College Credit in High School
Earn College Credit by Exam While Still in High School
CLEP, from the College Board, and DSST, originally the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests and now run by Prometric, are exams that award college credit when a student shows they already know a course's material. This is credit by exam, not dual enrollment: your student passes one test instead of taking a college class, and each college decides which scores it accepts.
Modern States can cover the CLEP costs. Pass its free online course and it sends a voucher that covers the $97 CLEP exam fee and the $30 fee for testing online at home. For a test center, Modern States says it may pay back the center's fee after the exam. Visit Modern States. Checked Oct 27, 2026.
Course-to-Exam Planner
One high school course can do double duty. Pick the course your student is taking, and see the CLEP and DSST exams that cover the same material, with a free prep course where one exists.
Pick a grade, then the high school course your student is taking or has finished.
See every course and exam in one table
| High School Course | Typically Taken | CLEP Exams | DSST Exams |
|---|---|---|---|
| English 11 or AP English Language | 11th grade | College Composition, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | Principles of Advanced English Composition |
| American Literature | 11th grade | American Literature, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | Analyzing and Interpreting Literature |
| British or World Literature | 12th grade | English Literature, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | None |
| Speech or Public Speaking | any grade, 9th to 12th | None | Principles of Public Speaking |
| Algebra II | 10th or 11th grade | College Algebra, College Mathematics | Fundamentals of College Algebra, Math for Liberal Arts |
| Precalculus | 11th or 12th grade | Precalculus, College Algebra | None |
| Calculus | 12th grade | Calculus | None |
| Statistics | 11th or 12th grade | None | Principles of Statistics |
| Biology | 9th or 10th grade | Biology, Natural Sciences | None |
| Chemistry | 10th or 11th grade | Chemistry, Natural Sciences | None |
| Physical Science or Physics | 9th grade (physical science) or 11th to 12th (physics) | Natural Sciences | None |
| Environmental Science | 11th or 12th grade | Natural Sciences | Environmental Science |
| Earth and Space Science | 9th grade | None | Introduction to Geology, Astronomy |
| Health | 9th or 10th grade | None | Health & Human Development |
| U.S. History | 11th grade | History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877, History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present | The Civil War and Reconstruction |
| World History | 10th grade | Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648, Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present | None |
| Geography | 9th grade | None | Introduction to Geography |
| U.S. Government or Civics | 12th grade | American Government | American Government and Politics |
| Economics | 12th grade | Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics | None |
| Personal Finance | 11th or 12th grade | None | Personal Finance |
| Psychology | 11th or 12th grade | Introductory Psychology, Human Growth and Development | Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan Developmental Psychology |
| Sociology | 11th or 12th grade | Introductory Sociology | None |
| World Religions or Ethics | 11th or 12th grade (elective) | None | Introduction to World Religions, Ethics in America |
| Art History, Music, or Humanities | 10th to 12th grade | Humanities | Art of the Western World |
| Spanish III or IV | 11th or 12th grade | Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2, Spanish with Writing: Levels 1 and 2 | None |
| French III or IV | 11th or 12th grade | French Language: Levels 1 and 2 | None |
| German III or IV | 11th or 12th grade | German Language: Levels 1 and 2 | None |
| Accounting | 11th or 12th grade | Financial Accounting | None |
| Business or Marketing | 10th to 12th grade | Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, Introductory Business Law | Introduction to Business, Business Ethics and Society |
| Computer Applications or IT | 9th or 10th grade | Information Systems | Computing and Information Technology |
| Cybersecurity | 11th or 12th grade | None | Fundamentals of Cybersecurity, Ethics in Technology |
| Criminal Justice | 10th to 12th grade (career and technical course) | None | Criminal Justice, Introduction to Law Enforcement |
| Teaching or Child Development | 11th or 12th grade (career and technical course) | Human Growth and Development, Introduction to Educational Psychology | Foundations of Education, Lifespan Developmental Psychology |
| A Mix of Social Studies | 12th grade | Social Sciences and History | None |
Exam names come from the College Board CLEP exam list (34 exams) and the DSST exam list on getcollegecredit.com (40 exams), checked Oct 27, 2026. Typical grades and timing are our estimates of common course sequences, not any school's rule.
