Key Takeaways
- Portage Learning – an accredited institution – provides online, self-directed college courses, including science labs, in a variety of subjects.
- Partnerships with Geneva College and Bushnell University give Portage Learning courses a stronger transfer credit pathway than those that only carry ACE recommendation.
- At $230 per credit, or under $700 for a 3-credit course, tuition at Portage Learning remains significantly less than the average rate a public, four-year university charges in-state students.
Anastasiia Drokina never imagined enrolling in a Portage Learning course.
Then again, the Ukrainian-born mother of two, who grew up in Russia, didn’t think a war between those countries would force her to escape to the United States.
In 2022, Anastasiia found herself balancing starting over in a new country with motherhood and a goal of pursuing a career in healthcare.
She needed a flexible, affordable way to complete the prerequisites for her program – and found that with the accredited online institution.
But what does Portage Learning offer and how do its courses work?
What Is Portage Learning?
Portage Learning – an accredited institution – provides online, self-directed 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, perfect for those balancing heavy schedules, including:
- Career switchers supplementing current courses
- Working professionals accelerating toward an advanced degree
- Motivated high schoolers building a foundation
How Are Portage Learning Courses Structured?
Portage Learning courses include six to 10 modules, which focus on a theme and explore the subject in written form, video lecture, and review questions.
At the end of each one, you take an assessment.
To ensure you retain the information learned in the modules, you must wait 48 hours after an exam before sitting for another one. Professors grade them within 72 hours.
Courses may be completed in six to 10 weeks, or you can take up to a year if it works better for your schedule.
While enrolled, you can go over the course material and message your professor via your student dashboard as much as needed to ensure you understand the information fully.
Portage Learning vs. Traditional College Courses
Portage Learning offers online, asynchronous college courses while classes at a traditional institution feature fixed semester schedules in physical classrooms.
Here’s how each option compares in three key areas:
Cost
Portage Learning: Priced at $230 per credit, or under $700 for a 3-credit course, and tuition includes all required learning materials.
Traditional college: Varies widely by institution and often features higher per-credit costs, plus extra fees for parking, housing, and textbooks.
Flexibility
Portage Learning: Fully online, self-directed courses you can start at any time and take up to one year to finish with no strict weekly assignment deadlines.
Traditional college: Follow a rigid semester or quarter calendar with mandatory attendance, specific exam windows, and strict weekly deadlines.
Credit transfer
Portage Learning: Partnerships with Geneva College and Bushnell University, both accredited institutions, allow Portage Learning to issue transcripts for earned credit to more than 2,800 colleges and universities across the country. However, acceptance depends on your target school.
Traditional college: Credits earned from accredited institutions generally transfer between different universities and colleges, although it also requires approval from the receiving school.
Is Portage Learning Accredited?
Yes. Portage Learning maintains full accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education-recognized Middle States Association Commission on Secondary Schools (MSA-CSS), the highest level available for nondegree awarding institutions.
Do Portage Learning Courses Transfer?
Credits earned from Portage Learning courses can be taken to more than 2,800 colleges and universities across the United States, including:
- University of Arizona
- Baylor University
- University of Kentucky
- Duquesne University
- Youngstown State University
- And more
Partnerships with Geneva College and Bushnell University give Portage Learning courses a stronger transfer pathway than those that only carry ACE recommendation.
Accreditation represents the gold standard in U.S. higher education and indicates that an institution meets acceptable levels of quality related to its curriculum, faculty, and more.
Online platforms with ACE recommended courses, meanwhile, don’t fulfill the same criteria for academic oversight and external accountability. Therefore, schools don’t view them as worthy of college credit.
How Do Portage Learning Transcripts Work?
To send your official record from Portage Learning to another institution, select the transcript tab on your my.PortageLearning.edu account.
They’ll be delivered at no cost to you.
For the majority of Portage Learning students, Geneva College issues the credit earned; however, if you live in one of the following states, it will come from Bushnell University:
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Oregon
- Washington
Your official transcript may only be requested after your course professor posts your final grade.
They may be sent electronically to schools who elect to receive them that way, or as a hard copy via first-class mail.
Portage Learning processes official transcripts multiple times per week, but it may take up to three business days from the time of request until the transcript gets issued. Those delivered electronically may be downloaded, Monday through Friday, the day after processing while the ones sent via mail may take up to five business days to arrive.
Why Do Students Choose Portage Learning?
