Advanced Placement (AP) courses and dual credit or dual enrollment are popular pathways for high-achieving students to advance in their academic journeys and prepare for college. Both AP and dual credit options allow high school students to earn college credits, which reduces their workloads in college and allows them to earn their degrees faster. However, parents and students alike often have many concerns and questions about this process. How do you choose between AP vs. dual credit online? How do course weighting and transcripts affect college credit acceptance? Is earning college credits online even viable?

Fortunately, NorthStar Academy has both answers and programs for parents and students with these questions. NorthStar currently offers 23 online Advanced Placement courses, as well as 15 online dual credit courses in partnership with Colorado Christian University (CCU). One of our representatives from the home office can help explain the benefits of each program, which might be suited to a student’s academic journey, and how to get started. When families are prepared for college credit acceptance and understand the details and processes, these academic tools can help set students up for success in college and beyond.

Contact us here to learn if online AP and dual credit courses are right for your student.

College Credit Acceptance Guide

One of the first and primary concerns about AP and dual credit classes is college credit acceptance. AP and dual credit courses are significantly more challenging and require much more study and responsibility from students. Nobody wants their hard work to go to waste! This is why it is so important to do thorough research and ensure that colleges will accept college credits from AP and dual credit courses. Additionally, there are different verification processes and acceptance policies for AP vs. dual credit online. Taking AP or dual credit with NorthStar Academy can help students have confidence in college credit acceptance, so they can jumpstart their college journeys.

College Policy

The first thing to research when figuring out which colleges will accept AP and dual credit is each college’s unique policy on what courses are accepted, what classes qualify, and what standards must be met for the college credit to count. AP vs. dual credit online may have different acceptance policies for colleges. Advanced Placement classes are generally recognized by most colleges, as AP tests are administered and regulated by the College Board, a highly respected academic institution. Dual credit acceptance generally depends on whether the student’s desired college accepts transfer credits from the college that provided the credits, which is Colorado Christian University (CCU) in NorthStar Academy’s case.

Type of Course and Course Weighting

Whether or not a college accepts AP and dual credit classes may also depend on the type of course in question. Some colleges accept transfer credits or AP credits for certain courses and not others. This is usually influenced by the school’s specialties, general education requirements, and school policy. Additionally, course weighting could impact whether or not credits are accepted. Course weighting, according to the Glossary of Education Reform, is when certain classes, such as honors or AP classes, are given an advantage when calculating GPA. Course weighting could help increase a student’s GPA and may impact college options and school transcripts.

One of our experienced staff members from the NorthStar Academy home office can help explain the impact of course weighting on college credit acceptance.

AP vs. Dual Credit Online

While both AP and dual credit courses online can count toward college credit, each program works differently, has different expectations and requirements, and may have different acceptance rates from colleges. Parents and students should research their top schools and learn their policies, as well as research how AP and dual credit function, to know which choice is right for the student. NorthStar Academy offers quality options for both Advanced Placement and dual credit courses to help reduce the stress of choosing one or the other. Additionally, students may be able to take a mix of both AP and dual credit if that choice is right for the student.

AP Courses Online

Advanced Placement courses are called this because they are academically rigorous, expecting much more investment and effort from students. This is often perfect for high-achieving students who want to prepare for college and even complete some general education requirements before college. However, AP courses are not considered college classes, though they do look good on student transcripts when applying for colleges. College credit is provided by taking the AP exams in May, and credit may be awarded based on the student’s scores.

While NorthStar Academy offers more than twenty AP courses, we are not a brick-and-mortar school and do not administer AP exams. The student and supervisor will be required to locate a physical testing location to take the AP exams. With access to a physical testing location, AP courses online can be a great way for a student to advance in their college journey.

Dual Credit Courses Online

At NorthStar Academy, dual credit classes are provided through Colorado Christian University (CCU) to offer high-quality, Christian education that meets collegiate standards. Dual credit courses do not require the student to take an AP exam, as the class itself has been evaluated and accredited by CCU. Students must earn a C or higher to qualify for college credit, and with this standard met, students will receive college credit for their completion of the course.

Since the college credits are provided by CCU, the student’s desired college must accept transfer credits from CCU. Once this is confirmed, the student or supervisor can provide a CCU transcript to the school to facilitate credit transfer.

Speak with Our Team to Learn More

The question of AP vs. dual credit online is an old one, but the answer truly depends on the student, not the program. AP and dual credit both offer unique benefits that may suit different students. NorthStar Academy offers the flexibility and options to support all types of learners and provide them with high-quality education and support for college credit acceptance. Speak with one of our staff from the home office to learn more about the benefits of AP and dual credit for your student.