What are ASU’s Universal Learner Courses?

Open to learners of all ages, Universal Learner Courses (ULCs) are online college-level courses taught by faculty at Arizona State University, available online for $25 per course, with no application required. Take a course to explore a subject, refresh skills, learn for pleasure and later, if you want, add credit to an official ASU transcript if you’re happy with your grade.

ULCs are individual online college courses, not degree programs and do not require admission. After you complete a course, you can choose to add it to an official ASU transcript for $400 or stop with no further obligation.

ULCs are designed for people who want to learn — for knowledge, personal challenge or credit.

Learn more about how they work, who they’re for and how they connect to other ASU learning opportunities.

Browse the Universal Learner Course catalog

Why learners choose Universal Learner Courses for online college courses

1. You want actual ASU coursework, not a preview.
   Universal Learner Courses are taught by ASU faculty, with required readings, assignments, deadlines and grades provided for each assignment.These are real college courses online, not short-form classes, designed for people who want an academic experience.
   
2. You’re ready to put in the work.
   These courses lower the barrier to start, not the academic standard. Success requires time management, follow-through and consistent effort.
   
3. You want to focus on learning first — with the option of credit later.
   You want the option to try out a course and see how college-level learning fits into your life. If you choose, that learning can later become official ASU college credit.
   
4. You value choice over pressure.
   There is no application and no automatic enrollment into a degree program. You decide whether to add credit only after completing the course.
   
5. You want a clean academic start.
   Nothing appears on an academic record unless you choose to add the completed course to an official ASU transcript.
   
6. You want to know options exist — without having to decide now.
   If you’re ready, transcripted courses can build toward an ASU degree. If not, one course may be enough. You create your own path.

Universal Learner Courses are not about avoiding effort or fast-tracking decisions. They are about starting with learning and letting credit or degree decisions come later, when you’re ready.

Why ASU offers Universal Learner Courses (and why they are offered at $25)

Learning starts at different moments in life
Many people want to engage in college-level learning without applying to a degree program or committing upfront. Some are working adults returning after time away. Some are exploring a new subject out of curiosity. Some are retired learners who simply want to keep learning. Some are younger learners, supported by families, who want to experience a real college course.

ASU Universal Learner Courses are designed for the  starting or restarting  points. At ASU, learning is not limited to a particular age, career stage or outcome.

What $25 actually covers
For $25, you get access to a chosen ASU course offered online that fits your interests. You’ll complete college-level work and see what academic expectations are actually like. Courses are taught by ASU faculty and supported by instructional staff. The $25 fee covers the course experience itself, not for admission or a degree program.

ASU offers more than 75 Universal Learner Courses across topic areas, and you can take as many courses as you choose for $25 each

Why credit is optional
This model is possible because ASU separates access to learning from the decision to earn credit. Traditional tuition bundles many costs together. Instead, ASU Universal Learner Courses focus on one thing: making high-quality learning accessible.

Taking a course does not enroll you in ASU, and nothing appears on your academic record simply by participating.

What happens after the course 

After completing a course, you decide what comes next. If you want college credit, you can add a completed course to an official ASU transcript for $400. If you don’t want credit, you can stop with no further cost. There’so automatic enrollment and no obligation to continue.

How this reflects ASU’s Charter
This approach reflects ASU’s Charter, which measures the university not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed. Degrees at ASU remain selective and structured. Universal Learner Courses simply widen the front door.

How Universal Learner Courses work

1. Choose a course
Select from more than 75 first- and second-year ASU courses across subjects such as writing, psychology, health, science and technology. Courses are online and require reliable internet access and a compatible device. Review the technical requirements before enrolling.

2. Begin learning for $25
Pay a $25 enrollment fee to access the full course. 

Courses are online, structured and graded, and developed by ASU faculty. 

3. Complete the coursework
You complete assignments, meet deadlines and earn a final grade based on ASU academic standards. 

Many learners complete them on a self-paced schedule. This format works best for learners who are comfortable managing deadlines and coursework independently.

You also have access to the ASU Study Hub, which includes vetted study resources, peer discussion and tutoring support at no additional cost.

Some courses may include proctored quizzes or exams to meet ASU’s academic and accreditation standards. Proctoring requirements are listed in the course details. Learn more about proctoring in Universal Learner Courses.

