The dramatic increase represents a fundamental shift in higher education, reflecting people’s desire to choose when and how they earn their degrees.
Among the most popular options? Portage Learning.
But before you register for a course, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of this accredited institution so you can make your decision with confidence.
What is Portage Learning?
Portage Learning helps students achieve their educational dreams by offering 32 online college courses, including science labs, in subjects such as:
Its self-directed format allows you to start at any time and learn from anywhere rather than be constrained by a semester system. Students can affordably build a foundation, supplement current courses, or accelerate toward an advanced degree.
Portage Learning’s inception points back to 1972, when Dr. Ken Hartman answered a call from a local nursing program to teach chemistry to a group of students. Dr. Hartman initially offered instruction in person. But as word spread about the excellence of his course, he began to reach more students by videotape, then via email, and now through cutting-edge technology.
With that single “yes” more than 50 years ago, Dr. Hartman founded an institution that has become a leader in online education, delivering high-quality learning beyond a traditional classroom.
Is Portage Learning accredited?
Students who pass courses receive college credit through Geneva College and Bushnell University, Portage Learning’s accredited partner institutions. These credits transfer to more than 2,800 colleges and universities such as:
- Baylor University
- University of Arizona
- University of Kentucky
Portage Learning itself maintains full accreditation through the Middle States Association Commission on Secondary Schools (MSA-CSS), the highest level available for nondegree awarding institutions. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes MSA-CSS as an accrediting body.
Annique London, a mother of three from Minneapolis, took eight Portage Learning courses. The University of Minnesota, where she enrolled to earn a Master of Science in Nursing, accepted all of the credits, helping Annique transition careers at age 56 following her husband’s death.
“Never in a million years did I think I would go back to school, but I never imagined my husband dying in his forties,” she says. “Portage Learning made it seamless though.”
Other Pros of Portage Learning
Flexible, self-directed format
Portage Learning’s asynchronous courses allow you to study anytime, perfect for those balancing heavy schedules such as:
- Working professionals
- Adult learners
- Career switchers
- Motivated high schoolers
Each course includes six to 10 modules, which focus on a theme and explore the subject in written form, video lecture, and review questions. Students can go over the learning materials multiple times to understand it before taking the final exam.
Because of the course design, the content can be finished faster than a traditional semester.
Fully online convenience
Rather than commute to campus and attend class at a set time, the online format allows students to study from any place with an Internet connection.
That could include:
- Your home
- A local coffee shop
- Your child’s soccer game
- While on vacation
- And wherever life takes you
High-quality, engaging courses
Portage Learning provides an educational experience that exceeds most online and classroom counterparts in both curriculum and grading standards.
The institution surveys colleges and universities around the nation that admit students who have completed Portage Learning courses, and 94 percent of those responding said Portage students perform as well as or better than their peers.
Its professors, who design each course, bring more than 650 years of combined experience, ensuring you learn material needed for your future career.
Rolling enrollment
With Portage Learning, you can register for a course today and start tomorrow rather than wait for a new semester to launch.
Students must begin within six months of registration and complete their course within one year of the start date.
Real professors readily available
Portage Learning students enjoy a one-to-one relationship with their professor.
You can message them via your student dashboard to further explain material not understood or to ask questions. Faculty also provide regular feedback on your work and grade exams within 72 hours so you can stay on track with your academic goals.
“My professors were knowledgeable and passionate about the course,” wrote Jessica Gath in a recent Google review. “I was nervous going in but my feelings were assuaged by their accessibility and the organization and clarity of the materials.”
Portage Learning’s faculty boasts numerous awards for their professional work too, adding to the hundreds of years of combined experience they offer.
What Else You Need to Know about Portage Learning
Tuition affordability
Courses at Portage Learning cost $223 per credit, significantly less than the average $406 per credit rate a public, four-year university charges in-state residents.
Tuition must be paid in full at the time of registration, which makes budgeting simple since you know the full cost before you start.
The course price includes all needed materials as well, meaning you will never pay for:
- Textbooks
- Transcript fees
- Technology fees
- Application fees
- Gas for travel to and from campus
Financial aid and refunds
Taking your prerequisite courses with Portage Learning allows you to save tuition dollars that can be used toward the cost of the higher-level courses required by your school.
Students in need of education assistance may be eligible to receive a laptop through their Technology Assistance Program or obtain a discount on Internet access with Bridging the Gap.
Veterans and active-duty military members qualify for a 10 percent discount, too. The reduced rate extends to the spouse and dependents on any personnel currently enlisted.
If you request a refund for a course, it will be granted within 30 days of registration or before advancing past the first module exam.
Academic integrity
Portage Learning requires students submit original, independently completed work.
Professors proctor all exams. The institution also uses software and video technology to ensure no one browses the Internet searching for answers during a test.
These safeguards ensure students complete their coursework honestly and demonstrate their own knowledge and skills.
Limited peer interaction
Online learning provides greater affordability and flexibility than traditional, in-person classrooms but it can be difficult to replicate the community formed in that setting.
Portage Learning prioritizes connection, creating opportunities for students to interact with one another such as:
- Facebook groups: Students can join the Portage Learning Student Group community to ask questions, offer advice, and more with past and present peers.
- WAVES: A community hub for students, featuring educational blogs, insightful podcast conversations, inspirational stories, and more to keep you motivated.
- Currents Conference: Each year, Portage Learning hosts an online conference for students. It includes sessions on relevant topics to their academic and professional success.
- Academic coaching: The Portage Student Success team walks alongside students as they work through courses, helping with time management, study skills, grade calculations, and more.
Why Choose Portage Learning
Choosing a career – and continuing your education to achieve that goal – represents a major life decision.
However, the college journey looks different these days. Not everyone wants to attend a large, state-funded university.
Other people don’t discover their dream job until later in life. Whatever the situation, these examples explain the rising popularity of online learning.
But the accredited institution that helps you earn a degree should fit your own goals, price point, and schedule – not force you to follow its model.
Portage Learning offers the needed resources, ensuring you take control of your education with total confidence.
(Think Portage Learning might be the right fit for you? Start earning transferrable college credits on your schedule by browsing our flexible, fully online courses.)
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