10 Best Colleges That Accept Sophia Learning Credits in 2026

Several colleges and universities throughout the U.S. partner with Sophia to accept the platform's transfer credits and ensure a smooth transfer process.

While there are many transfer-friendly colleges in the U.S., not all accept all kinds of credits. Most accept credits from community colleges and four-year institutions, but it can be hit-or-miss with other types of credit, such as those from Sophia.

Sophia.org provides a convenient and low-cost way for students to earn college credit online. Students can then transfer these credits to an institution that accepts Sophia classes. Keep reading to discover which colleges accept Sophia credits.

What Is Sophia Learning?

How Do Sophia Learning Credits Work?

Do Colleges Accept Sophia Learning Credits?

1. Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak State College is a public online school in New Britain, CT. It offers degree programs in fields like business administration, criminal justice, healthcare administration, and software development.

Charter Oak has a very flexible transfer policy, allowing students to bring in up to 87 credits into a bachelor's degree. It accepts credits from a variety of course providers, including Sophia, Study.com, and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).

• Estimated tuition cost: $8,506 per year

• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

2. Colorado State University Global

At Colorado State University Global, students can earn online degrees in multiple areas of study, including computer science, human resources, legal studies, and project management. CSU Global is a partner of Sophia and accepts credits from the platform.

CSU Global, a fully online campus, is part of the Colorado State University system. It also accepts credit for other types of alternative learning, like military service, corporate training, and standardized exams.

• Estimated tuition cost: $9,000 per year

• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

3. Empire State University

Empire State University offers online programs in fields such as allied health, business administration, educational studies, and psychology, and also allows students the opportunity to create their own program. It's an online college in the public State University of New York (SUNY) system.

SUNY Empire calls itself ''a university built for transfer students,'' and it accepts credit from various sources. It's a partner with Sophia, so your credits should transfer smoothly.

• Estimated tuition cost: $7,648 per year (in-state); $17,558 per year (out-of-state)

• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

4. Excelsior University

Online degrees are available in numerous areas of study at Excelsior University, including business, health sciences, liberal arts, and technology. The university is designed for non-traditional students and partners with Sophia to accept credits from the platform.

Excelsior University, a private, nonprofit institution, is based in Albany, NY. It also accepts other types of prior learning for transfer.

• Estimated tuition cost: $510 per credit hour

• Accreditation: MSCHE

5. Franklin University

Franklin University is a nonprofit, private institution in Columbus, OH. It's designed for adult learners and offers programs on campus and online in fields like communications, education, information technology, and project management.

Students can transfer in up to 94 credit hours, including hours from platforms such as Sophia. Franklin is a partner of Sophia, ensuring that credits transfer easily.

• Estimated tuition cost: $9,577 per year

• Accreditation: HLC

6. Liberty University

Liberty University is a private Christian university that offers online degree programs in fields like business, psychology, criminal justice, education, and information technology. The school accepts Sophia Learning credits for many general education and elective requirements, although transfer policies can vary by program.

Liberty is known for its flexible online format and transfer-friendly approach for adult learners. In addition to Sophia, the university may accept other forms of alternative credit, including military training, standardized exams, and courses from providers like Study.com.

• Estimated tuition cost: $22,465 per year

• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

7. Southern New Hampshire University

Students at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) will find a multitude of online and on-campus degrees in areas of study including criminal justice, data analysis, liberal arts, and social sciences.

SNHU, a private, nonprofit institution, is based in Manchester, NH. It accepts up to 90 credits into bachelor's degree programs, including Sophia classes.

• Estimated tuition cost: $17,200 per year

• Accreditation: NECHE

8. University of Maryland Global Campus

Numerous online programs are available from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), including those in areas of study such as computer science, history, homeland security, and political science. UMGC is a Sophia partner, so it accepts these classes.

UMGC, an online college, is part of the public University System of Maryland. It offers several ''fast paths to credit,'' in addition to Sophia credits, including credit by exam and a portfolio option.

• Estimated tuition cost: $8,136 per year (in-state); $12,336 per year (out-of-state)

• Accreditation: MSCHE

9. University of Massachusetts Global

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Global is a private, nonprofit affiliate of the public UMass system based in Aliso Viejo, CA. It offers degrees in fields like business, education, liberal arts, and information technology.

As a Sophia partner, students can transfer Sophia credits to UMass Global. The institution also offers several other ways for students to earn credit, like military and career training.

• Estimated tuition cost: $12,540 per year

• Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WASCUC)

10. Western Governors University

Through Western Governors University (WGU), students can choose from self-paced online degrees in areas of study including business, education, healthcare, and technology. The non-traditional online college is a Sophia partner.

WGU is a private, nonprofit institution based in Salt Lake City. It also accepts community college transfers and other types of prior learning.

• Estimated tuition cost: $8,658 per year

• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

How We Rank Schools

To choose the schools that accept Sophia credits for this list, we focused on:

• Accreditation: All schools are regionally accredited.

• Credit-transfer policy: Every institution has a generous transfer policy and is a Sophia partner.

• Program reputation: We only included nonprofit schools to ensure high-quality programs.