As the cost of college continues to rise, more parents are exploring ways to make higher education more affordable without compromising quality. One of the most powerful tools available to high school students—and one that many parents may not fully understand—is earning college credits in high school.
Generally speaking, there are three popular options for students to earn college credits in high school. They are:
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Dual Credit (DC)
While each program offers a way to get ahead in college—and potentially save thousands of dollars in tuition—each path definitely has its own pros and cons. We will explain what these options are, along with their pros and cons, and give parents a few real-life examples to help their students make informed choices.
What Is AP, IB, and Dual Credit?
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses created by the College Board and offered at many high schools. The courses cover subjects in STEM fields, humanities, art, and languages. Some example courses are AP Biology, AP U.S. History, AP Calculus AB, and AP Psychology. Students can take AP Exams in May, and the tests are graded on a scale from 1 to 5. College credits are earned based on a student’s AP Exam score. Each college sets its own policy.
International Baccalaureate (IB) is a rigorous international program emphasizing critical thinking, global awareness, and research. Students can take individual IB courses or pursue the full IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). Some example courses are IB Literature, IB History, IB Chemistry, IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Extended Essay (EE). IB exams are graded on a scale of 1 to 7. College credits are awarded based on IB exam scores (typically scores of 4+), and may vary by college.
Dual Credit (DC) isa partnership between high schools and colleges (often community colleges) where students take college courses and earn both high school and college credit at the same time. Some example courses are English Composition (ENGL 1301), U.S. History (HIST 1301), and College Algebra (MATH 1314). College credits are earned by passing the course, not a standardized test. Courses typically transfer to public universities in the same state.
Pros and Cons of The Three Options
AP
The pros include that they are widely accepted across US colleges. The courses cover a large variety of subjects and they prepare students for college exams. The main drawback is that different colleges set their own rules on what a subject test score they consider acceptable. For example, some less competitive colleges are more likely to accept an AP score of 3 as a credit toward graduation requirements. In contrast, more selective colleges may require at least a 4 or a 5 for credit or simply for placement in higher level courses. This discretion by individual colleges may cause too much stress on students to do well on one test.
Parents and students can use this AP Credit Policy Search Tool to find out individual college’s policies on all AP tests your students take.
IB
The pros include being globally recognized, encouraging deep, holistic learning, obtaining an IB diploma is highly regarded. The cons include that only limited number of high schools offer it: approximately 900 schools, compared to 23,000 high schools which offer AP courses. Also, the IB workload can be demanding. Another downside with IB program is that not all colleges offer credit for all subjects.
Dual Credit
One of the benefits of enrolling in dual credit courses are students earn credit by passing the course. Another benefit is actual college transcript and GPA. And the courses generally cost less than college tuition. The major downside of dual credit is credits earned may not transfer to all colleges (especially out-of-state).
Whether it’s AP, IB, or Dual Credit, each option gives students a valuable opportunity to earn college credit, develop academic confidence, and save money. The best choice depends on your student’s learning style, goals, and the colleges they are aiming for.
Before making a decision, families should:
- Talk with school counselors.
- Check credit transfer policies for potential colleges.
- Evaluate the student’s workload, maturity, and interests.
Parents, it’s never too early or too late to plan to get your student a head start on their future.