It is no more news that the internet is changing the way we do things including how we learn. Students now have access to cheap self-paced online college courses for credit which they can transfer.
Several schools are now adopting this method so that they can offer working adults a more flexible way to acquire college courses for credit. Through this means, you don’t have to worry about your learning clashing with your work or other activities. Â
Nevertheless, some of these programs may give deadlines for the submission of assignments, tasks, and exams. In this article, we have carefully researched and laid down some of these cheap self-paced online college courses for credit.Â
World scholars hub has also provided you with alternatives that may be useful to your search for self-paced college courses for credit online. Read further to learn more.
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Ways to Earn College Credit Fast
Apart from the cheap self-paced online college courses for credit, there are several other ways to earn college credit fast.
Below are 4 ways to earn college credit fast:
1. Advanced Placement Classes/examsÂ
High school students whose performance in the AP exams is great may receive advanced placement or credit from colleges.
The AP exams consist of 38 AP tests students can choose from including exams in subjects like chemistry, calculus, English, etc.
It cost about $94 and is organized annually by the College Board.
2. Volunteer Work
Some internships and volunteering activities could be used to acquire college credit.
Volunteer work gives students experience and professional development in a particular field. To find the best volunteering opportunities for you, it is best to work closely with your academic advisors.
3. Certifications and Corporate training
Reputed certifications and recognized corporate training can lead to college credit.
Career fields like nursing, IT, and many others offer students some licenses and certifications that can lead to college credit.
4. Military Experience:Â
Some military personnel can use their experiences and training in the force to acquire college credit.
The eligibility of such candidates is often determined after the evaluation of their records by the American Council on Education.
Nevertheless, every institution has its own policy for awarding credits to military personnel.
Top 15 Cheap Self-Paced Online College Courses for Credit
Below are some affordable self-paced online college courses for credit you can choose from:
1. CH121 – General Chemistry
Credits: 2
Cost: $1,610
Oregon State University Offers a general chemistry course for students who may need an introductory chemistry course for their college program or those without previous chemistry training.
This course is not totally self-paced as learners have several deadlines to meet including exams that must be written on specific dates. Students are advised to check for prerequisite requirements to know if there are certain restrictions to entry. If you desire to take up this course, you’ll need to have good knowledge of:
- High school algebra
- Logarithms
- Scientific notation.
2. Accounting
Credits: 3
Cost: $59
StraighterLine offers an Accounting IÂ course that students can use to earn credits.
The course is an online self-paced course that is designed to take learners just 4 weeks to complete. However, StraighterLine says that many students were able to complete the course in 30 days or less.
In this course, you’ll get to learn about some fundamental accounting principles and how they can be applied to business operations.
You’ll also gain access to free textbooks that will aid your study.
3. Introduction to Sociology
Credits: 3
Cost: $675.00
Pearson offers an accelerated pathway course on introduction to sociology with transferrable credits to several colleges in the United States. Students take the course through an online platform for learning known as “Canvas”. Learners are given five assignments that are graded within the standard course duration of 8 weeks.
Introduction to sociology offered by Pearson focuses on basic areas of sociology like:Â
- Globalization
- Cultural Diversity
- Critical Thinking
- New TechnologyÂ
- The growing influence of mass media.
4. ECON 2013 – Principles of Macroeconomics
Credits: 3
Cost: $30 per credit hour.
At the University of Arkansas online, there is a list of self-paced online college courses for credit and ECON 2013 is just one of them.
The course has prerequisites like MATH 1203 or its equivalent.
From this course, you’ll learn:
- Macroeconomic analysis
- Aggregate Employment
- Income
- Fiscal and Monetary Policy
- Growth and Business Cycle.
5. ACCT 315: Business Law I
Credits: 3
Cost: $370.08 per credit
This undergraduate course at the University of North Dakota is a self-paced online course which takes approximately 3 to 9 months to complete. In this course, you’ll learn about:
- The legal business environmentÂ
- Governmental Regulations
- Contracts and Property.
6. Introduction to Africana Studies
Credits: 3
Cost: $260.00 per credit hour.
Self-paced online courses at the Metropolitan State University are offered on an online learning platform known as Canvas.
Enrolled Students are expected to pay a mandatory fee of $260 per credit which covers online fees, health fees, Metro bond fees, technology fees, etc.
After you’re admitted, you’ll have access to your course 2 weeks before the traditional semester starts. The course is speculated to take students only 10 weeks to complete.
7. MAT240 – Applied Statistics
Credits: 3
Cost: $320 per credit
Southern New Hampshire University has a fundamental applied statistics course where students learn how to use software and hand to solve statistical problems.
On completion of the course, you’ll be able to apply statistical principles to solve business and social science problems.
Some of the things you’ll learn will include:
- Probability distribution function
- Sampling distribution
- Estimation
- Hypothesis Testing
- Linear Regression etc.
