How to Get College Credits Fast: 11 Tips

Students enroll in college for a variety of reasons, but many do so to train and prepare for their desired professional careers. But that journey can be a long one. It typically takes two years to get your associate degree and four years to get your bachelor’s degree.

Fortunately, there are other, faster ways to gain credits and earn your degree quicker. We’ll walk you through the fastest ways to earn college credits so you can reduce the number of courses you have to take and graduate as quickly as possible.

Let’s dive into all the options available to you to earn college credits quickly to save you time and money.

Most people receive college credit through in-person or online courses at an accredited college or university. However, there are other ways you can earn college credit, some before even enrolling in college. This can include AP courses, military experience, and summer programs.

Here are 11 of the quickest ways to earn college credits:

High school students looking to get an early jump on college can consider taking AP classes and, eventually, AP exams to earn credit before enrolling in college. As a bonus, taking AP classes looks great on college applications.

A passing score of 3-5, depending on the college, can give you credit for some entry-level college courses. You can register for one of the 38 AP exams on the College Board website.

Accelerated college courses and accelerated degree programs can be completed much faster than traditional programs. This makes them ideal for students trying to jumpstart their careers or earn degrees while working or caring for their families.

Accelerated college courses can often be completed in 4-8 weeks, as opposed to the typical semester- or quarter-long courses. This means you can complete more courses in one year.

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) can help you earn college credits by taking a knowledge exam. Research from the College Board has found that CLEP and prior learning assessments can shorten the time it takes you to get a bachelor’s degree by 2.5 to 10 months.

There are 34 CLEP exams you can take, and each passed exam can earn you at least three college credits and allow you to skip certain introductory college courses. Exams usually take 90-120 minutes and consist of 60-100 questions, sometimes with an essay component as well.

Free study practice and test prep materials can be found online.

DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) used to be available only to military personnel, but now, any college student can use them to earn college credit. The tests are a flexible and cheap way to gain credits.

DSSTs allow you to test out of courses so you can move on to more advanced courses. Each exam can count for about 3 credits, though this can vary by institution. Be sure to check beforehand if your institution will take the DSST results and accompanying credits.

The Thomas Edison Credit-by-Examination Program (TECEP) allows you to get credit for work experience, volunteering, or independent study. Keep in mind this is only for Thomas Edison State University students. There are 43 exams, with most having multiple-choice questions, though some have short-answer or essay questions. They are graded on a credit/no credit scale, so you’ll earn credit if you earn at least a “C” grade.

Other colleges and universities may have similar programs, so research what options are available to you.

Certificate programs and licenses are great additions to your resume and college applications. Certificate programs generally take around 6-9 months and are offered through businesses, community colleges, colleges or universities, professional organizations, or state agencies. Certificates and licenses can be in fields like information technology, nursing, or business.

While certificates and licenses can lead to college credit, most schools want them vetted by independent accreditors or educational organizations. Check with your institution to see what certificates or licenses they will accept as credit.

Veterans and active-duty service members can earn college credit for their military service. The American Council on Education will evaluate your military records for eligibility for college credit. This information will be included in your Joint Services Transcript (JST).

While each college and university decides what credits they’re willing to accept, more than 2,300 schools accept credits based on your JST.

Credit by examination is a prior learning assessment practice. It’s a way for students to save time and money by earning credit for past experiences and skills they already possess. You’ll prove your mastery over concepts through an examination.

Schools will determine if they accept exams for credit, so be sure to reach out to your institution first. Credit by examination can help high school students, nontraditional students, working learners, and transfer students accelerate their time to a degree.

If you’re a high school student looking to get started on your associate degree or bachelor’s degree, dual enrollment in high school and a local college program can help you earn college credits, usually for cheaper.

With dual enrollment, you can earn college credit while still in high school. You can even work your way to earning an associate degree while you get your high school diploma.

Since you’re earning college credits at an accredited college, these will likely transfer smoothly to your new college or university. It’s usually more straightforward to transfer dual enrollment credits than credits earned through assessments or exams, but it’s still a good idea to check with the institution you want to attend to make sure they accept the credits.

Online courses are often offered asynchronously or at nontraditional hours like evenings or weekends. This means that you can load up on college courses while working or doing other things during your day.

Some online courses are even self-paced, meaning students have more freedom to access course materials and complete assignments on their own deadlines within the overall timeframe of the course, usually a few weeks to several months. This can be slightly different than asynchronous courses, which allow students to review course materials when they want to but generally expect students to complete their work on more set deadlines.

Regardless of the specific format, however, you have to plan your schedule accordingly and practice good time management. Online courses are often offered in an accelerated format, which means you can complete them faster.

If you’re looking to graduate faster, not just get college credits faster, you’ll want to take as many college credits in an academic year as you can. Some institutions allow you to take courses during breaks, such as over the summer and January term.

Depending on the institution, you can also take courses or programs for credit before starting your first year. These courses are usually offered as part of summer programs.