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AP Computer Science Principles Credit Policy
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If you are interested in a career in computer science, then taking an AP Computer Science Principles course can form a bridge for you to get into great colleges.
In this blog, we will talk about the AP Computer Science Principles credit policy, what it means, colleges offering credits for AP Computer Science Principles, credit policies of the top 20 colleges, and their credit policies for AP Computer Science Principles.
Need help learning AP Computer Science Principles? Find an expert 1-on-1 online AP Computer Science Principles tutor from Wiingy and give your grades a boost!
AP computer science principles credit policy & placement
Colleges offer credit or advanced placement for appearing and passing AP exams with the required score as it shows great commitment and hard work in students.
These credits and placements that colleges offer vary from college to college. Some colleges offer credits, some might offer placement, some might offer both or some might offer none. So, let’s first understand the difference between credit and placement.
AP credit
When you enroll in any college r university, you need to obtain 120 credits, on average, to graduate. These credits are awarded to you for taking classes, completing projects, and others. So, when a student obtains the required score set by the college in an AP exam, the college grants them a few credits. Let’s understand this with an example.
So, let’s say that you get a 4 AP score in your AP Computer Science Principles exam and the college that you applying to offers 5 credits for that AP score, so you enter college with 5 credits under your belt before even starting any class.
Advanced placement
Sometimes colleges or universities don’t award credits for AP courses. Instead of credits, some colleges offer advanced placement. In this arrangement, colleges allow students to skip some classes for scoring the required AP score set by the college.
These classes, which the college allows students to skip, can be introductory classes of your major or mandatory classes required by the college.
Do colleges offer credits for AP Computer Science Principles?
Yes of course! Colleges do offer credits for AP Computer Science Principles but they have their own set of credit policies that differ from college to college. In order to get admission into your dream college you need to be very attentive toward the college’s credit policies.
| Acceptable AP scores | No.of colleges |
|---|---|
| Total no.of colleges offering AP credits for AP Computer Science Principles | 1196 |
| No.of colleges accepting 5 AP scores | 14 |
| No.of colleges accepting 4 or more AP scores | 277 |
| No.of colleges accepting 3 or more AP scores | 903 |
| No.of colleges accepting 1 or more AP scores | 2 |
Source: College Board
From the above table, you can clearly see that a total number of 1196 colleges offer credits for AP Computer Science Principles. Out of these colleges, 14 accepts only 5 AP score, 277 colleges accept 4 or more score, 903 accepts 3 or more score, and 2 colleges accepts an AP score of 1 or more.
AP Computer Science Principles credit policies of top 20 colleges
Vanderbilt University
Nashville,TN
Does Vanderbilt Accept AP Credit?
Does Vanderbilt offer Advanced Placement?
Yes
Yes
Vanderbilt University AP Credit
Please note that credit awarded may vary based on the student's intended field of study.
Vanderbilt University AP Credit
Please note that credit awarded may vary based on the student's intended field of study.
US News Rank
#14
Forbes Rank
#13
Acceptance Rate
7.1%
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis,MO
Does WashU Accept AP Credit?
Does WashU offer Advanced Placement?
Yes
Yes
Washington University in St. Louis AP Credit
A maximum of 15 units of AP credit may be counted towards any undergraduate degree. These units will count towards graduation, but will not meet general education requirements. No department at Washington University offers absolute credit for AP scores lower than 4 without further study. In French, German, Latin, Modern Hebrew, and Spanish, a score of 3 confirmed by a course here earn additional credit. If a student takes a course in residence which they have already received AP credit for the AP credit will be removed automatically.
Washington University in St. Louis AP Credit
A maximum of 15 units of AP credit may be counted towards any undergraduate degree. These units will count towards graduation, but will not meet general education requirements. No department at Washington University offers absolute credit for AP scores lower than 4 without further study. In French, German, Latin, Modern Hebrew, and Spanish, a score of 3 confirmed by a course here earn additional credit. If a student takes a course in residence which they have already received AP credit for the AP credit will be removed automatically.
US News Rank
#15
Forbes Rank
#27
Acceptance Rate
13%
Min Ap Score
4
Min Credit Offered
3
Duke University
Durham,NC
Does Duke Accept AP Credit?
Does Duke offer Advanced Placement?
Yes
Yes
Duke University AP Credit
All Advanced Placement Exams completed with a score of 4 or 5 are recorded on a student's permanent Duke record. The classes may be used for placement into higher-level courses and to satisfy departmental major and minor requirements, as allowed by the individual departments. Trinity College of Arts and Sciences students may apply up to 2 of these elective course credits toward the degree requirement of 34-course credits, with up to 6 additional credits awarded for acceleration toward the degree. The Pratt School of Engineering evaluates AP credit as Trinity College does, but students may receive credit and placement for all qualifying classes.
Duke University AP Credit
All Advanced Placement Exams completed with a score of 4 or 5 are recorded on a student's permanent Duke record. The classes may be used for placement into higher-level courses and to satisfy departmental major and minor requirements, as allowed by the individual departments. Trinity College of Arts and Sciences students may apply up to 2 of these elective course credits toward the degree requirement of 34-course credits, with up to 6 additional credits awarded for acceleration toward the degree. The Pratt School of Engineering evaluates AP credit as Trinity College does, but students may receive credit and placement for all qualifying classes.
US News Rank
#10
Forbes Rank
#9
Acceptance Rate
5.9%
Min Ap Score
5
Offers Advanced Placement
COMPSCI 20
Northwestern University
Evanston,IL
Does Northwestern Accept AP Credit?
