Credit for Prior Learning


Depending on exam scores, past coursework, and educational experiences, you may be able to receive college credit or placement in higher-level KU courses. Below are approved methods of receiving credit and exemptions, along with tables that show potential outcomes based on performance.

Info on Credit and Exemption for High School Work

This table outlines credit or placement based on AP test scores per subject. KU will assign only credit, not a grade. If you have not taken the AP course in a specific subject, you may still take its exam. For more information, contact College Board.

For more information on the KU Core visit kucore.ku.edu

SubjectAP ScoreCredit or higher placementKU Core 34
Art and Design: 2-D Design3+3 hours, ART AHAH
Art and Design: 3-D Design3+3 hours, ART U 
Art and Design: Drawing3+3 hours, ART U 
Art History4+3 hours, HA 100AH
African American Studies3+3 hours, AAAS 104SBS
Biology3-43 hours, BIOL 100NLEC
Biology55 hours, BIOL 150 & 154NPS
Calculus AB3+4 hours, MATH 125MTS
Calculus AB subscore on BC exam3+4 hours, MATH 125MTS
Calculus BC3+4 hours, MATH 126 
Chemistry35 hours, CHEM 130NPS
Chemistry4+10 hours, CHEM 130 & 135NPS
Chinese Language and Culture32 hours, CHIN U (individual evaluation) 
Chinese Language and Culture4+5 hours, CHIN U (individual evaluation) 
Computer Science A3+3 hours, EECS 138 
Computer Science Principles3+3 hours, EECS U 
English Literature and Composition33 hours, ENGL 101ENG
English Literature and Composition4+6 hours, ENGL 101 & 102ENG
English Language and Composition33 hours, ENGL 101ENG
English Language and Composition4+6 hours, ENGL 101 & 102ENG
Environmental Science3+4 hours, EVRN 140 & 160NPS
European History33 hours, HIST 114 
European History4+6 hours, HIST 114 & 115 
French Language and Culture38 hours, FREN 120 & 230, placed in FREN 240AH & GLBC
French Language and Culture411 hours, FREN 120, 230, & 240, placed in FREN 301AH & GLBC
French Language and Culture514 hours, FREN 120, 230, 240 & 301, placed in FREN 302 and/or 326AH & GLBC
Germanic Language and Culture38 hours, GERM 108 & 201, placed in GERM 202GLBC
Germanic Language and Culture411 hours, GERM 108, 201, & 202, placed in GERM 301GLBC
Germanic Language and Culture514 hours, GERM 108, 201, 301, & 302, placed in GERM 401GLBC
Government & Politics (Comparative)3+3 hours, POLS 150SBS
Government & Politics
(U.S.)
3+3 hours, POLS 110SBS
Human Geography3+3 hours, GEOG 102SBS
Italian Language and Culture35 hours, ITAL 110 
Italian Language and Culture4+5 hours, ITAL 120 
Japanese Language and Culture32 hours, JPN 104 
Japanese Language and Culture4+5 hours, JPN 108 
Latin3+6 hours, Language requirement satisfied 
Macroeconomics3+3 hours, ECON 144SBS
Microeconomics3+3 hours, ECON 142SBS
Music: Listening & Lit3+3 hours, MUSC 136AH
Music Theory3+3 hours, MTHC 105 
Physics 14+ 4 hours, PHSX 114NPS
Physics 24+ 4 hours, PHSX 115NPS
Physics B4+8 hours, PHSX 114 & 115NPS
Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism)4+4 hours, PHSX 212 & 236NPS
Physics C (Mechanics)4+4 hours, PHSX 211 & 216NPS
Precalculus3+5 hours, MATH 104MTS
Psychology3+3 hours, PSYC 104SBS
Research3+3 hours elective, LA&S U 
Seminar3+3 hours elective, LA&S U 
Spanish Language and Culture & Spanish Literature and Culture38 hours, SPAN 108 & 212, Placed in 216AH & GLBC
Spanish Language and Culture & Spanish Literature and Culture4+11 hours, SPAN 108, 212, & 216, Placed in Spanish 324 & 328AH & GLBC
Statistics3+3 hours, MATH 365MTS
United States History33 hours, HIST 128AH
United States History4+6 hours, HIST 128 & 129AH
World History3+3 hours, HIST 101 

This table outlines credit for ACT test scores for Math and English subjects starting Fall 2024. KU will assign only credit, not a grade. To send ACT scores to KU, please contact ACT.

