10 Colleges That Offer Individual Online Courses 2027

You don't have to commit to a full degree to take a college course online. Many accredited colleges let you enroll in a single class as a non-degree student, earn credit, and transfer it wherever you need it. That flexibility helps if you're filling a prerequisite, catching up on a requirement for your home school, or building a new skill for work.

The colleges below make it easy to take one course at a time, and several let you start any day of the year and work at your own pace. Along the way, you'll find how credits transfer, what a single course typically costs, and how to pay for classes when federal financial aid isn't an option.

What Are Individual Online Courses?

Individual online courses are college classes you take without being admitted to a degree program. Schools often call this non-degree, nonmatriculated, or visiting student status. You complete the same coursework as degree-seeking students, and the credits you earn appear on an official transcript, so you can transfer online college credits to another school later.

These courses come in a few formats. Some follow a regular term schedule with weekly deadlines, while others are fully self-paced, with months to finish and no set start date. Many schools also cap how many credits you can earn as a non-degree student, such as 24 undergraduate credits, before asking you to apply to a program.

Why Take an Individual Online Course?

Students take single courses for many reasons. If you're enrolled at another college, an online course can help you catch up on a requirement over the summer or take a class your school doesn't offer that term. Others need prerequisite courses before applying to nursing school, graduate school, or another competitive program.

A single course is also a low-risk way to try out a subject before committing to a degree. Working professionals use individual courses to build specific skills, while high school students can get a head start through online dual enrollment programs. If you just want to learn without earning credit, free self-paced courses are another option.

Colleges That Offer Individual Online Courses

Each school below lets you take online courses for credit without enrolling in a degree program. They all hold institutional accreditation, so your credits carry weight when you transfer them.

1. Arizona State University Universal Learner Courses

Arizona State University's Universal Learner Courses (ULC) take much of the risk out of trying a college course. You pay a small fee to start, complete the course online, and then decide whether you want the credit. If you pass and choose to add it, you pay a credit fee and the course appears on an official ASU transcript, and you have up to a year to make that choice.

The catalog includes more than 75 courses in areas like STEM, humanities, business, and leadership, with both on-demand and session-based options. ASU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and its credits transfer widely. These courses aren't eligible for federal financial aid, but some employers reimburse them, and the fees may qualify as a 529 plan expense depending on your state.

2. University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota's Enroll Anytime program lets you start a self-paced online course on any day of the year. You get up to nine months to finish each course and can submit up to three assignments for grading per week. Courses span six subject areas, from business and economics to math, science, and languages.

Anyone who meets a course's prerequisites can enroll as a non-degree student, including high school students in 100- and 200-level courses. You can earn up to 24 undergraduate credits or nine graduate credits before you need to apply to a degree program. UND charges the same online rate no matter where you live, which keeps costs predictable for out-of-state students.

3. BYU Independent Study

If you want maximum flexibility, BYU Independent Study gives you up to 12 months to complete each course. You can sign up any time, work at your own pace, and earn university credit without being admitted to Brigham Young University. The program offers more than 470 courses across its university, high school, and middle school catalogs.

That makes it a popular choice for homeschool students, international learners, and college students who need a specific course to stay on track. BYU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Check with your home school before enrolling to confirm how the credit will transfer.

4. University of Wisconsin Independent Learning

University of Wisconsin Independent Learning offers more than 40 online courses with no application required. You're guaranteed a spot as long as you meet a course's prerequisites, and your first day of class is the day you register. Each course gives you six months to finish, with extensions available up to a full year.

Credits appear on a University of Wisconsin transcript and transfer to every UW campus, along with many other colleges across the country. The program serves a wide range of learners, from high school students getting a head start to adults returning to school. Its no-application approach makes it one of the simplest ways on this list to take a single course.

