Over the past two decades, national and international participation in the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) Program has grown steadily. Last year, almost 940,000 students in more than 14,000 high schools participated in the AP Program.
Clemson University strongly endorses the AP Program and consistently ranks among the top colleges and universities in the nation in the number of students reporting AP grades. Students who have participated in AP are attracted by, and in turn contribute to, the superior academic environment at Clemson.
Clemson University credit is awarded for grades of 3, 4 or 5 on AP examinations. Last year, over half of the entering freshmen submitted AP scores. Of these, two-thirds earned a grade of 3, 4 or 5. These students received more than 10,000 semester hours of credit.
Clemson's leadership in the AP Program is also demonstrated by our involvement with exam evaluation. A Clemson faculty member was instrumental in establishing Clemson as the first satellite test evaluation center where exams are read and graded. Currently there are only three other satellite sites nationwide.
Credits Awarded Chart
See the areas, classes, grades and credits awarded at Clemson on this credits awarded chart (PDF). Use Acrobat Reader to view and/or print the forms. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, it can be downloaded from Adobe at no charge.
Procedure for Receiving Credit Through the AP Program
If you enroll in AP courses through your high school, you'll have the opportunity to take a national examination in the appropriate subject area at the end of the school year in May.
When registering for the examination, indicate if you wish to have the final results sent to Clemson University (CEEB # 5111). The examinations are graded on a 1 to 5 scale. If you achieve a grade of 3 or higher, you'll receive the appropriate course credit. After Clemson receives your official scores, credits earned will be posted on your record at the start of your first semester at Clemson.
If you have any questions regarding AP credit, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Clemson University, 105 Sikes Hall, Box 345124, Clemson, SC 29634-5124, (864) 656-2287.
Our Students' Perspective on the AP Advantage
Holly LeAnn Bowen, Physics
Activities/Honors: R.F. Poole Scholar, IPTAY Academic Scholar, National Merit Finalist, Mu Alpha Theta, Beta Club Governor's School for the Sciences
"Taking AP classes in high school helped prepare me for the serious academic commitment required at college. It is so much easier to adjust to college life if you've taken these kinds of high-level courses that require independence and motivation."
Mark Vincent Rogers, Electrical Engineering
Activities/Honors: S.C. Palmetto Fellow, Abney Foundation Scholar, Alumni Engineering Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor National Merit Scholar, Greenville County Student of the Year, S.C. All State Math Team, International Baccalaureate Graduate
"The AP program is the staple of American education. It extends high school instruction to address the rigorous curricula of college, and it maps college-bound students against a nationally standardized measure."
Timothy Graham Smith, Computer Science
Activities/Honors: S.C. Palmetto Fellow, IPTAY Academic Scholar, Sirrine Scholar, National Merit Commended Student, Eagle Scout
"Taking AP classes in high school has improved my self-discipline and increased my ability to retain knowledge and my proclivity to seek it out."