How AP Classes Can Save You Money on College Tuition. (2024)

FAQs

How AP Classes Can Save You Money on College Tuition.? ›

One of the most significant advantages of AP^® courses is the potential for substantial cost savings. If you earn college credits through AP^® exams, you reduce the number of college courses you need to take, which will lower your tuition expense.

If you score a 4 or higher on an AP exam, many colleges will give you credit for the corresponding college course. This means that you can skip taking the introductory course in college, which can save you a significant amount of money.

If your college offers AP credit, a score of a 4 or higher could allow you to earn college credits without paying college tuition. Some students are able to skip the entire first year of college this way, thus cutting the entire cost of their college education by one quarter.

Students looking to earn admission to highly selective colleges should take multiple AP classes to bolster their applications and demonstrate they can handle challenging coursework. Some college admissions experts recommend taking as many as 7-12 AP courses before applying to the most elite universities.

The Advanced Placement Incentive Program (APIP) is a novel initiative that includes cash incentives for both teachers and students for each passing score earned on an Advanced Placement exam.

6–7 AP classes is plenty. Many people get admitted to UC with fewer than that. Instead of adding another AP course, look to make sure you have extracurriculars showing leadership and at least a couple teachers who know you well who can write you strong recommendations.

A report by the College Board, the organization that oversees the development and administration of AP courses, says students who take AP Exams in high school are more likely to graduate from a university program within four years than those who don't.

Research shows that students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a college degree on time, which means they avoid paying for additional years of tuition. Most colleges and universities nationwide offer college credit, advanced placement, or both for qualifying AP Exam scores.

One drawback of taking AP classes is that to take the exam and potentially earn college credit, students have to pay $98 per exam. Some people don't even pass the exam. These classes are also much harder than regular classes, as they are college level courses.

As mentioned above, AP classes can help students raise their GPA. Many colleges offer merit-based scholarships and grants for students based on their GPA, so taking an AP class could get your student closer to qualifying for these financial aid awards.

Is 3 AP classes enough for college? ›

In addition, ensure you devote enough time to studying for the SAT or ACT this year. For example, if you are hoping for an Ivy League, you will need to take 3-5 AP classes. On the other hand, taking 2-4 APs would be enough if you are aiming for less-competitive schools.

Many state colleges like to see applicants with honors classes, as it shows commitment and determination. The country's most prestigious schools, such as Ivy League institutions, usually prefer AP classes on transcripts. These standardized courses can help schools compare applicants more directly.

Yes and no. Some colleges do accept AP scores for credit hours, but others (especially top schools) will only accept high scores to place you out of introductory courses.

Some schools require a master's degree or higher to teach AP, while others allow second-year teachers to teach AP courses. Because of the usual requirements for teaching AP classes, the average salary of AP teachers may be slightly higher than the average teacher's salary.

AP credits are generally not considered to greatly enhance the chances of getting accepted at a highly ranked college or university. However, they do help in helping college admission boards decide on a candidate.

Save money

If you earn a qualifying grade on an AP Exam, you can receive credit for the equivalent course at thousands of colleges and universities. This could save you as much as $3,000 per course.