The Cheapest Ways to Get College Credit Before You Enroll

A student entering college with 24 pre-earned credits - roughly one semester - compresses a four-year degree into three and a half years or enters as a second-semester sophomore with elective room already covered. At a school charging $15,000/year in net price, that is $7,500 saved. At a school charging $40,000/year, it is $20,000.

The credits themselves cost a fraction of that. Here is how to get them, ranked by cost per credit.

Ranked by Cost Per Credit

1. Dual Enrollment (Free - $200/course)

What it is: High school students take community college courses that count toward both high school graduation and a college degree. Many states fund dual enrollment programs, making the courses free or heavily subsidized.

Cost per credit: $0-$67 (most courses are 3 credits)

Credit value: These are actual community college credits - transferable as such, not an exam score that a college may or may not accept. The transferability depends on articulation agreements between the community college and your destination school.

How to access it: Contact your high school counselor or local community college directly. 30+ states have formal dual enrollment programs with funding. Some allow enrollment starting in 9th grade; most in 11th-12th.

Best for: High school juniors and seniors who want accredited college credit with guaranteed transferability to in-state public universities. This is the highest-value credit acquisition path available.

Watch out for: Credits that do not transfer to your target school. Before enrolling, confirm the specific courses are accepted at the schools you are applying to - not just "we accept transfer credits" but "this course number maps to this requirement."

2. CLEP Exams ($89/exam, 3-6 credits each)

What it is: The College-Level Examination Program, run by the College Board. A single exam (2-3 hours) tests mastery of a college course and can earn 3-6 credits if passed. 2,900+ colleges and universities accept CLEP credit.

Cost per credit: $15-$30 (vs. $500-$2,000 per credit at a four-year school)

Available subjects: 34 exams across business, humanities, history, social sciences, science, and math. Strong coverage of general education requirements (English Composition, College Algebra, US History, Introductory Psychology, Principles of Marketing, etc.).

Score needed: Most schools require a score of 50 (out of 80) for credit. Check each school's specific policy - some require higher scores, some accept lower.

Preparation: The College Board provides free study materials. Khan Academy covers most CLEP content areas. Many students prepare in 2-6 weeks for subjects they already know well.

Cost example: 5 CLEP exams covering 15 credits = $445 in exam fees. At a school charging $1,500/credit, those same 15 credits would cost $22,500 through regular enrollment. The savings are $22,055.

Military note: Active duty service members and their dependents often receive free CLEP exams through DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support).

3. AP Exams ($97/exam, 3-6 credits each)

What it is: Advanced Placement exams administered by the College Board after AP courses in high school. A score of 3, 4, or 5 earns college credit at most institutions.

Cost per credit: $16-$32 per exam, similar to CLEP

Credit awarded: Varies significantly by school and score: - Most public universities: credit for scores of 3+ - Selective private schools: often require 4 or 5 - A few schools (including some Ivies): placement only, no credit

Most valuable AP exams by credit awarded: - AP Calculus BC: often earns credit for two semesters of calculus (6 credits) - AP Chemistry: one semester of general chemistry (3-4 credits) - AP English Language/Literature: covers freshman writing requirement - AP US History: covers required history distribution - AP Computer Science A: intro CS credit at many schools

The AP vs. CLEP question: AP is better if you are already taking the AP course in high school. CLEP is better if you want to test out of a subject you learned on your own or have work experience in.

4. IB Exams (varies, ~$119/exam)

What it is: International Baccalaureate exams for students in IB programs. Higher-level (HL) courses with scores of 5, 6, or 7 typically earn college credit; standard-level (SL) courses earn credit at fewer schools.

Best for: Students already in IB programs - not worth switching programs for credit acquisition alone. If you are in IB, confirm your destination school's credit policies early and take HL courses in subjects aligned with your intended major.

5. Concurrent Enrollment (varies by state, $50-$500/course)

What it is: Similar to dual enrollment but typically through partnerships between high schools and specific four-year universities rather than community colleges. The courses are offered at or through the university, carry university credit directly, and transfer more cleanly to that institution.

Cost: Higher than dual enrollment but lower than regular tuition - often $50-$150/credit versus the school's standard $500-$1,500/credit.

Best for: Students targeting a specific university that offers concurrent enrollment programs. Check whether your target school has a concurrent enrollment partnership with high schools in your area.

How to Maximize Pre-College Credits

Start in junior year. Most AP and CLEP prep can happen during junior and senior year. Dual enrollment is available even earlier in many states.

Target general education requirements first. English Composition, introductory math, US History, basic social science - these are required by nearly every college and the CLEP exams are straightforward to pass with preparation.

Confirm transferability before you commit. For each exam you take, verify the specific credit policy at every school on your list. College Board's CLEP credit policy search tool and AP credit policies are searchable by institution.

Aim for 12-24 credits. 12 credits (roughly 4 exams) frees up a semester of electives. 24 credits (8 exams or a mix of AP/dual enrollment) can allow three-year graduation or a reduced course load with time to work.

The three-year degree math: At a school charging $20,000/year net price, finishing a year early saves $20,000 in tuition plus one year of living expenses - often $10,000-$15,000 more. Total savings from a well-executed pre-credit strategy: $30,000-$35,000.

Run the numbers for your specific school in our ROI calculator to see how reduced time-to-degree changes your total cost.

Sources: College Board CLEP program, College Board AP credit policies, National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, U.S. Department of Education. All figures as of April 2026.