College Acceptance Finder
Enter a zip code to see which colleges near you give credit for CLEP or DSST, with a link to each college's own policy. Our list covers 95 colleges within about 200 miles of Southaven and Memphis, in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, and Kentucky.
Outside Our List? Use the Official Searches
Every college sets its own scores and credits. For colleges outside our list, search the official lists. The College Board search shows each college's CLEP scores and credits; the DSST directory lists colleges that award DSST credit.
Distances are straight-line miles between zip code centers, so driving distance is longer. Zip code locations come from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and are approximate. Each college was checked on Oct 27, 2026 against the College Board CLEP policy search, the official DSST directory, or the college's own catalog. Exam scores and credits come from each college's College Board listing, which the College Board says may not match the college's current catalog, so confirm with the college before your student tests.
Colleges That Accept CLEP
Start with a college built for transfer credit, then look close to home.
Excelsior University
An online university that gives credit for CLEP, DSST, AP, and IT certification exams, so exam credit your student earns in high school can count toward a full bachelor's degree.
- Its BS in Liberal Arts accepts up to 113 transfer credits toward the 120 credits the degree requires.
- No credit evaluation fee when transcripts arrive with the admissions application. An evaluation requested after admission costs $300.
- Publishes course equivalency lists for Study.com courses (December 2024) and Sophia courses (April 2023).
- Send CLEP scores with code 2899 and DSST scores with code 9370.
Checked Oct 27, 2026 on excelsior.edu. Unverified Excelsior's transfer FAQ also mentions 16 credits taken at Excelsior, which does not match the program page's 120-credit total, so ask admissions how many credits must be earned there.
Colleges Near Southaven and Memphis
Belhaven University, Southaven Site
Southaven, MS · Private university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Belhaven posts its CLEP exam list under its Jackson campus, so the CLEP link goes there. The DSST directory lists the Southaven site.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Strayer University, Memphis Campus
Memphis, TN · Private university (for-profit)
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
The DSST directory lists Strayer's Memphis campuses. The College Board lists Strayer's Nashville campus, with no exam table.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN · Private university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Its 2025-26 catalog allows DSST credit with department approval and caps AP, dual credit, CLEP, and IB credit at 30 hours combined.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Baptist Health Sciences University
Memphis, TN · Private health sciences university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Not on the College Board CLEP search. Its 2026-27 undergraduate catalog gives credit for specific CLEP subject exams with a score above the 50th percentile, recorded as Pass and not counted in the GPA. The CLEP link opens that catalog.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
LeMoyne-Owen College
Memphis, TN · Private college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists LeMoyne-Owen but posts no exam table. Its BigFuture profile says CLEP credit follows ACE-recommended scores.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private college
No CLEP policy foundNot in DSST directory
Not on the College Board CLEP search. Its credit policy page lists AP and IB, not CLEP or DSST.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Union University, Germantown Campus
Germantown, TN · Private university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
The College Board lists the Germantown campus, and Union posts its CLEP exam list under its Jackson campus, so the CLEP link goes there.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Arkansas State University Mid-South
West Memphis, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists the college but posts no exam table. Its BigFuture profile says CLEP credit is awarded after 6 or more credit hours there.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Memphis, TN · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
The College Board lists Southwest but posts no exam table, so the CLEP link goes to the college's own exam list.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Senatobia, MS · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Its 2026-27 catalog gives CLEP credit for subject exams with a score of 50 or higher, after 15 credit hours at Northwest, up to 18 hours combined with AP. It also has a DeSoto Center in Southaven.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Rust College
Holly Springs, MS · Private college
No CLEP policy foundNot in DSST directory
Not on the College Board CLEP search. Its admissions page lists AP and its own department exams.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
East Arkansas Community College
Forrest City, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Phillips Community College
Helena, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Mississippi
Oxford, MS · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Its catalog says credit toward a specific degree needs approval from the dean and department chair.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Blue Mountain Christian University
Blue Mountain, MS · Private university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Its 2025-26 catalog gives credit for CLEP subject exams only and lists DSST exams it accepts.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Arkansas Northeastern College
Blytheville, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
The DSST directory lists it under its former name, Mississippi County Community College.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, AR · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
See 77 More Colleges Within About 200 Miles
Jackson State Community College
Jackson, TN · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Memphis Lambuth Campus
Jackson, TN · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
The College Board lists the Lambuth campus with no table of its own, so the exam scores shown are the University of Memphis listing.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Dyersburg State Community College
Dyersburg, TN · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Union University, Jackson Campus
Jackson, TN · Private university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Union's main campus. Its Germantown campus is listed separately.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Booneville, MS · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Williams Baptist College
Walnut Ridge, AR · Private college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Harding University
Searcy, AR · Private university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Itawamba Community College
