Can You Get a Degree From Sophia Learning?

Sophia Learning first began offering online education in 2011. Over the last 15 years, Sophia has expanded its learning offerings and has made countless corporate and educational partnerships. 

Despite being a top provider of online education, Sophia isn’t a traditional university or community college. These differences leave many students wondering, “How does Sophia Learning work?” Learn more about what the platform is, what courses you can complete, and how much these credits will cost.

What is Sophia Learning?

Sophia Learning is an online learning platform that offers individual courses for transfer or personal development. Sophia isn’t a college or university that offers complete degree programs; instead, it offers singular classes and tutorials. Students can complete these courses to then transfer to other higher education institutions to work towards a full degree. Sophia’s mission is to make earning general education and entry-level courses easier and more affordable, like an online community college.

Sophia operates on a monthly payment subscription model, instead of per-class or per-semester tuition. All courses are delivered in a fully online, self-paced format. This digital format includes all relevant study materials, including e-books.  

Does Sophia Learning Offer Degrees?

No, Sophia Learning does not offer degree programs. Sophia Learning offers online courses for college credit that transfer to Sophia Learning Partner Schools, including Colorado State University Global, Purdue Global, Capella University, Central Michigan University Online, University of Massachusetts Global, and over 90 others. 

Credits earned through Sophia can transfer to some non-partner universities, so it’s important to look for your school on Sophia’s list of transfer universities.  

What Courses Are Available through Sophia Learning?

The Sophia Learning Course Catalog currently contains over 70 courses available in a fully online, self-paced format. These courses are spread out over 10 different subject areas, including business, science, and mathematics. Each course on Sophia is designed to serve as an entry-level course and transfer to other schools, meaning they might not be as beneficial for advanced students as they are for beginners.

Much like more traditional college courses, students must pass with a qualifying score of 70% to receive transfer credit.

‍Principles of Marketing: Students will study the basics of modern marketing, including pricing, distribution, and communications.‍

Workplace Communication: This course focuses on the written and spoken communications of modern business, both internal and external.‍

Spanish I: Learners will develop an introductory-level understanding of Spanish, including greetings and other basic conversational skills (descriptions, discussing activities, etc.).‍

Introduction to Statistics: Students in this course learn vital statistics skills, including data interpretation, statistical reasoning, and risk assessment. ‍

Macroeconomics: This course examines national and international economies and their impacts on businesses and governments.‍

Introduction to Ethics: Coursework covers ethical actions and decision-making across a variety of applications, including business.‍

Criminology: Learners will analyze theories for the causes of crime using psychological, sociological, and biological approaches.‍

Introduction to Java Programming: Students participate in hands-on learning to develop programming skills with the Java language.‍

Financial Accounting: The class details accounting basics, including preparing financial statements and various accounting methods.‍

Microbiology: Students participate in lecture-based learning covering the skills needed to categorize microorganisms. There is an additional lab-based course available. 

In addition to individual courses, Sophia offers two learning pathways. Students can choose between business and nursing. These learning pathways are meant to provide a guide through introductory-level courses to prepare for transfer. Students looking to pursue full degrees in these fields can use these pathways like many students use associate degrees from a community college.

Sophia Learning FAQs

Even though Sophia Learning has been around since the early 2010s, many learners are unaware of the platform and its benefits. As a result, there are many common questions that potential students have about Sophia.

Does Sophia Learning Offer Certificates?

Sophia Learning doesn’t offer traditional certificate programs; it mainly provides a transcript (and sometimes Credly badges) to document completed courses for potential transfer credit.

Is Sophia Learning Accredited?

Sophia doesn’t have traditional accreditation, but the school doesn’t need it because Sophia doesn’t award degrees. Instead, Sophia has a designation from both the American Council on Education’s Learning Evaluation Service and the Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC). This status, combined with Sophia’s academic partnerships, makes transferring credits easy.

How Much Does Sophia Learning Cost?

There are three main payment options for Sophia Learning, and each plan has a slightly different pricing rate. For a single month, students will pay $99. Students who enroll in the four-month plan pay $299 (approximately $75 per month), while the 12-month plan costs $599 (approximately $50 per month). Students can also participate in a free trial to sample courses before enrolling.   

Is Sophia Learning Self-Paced?

All Sophia Learning courses are offered in a fully self-paced format. Course materials are delivered in pre-recorded, on-demand formats, allowing learners to access their coursework whenever or wherever they choose. 

Find Online Courses Today

Whether you want to take individual courses on a platform like Sophia Learning or find fully online degree programs, our resources can help you find the best option for your needs. Read our articles and school profiles to learn more about all the opportunities available to you.

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