Recent Research on AP® and the Cost of College

Providing students with academic rigor ensures that they are much more likely to enter college and successfully complete their studies there on time. While it is widely accepted that AP® plays an important role in this endeavor by helping students develop the critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities they will need, research shows that AP can also help students and parents mitigate the cost of college.

Recent research highlights the latest findings on the relationship between AP participation
and college costs:

• AP students have a higher likelihood of graduating in the traditionally accepted four years. Most students currently take five years or more to earn their bachelor’s degrees at public colleges and universities, and can spend up to $19,000 for each additional year.
• 31 percent of colleges and universities look at AP experience when determining scholarships, and therefore AP has emerged as an important factor in college scholarship decisions. (See information sheet for sources.)

Trevor Packer, vice president of the AP Program, noted that “the research indicates that in addition to providing students with the strong foundation they need to be successful in college, AP offers them a way to make the most of that opportunity and graduate on time, in four years.” In addition to earning college credit, AP students have a greater opportunity to apply their content knowledge and time management skills, giving them a distinct advantage over other entering freshmen
in college.

Download the “AP and the Cost of College” information sheet.

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