<p>So, say I'm coming in to college with 5 AP credits. How does this factor in to how many courses I have to take, and does the cost of tuition decrease if I'm not taking as many credits?</p>
<p>I'm kind of confused.</p>
<p>(Sorry if there are a bunch of threads on this; if I search for "ap credit" there's no telling how many threads I'd find).</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>well..it quite depends on the school u r applying and going.....like Princeton doesn't accept any AP credits at all (as far as I know).......it does help a bit......and again..suppose u took AP Chem..and u r majoring in Biochem or Chem...you may wanna retake Chem 101..since AP Courses are not quite equivalent to college courses.....</p>
<p>This is assuming the college accepts AP credits.</p>
<p>There are basically three options: doing the same as if you did not have AP credits, taking more classes or taking less classes per semester.</p>
<p>If you just want to graduate in 4 years with the minimum amount of courses you have to take, you can carry a less-than-regular course load (e.g. 3 courses instead of 4) in some semesters and use AP credits to make up the difference. When a college calculates tuition per course or per credit this approach saves some money, but many colleges just charge a flat-rate full-time tuition fee.</p>
<p>On the other hand you can take a little bit more than the regular course load every semester and use the extra credits along with the AP credits to graduate early (after 3 years instead of 4). That would save one year's worth of tuition.</p>
<p>A nice side effect of APs is that you can use them to get rid of general education requirements. The details of those requirements vary by college but many require a math class, a foreign language, history etc. A merit grade on the relevant AP exams often fulfills those requirements, giving you more leeway to pick classes you really want to take.</p>
<p>At my college coming in with half a year's worth of transfer credit (e.g. 4 AP classes) allows you to graduate with a Bachelor's AND a Master's degree after four years.</p>
<p>So, if you need like 32 credits total (4 credits x 2 semesters = 8 x 4 years = 32), and I have 5 AP credits, then I only need to complete 27 to graduate?</p>
<p>From a financial standpoint, would it be less expensive to spread out the tuition and pay less over 4 years or take extra courses and finish in 3? I'd assume the latter, simply because of room/board charges + books + travel, etc...</p>
<p>Do you know how I could find out if a certain college charges a flat-rate or variable tuition? I can't find the answer on their website.</p>
<p>You could try calling them to find out if it is the flat-rate. What I recommend doing is taking enough classes to graduate earlier (assuming you won't work) because you will spend less doing that.</p>
<p>
[quote]
So, if you need like 32 credits total (4 credits x 2 semesters = 8 x 4 years = 32), and I have 5 AP credits, then I only need to complete 27 to graduate?
[/quote]
Yes.</p>
<p>From a financial point of view graduating in three years is probably the better option. Not only do you save room and board for one year, but you can start working and earning money one year earlier.</p>
<p>Look at a college's website where it lists all the fees. If it says "Tuition - $24,612", the college charges a flat-rate tuition. If it instead says "Tuition - $912 per credit", the college calculates tuition per credit. Private colleges usually charge flat-rate tuition. Public universities often charge variable tuition.</p>
<p>Let me give you a few examples:</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr College charges a flat-rate tuition of $33,840:
Bryn</a> Mawr Admissions - Tuition and Fees 2007-2008</p>
<p>Mountain State University charges $270 per credit hour for regular undergraduate courses ($205 tuition plus $65 general fees):
Mountain</a> State University</p>
<p>The University of New Hampshire follows a mixed approach. Regular full-time students (between 12 and 20 credit hours) pay a flat-rate tuition fee while students who enroll in more than 20 or less than 12 credit hours per semester are billed per credit hour.
Business</a> Services</p>
<p>A lot depends on the AP courses that those credits are for. For example, at Oberlin College (where I go), the general number of credits is 3 for each AP exam that they accept on which you score a 4 or 5, which numerous exceptions. For instance, AP World and Euro History are three credits each, while US is 4 credits. Biology and Chemistry can earn a ton of credits for high scores, because they exempt you from year long intro sequences.</p>
<p>A note to prevent confusion: there are two different models of calculating credits. Some private colleges simply count courses and award one credit to each course. Graduation then typically requires 32 credits. Most public and some private universities count credit hours instead and require about 128 credit hours for graduation. That's about 16 credit hours per semester on average.</p>