Fulton, MS · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Delta State University
Cleveland, MS · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena, MS · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Black River Technical College
Pocahontas, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists Black River Technical College but posts no exam table, so check the college's own policy for exams and scores.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Mississippi Delta Community College
Moorhead, MS · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
Batesville, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Arkansas State University Beebe
Beebe, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
The DSST directory lists its Jacksonville location.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Bethel University
McKenzie, TN · Private university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, AR · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Three Rivers College
Poplar Bluff, MO · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Southeast Arkansas College
Pine Bluff, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Philander Smith College
Little Rock, AR · Private college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of North Alabama
Florence, AL · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Ozarka College
Melbourne, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College
North Little Rock, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
The College Board lists University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College but posts no exam table, so check the college's own policy for exams and scores.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock, AR · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Arkansas Grantham
Little Rock, AR · Online university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
An online university; Little Rock is its listed address.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Northwest-Shoals Community College
Muscle Shoals, AL · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Holmes Community College
Goodman, MS · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, MS · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello, AR · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Central Baptist College
Conway, AR · Private college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Murray State University
Murray, KY · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
Morrilton, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Missouri State University West Plains
West Plains, MO · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Paducah, KY · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Arkansas State University Mountain Home
Mountain Home, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Arkansas State University Three Rivers
Malvern, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Tennessee Southern
Pulaski, TN · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists some exams at this college with no credit; those are left out here.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
East Mississippi Community College
Scooba, MS · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists East Mississippi Community College but posts no exam table, so check the college's own policy for exams and scores.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Athens State University
Athens, AL · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Columbia State Community College
Columbia, TN · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Calhoun Community College
Decatur, AL · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists some exams at this college with no credit; those are left out here.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Bevill State Community College
Jasper, AL · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists Bevill State Community College but posts no exam table, so check the college's own policy for exams and scores.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
National Park College
Hot Springs, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists Arkansas Tech University but posts no exam table, so check the college's own policy for exams and scores.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
The College Board lists some exams at this college with no credit; those are left out here.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
East Central Community College
Decatur, MS · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists East Central Community College but posts no exam table, so check the college's own policy for exams and scores.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Mississippi Christian University
Clinton, MS · Private university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Formerly Mississippi College; the new name took effect June 1, 2026.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, AR · Private university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Stillman College
Tuscaloosa, AL · Private college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists Stillman College but posts no exam table, so check the college's own policy for exams and scores.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Southern Arkansas University Tech
Camden, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Shelton State Community College
Tuscaloosa, AL · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Oakwood University
Huntsville, AL · Private university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Hopkinsville Community College
Hopkinsville, KY · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Aquinas College
Nashville, TN · Private college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Williamson College
Franklin, TN · Private college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
The College Board lists it under its former name, Williamson Christian College.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Hinds Community College
Raymond, MS · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Nashville State Community College
Nashville, TN · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Wallace State Community College
Hanceville, AL · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Meridian Community College
Meridian, MS · Community college
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Alabama A&M University
Normal, AL · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
North Arkansas College
Harrison, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
South Arkansas College
El Dorado, AR · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL · Public university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN · Public university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private university
Accepts CLEPAccepts DSST
Verified Oct 27, 2026
University of the Ozarks
Clarksville, AR · Private university
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Mineral Area College
Park Hills, MO · Community college
Accepts CLEPNot in DSST directory
The College Board lists Mineral Area College but posts no exam table, so check the college's own policy for exams and scores.
