Anatomy and Physiology I
Self-paced online Anatomy and Physiology I course (Biology 211). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →PennsylvaniaNursing
Portage Learning vs other online prerequisites: transcript, price and labs
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Before you choose Portage Learning or any other online prerequisite provider, check three things: whose transcript the credit arrives on, the current price for your whole plan, and whether your nursing school takes online labs. Your BSN school decides, so ask it in writing about the exact course before you pay.
Check 1: whose transcript
This is the biggest difference between online options. Some providers sell courses that appear on a college's own transcript. Others, including UPI Study, offer courses that carry an ACE or NCCRS credit recommendation, and the credit reaches a school via a college transcript only when a college reviews and posts it.
Penn State World Campus, for example, says credit may transfer from another accredited institution and does not mention ACE or NCCRS on its RN to BSN page. Ask each provider exactly which institution issues the transcript, and ask your BSN school whether it takes credit from that institution.
Check 2: price for your whole plan
Providers price in two ways: per credit or course, or by monthly subscription. A per-credit price is easy to compare with your school's tuition. A subscription is cheaper if you finish several courses quickly and dearer if you go slowly. Read each provider's current price on its own site on the day you buy, because prices change.
Compare against your school's own tuition too. Penn State World Campus lists $644 or $692 per credit for 2026-27, depending on credits completed.
| Option | Pricing model | Price checked 15 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| UPI Study PRO | Monthly | $99 a month |
| Sophia Learning | Monthly | $99 a month |
| StraighterLine | Monthly plus per course | $99 a month plus $79 per course |
| Penn State World Campus | Per credit | $644-$692 per credit |
| Portage Learning | Per credit | Check Portage's own site |
Check 3: labs
For an RN finishing a BSN, labs matter less than for a pre-nursing student, because science prerequisites are usually done during the ADN. Still, check the course list: Penn State's NURS 250 lists BIOL 161 and BIOL 163 as prerequisites, so ask how your earlier A&P maps to them.
If you do need a lab science, ask the school whether it takes online labs at all, and whether lecture and lab must come from the same place. Some nursing programmes refuse online labs or ACE and NCCRS credit in the sciences, so a written answer comes before any purchase.
A side-by-side checklist
Copy this list and fill one column per provider before you decide.
- Which institution's transcript will show the credit?
- Has my BSN school confirmed in writing that it reviews that credit for the category I need?
- What is the total cost for my courses at my likely pace?
- Are labs online, at home with a kit, or in person?
- How long does the transcript take to reach my school?
Where UPI Study fits
UPI Study offers general education courses and Anatomy and Physiology I and II with online labs, ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended, on PRO at $99 a month. We are not a college and not accredited, and we do not offer Microbiology, Nutrition or Lifespan Development. For an RN to BSN, the courses most likely to help are general education such as statistics, writing and humanities, and only after your school confirms in writing.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Before you enrol, ask your BSN school in writing which general education categories are open and whether it will review an ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended course sent via a college transcript for each one.
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
Is Portage Learning cheaper than a subscription?
It depends on how many courses you take and how fast. Per-credit pricing suits one or two courses; a monthly plan suits several finished quickly. Check each provider's current price on its own site and total your whole plan.
Do online labs count for a BSN in Pennsylvania?
Each school decides. Some nursing programmes refuse online labs or ACE and NCCRS credit in the sciences. Ask your school in writing about the exact lab course before you enrol.
Do I need science prerequisites for an RN to BSN?
Usually you completed them in your ADN. Penn State's NURS 250 lists BIOL 161 and BIOL 163, so ask how your earlier anatomy and physiology credits map before buying a new course.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
Self-paced online Anatomy and Physiology I Lab course (Biology 211L). NCCRS recommends 2 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
Ask your BSN school in writing which categories are open, then take only those courses.
Sources
- Penn State World Campus: RN to BSN Nursing Bachelor of Science Degree (official)120 credits; 45 general education (20-22 inside the major); 42 prescribed core credits; transfer from another accredited institution; 36 of the last 60 credits from Penn State; up to 33 credits by portfolio review; 2026-27 tuition $644 per credit (59 or fewer credits completed) or $692 (60 or more). Checked on 15 Nov 2026.