College Level Examination Program

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a program where students can take college-level exams in more than 30 subjects online and earn college credit in those subjects. CLEP is not available in high schools. Students instead enroll in CLEP exams and take the test independently. This allows students to earn college credit for what they already know by "testing out" of college classes.

Here are a couple advantages about CLEP:

• The exam is college-level. You may do better in college classes later because you'll know what to expect.
• Students can earn college credit in high school if they pass the exam. This can save you time and money when you actually get to college.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to participate?

All students can log on to College Board to purchase exams.

How do I earn college credit?

You must take a fee-based exam. Each exam is graded on a different scale, however most colleges and universities that accept CLEP require a score of 50 or more.

If you are interested in a specific college, be sure to ask admissions about their policy. To see the scores required by each college, see the embedded Tableau table here.

Do all colleges and universities accept these credits?

If you are interested in a specific college, be sure to ask admissions about their CLEP acceptance policy. Not all colleges accept all CLEP exams, and those that do may not accept exams in all CLEP subjects. There are also instances where credit acceptance varies depending on the subject.

To see the scores required to earn college credit by institution, see the embedded Tableau table here.

How much does it cost?

CLEP exams cost $80 on College Board's website. Students can also purchase study guides for an additional fee.

CLEP exams are free for military personnel and spouses/civilian employees of the Air Force (civilian employees only), Air Force Reserve, Army Reserve, and Coast Guard (active and reserve). For more on military benefits, visit College Board's website.

Learn More

For more information on how CLEP exams, visit College Board.

Before purchasing a test, always check with a college or university to make sure that they accept CLEP and the subject exam you want to take.

Related Reports

• Dual Credit and Exam-based Credit Acceptance Policies of Minnesota Colleges and Universities