CLEP Your Way to Lower Tuition Bills

October 16, 11:13 AMCollege Admissions ExaminerLauren Starkey

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If you’re worried about the cost of college, consider taking College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. Offered through the Educational Testing Service, the exams can get you college credit if you earn qualifying scores, and if the school(s) you’re interested in accept them. And they cost $70. each instead of the thousands of dollars charged by many universities for their courses.

Currently, almost 3000 schools accept CLEP scores for credit and about half of them also serve as CLEP testing centers. Exams are offered in 34 subjects, including Literature, Science, and History, although many schools do not accept all of them. The University of Maine, for example, gives credit for Biology and Chemistry, but not for Natural Sciences. The 90-minute tests cover college-level material that can be learned through advanced high school classes, individual study, travel, or internships.

Some schools also limit who can receive credit for CLEP exams. Military personnel and other adults are typically eligible at most institutions, but if you are in high school, you may find your options more limited. To learn more about the exams, check www.collegeboard.com, where you’ll find a searchable list of colleges that award credit for the exams, descriptions of the exams, and registration information.