AP, IB, Other Credit - Policies for Incoming Freshmen

Students achieving a 3 or higher on a College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement Test will normally earn at least elective credit toward a degree at Canisius University. (Canisius University reserves the right to deny credit for a 3 in a particular Advanced Placement Test if subsequent student performance in relevant courses at Canisius University has provided evidence that a 3 on that test does not demonstrate college level competence.) Core curriculum credit for such courses is subject to approval by the Office of Academic Affairs, and credit in the major is subject to approval of course equivalency by the major department or program. Official results of the exam must be sent from the College Board to Canisius University before credit can be awarded. All such requests should be directed to the Student Records and Financial Services Center who will consult with the major program or department as needed.

Click here for AP Credit equivalencies

Canisius University grants academic credit for the following International Baccalaureate work:

• An IB diploma will be recognized with 30 credits of work at Canisius, which is the maximum amount of credit granted for pre-college work.

For individual exams:
• 5 or higher on a Higher Level exam counts as two 3-credit courses – 1 Field in the core curriculum and 1 Free elective (unless a department recognizes specific course equivalencies).
• 4 on a Higher Level exam counts as a 3-credit free elective.
• 5 or higher on a Standard Level exam counts as a 3-credit free elective.

A student who has earned the IB Diploma will be awarded the full maximum of 30 credit hours. Official IB exam scores should be sent directly to the Office of Student Records to have individual diploma exams evaluated to determine specific transfer credit to be applied toward major, core curriculum, or elective course requirements. Major credit will be determined in consultation with department chairs. Students will not receive additional credit for AP exams that duplicate credit awarded for the IB exams, and the maximum amount of credit for pre-college work is 30 credits.

Click here for IB credit equivalencies

Students who are applying for admission or who are presently in attendance may obtain credit for previously completed examinations sponsored by the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). The minimum acceptable grades for these exams are “Pass” for exams graded Pass/Fail, “C” for exams with letter grades, and 50 on exams graded on a standard score scale of 20 to 80. Credit is not awarded for the CLEP general examinations. Credit in appropriate subject area exams is granted by the Student Records and Financial Services Center after the student has matriculated at the college. However, not all CLEP exams are acceptable as transfer credits. In addition, credits to be used in fulfilling departmental major requirements must first be approved in writing by the department chair. Students should plan to complete all their coursework at the college. Permission for matriculating students to take CLEP exams to fulfill degree requirements must be requested from the appropriate associate dean and will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances.

CLEP Credit Equivalencies 

The following applies to students who received college credit during high school. Please visit the Transfer Admissions Page for transfer student information.

Under the conditions indicated below, students may obtain credit for college-level courses delivered in high school through advanced placement exams, International Baccalaureate scores, CLEP exams, and submission of transcripts from accredited two- and four-year institutions. Requests for acceptance of such credits should be directed to the Office of Admissions for processing and then directed to the Griff Center for Student Success who will consult with the major program or department as needed. A maximum of 30 credit hours will be granted to first-time freshmen enrolling directly from high school.

College Courses Delivered in High School Settings

Students who achieve a grade of C- or above will earn at least elective credit for classes offered in their high school by accredited colleges. An official college transcript must be received by Canisius University before credit can be awarded. All requests to use such credits to fulfill core curriculum or major requirements should be made to the Griff Center for Student Success.

Students who are applying for admission to Canisius University or who are presently in attendance may be eligible, under unusual circumstances, to receive college credit for previous experience through the Regents College Examination program. The minimum acceptable score on the examinations is 50. Students who have already taken such examinations must receive permission to use the credit from the appropriate assistant or associate dean.

Canisius courses are offered in a number of Western New York high schools through dual enrollment programs.  Many of these courses fulfill specific courses in the Canisius undergraduate core curriculum or in a specific majors or minors.  Courses completed through the dual enrollment program will be included on a student’s academic transcript, and grades from those classes will be included in the student’s grade point average.

Students achieving a score of B or higher on a GCE A Level test will normally earn at least elective credit toward a degree at Canisius University. In some cases, the GCE A Level test will satisfy major or core curriculum requirements toward a degree at Canisius University. Department chairs determine course equivalencies and minimum scores and communicate them to the Office of Academic Affairs. The student may petition the relevant associate dean for GCE subjects that do not have approved equivalencies. Official exam score verification must be received from the Cambridge International before credit can be awarded.