4. Decide whether to add credit for $400
After finishing the course, you can choose to add it to your official ASU transcript for $400. 

If you choose not to, no additional payment is required. The credit is a choice, but the knowledge is yours to keep”

Browse the Universal Learner Course catalog

Who Universal Learner Courses are for

Universal Learner Courses support learners with different goals, ages and levels of readiness. Here are a few examples of how people use ULCs. 

High school students
Students who want access to college-level courses online while still in high school — whether to explore subjects, prepare for college or earn credit early.

Many learners use these courses as college prep, to experience college classes, so they can understand college-level expectations and decide their next step with more confidence.

Curious and advanced younger learners
Some learners seek academic challenges beyond what is available in their school. Universal Learner Courses are college-level and require strong reading, writing and time-management skills — just like other ASU courses.

There is no fixed minimum age. Younger learners, including middle school learners, typically participate with the guidance of a parent or guardian.

Working adults and parents

Working adults and parents balancing jobs, caregiving and other responsibilities who want access to rigorous, flexible, affordable college courses from a public university. Courses offer clear expectations, measurable outcomes and the option to record credit only if it makes sense for their goals.

Adults returning to learning
Learners who want to begin again, explore college coursework that works around their life or rebuild confidence without reapplying to college or enrolling in a degree program.

Learners enrolled at other colleges and universities

Some learners take Universal Learner Courses while enrolled elsewhere because of affordability, flexible start dates, on-demand pacing or limited course availability at their home institution. These concurrent learners use ASU courses to stay on track, get ahead or fill scheduling gaps.

Learning at any age or stage
People who are curious about a subject and want structured, faculty-taught learning. Some choose to earn college credit not because they need it, but because they value the rigor, recognition and sense of completion it represents.

Why so many learners start here

Universal Learner Courses are used by learners at many stages of life — from curious students to adults returning to college after time away, all looking for a safe place to begin.

• Join 70,000+ learners who have participated across ASU’s Universal Pathways programs, which include Universal Learner Courses as of June 2025.
  
• Learners come from all 50 U.S. states and more than 150 countries.
  
• More than 27,000 high school students have taken ASU courses through Universal Learner Courses and related pathways, either independently or with school partners as of June 2025.

How this fits with other ASU options

Universal Learner Courses are the common foundation

Universal Learner Courses are the courses themselves. They are the foundation of ASU Universal Pathways — all of which  begin with the same ASU courses, then add structure and support based on a learner’s goals.

If your goal is a degree and you may not be admissible yet, start with Earned Admission

If you already know you want to earn an ASU degree — and think you may not be admissible through the traditional process right now — Earned Admission is the pathway designed for that situation.

Earned Admission begins with a standard application to ASU. If you are not admitted, ASU offers Earned Admission as a supported path forward that allows you to demonstrate your readiness through your academic performance. You complete Universal Learner Courses with additional academic support, advising and clearly defined admission requirements. Your success in the coursework becomes the evidence — showing what you can do now, not just what appears in past records.

If your goal is a degree, you’ll want to review the Earned Admission page, where eligibility, requirements and available support are explained in full.

Learn more about Earned Admission →

If you’re in high school and want dual enrollment credit, start with Accelerate ASU

For high school students who want dual enrollment credit, Universal Learner Courses are offered through Accelerate ASU, ASU’s dual enrollment program.

Because dual enrollment requires coordination with your school or district, students and families should begin with the Accelerate ASU page and work with a school counselor to understand how courses fit into graduation plans, schedules and credit requirements. Accelerate ASU uses Universal Learner Courses, but the policies, timelines and credit recognition are specific to high school learners and schools.

Learn more about Accelerate ASU →

If you’re not ready to choose a pathway, you can start with a course

You do not need to apply to ASU, enroll in a pathway or be part of a school partnership to take Universal Learner Courses.

Many learners begin by enrolling in a single course on their own. This includes adults exploring college-level learning, learners returning after time away, homeschooled students and high school learners whose schools do not partner with Accelerate ASU.

When you start this way, you take the same ASU courses, complete the same academic work and earn the same grade as learners in other ASU pathways. You begin for $25 and decide after the course whether adding credit makes sense for you.

Starting with one course keeps pressure low and options open. If you decide later that you want a degree pathway or school-supported dual enrollment, those options are still available.

