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How do no-cost general education courses work?
Find a bachelor’s program available in either of our learning formats that fits your goals and apply to Capella. Once you’ve applied, you can complete no-cost general education courses through our affiliate Sophia. Then, you can apply those courses to a Capella program to potentially reduce the time and cost of your degree.
Benefits of Sophia courses
Flexible
Our courses are available anytime, anywhere. Most courses are accessible from your laptop, tablet or mobile device.
Self-paced learning
Courses are designed to be completed in 60 days but are completely flexible for students who need more or less time to complete a course.
Learning coaches
Contact a Sophia learning coach by email, phone or live chat for support.
ACE® Credit-recommended
Receive access to ACE®-recommended courses.
Pass/Fail grading
All Sophia courses are graded on a Pass/Fail basis and do not impact your Capella course grades or competency scores.
Wide variety of courses
There are a wide range of general education courses and other courses for Capella students to choose from.
See what students and alumni say about Sophia
1 of active Sophia subscribers surveyed would recommend Sophia.
FAQ of Sophia’s no-cost online courses
As a Capella student, you can choose from more than 60 general education courses offered through Sophia and take up to two courses at a time. However, there’s a limit to the amount of credit you can apply to your Capella program. Your academic coach can provide guidance and answer questions about choosing courses.
Eligible students can apply Sophia courses toward fulfilling their Capella general education requirements. However, there’s no associated grade, and Sophia courses don’t factor into a student’s grade point average at Capella. All Sophia courses are graded on a Pass/Fail basis.
Yes, you can take Sophia courses alongside your Capella courses in the GuidedPath learning format,* but Sophia courses won’t count toward your financial aid eligibility or your Capella GPA. Sophia courses are self-paced and can be started at any time.
*All transfer and credit for prior learning must be completed prior to starting any program in the FlexPath format. Any professional certification or external courses taken concurrently with FlexPath enrollment cannot be recognized in the Capella degree program.
No. Your financial aid package doesn’t include Sophia courses. Contact a Capella financial aid advisor if you have any questions.
If you’re pursuing your degree in the GuidedPath learning format, you can take no-cost courses throughout your program. If you want to enroll in a Capella bachelor’s program in the FlexPath learning format, any Sophia courses you wish to transfer to your program must be completed and graded before you begin at Capella. Connect with our enrollment team for guidance.
The FlexPath learning format offers flexibility – and support – to help you fit earning a degree into your busy life. Set your own deadlines. Use what you already know to progress at your own pace. And take advantage of one tuition fee every 12-week billing session to help lower costs. Books, supplies and other fees apply.
The GuidedPath learning format offers structured learning with the flexibility of 24/7 access to the courseroom. Set deadlines help you stay focused and motivated. You’ll engage with peers for weekly discussion posts, and instructors provide regular check-ins and feedback on assessments. Tuition is billed on a pay-per-credit model for 10-week courses – plan out your degree to fit your schedule and budget.
Eligibility requirements for no-cost courses
- You must apply and have a Capella University username and password to access Sophia courses
- GuidedPath: You must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in the GuidedPath learning format.
- FlexPath: Students who will begin a program in the FlexPath learning format must complete any Sophia courses or other transfer work prior to starting their first Capella course. Talk to your enrollment counselor to learn more.*
- No-cost general education courses through Sophia only apply to bachelor’s degree programs. Sophia does not offer courses at the graduate level.
- Sophia offers more than 60 general education courses, and you can take up to two courses at a time. However, there is a limit to the amount of credits you can apply.
- Students can transfer up to 135 credits in select Capella bachelor’s degree programs. If you have reached your transfer credit limit, you will not be eligible to apply Sophia courses to your program.
- Sophia courses are eligible to be used in your program if they are equivalent to the Capella courses in your degree program or fulfill elective courses, and they are not identical to any courses you’ve already taken or transferred. If you are questioning whether a course will transfer, speak with a coach before enrolling.
- Credits will be awarded toward your degree upon successful completion of the Sophia course. Courses are graded on a Pass/Fail basis (a passing score is 70% or better).
*All transfer and credit for prior learning must be completed prior to starting any program in the FlexPath learning format. Any professional certification or external courses taken concurrently with FlexPath enrollment cannot be recognized in the Capella degree program.
You could save up to $13,000 on select Capella bachelor’s degrees in the GuidedPath learning format by completing no-cost general education courses through our affiliate, Sophia. *
*Savings assumes eight courses completed at Sophia and applied to an eligible Capella bachelor’s degree in GuidedPath at a rate of 4.5 lower division credits per course. Terms and additional conditions apply. Connect with us for details.