College Algebra
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →ArizonaHomeschool
ASU Universal Learner vs self-paced NCCRS-recommended courses: cost per credit
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
ASU Universal Learner Courses cost $25 to enrol and $400 per course to add the credit to an ASU transcript, about $142 per credit for a three-credit course. Self-paced NCCRS-recommended courses cost less per course on a family plan, but need a partner college transcript. Which is better depends on how many courses and which college.
How ASU prices Universal Learner Courses
ASU's own FAQ says you pay a $25 course enrolment fee to reserve a place, and $400 per course after you finish if you are happy with your grade and want ASU credit. You have one year from finishing to buy the credit. There is no age limit, and ASU says high school students may use the courses.
For a three-credit course, that is $425 in total, or about $142 per credit.
Side by side
The comparison below uses four three-credit courses, a common plan for a junior and senior year.
| Route | Price | 4 courses, 12 credits |
|---|---|---|
| ASU Universal Learner | $25 + $400 per course | about $1,700 |
| UPI Study homeschool plan | $250 once, per family | $250 plus any partner college fee |
| Sophia Learning | $299 for 4 months | $299 if finished in 4 months |
What the extra money buys at ASU
The ASU price includes a transcript from ASU itself. For a student who will attend ASU, or a college that readily takes ASU credit, that is a real advantage, and it can be worth the higher cost.
UPI Study courses carry NCCRS or ACE recommendations. The credit reaches a college through a partner college, such as TESU or UoPeople, which considers that kind of credit and places it on its own transcript. That is an extra step and may carry its own fee.
Pace and schedule
Universal Learner Courses run on ASU's terms and schedules. UPI Study courses are self-paced, so a homeschool student can start any day and work around other classes. Families with several children may find a single family plan simpler to manage from one ESA invoice.
- ASU: term dates, ASU transcript, $400 per course for credit.
- Self-paced: start any day, partner college transcript, one family plan.
Choosing for your student
Start from the college your student is most likely to attend. Ask it in writing whether it would consider ASU Universal Learner credit, and whether it would consider a partner college transcript with NCCRS-recommended courses. Then price only the courses that get a yes. Both routes can be paid from an Arizona ESA under A.R.S. 15-2402.
Counting the hidden costs
A fair comparison counts every step to a credit a college will see. On the ASU route that is the $25 enrolment fee, the $400 credit fee and any retake. On the self-paced route it is the plan price plus whatever the partner college charges to review and transcript the courses, which differs by college, so ask before you start.
Also count time. A course that takes a full term on a fixed schedule has a different cost for a busy homeschool family than one that can be finished in a few focused weeks. Whichever route you choose, the ESA covers the cost only if it fits A.R.S. 15-2402, so keep the invoices.
- ASU: $25 + $400 per course; a retake is another $25.
- Self-paced: plan price + partner college fee.
- Both: keep invoices for ADE.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask the college your student plans to attend, in writing, whether it would consider the courses via a college transcript before counting on them for a degree.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
How much do ASU Universal Learner Courses cost?
ASU's FAQ lists a $25 enrolment fee per course and $400 per course to add the credit to an ASU transcript, paid after you finish if you want the credit. You have one year from completion to buy it.
Can high school students take ASU Universal Learner Courses?
Yes. ASU says there is no age limit, and high school students may use the courses. Check the course page for any prerequisites, such as a math placement for college algebra.
Which is cheaper per credit for four courses?
For four three-credit courses, ASU comes to about $1,700 with credit. A UPI Study homeschool plan is $250 once for the family, plus any partner college fee. Price only the courses your student's chosen college says it would consider.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Principles of Statistics
Self-paced online Principles of Statistics course (Statistics 101). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
How to pay UPI Study through ClassWallet, step by step.
Sources
- Arizona Revised Statutes 15-2402: Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts; uses (official)Subsection B(4) allowed uses include (e) curricula, (f) tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program, (h) tuition or fees at an eligible postsecondary institution and (i) required textbooks; subsection K keeps the account open after graduation while funds are used each year, and closes it after four consecutive years without postsecondary enrolment. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- ASU Universal Learner Courses: FAQs (official)A $25 course enrolment fee, then $400 per course to add credit to an ASU transcript within one year of finishing; no age limit, and high school students may use the courses. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.