Creative Ways of Earning College Credit

One of the most expensive purchases we will ever make is paying for college. If you are an immigrant and have to pay out of state fees, it can be even more expensive. There are some creative ways that you can earn college credit for less and also reduce the time you spend in school.

Credit by Examination: You can test out if courses that you studied to the advanced level in high school. Many of the classes taken in the first two years of college are a review of high school. You can get credit by examination in the following ways

• Advanced Placement (AP) Examination:You can take AP exams if you take AP classes in high school. To learn more about the courses available, click here. Most students who take AP classes get advanced standing in universities all over the world. 
• College level examination program (CLEP): This program is administered by the college board. You can take up to 33 examinations and earn up to 30 hours of college credit. Each exam costs $77 which is so much cheaper than a college course. You can order study materials from the college board or any local book store. To learn more about clep exams, click here. Do not forget to check what exams and scores are accepted by your college. 

Internships: This is a great way to earn some money and college credit. Sign up for an internship class with your school and find out the requirements. Apply for a job that is related to your internship class and earn college credit while you work. You can learn more about internships by visiting www.internship.com

College Co-op programs: This is very similar to an internship program except that the participants work full-time. Organizations and colleges cooperate to give students a more hands on experience in their learning. They are also referred to as professional practice programs. If you are an international student, check with your school to find out how long you can be authorized to participate in a Co-op program. This article talks about colleges in the US that have Co-op programs.

Community colleges: You can attend classes in your local community college during your college breaks. They are much cheaper than universities and are a great way to fulfill your prerequisite requirements. Here is a listing of community colleges by state.

We would love to hear about other creative ways to earn college credit. Click on add comments to share additional resources.