SubjectACT ScoreCreditKU Core 34
Mathematics26 or higher3 hours, MATH 101Math & Statistics
English27 or higher3 hours, ENGL 101English

For current students who update their catalog term to Fall 2024 to follow the new KU Core 34, please email transfercredit@ku.edu to have your ACT or SAT scores posted for credit if needed.

Students who started at KU prior to Fall 2024 may qualify for an ACT exemption. Learn more at KU Core exemptions.

Cambridge A-Level scores can be found on CredTran under the Location: International, School: Cambridge A-Level. For questions related to Cambridge A-Levels, please contact International Admissions at world@ku.edu

If you've already learned the material you think would be taught in a KU course, you may take that subject’s CLEP exam, administered by KU Testing Services. Each KU school and department has different curriculum requirements and may use scores in different ways.

For more information on the KU Core visit kucore.ku.edu

SubjectScoreCredit or higher placementKU Core 34
American Government50+3 hours, POLS 110SBS
American Literature50+3 hours, ENGL U 
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature50+3 hours, ENGL U 
Biology, general50+3 hours, BIOL 100NLEC
Calculus50+4 hours, MATH 125MTS
Chemistry, general50+5 hours, CHEM 130NPS
College Algebra50+3 hours, MATH 101MTS
College Composition50+3 hours, ENGL 101ENG
College Composition ModularNANo equivalent course 
College Mathematics50+3 hours, MATH U 
English Literature50+3 hours, ENGL U 
Financial Accounting50+3 hours, ACCT U 
French Language, Level 1 & 241-493 hours, FREN 110AH
French Language, Level 1 & 250+6 hours, language satisfied 
German Language, Level 1 & 241-493 hours, GERM 108GLBC
German Language, Level 1 & 250+6 hours, language satisfied 
History of the United States 150+3 hours, HIST 128AH
History of the United States 250+3 hours, HIST 129AH
Human Growth and Development50+3 hours, PSYC SBS 
Information Systems50+3 hours, IST U 
Introduction to Educational Psychology50+3 hours, EPSY U 
Introduction to Psychology50+3 hours, PSYC 104SBS
Introduction to Sociology50+3 hours, SOC U 
Introductory Business Law50+3 hours, BLAW U 
Natural Science50+3 hours, PHSX NP 
Precalculus50+5 hours, MATH 104MTS
Principles of Macroeconomics50+3 hours, ECON 144SBS
Principles of Management50+3 hours, MGMT 310 
Principles of Marketing50+3 hours, MKTG 310 
Principles of Microeconomics50+3 hours, ECON 142SBS
Social Sciences & History50+3 hours, Social Science Elective 
Spanish Language, Level 1 & 241-49Placement in SPAN 212 AH
Spanish Language, Level 1 & 250+5 hours, SPAN 108AH
Spanish with Writing, Level 1 & 250+5 hours SPAN 108. Placement in SPAN 212AH
Spanish with Writing, Level 1 & 260+11 hours SPAN 108, SPAN 212, & SPAN 216. Placement in SPAN 322AH & GLBC
Western Civilization 150+3 hours, HUM AH 
Western Civilization 250+3 hours, HUM AH 

This table outlines the scores needed per subject based on the level of IB exam taken: higher level (HL) or standard level (SL).