Does Northwestern offer Advanced Placement?
Yes
Yes
Northwestern University AP Credit
Northwestern applies one policy regarding how much test credit is awarded to all undergraduate students regardless of major or school. In nearly all areas Northwestern awards credit for scores of 5; in some cases, credit is also awarded for scores of 3 or 4. Each undergraduate school then determines how the credit may apply to degree requirements.
Northwestern University AP Credit
Northwestern applies one policy regarding how much test credit is awarded to all undergraduate students regardless of major or school. In nearly all areas Northwestern awards credit for scores of 5; in some cases, credit is also awarded for scores of 3 or 4. Each undergraduate school then determines how the credit may apply to degree requirements.
US News Rank
#10
Forbes Rank
#11
Acceptance Rate
7%
Min Ap Score
4
Min Credit Offered
1
Rice University
Houston,Texas
Does Rice Accept AP Credit?
Does Rice offer Advanced Placement?
Yes
No
Rice University AP Credit
Students scoring a 4 or 5 on accepted Advanced Placement (AP) exams before matriculation will receive course credit from Rice. Where applicable, the credit will count toward your major and meet university distribution requirements.
Rice University AP Credit
Students scoring a 4 or 5 on accepted Advanced Placement (AP) exams before matriculation will receive course credit from Rice. Where applicable, the credit will count toward your major and meet university distribution requirements.
US News Rank
#15
Forbes Rank
#12
Acceptance Rate
9.5%
Min Ap Score
4
Min Credit Offered
3
Stanford University
Stanford,CA
Does Accept AP Credit?
Does offer Advanced Placement?
Yes
Yes
Stanford AP Credit Policy
A maximum of 45 quarter units of transfer and test credit may be applied toward the undergraduate degree. Subjects not listed on the AP chart are not eligible for AP credit. If Stanford courses are taken below the level of the placement course, the duplicating AP units will be removed. Scores of 4 or 5 on language AP exams fulfill the language requirement.
Stanford AP Credit Policy
A maximum of 45 quarter units of transfer and test credit may be applied toward the undergraduate degree. Subjects not listed on the AP chart are not eligible for AP credit. If Stanford courses are taken below the level of the placement course, the duplicating AP units will be removed. Scores of 4 or 5 on language AP exams fulfill the language requirement.
US News Rank
#3
Forbes Rank
#3
Acceptance Rate
3.9%
Min Ap Score
4
Min Credit Offered
5
University of California
Berkeley,CA
Does UCB Accept AP Credit?
Does UCB offer Advanced Placement?
Yes
Yes
University of California, Berkeley AP Credit Policy
As determined by Columbia, students who have achieved satisfactory scores on the College Board AP Exams may be granted credit or exempted from certain required courses. Any credit will be considered part of the 60-transfer credit maximum. The following conditions apply: 1) The departments concerned must approve the use of these examinations. 2) Credit so earned is not granted until a student has demonstrated a capacity to do satisfactory advanced work in the overall program. 3) Credit awarded under the Advanced Placement Program does not constitute part of the 64 credits earned at Columbia required for the GS degree.
University of California, Berkeley AP Credit Policy
As determined by Columbia, students who have achieved satisfactory scores on the College Board AP Exams may be granted credit or exempted from certain required courses. Any credit will be considered part of the 60-transfer credit maximum. The following conditions apply: 1) The departments concerned must approve the use of these examinations. 2) Credit so earned is not granted until a student has demonstrated a capacity to do satisfactory advanced work in the overall program. 3) Credit awarded under the Advanced Placement Program does not constitute part of the 64 credits earned at Columbia required for the GS degree.
US News Rank
#20
Forbes Rank
#2
Acceptance Rate
14.4%
Min Ap Score
3
Min Credit Offered
5.3
Need help learning AP Computer Science Principles? Find an expert 1-on-1 online AP Computer Science Principles tutor from Wiingy and give your grades a boost!
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Do you get college credit for AP Computer Science Principles?
Yes, like all other AP exams, colleges do offer credits for AP Computer Science Principles too. 1196 colleges offer college credit for AP Computer Science Principles. Some major colleges and universities are, Stanford University, the University of California, Berkley, and others.
How many college credits are AP Computer Science Principles?
Credits granted by the colleges for AP Computer Science Principles vary from college to college. Some colleges might not be offering credits but might be offering advanced placement. So it is important to check your college’s AP credit policy. Although 1196 colleges in the US offer credits for AP Computer Science Principles, your college might be one of them.
Should I take AP Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science A?
AP Computer Science Principles is a beginner course. I was introduced to the school curriculum so that students who have no prior knowledge of CS but have an interest in the subject can get acquainted with the subject before going into detail in AP Computer Science A class. So, if you are a complete beginner then taking AP CSP is the best way forward.
What if I got a 4 on AP Computer Science Principles?
According to the College Board score classification system, an AP score of 4 is termed as “well-qualified”. So, if you get 4 in your AP Computer Science Principles exam that means you have performed well in the exam and are eligible t apply to 291 colleges that offer credits for 4 or more AP scores, out of the total 1196 colleges that offer credits for AP CSP.
Is AP CSA harder than AP CSP?
Both the AP computer science classes differ a lot. AP CSP is considered an introductory to the CS class. The curriculum is very basic where students learn about theories and focus on their problem-solving skills. While AP CSA introduces Java programming language and students are taught how to code.