5. Penn State World Campus

Penn State World Campus lets nondegree students take individual undergraduate and graduate courses online. Undergraduate students complete a nondegree enrollment form, while graduate students apply through Penn State's Graduate School for nondegree enrollment. Once your enrollment is processed, you'll receive a Penn State account and schedule your course through LionPATH.

This option works well if you want Penn State coursework for professional development or as a step toward a future degree. Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Keep in mind that nondegree students aren't eligible for federal financial aid, so plan to pay out of pocket or through an employer.

6. Oregon State University Ecampus

With more than 1,750 online courses in over 110 subject areas, Oregon State University Ecampus offers one of the largest course catalogs on this list. Nondegree students can earn college credit without pursuing an Oregon State degree, and courses are taught by the same faculty who teach on campus in Corvallis. Most classes follow Oregon State's quarter schedule.

That breadth makes Ecampus a strong option for finding a specific course your home school doesn't offer, especially in science, natural resources, or computer science. Oregon State is accredited by NWCCU, so your credits are widely recognized. Enrollment services can help you choose courses and complete the nondegree application.

7. University of Maryland Global Campus

University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) makes non-degree enrollment straightforward: you select the non-degree option on its application, pay the application fee, and register. Undergraduate courses usually don't require transcripts unless they have prerequisites, while graduate courses may require proof of a bachelor's degree. Students at other University System of Maryland schools use a separate permission-to-enroll process.

UMGC built its online courses for working adults, with flexible terms and frequent start dates throughout the year. If you decide to keep going, you can switch to degree-seeking status later. UMGC is accredited by MSCHE.

8. Thomas Edison State University

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) welcomes non-matriculated, or visiting, students who want to take courses without pursuing a degree. Applications are usually processed within one business day, and you'll hear back with acceptance or next steps within two to three business days. Graduate visiting students can take up to nine credits, depending on the school.

TESU also lets visiting students take TECEP exams, which award college credit for knowledge you already have. That combination can help you earn credit quickly. TESU is accredited by MSCHE and recommends applying at least two weeks before the term starts so you have time to register and order materials.

9. Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak State College, Connecticut's public online college, lets students take many of its courses without being admitted to a program. You can enroll in courses for its certificate programs, such as medical coding, cybersecurity, or project management, without matriculating. Courses run in accelerated five-week and eight-week terms.

That short format makes Charter Oak a good fit if you need a course finished quickly. Certificate courses require a grade of C or higher, and many credits can later apply toward a Charter Oak degree. The college is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

10. Rio Salado College

Rio Salado College offers more than 595 online classes, with start dates on most Mondays throughout the year. That schedule means you rarely have to wait long to start a course, whether you need a general education class to transfer or a career skills course for work. As a community college, Rio Salado also keeps per-credit costs low.

Rio Salado is part of Arizona's Maricopa County Community College District and specializes in online learning. The college is accredited by HLC, and many of its general education courses are designed to transfer to Arizona universities and other schools. You can also pay through a monthly plan if you'd rather spread out the cost.

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university. For this list, we also looked at how easy each school makes it to enroll in a single course, using the criteria below:

• Accreditation: Every school holds institutional accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Non-degree access: Each college lets students take online courses for credit without being admitted to a degree program.
• Flexibility: Self-paced options, frequent start dates, and simple enrollment steps earned priority.
• Course variety: Schools with large online catalogs or courses in high-demand subjects received a closer look.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

How Course Credits Transfer

Taking a course for credit doesn't guarantee your home school will accept it, so plan ahead. Before you enroll, ask your school's registrar or academic advisor whether the course will transfer and how it will count, such as toward a major requirement or as an elective. Getting that approval in writing can save you from repeating a class later.

Accreditation plays a big role in transfer decisions, and courses from institutionally accredited colleges are the most widely accepted. Most schools also require a minimum grade, often a C or better. If you need general education credits at a lower cost, low-cost providers like Sophia Learning and StraighterLine offer courses with credit recommendations that many colleges accept.

How Much Does an Individual Online Course Cost?

