Different colleges accept different AP scores. This tool helps you find the minimum AP score for credit at your target schools — so you know exactly what target to hit.
How AP Credit Policies Vary
- Most public universities: Accept a 3 in most subjects.
- State flagship universities: Usually 3 or 4 depending on subject.
- Top 50 private universities: Mostly require a 4 or 5.
- Ivy League + Stanford + MIT: Mostly require a 5, often for placement only (not credit).
- Liberal arts colleges: Variable — some accept 3s broadly, others require 5s.
How to Look Up a Specific College
- Go to the College Board's AP Credit Policy Search at apcentral.collegeboard.org
- Type the college name.
- Filter by AP subject — see the required score, what credit is awarded, and any caveats.
Common AP Credit Rules at Top Schools
- Harvard: Requires a 5. Used for placement, not credit. Up to 32 credit hours total possible.
- Yale: Requires a 5. Acceleration credit available — can graduate early.
- Princeton: Requires a 5. Used for placement only (no credit toward graduation).
- Stanford: Requires a 4 or 5 depending on subject. Up to 45 quarter-units possible.
- MIT: Requires a 5. Used to skip basic courses; no general credit.
- UC Berkeley: Accepts 3s in many subjects. Generous credit policy.
- UCLA: Mostly 3s accepted. Similar to Berkeley.
- UT Austin: Accepts 3s in most subjects. Up to 30 hours possible.
- Michigan: Accepts 4s and 5s for most subjects.
- NYU: Accepts 4s for most subjects. Specific subject requirements vary by school within NYU.
Strategic Implications
If your target school is a top-20 private, plan for a 5 on every AP you care about. If your target is a state school, a 3 may be enough — but check before assuming.
Knowing the target score sharpens your prep. AimFive's diagnostic gives you a current predicted score; pair it with the target and you know the gap.
What AP Scores Do Colleges Accept · Is a 3 Good? · AP Score Calculator
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