What options exist for high school students wishing to obtain college credits while still in school?
Whether to improve their chances of admission to a particular college, get a head start on their higher education, or simply out of boredom, an unsurprisingly large number of high school students wish to undertake advanced studies even before graduation. Here are several options for high school students to obtain college credits while in high school:
Dual Enrollment: Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to take college courses while still in high school, earning high school and college credits simultaneously. Dual enrollment programs are often offered in partnership between high schools and local colleges or universities.
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: Many high schools offer AP courses, allowing students to earn college credits by passing an exam at the end of the course. Many colleges and universities offer credit or advanced standing to students who earn a specific score on the AP exam. This varies by college, the AP course you are enrolled in, and your major in the college. Use this search tool to learn more, and if in doubt, ask your college counselor.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs: IB programs are another option for high school students to earn college credits. Like AP courses, students can earn college credit by passing IB exams at the end of the course. These courses are accredited and recognized by all major colleges and universities.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP): CLEP is a program that allows students to earn college credits by taking exams in a variety of subjects. Students can take these exams while still in high school, and many colleges and universities offer credit for passing CLEP exams. Coursework can be done in many different ways: at your school, using an online education platform, or even through self-study.
Early College High School: Early college high schools are specialized high schools that simultaneously allow students to earn high school and college credits. These programs are designed to give students a head start on their college education, and many students can earn an associate's degree by the time they graduate from high school.
Motivated and intelligent high school students can undoubtedly earn college credits while still in high school, saving time and money as they pursue their college education.
2Sigma School offers students a convenient way to take AP computer science courses authorized by the college board in addition to college-level courses in advanced programming and data science, some of which qualify for college credit by exam through our participation in certain universities' credit-by-exam programs. See our Advanced Python course, which students can take and potentially earn college credits from Carnegie Mellon University.