Verified Oct 27, 2026
Distances are straight-line miles from the center of zip 38671. Tags show what the College Board search, the DSST directory, or the college's own policy page says as of Oct 27, 2026. No CLEP policy found means the college is not on the College Board search and its own credit page does not name CLEP.
Planning to Enlist? College Credit Can Raise Your Starting Rank
Most new enlistees start at pay grade E-1. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps let recruits with enough college credit start at E-2, and all but the Marine Corps go up to E-3, which means higher pay from day one. CLEP can help build that credit, but only after a college awards it and puts it on your transcript. A CLEP score report by itself does not count.
How to Turn CLEP Scores Into Starting Rank
- Pick one college first. A local community college works well. Use the College Acceptance Finder to see which CLEP exams it accepts. Then ask the college three things: will it post CLEP credit before you enroll, how many CLEP credits will it accept, and how long does posting take.
- Take CLEP exams. Modern States offers free prep courses and a voucher that covers the CLEP exam fee. When you test, send your scores to that college using its CLEP score code.
- Ask the college to post the credit. Apply or enroll if the college requires it, and ask the registrar to add your CLEP credit to your official transcript.
- Bring an official transcript to your recruiter before you enlist. Your starting grade is set when you enlist. The Navy's manual says a request after enlistment cannot be approved, so have your transcript in hand before you sign.
Most CLEP exams are worth 3 college credits, and many colleges cap how many CLEP credits they accept, so reaching E-3 usually takes CLEP plus dual enrollment or college classes.
Army
- Start at E-2
- 24 semester hours: Private (E-2)
- Start at E-3
- 48 semester hours or an associate degree: Private First Class (E-3). A bachelor's degree: Specialist (E-4).
CLEP credit counts
The Army's enlistment regulation counts CLEP credit that an accredited college has awarded. Confirm with your recruiter, since the rule is from the 2016 edition.
Navy
- Start at E-2
- 24 semester hours: Seaman Apprentice (E-2)
- Start at E-3
- 48 semester hours: Seaman (E-3)
Ask your recruiter about CLEP
The Navy counts college credit from an accredited U.S. college on your transcript. Its manual does not say whether CLEP credit counts, so ask your recruiter before you test.
Source: Navy Recruiting Manual, COMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1130.8S (Aug. 2026), para. 070402
Air Force and Space Force
- Start at E-2
- 20 semester hours: Airman or Specialist 2 (E-2)
- Start at E-3
- 45 semester hours: Airman First Class or Specialist 3 (E-3). An IB diploma: E-4.
Ask your recruiter about CLEP
Accredited college credit counts with a certified transcript, and each AP score of 3, 4, or 5 counts as 3 credits. The manual does not name CLEP, so ask your recruiter before you test.
Source: DAFMAN 36-2032 (Dec. 2025 change), Table 3.1 and para. 3.8.5.1.3
Marine Corps
- Start at E-2
- 15 semester hours of college classes: Private First Class (E-2). This is the highest starting rank college credit earns in the Marine Corps.
- Start at E-3
- Not available through college credit
CLEP credit does not count
The Marine Corps rule counts college classes, including online classes, and excludes CLEP credit by name.
Source: MCRC Order 1100.1, Table 4-2
Checked Oct 27, 2026 in each branch's own recruiting regulation. Rules change, and your recruiter applies the current version, so confirm before your student tests or signs. Semester hours must come from an accredited college; quarter hours convert at about two-thirds of a semester hour. The Coast Guard is not covered here.
Study Resources
Free and low-cost ways to prepare or to earn credit online. Each one works only if your student's college accepts it.
Modern States
Free, for CLEP
Free online courses, 32 of them, that cover all 34 CLEP exams. Finish a course with a 75% quiz average and at least 75% on its final, request a voucher inside the course, and it covers the $97 exam fee.
Modern States then pays back the official test center fee when you send the receipt, score report, and voucher number within one year of the exam. Plan to pay the center first.
Check your college's policy first. Modern States covers CLEP only, not DSST. Checked Oct 27, 2026.
ALEKS Independent Use
$19.95 for 1 month, $49.95 for 3, $99.95 for 6, $179.95 for 12
Adaptive practice from McGraw Hill that finds the topics a student has not mastered, one course at a time.
