Trying to finish your degree faster without draining your bank account? This guide breaks down Study.com’s College Starter and College Saver plans so you can quickly see which one fits your timeline, budget, and degree journey.

Why Transfer Credit Is the Real Degree Hack

Transfer credit is the real degree hack because it lets you replace expensive college courses with lower-cost, faster alternatives without sacrificing progress toward your degree.

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Alternative credit platforms like Study.com give you:

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✅ Flexible, on-your-schedule learning

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✅ No traditional semester start dates

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✅ Lower cost per credit than most on-campus options

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Some transfer-friendly universities even allow up to three years’ worth of transfer credits in certain programs, dramatically reducing both time and tuition. When you pair generous transfer policies with low-cost online courses, the math on your degree suddenly looks a lot better.

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Once you see how much of your degree can come from transfer credit, choosing between College Starter and College Saver becomes a question of strategy.

What Are Study.com’s Two College Credit Plans?

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Study.com offers two main subscription plans for earning college credit online:

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• College Starter, which is designed for general education and early-degree coursework
• ‍College Saver, which is designed for faster progress and access to upper-division courses

Both plans let you earn real, transferable college credit from accredited partner schools. The main difference is what courses you can take, how fast you can move, and how much support you get along the way.

What You Get with College Starter

College Starter is built for early-stage students and returning learners who want an affordable, low-pressure way to start (or restart) college.

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Key features:

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• Access to 70+ lower-division general education courses
• Enroll in up to 2 courses at a time
• Complete unlimited courses each month (as fast as you can finish them)
• Study via the Study.com app—anytime, anywhere
• Priced at $95 per month, averaging about $32 per course if completing 3 courses/month

College Starter works best if:

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• You’re just beginning your degree or finishing core requirements.
• You want to “knock out your gen eds” without overcommitting.
• You prefer a manageable course load while you adjust to online learning.
• You want to keep monthly costs low while still making steady progress.

Think of College Starter as the “smart on-ramp” to your degree: low-risk, flexible, and focused on foundational classes you’ll almost certainly need.

What You Get with College Saver

College Saver is for students who are ready to move quickly and take on more advanced coursework.

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Key features:

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• Access to 220+ upper- and lower-division courses
• Enroll in up to 3 courses at a time
• Complete unlimited courses each month
• Save your course progress if you unenroll and resume later
• Study via the app plus:
  
  • College coaching
  • Personalized course guidance
• AI tutoring for on-demand help
• Priced at $235 per month

College Saver works best if:

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• You’re further along in your degree and need upper-division courses.
• You’re motivated to complete multiple courses every month.
• You want expert help planning a transfer-friendly path.
• You’re in “acceleration mode” and willing to invest more per month to finish faster.

This plan is engineered for speed and support. The extra guidance helps you avoid wasted credits and keeps you moving through tougher, more specialized courses.

How to Choose the Right Study.com Plan  

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The best plan is about fit. Look at where you are in your degree, how much you’re juggling in life, and how quickly you want to move.

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Ask yourself:

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🗺️ Where am I in my degree? 📍

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• Mostly gen eds left and early in my journey or coming back after a break
  
  • College Starter is usually the better fit.
• Many major or upper-division courses left and I’m already into my field
  
  • College Saver can be more strategic.

💼 What’s my current life situation? 👪

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• I’m juggling work, family, or caregiving and need a steady, manageable pace
  
  • College Starter’s 1–2 courses at a time may feel more sustainable.
• I can prioritize school heavily for the next few months
  
  • College Saver’s higher intensity and 3-course cap can pay off.

👛 What’s my budget and timeline? ⏱️

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• I want to keep my monthly costs as low as possible and ease in
  
  • College Starter helps minimize monthly spend.
• I’m ready to invest more per month to finish sooner overall
  
  • College Saver makes sense if I can finish multiple courses each month.

When your plan matches your reality (your stage, workload, and speed), you spend less, waste fewer credits, and avoid burnout on the way to graduation.

Starter vs. Saver, What’s Your Next Move?

Both College Starter and College Saver are powerful tools for turning low-cost online courses into real college credit that moves you closer to graduation. Choose College Starter if you want an affordable, low-pressure way to clear your gen eds; choose College Saver if you’re ready to move fast, tackle advanced courses, and leverage extra support to finish sooner.

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Whichever path you choose, you’re using a smart transfer-credit strategy to make your degree faster, cheaper, and more flexible: exactly what Degree Hacked is all about.