10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About CLEP
Maybe you are a busy student who just heard about this “CLEP thing” and deems it worthy of more consideration. Maybe you are an elite distance learner studying for your fourteenth CLEP test and feel fairly familiar with the method.
Either way, these fun facts about the CLEP program are sure to provide an educationally entertaining study break.
1. CLEP tests are administered at more than 1,700 locations
Normally located on college campuses, some test centers are run from libraries, military bases, professional development centers, or even (very rarely) US embassies! Nearly anywhere in the United States, you will never be more than a few hours from a CLEP center.
2. Over 2,900 universities accept CLEP credit
With about 5,700 higher education institutions in the United States, this means that about 51% accept CLEP credit. Do keep in mind, though, that many of them limit the amount of credit you can transfer.
3. CLEP tests can be taken worldwide
Although international locations are far and few between, they can be found. Students anywhere from London, England to Tokyo, Japan to Melba, Australia can take the same standardized CLEP tests.
4. 33 CLEP tests are available
Whether you are an American history buff, a German language enthusiast, or a Calculus-loving nerd, you can find CLEP tests to fit your strengths. Made to suit a variety of subjects, nearly all students can fit a few CLEP tests into their degree programs.
5. A total of 195 available credits
If it were possible for one student to take all CLEP tests (it isn’t – some tests overlap), you could theoretically accumulate fully 195 credits. That is the equivalent of just over one and a half degrees!
6. CLEP students save an average of 2.5 to 10.1 months
According to a 2010 study by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning, students who gained some credit through prior-learning assessment (that includes CLEP) finished their degrees up to a year earlier than those who didn’t. They also have a greater overall chance of eventually finishing.
7. CLEP tests are $523 less expensive than the average college class
When you add the cost of books and materials, that cost only goes up. By combining SpeedyPrep and CLEP, you can dramatically decrease the cost of your degree.
8. The five “main” CLEP tests are the equivalent on one year of college
Students who take the five major CLEP tests, College Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and History , College Composition, and Humanities effectively “CLEP out” of their first year of college. Because the first year of college really is a review of high school, this can be a very effective strategy.
9. The largest CLEP tests provide 12 credits
Some of the higher level language CLEP tests (Level Two of German, French, and Spanish) can provide up to 12 credit hours. That’s almost half a semester!
10. Over seven million people have used CLEP
While many people still don’t even know this program exists, a sizeable portion of the population does know about it. By taking CLEP tests, you are joining a large group of effective students.
What do you find most interesting about the CLEP program?