Most college courses are worth three credits, so the per-credit rate drives your total cost. Community colleges often charge less than $150 per credit, which puts a single course at around $300 to $450. Public universities more commonly charge $250 to $700 per credit, or roughly $750 to $2,100 per course.

Some programs use different pricing models. ASU's Universal Learner Courses charge a small fee to start and a larger fee only if you choose to earn credit, while schools like UND charge the same online rate regardless of where you live. Application fees, technology fees, and textbooks can add to your total, so check the full cost before you enroll.

Paying for Individual Online Courses

Non-degree students generally can't use federal financial aid, so paying for a single course takes a little planning. These options can help:

• Employer tuition assistance: Many companies that offer tuition reimbursement cover job-related courses, even when they aren't part of a degree.
• 529 plans: Qualified education expenses at accredited schools may be covered by a 529 plan, depending on your state's rules.
• Payment plans: Some schools let you spread costs out, and online colleges that offer monthly payment plans can make tuition easier to manage.
• Your home school's aid: If you're enrolled elsewhere, ask whether a consortium agreement lets you use your financial aid for an approved course at another college.
• Workforce programs: State workforce grants may cover job-related courses for eligible adults.

How To Choose an Individual Online Course

The right course depends on why you're taking it and where the credit needs to go. These factors can help you decide.

Credit Transfer

If you're taking a course for another school, confirm that the credit will transfer before you register. Ask how it will count toward your degree, not just whether it will be accepted. A course that only counts as an elective may not help if you need it to fill a specific requirement.

Pace and Schedule

Self-paced courses at schools like UND, BYU, and the University of Wisconsin give you months to finish, which helps if your schedule is unpredictable. Term-based courses have firm deadlines but can keep you more accountable. If you need a course done fast, look for accelerated five-week or eight-week formats.

Start Dates

Some schools let you start any day, while others follow a set term calendar. If you need a course finished before a deadline, like an application or the start of a new semester, work backward from that date to choose a school with a start date that fits.

Prerequisites and Admission Steps

Check whether a course has prerequisites and what documents you'll need to enroll. Undergraduate courses often require little more than an application, while graduate courses usually require proof of a bachelor's degree. Leave extra time if a school needs to review transcripts.

FAQs About Colleges That Offer Individual Online Courses

Taking a single course raises a few practical questions. These answers can help you get started.

Can You Take an Online College Course Without a High School Diploma?

Some programs allow it, especially for high school students. UND accepts high school students in 100- and 200-level courses, and University of Wisconsin Independent Learning serves learners starting in high school. Other schools, like TESU, require a high school diploma or GED for visiting students.

Does an Individual Course Show Up on a College Transcript?

Yes, when you take a course for credit, it appears on an official transcript from the college that offered it. You can request that transcript and send it to your home school or another institution. Grades from these courses may also affect your GPA at the issuing school.

Can You Apply Individual Course Credits Toward a Degree at the Same School?

Often, yes. Many colleges let you transfer credits earned as a non-degree student into a degree program if you later apply and are admitted. Most schools limit how many non-degree credits can count, so check the policy if you think you might pursue a degree.

Are Free Online Courses Worth Taking?

Free courses can be a great way to explore a subject or build skills, but most don't award college credit. If you want to learn without paying tuition, free online courses and certificates can help you get started. If you need transferable credit, a for-credit course from an accredited college is the safer choice.

How Long Does an Individual Online Course Take?

It depends on the format. Accelerated courses can take as few as five weeks, standard semester courses run about 15 or 16 weeks, and self-paced courses can give you six to 12 months to finish. Choose a format that matches your schedule and any deadlines you're working toward.

Find Individual Online Courses That Fit Your Goals

Taking a single online course can help you meet a requirement, build a new skill, or test out a subject before committing to a degree. Browse programs through Learn.org and connect directly with schools to get personalized information about non-degree enrollment, course schedules, and credit transfer.