We suggest it as practice before CLEP College Algebra, Precalculus, or Chemistry. Credit comes from the exam your student passes afterward.
Check your college's policy first. Prices checked Oct 27, 2026 at mheducation.com.
Sophia Learning
$99 a month, $299 for 4 months, or $799 a year
Self-paced online college courses, up to two at a time. The American Council on Education (ACE) has evaluated and recommended credit for more than 80 Sophia courses.
An ACE credit recommendation is advice to colleges, not guaranteed credit. Each college decides whether to accept it.
Check your college's policy first. Excelsior publishes a Sophia course list. Prices checked Oct 27, 2026 at sophia.org.
Study.com College Saver
$95 a month, or $235 a month for College Saver Pro
Self-paced courses that Study.com says are all recommended for credit by ACE and the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS). College Saver allows two courses at a time; Pro allows three and adds upper-division courses.
Prices come from Study.com's own articles dated September 2026, not its checkout page, so confirm the price when you sign up.
Check your college's policy first. Excelsior publishes a Study.com course list. Checked Oct 27, 2026.
State Funding for College Credit
Pick your state. Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas families see what we found about paying for CLEP with state funds, plus the education funds that can pay for Nova Scholars classes on Outschool.
Have Questions About Your Student's Plan?
Tell us about your student and we will help you pick the right first step.
Questions Families Ask
What is the difference between CLEP and DSST?
Both award college credit by exam. CLEP is run by the College Board and has 34 exams in introductory subjects such as composition, algebra, history, and Spanish. DSST, originally the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests, is run by Prometric and has 40 exams, including subjects CLEP does not offer, such as public speaking, statistics, personal finance, and cybersecurity. Each college decides which exams and scores it accepts.
Is CLEP the same as dual enrollment?
No. Dual enrollment means taking a college course while in high school. CLEP and DSST are credit by exam: your student learns the material in a high school course or on their own, then passes one exam. There is no college class to attend, and the college awards credit only if it accepts the score.
How much does a CLEP exam cost, and how can it be free?
The College Board charges $97 per CLEP exam, plus a fee set by the test center, or a $30 remote proctoring fee if your student tests online at home. Modern States offers free online courses that cover every CLEP exam. Students who finish the course with a 75% quiz average and score at least 75% on its final can request a voucher that covers the $97 fee. Modern States says its voucher also covers the $30 remote proctoring fee, and the College Board lets the group that issues a voucher include that fee. For testing at a center, Modern States says it may pay back the center's fee after the exam if you keep the receipt. Checked October 27, 2026.
How much does a DSST exam cost?
$100 per exam, plus any fee the test site charges. Modern States vouchers do not cover DSST. Checked October 27, 2026.
Will my student's college accept CLEP or DSST credit?
Each college sets its own minimum scores and the credits it awards, and some limit exam credit for certain majors. Use the finder on this page for colleges near Southaven and Memphis, the College Board CLEP policy search, and the DSST institution search, then confirm with the college's registrar before your student tests.
When should my student take a CLEP exam?
Our suggestion is right after the matching high school course ends, while the material is fresh. CLEP Biology and Chemistry each cover a full year of college content, so they fit best after an honors or AP course.
Can state education funds pay for CLEP?
It depends on the state. Arkansas's EFA Family Handbook lists CLEP tests as an allowed expense. Tennessee's EFS allows, from money left after private school tuition, exam fees required for college admission as approved by the department, but no EFS document names CLEP, even though the department lists CLEP as an early postsecondary opportunity, so confirm with the EFS office. Mississippi has no education account open to all families; its ESA serves students with special needs. Checked October 27, 2026.
Can CLEP credit help my student enlist in the military at a higher rank?
It can. The Army counts CLEP credit that an accredited college has awarded and posted on a transcript: 24 semester hours can mean starting at E-2 and 48 at E-3. The Navy and the Air Force and Space Force count accredited college credit but do not say whether CLEP counts, so ask a recruiter first. The Marine Corps excludes CLEP. In every branch, a CLEP score report alone does not count; the credit must be on a college transcript before enlistment. See Planning to Enlist above.