Standardized Examinations

Credit by any College Level Examination is not permitted in a course that the student has attended beyond the first week of classes. Credits earned by examination cannot be used to reduce degree residency requirements. University of Holy Cross accepts credits for passing scores on the following standardized tests: ACT Advanced Placement; College Level Examination Program (CLEP); the Defense Activity Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) program, now called DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST); the Service Members Opportunity Colleges Network (SOC); the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP); Advanced Placement (AP); the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB); Excelsior College Exams; and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. The number of credits earned based on the results of standardized examinations is not limited by the UHC transfer policy.

ACT Advanced Placement

Students who score twenty-four (24) or above on the English section of the ACT are placed in ENG 102 (English Composition II). A grade of P and three credits for ENG 101 (English Composition I) are recorded on the transcript. A grade of P is not used in determining the cumulative GPA. Credits for ENG 101 and ENG 102 are given to a student who scores twenty-seven (27) or above on the ACT. This does not replace, however, the Nursing program’s requirement for taking the Reading Placement Test.

Students who score twenty-five (25) or above on the mathematics section of the ACT are exempt from taking MAT 105 (College Algebra). A grade of P and three credits for MAT 105 (College Algebra) are recorded on the transcript. A grade of P is not used in determining the cumulative GPA. Students exempt from taking MAT 105 (College Algebra) must enroll in a mathematics class numbered above MAT 105 to satisfy their General Education requirements.

College Level Examinations (CLEP or DANTES)

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and Defense Activity Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES), now called DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST), are national, standardized testing programs. CLEP and DANTES/DSST measure knowledge a student has gained outside of a formal educational setting and offer the student the chance to obtain college credit by examination. University of Holy Cross accepts CLEP scores but does not administer the CLEP test on campus.

Students who achieve a score at the 50th percentile level or higher on the CLEP General or DANTES College GED examination or the CLEP or DANTES subject examinations may gain college credit for subjects related to those portions of the test for which the 50th percentile score for each test is reached. The department Chair determines the application of these credits to a degree program.

Advanced Placement (AP)

University of Holy Cross participates in the Advanced Placement (AP) Program of the College Board. In most cases, the University grants advanced placement and/or credit to students who score three (3) or better on the College Entrance Examination Board’s (CEEB) AP examinations. Students should have their scores sent directly to the Office of Admissions at University of Holy Cross from the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey. The Registrar’s office has a complete list of AP credit equivalencies.

Students who have received AP credits at other institutions must submit official AP transcripts for reevaluation. Credit awarded by another college or university for AP is not transferable without proper documentation from the College Board verifying acceptable Advanced Placement scores. Students may not receive AP credit for courses taken at University of Holy Cross or elsewhere that duplicate content. In other words, if any student earns credit in a course deemed equivalent to the AP credits already earned, the AP credits are deleted from the student’s records.

AP credits are accepted and recorded as transfer credits counting toward the minimum graduation requirement of 120 credits. Letter grades are not assigned for courses granted AP credit or calculated into the cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) at University of Holy Cross. A grade of P is recorded. AP exams may not be taken once a student has graduated from high school or received an equivalent diploma and has enrolled at University of Holy Cross. AP credits do not count toward residency requirements.