In many cases, the answer is yes!

Thousands of colleges and universities award credit for passing CLEP exams, and many will allow students to earn CLEP credit while enrolled. Modern States offers free courses to help you prepare to pass them.

Not all colleges and universities do, though, so planning is key. Here’s how to research your school’s CLEP policy to be sure.

Verify your school’s CLEP policy

You can use our CLEP Acceptance Tool or check your registrar or transfer-credit page for “CLEP” to get an initial understanding of:

• Which exams your school accepts
• The minimum score required
• How many credits each exam is worth (and any total cap)
• Where credits apply (general ed, electives, or a specific course equivalent)

Also note any restrictions (e.g., no CLEP in the major), residency rules (such as “last 30 credits in-house”), and deadlines so scores post before your graduation audit.

Map exams to your degree completion

Review what courses you need to complete your degree and target the gaps you can fill, which commonly include composition, math, history, and social sciences. Choose the CLEP exam that best matches the requirement.

Confirm your understanding with the experts

Once you’ve gotten an overall understanding of your school’s policy and figured out which exams you would attempt, be sure to confirm your understanding with your academic advisor or counselor. Schools’ CLEP policies can be complicated, so lean on the people at your institution who are there to help you succeed.

Prepare with Modern States

Enroll in the corresponding Modern States course, study on your schedule, and request the CLEP exam voucher when you finish. Register for the exam, bring a valid ID, and select your institution to receive your score. It’s that simple and most importantly, it’s free.

Remember, you probably can use Modern States and CLEP while already enrolled in college; this program is a fast and affordable way to accelerate your path to graduation.

Take it from Rachel Wick, a Modern States learner who saved time and more than $10,000 on her college degree by using our program. “Modern States is great because it acknowledges the unique needs of modern learners and allows students to complete their necessary college credits at their own pace,” she said.

Did you use Modern States to earn free credit while in college? Send us a note at info@modernstates.org to share your story.