For more information on the KU Core visit kucore.ku.edu

SubjectScoreLevelCredit or higher placementKU Core 34
Arabic A4-7HL, SL3 hours, ARAB 320 
Arabic B4-5HL6 hours, ARAB 210 & 220 
Arabic B6-7HL9 hours, ARAB 210, 220 & 310 
Arabic B4-5SL5 hours, ARAB 120, placed in ARAB 210 
Arabic B6-7SL8 hours, ARAB 120 & 210, placed in ARAB 220 
Arabic ab initio4-5SL5 hours, ARAB 110 
Arabic ab initio6-7SL5 hours, ARAB 120 
Astronomy4+HL, SL3 hours, ASTR 191NLEC
Biology4-6HL5 hours, BIOL 150 & 154NPS
Biology7HL8 hours, BIOL 150, 152, & 154NPS
Biology4-6SL4 hours, BIOL 100 & 102NPS
Biology7SL5 hours, BIOL 150 & 154NPS
Business Management4+SL, HL3 hours, MGMT 310 
Chemistry4+HL10 hours, CHEM 130 & 135NPS
Chemistry4+SL5 hours, CHEM 110NPS
Classical Greek4+HL3 hours, GRK 375, Language Satisfied 
Classical Greek4+SL3 hours, GRK 301 
Computer Science4+HL, SL3 hours, EECS 138 
Dance4+HL, SL3 hours, DANC U 
Design Technology4+HL, SL3 hours, SCM U 
Economics4+HL6 hours, ECON 142 & 144SBS
Economics4+SL4 hours, ECON 104SBS
English A4-5HL (Lang + Lit) and (Lit)3 hours, ENGL 101ENG
English A6-7HL (Lang + Lit) and (Lit)6 hours, ENGL 101 & 102ENG
English A4+SL (Lang + Lit) and (Lit)3 hours, ENGL 101ENG
Environmental Systems and Societies4+SL3 hours, EVRN 148NLEC
Film4+HL. SL3 hours, FMS 100GE 1.1
French A4+HL, SL (Lang + Lit)3 hours, FREN 302, placed in FREN 326 
French A4+HL, SL (Lit)3 hours, FREN 326AH
French B4-5HL6 hours, FREN 230 & 240, placed in FREN 301GLBC
French B6-7HL9 hours, FREN 230, 240 & 301, placed in FREN 302/326GLBC
French B4-5SL5 hours, FREN 120, placed in FREN 230/234AH
French B6-7SL8 hours, FREN 120 & 230, placed in FREN 240AH & GLBC
French Language ab Initio4-5SL5 hours, FREN 110, placed in FREN 120AH
French Language ab Initio6-7SL5 hours, FREN 120, placed in FREN 230AH
Geography4+HL, SL5 hours, GEOG 104 & 105NPS
German A4-5HL, SL (Lang + Lit)3 hours, GERM 302, placed in GERM 401GLBC
German A6-7HL, SL (Lang + Lit)3 hours, GERM 401, placed in GERM 402 or higher 
German B4-5HL6 hours, GERM 201 & 202, placed in GERM 301GLBC
German B6-7 HL9 hours, GERM 201, 202 & 301, placed in GERM 302GLBC
German B4-5SL5 hours, GERM 108, placed in GERM 201GLBC
German B6-7SL8 hours, GERM 108 & 201, placed in GERM 202GLBC
German Language B Initio4-5SL5 hours, GERM 104, placed in GERM 108GLBC
German Language B Initio6-7SL5 hours, GERM 108, placed in GERM 201GLBC
Global Politics4+HL, SL3 hours, POLS 170SPS
Hebrew B4-5HL8 hours, HEBR 110 & 210GLBC
Hebrew B6-7HL13 hours, HEBR 110, 120 & 210GLBC
Hebrew B4+SL5 hours, HEBR 110 
Hindi B4-5SL5 hours, HNDI 120, placed in HNDI 210 
Hindi B 6-7SL8 hours, HNDI 120 & 210, placed in HNDI 220 
History: U.S. History4-5HL3 hours, HIST 128AH
History: U.S. History6-7HL6 hours, HIST 128 & 129AH
History: U.S. History4+SL3 hours, HIST 128AH
History: Non-U.S. History4+HLHIST AHAH
History: Non-U.S. History4+SLHIST U 
Information Technology in a Global Society4+HL, SL3 hours, GIST U 
Latin4+HL3 hours, LAT 375, Language Satisfied 
Latin4+SL3 hours, LAT 112 
Literature and Performance4+SL (English Only)3 hours, ENGL AHAH
Math Further
(discontinued after 2020)
4+HL4 hours, MATH 125MTS
Math Studies
(discontinued after 2020)
4+HL, SL3 hours, MATH U 
Mathematics
(discontinued after 2020)
4+HL4 hours, MATH 125MTS

