degree programs. Our students also report that they've connected with more than 400 colleges outside of our partner network that have recognized StraighterLine courses. That said, if you plan to complete your degree at a non-partner college, we strongly recommend that you understand the school's credit-transfer process before purchasing a StraighterLine course to make sure you won't have any problems.
Return to TopQ: Can I take more than one course at a time?
A: Yes. You can take unlimited courses with an active StraighterLine Membership for as low as $79.
Return to TopQ: What is a Student Advisor’s role at StraighterLine?
A: Student Advisors are here to help you and handle any and all non-academic issues that arise. Call, email or chat with us today!
Return to TopQ: What if I have a disability?
A: If you have a disability that affects your ability to take an online course, you'll need to contact your Student Advisor to provide StraighterLine with the appropriate documentation before you complete any course assessments. Once we receive your documentation, we'll work with you to discuss your options.
For more information regarding ADA and accessibility policies at StraighterLine, please refer to the StraighterLine Student Handbook.
Return to TopQ: How does a StraighterLine Membership work?
Your StraighterLine allows you save up to $15,000 on your degree, by purchasing unlimited courses for as low as $59. At just $99/month your membership will continue as long as you need it, and you can cancel at anytime.
Return to TopQ: How can I cancel my monthly membership?
A: You can cancel your membership by logging in to your MyLine account and selecting your account menu in the top right hand corner. Select "Billing Preferences", where you will see an option to cancel your membership. Please remember to do this a day prior to your billing date.
Return to TopQ: What happens if I cancel my Membership without completing my course(s)?
A: If you need to cancel your membership before your course(s) are complete, don't worry! You can restart your membership at anytime, with no penalty. Simply get started right where you left off in your course(s) when you sign back up with your StraighterLine monthly membership.
Return to TopQ: How am I graded?
A: Grading varies by course but typically includes a mixture of exams, quizzes, and essays. It's also common for courses to include a series of ungraded assignments.
Return to TopQ: Will I receive a grade?
A: StraighterLine provides a letter and number grade for each course. Colleges have their own policies with respect to how and whether they'll post grades for transferred coursework. You should check with the college you plan to attend to determine its specific grade-posting policies.
Your StraighterLine transcript will reflect the percentage score and corresponding grade as set forth below:
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 90-100 | A |
| 80-89 | B |
| 70*-79 | C |
| 60-69 | D |
| Below 60 | F |
*A grade of at least 70% is required for ACE CREDIT recommendation or credit recognition at most StraighterLine partner colleges. ACE transcripts reflect P/F (Pass/Fail) only.
Return to TopQ: Do I have to complete all of the tests and assignments?
A: You must complete all graded assignments, tests, and lab assignments before you can request that a transcript be sent on your behalf. This holds true even if you'd otherwise achieve a 70% or higher on the course.
Return to TopQ: I did not achieve at least a 70% and want to try again. What do I need to do?
A: You may retake a course as many times as you choose, but you'll be charged each time you retake it. Your final grade in a course is the highest final grade attempt which meets StraighterLine's grade requirements.
Return to TopQ: What are StraighterLine Exams like?
A: All graded exams are formatted consistently across courses. All graded exams, quizzes, and tests share the following characteristics:
- Attempts: Unless otherwise noted, you have one (1) attempt only for graded assessments.
- Pop-ups: All graded assessments will open in the same window (no pop-ups).
- Timed: All graded assessments are timed. Upon opening the assessment the first time, the timer will initialize. You should not close the exam window while your exam is running (unless you're finished and want to submit it). If time expires, graded tests will submit automatically. Time limits for exams and graded assessments vary by course.
- Question Display: Only one (1) question will be displayed at a time.
- End of Assessment Information: At the end of your graded assessment, once you've submitted your answers, you'll be able to view your score and see all of your submitted answers. You may request the full text of the question, including all possible answers for use in follow-up tutoring, by contacting a Student Advisor.
Q: What materials can I use during an exam?
A: It depends on the exam. For exams except the final exam, unauthorized materials or aids are not permitted though you may use the following reference materials:
- The book(s) or other assigned reading materials listed in the course syllabus
- One (1) sheet of 8 ½ X 11 paper (front and back) of prepared notes
- Blank scratch paper
- A pen or pencil
- A calculator (for math and science courses requiring calculations only, please note what type of calculator [graphing vs. scientific] is permitted for your specific exam)
Use of the following resources, services, and aids during exams is strictly prohibited by the StraighterLine Student Handbook:
- Additional texts or reference materials not listed within the course syllabus
- Search engines (Google.com, Ask.com, Yahoo Answers, etc.)
- Question and answer sites
- Study sites
- Tutoring
- Forums
- Chat applications
- Landline or cellular phones
By submitting your answers for a graded exam, you confirm that the work is your own and that you're taking the exam in accordance with the StraighterLine Academic Honesty Policy.
Please note that Final Examinations may be closed book and restrict what materials can be utilized. In these cases you will be provided all necessary materials to complete the exam within the testing environment.
Q: After I finish an exam, can I review the exam and answers?
A: Yes! For all non-proctored exams you'll be able to review the questions you were asked, all answers and your selected answers. You will also be able to see whether your answer was correct or incorrect. These are great study aids.
Q: Can I retake a graded quiz or exam?
A: You can't retake quizzes and exams or change your answers once you've submitted the entire graded assessment. In limited cases, exams may be reset due to technical issues. If this happens and we confirm the attempt has been cleared, your score is permanently deleted and you must retake the exam in its entirety.
Q: I think there is an error in the test. What do I do?
A: Answer the question to the best of your ability, but make note of the question number and exam number. After completing the exam, you can view the answered questions and your answers, and whether they were marked correct or incorrect. If you believe a question was marked incorrectly, you should contact a Student Advisor.