Browse the Universal Learner Course catalog

Popular online college courses learners often start with

ENG 101: First-Year Composition
Build college-level writing and critical thinking skills that apply across majors.

PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology
Explore how people think, learn and behave — a common starting point for many learners.

CIS 105: Computer Applications and Information Technology
Develop practical technology skills used in college and the workplace.

BIO 130: Environmental Science
Study real-world environmental issues through a science-based lens.

HEP 100: Health and Wellness
Learn about personal health, well-being and decision-making.

The catalog includes online college courses in math, science, business, writing and health, with new options added regularly.

Browse the Universal Learner Course catalog

You can also browse courses in a few ways:

• Most popular
  
• For high school students
  
• By interests and careers

Note on certificate programs: Some Universal Learner Courses are part of certificate programs. These are multi-course offerings aligned with organizations such as Google or Amazon, designed for learners who want to commit to a defined sequence. Certificate programs follow a separate, published pricing model and are optional. You do not need to pursue a certificate to take individual Universal Learner Courses.

How Universal Learner Courses compare to private online learning providers

Many online learning experiences are designed to deliver short, standalone credentials. These offerings often exist outside a university’s academic system and are not connected to a university transcript.

Universal Learner Courses are part of Arizona State University’s academic framework. They are taught by ASU faculty and held to the same standards as other ASU coursework. You can take a course simply to learn — and stop there if that’s right for you.

If you decide later that you want college credit, you can add your completed course to an official ASU transcript. And if you eventually pursue a degree, that credit can be evaluated and applied toward it.

Learning through Universal Learner Courses is designed to stand on its own as college-level coursework from Arizona State University — the nation’s No. 1 university for innovation, according to U.S. News & World Report — and to retain value over time, whether or not you pursue a degree.

Learn more about ASU’s scale, academic reach and public mission in ASU’s Facts and figures.

Pricing

To start

You pay a $25 enrollment fee to take a course. This includes access to the full course experience — instruction, assignments and all required course materials. There are no separate textbook or materials costs.

After you finish

Once you complete a course, you decide what comes next.

If you want college credit, you can add the completed course to your official ASU transcript for $400. Credit is added only if you’re satisfied with your performance.

After you complete a course, you have one year to decide whether you want to add it to your official ASU transcript.

Frequently asked questions

Is this just self-paced content?

No. Universal Learner Courses are college-level courses taught by ASU faculty, with defined learning outcomes, assignments and grading. Many courses allow you to work through material on a flexible, self-paced schedule within instructor-set timelines.

Do I need to apply to ASU to start?
No. Universal Learner Courses are individual online ASU courses that do not require an application or degree enrollment.

Can I take more than one course?
Yes. Courses are offered individually and you choose how many to take. However, we typically recommend no more than two at a time.

What if I need accessibility accommodations?

Learners with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations through ASU’s Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services (SAILS). Support options vary by course and are coordinated directly through ASU. Learn more about accessibility and accommodations.

Are courses available internationally?
Yes. Courses are online and available globally, subject to local regulations and technical requirements.

What if I don’t pass?
If you don’t finish a course or don’t choose to add credit, nothing is placed on your transcript. You may take the course again for $25 the next time it’s offered.

Have more questions? Visit the Universal Learner Courses FAQ page for details on registration, credit, certificates and technical support.

Will this affect my GPA or academic record?

No. Courses are not automatically added to your transcript.

A course only appears on your ASU transcript if you choose to add credit after completion. If you do not opt to transcript the course, it does not affect your GPA or academic record.

Can these credits count toward a degree later?

Yes, if you choose to add the course to your ASU transcript.

Once transcripted, credits are official Arizona State University credits. If you later apply to an ASU degree program, those credits may be evaluated toward degree requirements depending on the program.

As with all college credit, transfer to other institutions is determined by the receiving school. It is strongly encouraged that you consult with your institution of choice to determine how these credits will be applied to their degree requirements prior to transferring your credit.

Do credits expire?

No. Once a course is added to your ASU transcript, the credit remains part of your academic record. How it applies to future degree requirements depends on program rules at the time you apply.

Ready to explore more?

• Browse the Universal Learner Course catalog →
  
• See how adding credit works →
  
• Need help? Contact learner support →