Mathematics
(discontinued after 2020)

4+SL3 hours, MATH 101MTS
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches4+HL4 hours, MATH 125MTS
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches4+SL3 hours, MATH 115MTS
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations4+HL3 hours, MATH 115MTS
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations4+SL5 hours, MATH 104MTS
Music4+HL, SL3 hours, MUSC 136AH
Philosophy4+HL, SL3 hours, PHIL 140AH
Physics4+HL8 hours, PHSX 114 & 115NPS
Physics4+SL4 hours, PHSX 111 & 116NPS
Psychology4+HL, SL3 hours, PSYC 104SBS
Social and Cultural Anthropology4+HL, SL3 hours, ANTH 108SBS
Spanish A4+ (Lang), (Lit) and (Lang + Lit)HL, SL9 hours, SPAN 212, 216 & 322AH & GLBC
Spanish B4-5HL6 hours, SPAN 212 & 216AH & GLBC
Spanish B6-7HL9 hours, SPAN 212, 216 & 322AH & GLBC
Spanish B4-5SL5 hours, SPAN 111AH
Spanish B6-7SL8 hours, SPAN 111 & 212AH
Spanish Language B Initio4+SL5 hours, SPAN 104AH
Sports, Exercise, and Health Science4+HL, SL3 hours, HSES 269 
Theatre Arts4+HL, SL3 hours, THR 100AH
Visual Arts4+HL, SL3 hours, ART U 
World Religions4+SL3 hours, REL 104AH

Students in the Fall 2024 class with two high school courses in speech (totaling two semesters) with a grade of B or higher may apply for 3 hours of COMS 130: Speaker Audience Communication credit. 

A $50.00 fee will be charged to your account when the credit is posted to your record.

Students in the Fall 2024 class with prior international military service abroad, students who've participated in a KU Study Abroad program, and International students may qualify for Global Culture credit. 

  • Military student with documented international services experience through a Joint Service Transcript (JST).  

  • Students who participated in a KU Study Abroad trip. 

  • International students who have met all of the following three requirements: 

    1. Students must have begun their studies at KU with a non-immigrant visa (visa categories A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, NATO, O, P, Q, R, or TN); 

    2. Students must have met the KU English Proficiency Requirement; and 

    3. Students must have completed one semester of full-time study in a degree program at KU. 

A $50.00 fee will be charged to your account when the credit is posted to your record.

Students in the Fall 2024 class with experience in a non-native language but no prior college or university course credits may be eligible for retroactive credit by completing a language course at KU with a grade of C- or better. After successful completion of a KU language course, students may apply for retroactive credit hours as reflected in the table below. (Retroactive credits are not automatically posted on your KU transcript. You must apply for them through the department offering the language). 

To begin the process, take a placement exam to determine proper course placement. Initial placement is based on actual ability in the language rather than years of high school study. You can currently earn retroactive language credit in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. For other languages, contact the individual department.

A $50.00 fee will be charged to your account when the credit is posted to your record. KU does not currently determine placement or award credit for the Seal of Biliteracy.

This table outlines credit for SAT test scores for Math and English subjects starting Fall 2024. KU will assign only credit, not a grade. To send SAT scores to KU, please contact the CollegeBoard.

SubjectACT ScoreCreditKU Core 34
Mathematics610 or higher3 hours, MATH 101Math & Statistics
English or Verbal630 or higher3 hours, ENGL 101English

For current students who update their catalog term to Fall 2024 to follow the new KU Core 34, please email transfercredit@ku.edu to have your ACT or SAT scores posted for credit if needed.

Students who started at KU prior to Fall 2024 may qualify for an ACT exemption. Learn more at KU Core exemptions.

KU awards a minimum of four credits of Health, Sport, and Exercise Science credits for the completion of basic training for the United States Armed Forces.

If military affiliation is noted on the KU application, we automatically request a Joint Service Transcript. Students can also request one themselves and send it to us at transfercredit@ku.edu.

KU only awards transfer credit for courses that fall within the level, scope and content offered in our undergraduate curriculum. Many courses on military transcripts are technical or occupational in nature and are not accepted. KU does not award transfer credit based on ACE or Dantes recommendations.