Earn College Credit in High School

There are many ways for students to earn college credit while in high school. Most Minnesota high schools have credit-earning opportunities where students earn college credit by taking a college-level course (dual credit) or by taking a college-level exam (exam-based credit). These programs are often referred to by their common names, such as PSEO, College in the Schools, College Now, AP, IB, etc. These programs are a great way to experience what it's like to take a college course and can set up students for success once they enroll in college.

Things to know:

• Not all programs are available at all high schools.
• Most programs require a certain academic standing to participate. Check with your school counselor to see if you are eligible to participate in these programs.

Dual credit and exam-based credit programs include:

• Concurrent Enrollment allows high school students to take college-level courses at their high school through partnerships between high schools and colleges. Students earn both high school and college credit by passing the class. In addition "concurrent enrollment," these programs are sometimes called College in the Schools, CEP, or College Now.
• Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows Minnesota high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college courses on campus or online. Students earn both high school and college credit by passing the class. Sophomores can also participate in PSEO if they first take and pass one CTE course.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) allows public school sophomores, juniors and seniors to take career-focused college courses while in high school. These courses are often hands-on and provide training for in-demand jobs.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) is a two-year pre-college diploma program that helps prepare students age 16 to 19 for higher education in the United States and overseas through a combination of course-taking and test-taking. Students have the opportunity to earn college credit by receiving a passing score on the IB subject exam, as determined by the college.
• Advanced Placement (AP) allows high school students to take college-level courses at their high school with the potential to earn college credit by receiving a passing score on the AP subject exam, as determined by the college.
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) allows students to earn college credit by taking exams for what they already know. Students can submit their scores to a college or university and receive college credit based on their scores, if the college accepts CLEP scores. There are no classes that students take to help them prepare for these exams; students register and take tests independently.

For more details on each program, select any of the programs above or view them here in English or Spanish*.

Hear from real dual credit students on their experiences of dual credit programs like PSEO and concurrent enrollment.

*Spanish translation by Riverland Community College

Do All Colleges and Universities Accept These Credits?

Not all colleges and universities award credit for participating in dual credit programs. Credit acceptance can sometimes depend on the type of class or test the student takes. It is important for students to check with both their school counselor and college staff to make sure that the credits will transfer. Use the table below to help get a better understanding of what colleges accept.

Start by selecting a program tab. Un-check the "All" buttons under "Institutions" and "Test Subject," then select one or more institutions and tests. The PSEO/Concurrent Enrollment tab will show you if the schools you select accept PSEO and concurrent enrollment credit. Links to institutional policies are included on this tab. The AP, IB, and CLEP tabs will show you what test scores are required by the college in order to receive credit, and how much college credit they will award for each passing test. The Contact Information tab will direct you to the best person to contact at each college or university with additional questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Am I eligible to take a dual credit class? (click to expand)
  Take a look at the eligibility requirements listed on this table, and check with your high school counselor. Most programs require that you maintain a certain academic standing and/or GPA. In some cases, guidance counselors can submit other markers of your academic success to get you entry into these programs.

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• What exam scores are considered "passing?" (click to expand)
  Colleges and universities in Minnesota determine what scores they consider "passing" for each individual exam. Use the interactive table above to see what scores colleges require for each test and how much college credit they award.

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• What is the likelihood that my credits will transfer? (click to expand)
  According to this report, 98% of colleges and universities in Minnesota accept and award college credit for Concurrent Enrollment and PSEO dual credit programs. Most colleges and universities in Minnesota (95%) also accept and award credit for passing AP, IB, and CLEP exams. Even so, colleges and universities may still handle each transfer situationally, so it is important to check with them when choosing a college.

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• Which of my dual credit courses or subjects will transfer? (click to expand)
  Minnesota colleges and universities accept many dual credit courses. Check with the college to make sure that your class with transfer.

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• Why might my credit not be accepted? (click to expand)
  Your course or exam credits may not be accepted when you enroll in college. There are many factors to consider: your grade in the class/score on the exam, the policies of the college you enroll in, and the major that you choose in college. Check with the college to make sure that your credits will be accepted.

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• Will my CTE credits transfer? (click to expand)
  Because CTE classes tend to be specialized toward a specific career and are often highly technical, many liberal arts colleges do not accept CTE credits since they do not offer similar courses on their campuses. Similarly, if the student decides to not pursue a career in the area of their CTE course, the credits may not be accepted into their new major. It is very important to check with the college to make sure that your CTE credits will be accepted and applied to your intended major.

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• Are official transcripts necessary to transfer my credits? (click to expand)
  In most cases, official transcripts are necessary to transfer credit earned from successful participation in a dual credit course. Talk to your high school guidance counselor for more information.

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• How do I submit the college credit I earned from a dual credit course? (click to expand)

  Requesting and sending transcripts can differ from college to college. Typically, students can request their official transcript from the Office of the Registrar. Many postsecondary institutions allow students to request their official transcript online. Some colleges and universities require students to download and sign a release form and send it to the Registrar before they can access their official transcript. If a physical official transcript is requested, it must be signed and sealed by the Registrar and cannot be opened before reaching the destination college. Some institutions charge students a small fee for requesting their official transcript. Official transcripts are sent to the records /Registrar's office at their destination college. Students can find the address online, or call the office for more information.

  Note: If a student is transferring their credit from one Minnesota State college or university to another (i.e. from Rainy River Community College to Pine Technical and Community College), the Registrar can electronically send official transcripts to the destination college. In any other case (i.e. the student took a PSEO course at Metropolitan State University and is transferring the credit to Augsburg College), the official transcripts will need to be physically mailed or securely transferred from one college to the other. Minnesota lacks a statewide electronic transcript system.

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• How do I submit my AP, IB or CLEP scores to a college? (click to expand)
  Students can log in to CollegeBoard or IB's website and send exam scores (physically or electronically) to their destination college. These scores should be sent to the records/Registrar's office. In the case of IB, college Registrars have the option to create an account with IB and check students' scores online.

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See instructions on how to send AP scores to your destination college.

See instructions on how to send CLEP scores to your destination college.

IB Students can request that their scores be sent to college. You can do so by logging on to MyIB. Colleges and universities can also access your scores electronically. You can call the university Registrar and ask if they'd prefer to receive them or view your scores online.

Always follow up with the college or university's Registrar's office to make sure that they received your exam scores and applied them to your college transcript.

Related Reports

• Dual Credit and Exam-based Credit Acceptance Policies of Minnesota Colleges and Universities
• Rigorous Course Taking: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Concurrent Enrollment and Postsecondary Enrollment Options Programs, Fiscal Year 2017 Report to the Legislature
• Rigorous Course Taking: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Concurrent Enrollment and Postsecondary Enrollment Options Programs, Fiscal Year 2016 Report To the Legislature