8. SPAN 111 – Elementary Spanish I
Credits: 4
Cost: $1,497
University of Maryland Global Campus gives students access to a 3-credit Elementary Spanish Course. Individuals with little to no knowledge of the Spanish Language can learn this course but it’s not available to native Spanish speakers. Credit is awarded to students for only one of the following courses: SPAN 101 or SPAN 111.Â
9. Physical Geology
Credits: 4
Cost: $1,194
Physical science credits can be met with Geology courses and this is one of those self-paced online courses that can be used for that purpose. This course takes approximately 5 weeks to complete. Within these 5 weeks, you’ll learn the basic concepts of geology.
Topics you’ll come across in this program offered by the University of Phoenix include:Â
- Historical Geology
- Rocks and Minerals
- Weathering
- Mass Wasting
- Erosion SystemsÂ
- Plate Tectonics
- Igneous activity.
10. PSY 1001 – General Psychology I
Credits: 3
Cost: $1,071.60(in-state), $1,203.75 (Out-of-state)
Colorado Community Colleges Online has a self-paced online course on psychology which is one of the statewide guaranteed transfer courses. You’ll learn about human behaviours and other aspects of human psychology like;
- Motivations
- Emotions
- Research Methods
- Learning and Memory etc.
11. College Algebra and Problem Solving
Credits: 3
Cost: $0 ($49 for certificate)
Arizona state university has an online college course for credit called college algebra problem-solving.
Through this course, students are prepared for future mathematical lessons through lectures in algebra.
The course is free and self-paced and it is offered on the edX platform. It takes learners an average of 15 weeks to complete this course if they put it consistent 8 to 9 hours weekly.
12. Introduction to Graphic Arts (GD 140)
Credits: 3
Cost: $1,044.00
St. Clair County Community College is the provider college for this introductory graphics design course. The course focuses on raster, vector and layout software which will allow students to gain basic skills they’ll require to build arts using computers.
The tuition for this course differs based on your location and district.
13. English 130: Composition II: Writing for Public Audiences
Credits: 3
Cost: $370.08 per credit
In just 3 to 9 months, you can complete this online course from the University of North Dakota. English 110 is the required prerequisite for this course and learners will need to acquire two digital textbooks for this course.
You’ll undergo some writing assignments and exercises during the course which will enable you to understand some fundamentals of writing a composition.
14. English 110: College Composition I
Credits: 3
Cost: $370.08 per credit
Here is another course from the University of North Dakota on college composition.
This course forms part of the University’s Essential Studies program which is designed to help students acquire skills and knowledge in academic areas that they’ll need for their professional careers or private lives. Learners will acquire English essential skills which they can complete in a duration of 3 to 9 months.
15. Maths 114: Trigonometry
Credits: 2
Cost: $832(undergraduate students) $980(Graduate students) $81 (courseware cost)
If you need a self-paced online trigonometry course, then you should go to the University of Illinois. Offered through an online learning system called ALEKS, this course is $832 for undergraduate students and $980 for graduate students.
However, students also pay a fee of $81 to purchase the learning code from ALEKS. At the end of the course, you’ll write 3 hours for the final exam which will be hosted online.
Prerequisite courses needed include:
- 1.5 units of high school algebra
- 1 unit of high school geometry.
FAQs About Cheap Self-Paced Online College Courses for Credit
1. Do AP Classes Give College Credit?
Yes they do. AP exams qualify most students who perform well in them for college credit. AP exams are graded from 1 to 5. Most colleges accept a grade of 4 to 5 as a credit for that particular course.
2. Can I earn college credit for free?
Yes you can. Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is one way to achieve that. Some schools make some of their popular online courses free and available to the public. Some of these courses which you can acquire for free can also qualify you for credit. However it all depends on the schools policies.
3. Can I do college courses at my own pace?
Yes. If you register for a self-paced online college course, you can complete such courses on your own flexible schedule without any restrictions.
4. Can I transfer online college credits to an on-campus program?
Of course you can. However, it may be a difficult process sometimes but it is definitely possible to transfer your online college credits to traditional university programs.
5. Do college credits expire?
Not exactly. College credits do not expire, but they may become irrelevant due to certain reasons like; being outdated and this may affect their transfer into another program.
Related Resources
- 10 Cheapest Online College per Credit Hour
- 15 Best Cheap Distance Learning Universities in Europe
- 20 Free Online High School Diploma for Adults
- 13 Free medical assistant online courses
- The 20 Best MBA Online Courses.
Conclusion
This article has a list of several cheap self-paced online college courses for credit that can be useful to you.
With the information above, we believe that you must have found relevant help concerning the kind of self-paced online college course for credit that you wish to enroll for.
We hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it for you. See you soon.
If you have any questions or recommendations, feel free to always use the comments section below. Your feedback is always welcomed, appreciated, and greatly helps us to improve the quality of information we deliver to you. Thank you and all the best!!!