How to Earn College Credits While in High School

Getting a head start on college credits during high school can save you money, impress college admissions departments, and offer you greater degree flexibility. Earning college credits in high school is a great way to take initiative, strengthen your chances of admission, explore your interests, or try something new.

Earning credits toward a degree while still in high school can position you for academic success and reduce costs by helping you graduate faster.

There are several ways to earn college credits while still in high school, including taking college courses or AP exams, testing out of required classes, and dual enrollment. Explore these and other options below.

Developed by College Board, a national education nonprofit, advanced placement (AP) classes prepare you for college-level tests in over 35 subjects. Credit and admission policies vary depending on the school, but most colleges award credit for a passing score on an AP exam, which ranges from 3-5.

High schools with AP programs usually offer classes in key competency areas such as English language composition, U.S. history, calculus, and music theory. Most exams cost $99 each, but you may be eligible for a fee reduction if you demonstrate financial need. Exams typically occur in May.

Sign Up: Through your school. More information can be found on the College Board website.

Offered by approved schools, the IB program assesses different content areas and takes around two years to complete. After graduation, you’ll receive an internationally recognized diploma demonstrating proficiency and skill in three core areas and a single chosen subject, such as math, science, or the arts.

IB exam sections are scored on a 1-7 scale and include written assessments in each course or program area. IB combines individual assessment scores to calculate a final diploma result. Diploma-seekers need at least 24 points to pass.

Over 3,000 colleges and universities worldwide accept IB diploma transcripts, but individual colleges’ policies vary.

Sign Up: Through your school. Diploma and career programs can be found on the IB website.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams are similar to AP exams but do not offer structured classes. Instead, you’ll build college-level knowledge of key subjects independently.

College Board administers CLEP exams at approved test centers throughout the year and recently implemented remote proctoring. Exam topics include subjects in history and social sciences, composition and literature, science and mathematics, business, and world languages.

You’ll receive a scaled score of 20-80 points for each exam. According to College Board, the American Council on Education recommends that universities give credit for scores of 50 or higher, but policies vary by college.

Sign Up: Through College Board’s website

Dual enrollment means you enroll in college classes while still attending high school. You’ll complete college-level assignments and receive credit that applies to both your high school diploma and your college degree.

According to the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), over 88.98% of high schools across the U.S. offer dual enrollment. NACEP reports that students from low-income backgrounds who complete dual enrollment are 10%-30% more likely to enroll in college.

If you’re interested in dual enrollment, you can consult your high school counselor to learn about your options, determine which courses to pursue, and to find classes that fit your schedule.

Sign Up: With your high school counselor

You can gain college credits and experience by participating in summer college programs while still in high school. You’ll have the chance to meet new people and explore your academic interests in a college setting or online.

A typical summer college program offers for-credit courses in areas like computer science, economics, and the humanities. Summer courses often only take seven weeks, giving you extra time to make new connections, gain practical skills, or work on college applications.

You must be an advanced high school student to participate. Some programs require you to earn admission to the college before you can take summer courses.

Sign Up: With a local college or online summer college program

Cambridge International Education offers courses in over 50 subjects in four main subject groups: mathematics and sciences, languages, arts and humanities, and interdisciplinary subjects. Passing one of these courses awards learners the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE).

Each summer, you can sit for advanced (A) or advanced subsidiary (AS) exams. A-level courses typically take longer to complete than AS courses. You can also begin with an AS curriculum before taking A-level classes.

Cambridge grades classes on a scale from A (highest) to E (minimum). Exam outcomes affect the number of credits issued. You’ll earn more credits for A classes than AS classes. If you have at least seven credits, you can receive the Cambridge AICE Diploma. Universities worldwide recognize Cambridge classes for their rigor. Find U.S. universities that accept credits here.

Sign Up: You can sign up with Cambridge International Education online.