$97
Per CLEP exam
34
Available exams
3,000+
Accepting schools (College Board)
What Is CLEP?
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) is a series of 34 standardized exams administered by the College Board. Each exam covers a full semester of introductory college coursework. Pass the exam, earn the credits — without sitting through the class.
Over 3,000 colleges and universities accept CLEP credits (College Board), including most state schools, community colleges, and many private institutions. The program has been running since 1967.
CLEP is not a shortcut — it's a smarter path. You still need to know the material. You just don't need to sit through 16 weeks of class to prove it.
The Math That Changes Everything
Colleges charge full-time tuition by the semester, so one CLEP exam skips a course but does not lower the bill on its own. The money comes when your credits finish a whole semester (15 credits) early. Here's a semester of courses vs. five CLEP exams, with tuition from about $433 a credit at a public four-year to about $1,067 at a mid-tier private:
| Expense | One Semester (15 credits) | Five CLEP Exams |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition or exam fees | $6,500–$16,000 | $485 + test-center fees |
| Textbooks | Varies by course | $0 (free study) |
| Time commitment | 16 weeks | 90 minutes an exam |
| Tuition you pay | $6,500–$16,000 | $0 for that semester |
Now scale that up, at colleges that accept the exams. Credit short of a full semester skips courses but saves no tuition:
5 exams (15 credits)
about $6,500 to $16,000
in tuition: one semester finished early
8 exams (24 credits)
about $6,500 to $16,000
in tuition: one semester early, plus 3 courses skipped
10 exams (30 credits)
about $13,000 to $32,000
in tuition: a full year finished early
Five CLEP Exams to Start With
These five cover material most students already have from high school or everyday life, which makes them a reasonable place to begin. We are not ranking them by difficulty: College Board publishes no pass rate for CLEP and says direct comparisons should not be made between exams in different subjects. Every CLEP exam grants credit at the same score, 50.
1College Composition
Multiple choice plus two essays. If you can write a clear five-paragraph argument, this replaces both semesters of freshman English at many schools.
2Introductory Sociology
If you understand how society works — social norms, institutions, inequality — you already know half of this.
3Principles of Marketing
You've been on the receiving end of marketing your whole life. Product, price, promotion, place — much of it is structured common sense.
4College Mathematics
Not calculus. This covers algebra, probability, logic, and sets.
5Analyzing & Interpreting Literature
If you're a reader, this exam rewards close reading of passages provided on the test — no memorized author lists required.
Credit values are the American Council on Education's recommendations. Each college sets its own policy, so check yours before you sit an exam.
How to Study for Free
Modern States: Free Courses + Free Exam Voucher
Modern States is a nonprofit that offers free online courses for CLEP exams. Complete the course and pass its quizzes and final, and they give you a voucher that covers the $97 exam fee. That means you can earn college credit for literally $0.
Other free study resources:
- Khan Academy — covers math, psychology, economics, and more
- YouTube — CrashCourse and Professor Leonard for exam-specific prep
- Quizlet — free CLEP flashcard sets made by other test-takers
- Your local library — REA and Peterson's CLEP study guides, free to borrow
Step-by-Step: How to Take a CLEP Exam
Check if your target school accepts CLEP
Use College Decoded's Credit Lab to see which CLEPs your school accepts and what scores they require.
Register at College Board
Create a CLEP account at clep.collegeboard.org. You'll need this to schedule and send scores.
Study for 2-4 weeks
Use Modern States (free), Khan Academy, or YouTube. Most exams take 2-4 weeks of casual study.
Find a test center — or test from home
CLEP exams are offered at test centers (mostly college campuses and military bases), or online via College Board's remote proctoring. Test centers may add an administration fee.
Test day: 90 minutes
Bring a valid photo ID. The exam is computer-based. Most exams are 100 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes.
Get your score immediately
For most exams, you'll see your score on screen as soon as you finish. 50 (on a 20-80 scale) is the ACE-recommended passing score — but each school sets its own.
Send scores to your school
You can send scores during registration or later through your CLEP account. There's a small fee per score report.
Who Should Take CLEP
High School Students
Earn college credits before you even start. Arrive at college with a semester already done.
Adult Learners
Your life experience counts. Adults often pass sociology, psychology, and business exams with minimal study.
Military Members
CLEP is completely free through DANTES for eligible service members, who can stack credits while serving.
Homeschoolers
CLEP provides an objective, widely-accepted way to demonstrate college-level knowledge.
Career Changers
Knock out gen-ed requirements quickly so you can focus on your new major.
Budget-Conscious Families
At $97 per exam (or $0 through Modern States), CLEP is one of the lowest-cost ways to earn college credit.
Military Members: CLEP Is FREE Through DANTES
Active duty, Guard, and Reserve members (plus eligible spouses and civil service employees) can take CLEP exams free through the DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) program. DANTES funds your first attempt at each exam title — and DANTES-funded and on-base test centers waive the administration fee too. Retakes are self-paid after a 3-month wait.
Many military bases have on-site testing centers. Thirty CLEP credits would cover a full year of college before you use a single day of GI Bill benefits.
Learn more about maximizing military education benefits in our GI Bill guide.
Stacking CLEP with AP & Dual Enrollment
CLEP doesn't have to stand alone. The smartest students stack multiple credit sources to maximize savings:
| Credit Source | Cost per 3 Credits | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| CLEP | $97 (or $0) | Gen-ed subjects |
| AP Exams | $99 | Subjects offered at your school |
| Dual Enrollment | Free in some states; varies | Subjects not covered by CLEP/AP |
| University Course | Part of semester tuition | Major-specific courses only |
A strategic combination can cover your entire freshman year. Check out our AP vs. CLEP guide for a detailed comparison of when to use each.
How CD's Credit Lab Shows Which Schools Accept Which CLEPs
The hardest part of CLEP isn't the exam — it's figuring out which schools accept which exams and what scores they require. Acceptance policies vary wildly. One school might accept Intro Psychology with a score of 50, while another requires 60, and a third doesn't accept it at all.
College Decoded's Credit Lab solves this by letting you search CLEP acceptance policies across the 1,915 schools we've mapped, in one place. See exactly which exams each school accepts, what scores you need, and how many credits you'll earn.
Depending on your school list, credit stacking with CLEP, AP, and dual enrollment can surface anywhere from about $6,500 in potential savings at a state school to $30,000+ at some private colleges. Results depend entirely on each school's credit policies.
Build Your CLEP Strategy
See exactly which CLEP exams your target schools accept, what scores you need, and how much you'll save. Our Credit Lab does the research for you.
Open Credit Lab