Since StraighterLine's test banks are intellectual property, correct answers may not be shared publicly or otherwise, including with any other student. Any sharing of test bank questions is a violation of the StraighterLine Student Handbook and subjects violators to immediate course failure, removal from StraighterLine's learning management system, and the restriction of access to any of StraighterLine's affiliate websites.
Q: What is a proctored exam?
A: A proctored exam is an exam that is supervised by an approved, neutral person (a proctor) who ensures the identity of the test taker and the integrity of the test taking environment. StraighterLine requires proctoring on all final exams and uses an online proctoring service called ProctorU. ProctorU connects your computer and webcam to their website while the exam is being proctored. Proctoring sessions are taken in the comfort of the student's home (or prefered location) and require a webcam.
Return to TopQ: Why are StraighterLine final exams proctored?
A: Proctoring ensures the academic integrity of your course by preventing cheating and verifying that exam guidelines are followed.
Return to TopQ: Is proctoring required for my exams?
A: Yes, StraighterLine requires proctoring for all final exams.
Return to TopQ: What if my course doesn't have a final exam?
A: Several composition courses, such as English Composition I and Lab Sciences, do not have final exams, so there's no need for proctoring. To ensure academic integrity, written work for such courses is subject to review via plagiarism detection software and other protocols. Proctoring is not applicable in the following courses:
- Developmental Writing (ENG099)
- English Composition I (ENG101)
- English Composition II (ENG102)
- Anatomy and Physiology I Lab (BIO201L)
- Anatomy and Physiology II Lab (BIO202L)
- General Chemistry I Lab (CHEM101L)
- General Physics I Lab (PHY250L)
- Introduction to Biology Lab (BIO101L)
- Microbiology Lab (BIO250L)
Q: Are Textbooks or eTextbooks included?
A: Yes. eTextbooks are now included for FREE in StraighterLine courses.
Return to TopQ: How long can I use my eTextbook?
A: Access to your eTextbook is unlimited throughout the duration of your course. When you complete your course, you will no longer be able to access your eTextbook.
Return to TopQ: Can I purchase a hardcopy version of the required textbook instead of using the eTextbook?
A: Yes. You can purchase a hardcopy from your favorite textbook retailer using the ISBN that is listed in your course syllabus. You will still get the eTextbook for free.
Return to TopQ: How do I receive credit for StraighterLine coursework?
A: Getting credit is easy. The first step is to determine where you'd like to finish your degree—and if you don't know what degree you want to pursue yet, our Career Paths and sections can help you decide. If you select one of our , your StraighterLine credits are . To have us send your transcript, simply submit a Transcript Request from your StraighterLine account.
ACE Credit has evaluated and recommended our courses. More than 2,000 colleges and universities consider ACE CREDIT recommendations in determining the applicability to their course and degree programs. Our students also report that they've connected with more than 400 colleges outside of our partner network that have recognized StraighterLine courses. That said, if you plan to complete your degree at a non-partner college, we strongly recommend that you understand the school's credit-transfer process before purchasing a StraighterLine course to make sure you won't have any problems.
To have us send your transcript, simply submit a Transcript Request in your StraighterLine account.
Return to TopQ: What is ACE CREDIT?
A: The American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) helps students gain academic credit for formal courses and examinations taken outside of traditional degree programs. With over 35,000 courses reviewed, ACE is the national leader in the evaluation process for education and training obtained outside the traditional classroom. Thousands of colleges recognize ACE CREDIT recommendations, and ACE CREDIT has recommended all of StraighterLine’s courses for credit.
To be sure your desired school will award credit, check their website or call the college and ask if they accept ACE-recommended coursework before you purchase.
Return to TopQ: How do I earn credits through ACE?
A: To use the ACE Credit process:
- Be sure the college you've selected accepts ACE-recommended courses. If not, consider one of StraighterLine's partner colleges.
- Successfully complete a StraighterLine course, earning a 70% or higher final average.
- Request an ACE transcript through your StraighterLine account.
- ACE will send you a confirmation email with a link for you to follow to log in. If you don't already have an ACE account, StraighterLine will provide you with a student ID that you'll use to log in. ACE charges $20 to create an account. If you already have an ACE account, you'll need to provide a Student Advisor with your account number to have your course completion information sent to ACE.
Q: I really liked my last tutor's response to my essay. Can I request him/her again?
A: We're glad you liked your last review, but it's not possible to request a particular tutor. Since our tutors pull the essays that have been in the queue the longest, there's no way to predict who will respond to your submission.
Return to TopQ: What file extensions should I use for essay submissions?
A: Essay submissions must be in one of the following formats:
- .doc
- .docx
- .rtf
- .txt
Q: Will my essays be checked for plagiarism?
A: Yes, all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review via Turnitin.com . All submitted papers will also be added as source documents to the Turnitin.com reference database. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the usage policy posted on the Turnitin.com site.
Return to TopQ: Can I apply for financial aid?
A: No, StraighterLine doesn't offer financial aid. You can, however, apply for financial aid at the college of your choice when you complete your StraighterLine experience.
Return to TopQ: Can I pay for this with money from my 529 plan?
A: Not at this time.
Return to TopQ: Can I pay for this with money from my GI bill?
A: Not at this time.
Return to TopQ: How can I contact a Student Advisor?
A: Please contact our Student Advisors at (877) 787-8375 , Live Chat or create a Support Request. Student Support Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-8:00pm, Saturday - Sunday, 9:30am - 5:00pm EST.
Return to TopQ: Who do I call if I have technical problems?
A: Technical support is available through our Student Support team during regular business hours. We strive to support all modern browsers, but to ensure the best experience we highly recommend that all StraighterLine students use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari. To check the full compatibility of your computer and browser, run our System Check.
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