Students Beware: Cheaper Prereqs Here Aren’t Worth the Cost
I found Portage Learning while searching for a more affordable option to finish my last prerequisite course required to apply to my degree program at my local university. Previously, I had completed all of my other online prerequisites through the University of Phoenix and the University of New England without any issues. When I discovered Portage Learning, the price immediately caught my attention—it was roughly half the cost of taking the same course through the University of Phoenix. Unfortunately, that lower price ended up costing me far more in time, frustration, and delays.
Based on the information on their website, I was under the impression that the course could be completed in a minimum of 21 days. The format is advertised as 10 modules (each with an exam) plus a final exam, with a required 48-hour waiting period between exams. What the website does not clearly communicate is that professors do not grade these module exams within that same 48-hour timeframe. In reality, grading can take 4–5 days or more, which significantly slows your progress and makes the advertised minimum completion timeline practically impossible.
Another major issue is their strict webcam requirements for proctored exams. Students are required to perform a full 360° environment scan before each exam. If you use a large desktop monitor with a built-in webcam, you may not be able to complete this scan. If your camera cannot be physically moved, you will be forced to purchase a separate external webcam just to meet their requirements—something that is not clearly stated beforehand.
For students who require testing accommodations due to learning disabilities, the process is even more problematic. Even with official documentation and letters from medical professionals, accommodations are not handled in a timely manner. Expect to jump through multiple administrative hoops just to request the most basic adjustments. In my case, the process took well over three weeks before accommodations were approved and implemented, causing additional delays in an already slow course structure.
If you need to complete prerequisite courses in an accelerated timeframe (around 5 weeks), my advice is simple: spend the extra $400 and take the course through the University of Phoenix online. It is fully accredited, designed specifically for online learners, and actually functions as a true accelerated format. In my experience, professors there are responsive when you need help, and their student services department replies to emails the same day and is easy to reach by phone.
In the end, the lower price at Portage Learning was not worth the stress, lack of transparency, and delays. If timing matters for your academic plans, do not waste your money at Portage.
March 12, 2026
Unprompted review