In 2023, Anastasiia and her husband faced a choice: Do they leave everything their family knew or continue to be threatened with imprisonment and physical violence for openly opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
“We chose freedom over comfort,” she states, three years later, from the safety of Massachusetts.
It took some time to adjust, but as Anastasiia did, she became determined to resume her career.
Anastasiia worked as a dental hygienist in Russia — even sharing her expertise as a lecturer at a local college — but that experience didn’t translate in the U.S.
If she wanted to practice again, Anastasiia would need to earn a bachelor of science in Dental Hygiene from an accredited college.
Through Portage Learning, she completed the courses her program required before admission, saying it offered the flexibility and affordability she needed.
“My journey has taught me that even the most difficult challenges can become opportunities for growth,” Anastasiia reflects. “I hope to dedicate my career to helping people achieve healthier smiles, better health, and greater confidence while making a meaningful contribution to preventive oral healthcare.”
Other students praise Portage Learning’s professors, with whom they enjoy a one-to-one relationship when enrolled.
“My professors were always quick to respond whenever I needed help,” Minjin Choi writes. “They were very supportive throughout my courses, and I truly appreciated them.”
You can message them for questions and guidance. They also provide regular feedback on your work and grade exams within 72 hours so you can stay on track with your academic goals.
Nicole Ward adds the quality of Portage Learning courses makes a difference too.
“This was the most professional and individualized online learning experience,” she explains. “I feel very confident in the skills and knowledge I have developed as a result.”
Most Popular Portage Learning Courses
Some of the Portage Learning courses students most frequently transfer to colleges and universities include:
Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab
A common prerequisite for degrees in healthcare such as nursing. You can also take this course to fulfill general education science requirements.
Anatomy & Physiology I defines the human body's structure and function and introduces basic concepts such as:
- The skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems
- Homeostasis
- Cellular and metabolic processes
- Roles of neurons and neurotransmitters
Interactive simulations and virtual labs help you understand how to apply these ideas to real-world scenarios.
Justin Jimawo says the course gave him foundational knowledge.
"It was well-organized, engaging, and helped me build a strong understanding of the human body through clear lessons and practical applications," he recalls in a Google review.
General Psychology
Ever wonder why you do what you do?
This course teaches basic psychology concepts and principles. You'll analyze and critique the field's major theories too.
Learning about human behavior develops critical thinking and communication skills needed for your career – no matter the industry.
General Chemistry II with Lab
Andrew Fletcher describes this course as an "excellent" way to further your knowledge of chemistry.
"I needed the flexibility of [Portage's] self-directed, online format to complete a prerequisite class in a short amount of time," he acknowledges. "The faculty designed and executed a great course and were always available for feedback when needed. This was a very satisfying experience."
It expands on the topics learned in Chemistry I, allowing you to:
- Analyze acid-base properties and perform pH and titration calculations
- Connect chemical principles to real-world applications in energy, materials, and biological systems
- Explore the structure and function of organic compounds
Foundations of Public Speaking
No matter your career, you must understand how to effectively communicate.
Foundations of Public Speaking explores topics such as ethics and public speaking, speech design, and the power of language to help you develop effective skills that will impress every audience.
American History II 1877-Present
This three-credit course traces the historical development of the United States from post-Reconstruction through the early 2020s.
By examining the country’s political, social, and cultural history, you’ll be able to connect past events to modern society and understand diverse viewpoints.
You can also register for American History through 1877 to learn about the birth of the U.S.
How to Register for a Portage Learning Course
To enroll in a Portage Learning course, follow these steps:
- Go to PortageLearning.edu
- Select Courses
- Find the course(s) you want to take
- Click “register” to add it to your cart in the top right corner of the screen
- Navigate to the cart icon and tap “checkout”
- Follow the prompts to sign in or to create a student profile and submit payment information
You may enroll in multiple Portage Learning courses individually, or you can register for the course package. It allows you to take eight general education courses — the equivalent of one year of college — for under $5,000.
The Best Option for Online College Courses: Portage Learning
No one ever thinks they’ll need an alternative way to earn credit.
If someone goes to college after high school, they assume the recommended course schedule will keep them on track.
You expect your degree to be enough to advance in your current field — even in a different country.
Those who decide to change careers assume their previous degree provides everything needed to start the next chapter.
But then a full class makes taking a required course impossible.
You need a master’s degree to get a promotion.
That new path comes with course requirements your original degree never included.
And that’s where Portage Learning comes in — providing an educational experience that exceeds many online and classroom counterparts in curriculum and grading standards, all in a format designed for today’s students and those to come.
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