There are several ways to earn college-level credits while in high school, including Running Start, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes. Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes typically count for earned credit if students achieve a 3 or higher (depending on the subject) for AP courses and a 5 or higher for IB courses.

Running Start

Running Start allows high school students to simultaneously earn high school and college/university credit, which they can then transfer to a four-year degree.

At UW Tacoma, Running Start students apply as first-year students. If you are admitted, college credit will be awarded for those college-level courses that have been successfully completed and meet UW transfer credit equivalencies. 

 

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit

The UW recognizes AP coursework as a challenging academic program that provides excellent preparation for university study. College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams are scored on a scale of 1 – 5. At the UW, scores of 3 or higher are considered for college credit awards or placement into UW courses. The table below shows the UW’s departmental policies for awarding course equivalencies and credits for each exam.

Students who duplicate subject content of an exam with another exam (e.g. AP and IB) and/or an exam with a college course will be awarded credit for only one exam or course.


Note: AP scores may be submitted only for courses taken while in high school and for tests taken during or within six months after leaving high school. AP test results may not be used to waive admission requirements. Click here to check your AP applicability toward UW graduation requirements.

 

International Baccalaureate(IB) Credit

The UW recognizes the IB curriculum as a challenging academic program that provides excellent preparation for university study. In most cases, credits are awarded for subjects in which the student has earned a grade of 4 or higher. Consult the table below for specific information about credit awards in particular subjects.

Additionally, students who earn an IB diploma (not a certificate) will be awarded 5 more quarter credits toward UW graduation requirements.

A maximum of 45 quarter credits may be awarded for IB.

Students who complete two exams with duplicate or overlapping content (e.g. AP and IB), or who complete an exam and a college course with duplicate or overlapping content will be awarded credit for only one exam or course.

For students who entered prior to Autumn 2019 see the previous IB exam credit award schedule.

NOTE: Students who first entered the UW beginning autumn quarter 2018 should contact the Office of Admissions if they wish to have their IB credit awards re-reviewed based on the 2019 policy. Click here to check your IB applicability toward UW graduation requirements.