The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) helps students earn college credit towards their undergraduate degree by allowing them to use previously acquired knowledge from work or life experience. CLEP exams are designed by college professors and administered by the College Board to measure your knowledge on specific subjects. By taking (and passing) these exams, you can bypass taking the course in college. Bypassing college courses:
Saves You Money
Taking a CLEP exam costs about $90 plus the test center’s administration fee. Comparatively, one college credit costs about $600 on average. According to College Board, earning 15 CLEP credits can save you nearly $5,000 at public four-year colleges or more than $17,000 at private nonprofit schools.
Saves You Time
CLEP exams can accelerate the path to graduation day, allowing you to earn a degree and start earning a salary as quickly as possible. . A standard semester is typically 3-4 months long with a course load of 4-6 courses (or 12-18 credits). In contrast, CLEP exams are approximately 90 minutes. The more CLEP exams you pass, the more credit you earn, allowing less time spent in a classroom over time.
Gives You the Opportunity to Show What You Already Know
CLEP exams are designed to test your knowledge of specific subjects. Did you find your sociology courses in high school to be easy? Are you fluent in another language? Or, are you considered to be a wiz in mathematics? If so, consider brushing up on subjects you’re familiar with and taking a CLEP exam.
CLEP exams offered
History and Social Sciences
- American Government
- History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877
- History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present
- Human Growth and Development
- Introduction to Educational Psychology
- Introductory Psychology
- Introductory Sociology
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Social Sciences and History
- Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
- Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present
Composition and Literature
- American Literature
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- College Composition
- College Composition Modular
- English Literature
- Humanities
Science and Mathematics
- Biology
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- College Algebra
- College Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Precalculus
Business
- Financial Accounting
- Information Systems
- Introductory Business Law
- Principles of Management
- Principles of Marketing
World Languages
- French Language: Levels 1 and 2
- German Language: Levels 1 and 2
- Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2
- Spanish and Writing: Levels 1 and 2
Things to Consider and Check
- There are 2,900 colleges that accept CLEP exam credits, so check that the school you are currently attending or are hoping to attend is one of them.
- Have a strategy when planning your course load and graduation plan. CLEP credits are only counted as general education credits, so they may not count towards your major, minor, or other specific course requirements.
- Make sure you study and properly prepare for CLEP exams. If you do not pass, you will have to wait one to three months before retaking the test. This could be problematic for your schedule and bank account.
Peterson’s Test Prep will help bring you up to speed on the subjects you’re already familiar with. Online CLEP practice exams will get you ready for test day and our latest CLEP apps make on-the-go learning fun with interactive daily pop quizzes.
