Excelsior University and StraighterLine have a formal transfer partnership. Students who complete applicable StraighterLine courses before enrolling at Excelsior — or before taking the equivalent Excelsior course — can satisfy math and science requirements at significantly lower cost and with more scheduling flexibility than direct enrollment. This page covers which courses transfer, how the process works, and what to verify before starting.
Quick Answer
Excelsior University and StraighterLine have a guaranteed credit transfer agreement for applicable courses. StraighterLine courses in math, statistics, and science can satisfy Excelsior general education and program requirements at a fraction of the cost of direct enrollment. Always verify that the specific StraighterLine course satisfies your specific Excelsior program requirement before starting — and submit transfer credits before enrolling at Excelsior to avoid the post-admission evaluation fee.
Table of Contents
1) The Excelsior–StraighterLine Partnership
2) Which StraighterLine Courses Transfer to Excelsior
1) The Excelsior–StraighterLine Partnership
StraighterLine is an online course provider offering self-paced college-level courses at low monthly cost. It is not a degree-granting institution — its value is as a credit source for partner universities that accept its courses for transfer. Excelsior is one of StraighterLine’s most significant transfer partners, with a formal agreement guaranteeing credit acceptance for applicable courses.
For Excelsior students, this creates a practical option: complete a math or science requirement through StraighterLine at lower cost and faster pace, then transfer the credit to Excelsior rather than taking the equivalent course directly. FMMC covers StraighterLine courses with the same A/B guarantee it applies to Excelsior coursework, which makes this path viable even for students who would struggle with the material independently.
| Factor | StraighterLine | Excelsior Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Monthly subscription plus per-course fee — typically significantly less than direct tuition | Full Excelsior per-credit tuition rate |
| Pacing | Self-paced — complete as quickly as you want within your subscription period | Fixed 8-week terms with weekly deadlines |
| Platform | StraighterLine’s own platform — some courses use MyMathLab for math content | MyMathLab for math, Blackboard for LMS |
| Transfer guarantee | Guaranteed for applicable courses under the partnership agreement | Automatically counts — no transfer needed |
| Proctoring | Honorlock on quantitative final exams as of February 2026 | Varies by course and section |
2) Which StraighterLine Courses Transfer to Excelsior
The following StraighterLine courses are commonly accepted by Excelsior under the partnership agreement. The Excelsior equivalent shown is the course this typically satisfies — but program-specific requirements can vary. Always confirm with your Excelsior advisor that the specific StraighterLine course satisfies your specific requirement before enrolling.
| StraighterLine Course | Typical Excelsior Equivalent | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|
| College Algebra | MAT 114 Intermediate Algebra | Students who need the algebra prerequisite before MAT 201 |
| Introduction to Statistics | MAT 201 Statistics | Nursing, psychology, and business majors who need statistics |
| Precalculus | Math elective or prerequisite (verify by program) | Students in technology or science programs requiring precalculus |
| Introduction to Biology | Biology gen-ed or nursing prerequisite | Nursing and health science students satisfying science prerequisites |
| Introduction to Chemistry | Chemistry gen-ed or science prerequisite | Students fulfilling a natural science general education requirement |
Other StraighterLine Courses
The Excelsior–StraighterLine partnership covers courses beyond math and science, including English Composition and other general education subjects. FMMC’s coverage focuses on math and science courses. If you need help with a course not listed above, contact us with the course name and we will assess whether we can help.
Always Verify Before Enrolling
The partnership guarantees transfer for applicable courses, but which courses satisfy which program requirements depends on your specific degree program and how many transfer credits you have already applied. A StraighterLine course that transfers as a general elective is not the same as one that satisfies a specific program requirement. Confirm the exact equivalency with your Excelsior advisor before starting any StraighterLine course.
