Students can earn college credit while they are still in high school by participating in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs, and high school dual credit classes. Talk to your high school counselor early on to see how you can get a jumpstart on college credits before you even graduate. Most of the colleges you are interested in attending will have information on their websites about how college credit from high school will transfer.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Most colleges and universities will grant credit for College Board Advanced Placement Examinations. The needed score on each AP exam in order to earn credit is determined by individual institutions of higher education. Missouri State University offers several opportunities for college credit through AP exams.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Students participating in International Baccalaureate (IB) programs may earn college credit by achieving certain scores on IB exams in academic subject areas. At Missouri State, we offer a variety of opportunities for students who have participated in the rigorous coursework of an IB program.
High School Dual Credit
Many high schools offer students the opportunity to take college courses that also count toward their high school diploma. This is a great way for students to prepare for and get a head start on their college degree. At Missouri State, we award credit for most college-level classes taken as dual credit if the class is posted on an official college transcript from a regionally accredited college or university. We will not award credit for college work that involves remedial or highly technical content.
Policies regarding transferring high school dual credit classes will vary by college. At Missouri State, there is no limit to the number of dual credit classes a student can transfer. Just keep in mind that the grades you earn in dual credit classes may count toward your college grade point average. Check out the High School Dual Credit website for more information on how your dual credit classes transfer to Missouri State.
