AP vs. Dual Enrollment

By: Joe Pyon

When taking challenging classes that allow someone to build college credit, there are two options. One option is Dual Enrollment, which allows you to obtain credit by just passing the class, while the other involves taking a challenging Advanced Placement test at the end of the year to earn the credit.

While it may seem obvious for a student to pick Dual Enrollment due to its simplicity, it is not widely accepted by all colleges. If one plans on going out of state for college, there is a very slim chance that one would get their Dual Enrollment credit honored.  On other hand, if a student took the Advanced Placement exam to obtain the credit for a specific course in college, there is an increased chance that the credit will be accepted. This is due to the Advanced Placement test being a nationally accredited way of proving that one has demonstrated all their knowledge to pass a certain exam.

Even though the Advanced Placement exam seems like a more guaranteed way of obtaining college credit, there is always a risk factor to it. The Advanced Placement exam is scored on a scale of one to five; five representing that a student demonstrated all the knowledge required to get a perfect score, and one representing the student poorly displayed proper understanding of the course.

For the most part, obtaining a three out of five on the Advanced Placement exam is considered a passing score that can obtain credit. Except some colleges only except a four for it to be honored. On top of that, Advanced Placement tests are considered challenging due to a college level rigor that is exposed to students on every test administered.

This then raises the question if it is worth taking the risk of spending money on an Advanced Placement test if a student decides to stay in-state. If a student plans on staying in the state for post-secondary education, then Dual Enrollment would be a viable option.

Although Dual Enrollment has a higher cost to obtain credit, a student’s chances of obtaining the credit this way are increased since the only requirement is getting a passing score of a C or higher. This option would be highly recommended for a student who is taking a class that offers Dual Enrollment and plans on staying in state for college.

Overall, when debating between the two, it depends on where a student decides to go to college in the future. Whether it is out of state or in state, one should take into consideration which form of credit would be acceptable before making final decisions. They are both well-rounded options that a student should consider when wanting to get a head start into their college career.

The face off between two worthy forms of college credit.

Picture from: phsprecedent.com