3) How the Transfer Process Works
The mechanics of transferring StraighterLine credit to Excelsior are straightforward, but timing matters. One avoidable cost catches students off guard.
| Step | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verify with your Excelsior advisor | Confirm the specific StraighterLine course satisfies your specific program requirement — not just a general elective slot |
| 2 | Enroll in StraighterLine and complete the course | Self-paced. FMMC can complete the course with an A/B guarantee — see Section 4 below |
| 3 | Request an official transcript from StraighterLine | StraighterLine issues transcripts through Parchment. Submit to Excelsior as part of your transfer credit application |
| 4 | Excelsior evaluates and applies the credit | Under the partnership, applicable courses are guaranteed to transfer. Excelsior posts the credit to your transcript once evaluated |
Submit Credits Before You Enroll at Excelsior
Excelsior charges a Post-Admission Credit Evaluation Fee for transfer credits submitted after initial enrollment. If you are planning to use StraighterLine credit to satisfy an Excelsior requirement, complete the StraighterLine course and submit the transcript before or at the time you enroll at Excelsior. This avoids the fee entirely. Students who enroll at Excelsior and then complete a StraighterLine course will pay the evaluation fee when submitting the transcript.
4) How FMMC Can Help
FMMC completes StraighterLine courses used to satisfy Excelsior requirements with the same A/B guarantee it applies to direct Excelsior coursework. Whether you need College Algebra to unlock MAT 201, or Introduction to Statistics to satisfy your nursing program requirement, FMMC handles the StraighterLine work and you submit the transcript to Excelsior.
StraighterLine Math
College Algebra and Introduction to Statistics are the most common StraighterLine courses used for Excelsior credit. See our StraighterLine answers hub for the full list of math courses we cover.
StraighterLine Statistics
Introduction to Statistics is required for nursing and psychology programs at Excelsior. FMMC completes it with an A/B guarantee. See our StraighterLine Statistics page for details.
Direct Excelsior Coursework
Already enrolled at Excelsior and taking a course directly? FMMC covers MAT 101, MAT 114, MAT 201, and BUS 233. See our Excelsior University help hub for course-specific pages.
Need a StraighterLine course completed for Excelsior transfer credit?
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5) Frequently Asked Questions
Does StraighterLine have a partnership with Excelsior University?
Yes. Excelsior and StraighterLine have a formal transfer partnership agreement that guarantees credit acceptance for applicable StraighterLine courses. This is a direct institutional agreement, not a case-by-case evaluation. Applicable courses are guaranteed to transfer under the agreement, though which courses satisfy which program requirements still depends on your specific degree program.
Is StraighterLine cheaper than taking a course directly at Excelsior?
Generally yes. StraighterLine’s model combines a monthly subscription fee with a per-course fee, which typically comes out significantly less than Excelsior’s per-credit tuition rate for the equivalent course. The cost advantage is most significant for students who complete courses quickly. Students who take longer may close the gap due to ongoing subscription costs.
Can I use StraighterLine to satisfy the MAT 201 Statistics requirement at Excelsior?
Yes for most programs. StraighterLine’s Introduction to Statistics transfers to Excelsior and typically satisfies the MAT 201 Statistics requirement. Verify with your Excelsior advisor that it satisfies your specific program requirement before enrolling. FMMC completes StraighterLine Statistics with an A/B guarantee — see our StraighterLine Statistics page.
What is the Post-Admission Credit Evaluation Fee?
Excelsior charges a fee to evaluate transfer credits submitted after a student has already enrolled. This fee applies to StraighterLine, Sophia, and any other outside credits submitted post-enrollment. To avoid it, complete your StraighterLine course and submit the official transcript to Excelsior before or at the time of initial enrollment.
Can FMMC complete a StraighterLine course for Excelsior credit?
Yes. FMMC completes StraighterLine math and science courses with an A/B grade guarantee. The process is the same as for direct Excelsior coursework — you enroll, we complete the work, and you submit the StraighterLine transcript to Excelsior for credit. See our StraighterLine answers hub for the full list of courses we cover.
Does Excelsior also accept Sophia Learning courses?
Yes. Excelsior also has a partnership with Sophia Learning, and select Sophia courses transfer for credit. Sophia offers a tuition discount for Excelsior students who complete two or more courses. The same verify-first rule applies — confirm that the specific Sophia course satisfies your specific program requirement with your Excelsior advisor before enrolling.
Does StraighterLine use proctoring?
As of February 2026, StraighterLine uses Honorlock for final exams in quantitative courses including College Algebra and Introduction to Statistics. Honorlock is a live-proctored browser extension that monitors the testing session. Students should be aware of this requirement before enrolling. Contact us with questions about specific courses.