Information for New Students

Advanced placement credit, defined as college-level credit earned either in high school or college prior to matriculation at any college, may be awarded by high attainment on College Level Examination Program Examinations, College Board Advanced Placement Examinations, or examinations specially prepared or approved by the departments involved or by transfer of college credit earned elsewhere. Consideration will also be given for International Baccalaureate High Level coursework. Transfer credit for non-college work will not be granted unless students can show proficiency by testing. The following conditions apply:

1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit for those courses applicable to the curriculum will be given to an applicant with a score of 60 and above in the examinations that cover individual subjects. Credit will not be given for the four general examinations - Humanities, College Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and History.
2. An applicant successfully completing a College Board Advanced Placement Examination (AP Exam) with a score of four (4) or better may receive credit for those courses applicable to the University curriculum.
3. All advanced placement credit is assigned by Student Achievement Services according to policy set by the University's academic units. Advanced placement should be determined before the student's first registration on campus, but must be finalized before the student's second registration on campus. Advanced placement credit based on tests or examinations (includes AP, CLEP, IB, etc.) will be limited to a combined 30 credit hours. Credit will be awarded upon receipt of official test scores indicating a qualifying score.
4. Advanced placement credit based on college-level courses transferred from other institutions will be awarded upon receipt of an official college transcript indicating a grade of C or better and course description if evaluated by the course offering department at Clarkson to be appropriate for Clarkson credit.

Advanced Placement Examinations (AP Exams)

A majority of students receiving advanced placement credit at Clarkson have taken the Advanced Placement Examination of the College Board. The most common areas are listed below. Credit in most other subject matters is awarded when a score of 4 or greater is received, and official test scores sent to Clarkson.

Clarkson's CollegeBoard School Code is 2084. Contact information for the CollegeBoard:

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1-888-225-5427 (toll free)    
1-212-632-1780

Advanced Placement credit based on tests or examinations (includes AP, CLEP, IB, etc.) will be limited to a combined 30 hours. For further information, please contact us.

Credit for Advanced Placement exams through the College Board will be awarded as follows:

 Don't see your exam on the list? Check out this link for transfer information for some of the less commonly taken AP exams!

*Credit by Examination at Clarkson

It is possible in some cases for a new student to take a special advanced-standing exam provided by the respective department. A satisfactory grade enables a student to receive credit. The format and availability of such exams are at the discretion of the appropriate department chairperson. Students interested in Credit by Examination are encouraged to notify the appropriate department as early as possible so a mutually convenient time to take the exam can be arranged. Note: Students who plan to take the Calculus exam need make no special arrangements. That exam is scheduled during the first week of the term.

Clarkson will consider the following for advanced credit: AP, CLEP, GCE, GCSE, IB, A-levels, French Baccalaureate, Arbitur, Italian Maturita and the Swiss Maturite. While credit is usually granted, there are situations, due to the technical nature of some of the programs, where it is not. Each case will be reviewed on an individual basis. Advanced Placement credit based on tests or examinations (includes AP, CLEP, IB, etc.) will be limited to a combined 30 hours.

To be eligible for AP credit for MA 131 or MA 132, first-year students must also perform at a satisfactory level of the Math Readiness Survey (which is taken in late May) or successfully complete the on-campus advanced-standing exam given in the first week of the fall semester.

The computer science department schedules an exam in C++ or Java for new students each year. Students earning a satisfactory grade receive credit for CS 141 Introduction to Computer Science I. The exam may also be taken in other pre-approved languages. Contact the computer science department for more information.

Advanced Placement Credit Through College Course Transfer

Students may enter Clarkson having already taken college courses while still in high school. Such courses will be considered for academic transfer credit if a grade of C or better was earned. Students should send an official transcript as well as a course description to Student Achievement Services as soon as available. The course(s) will be evaluated for transfer credit by the academic department responsible for the course curriculum.

International Baccalaureate Recognition Policy

Clarkson University recognizes the IB diploma as an excellent college preparatory program and seeks candidates with this preparation. The University offers advanced standing and/or credit for scores of 5 through 7 on the Higher Level Examinations. Credit will be granted on a course by course basis in consultation with the applicant's intended academic department. No advanced credit will be given for subsidiary level examinations but the courses are recognized as fulfilling requisite requirements for admission.

IB Languages:

-- A1, A2 languages will receive Intermediate Language credit and will satisfy the Cultures and Society (CSO) Knowledge Area   
-- B languages will receive introductory Language credit

If you have further questions or need more information, please contact the SAS Center at Graham Hall or call 315-268-6451 or e-mail registrar@clarkson.edu.