AP Credit
UC San Diego AP Credit
UC San Diego awards credit on 12 of the 12 common AP exams listed here. A 3 is enough on each.
Lowest score accepted
3
Limit on AP credit
None stated on the page
Chart applies to
All eight colleges, 2025-26 chart, 2025-26
How the units count toward general education differs by college.
What each AP exam earns at UC San Diego
Twelve common exams. An exam is left out when UC San Diego’s page does not name it.
| AP exam | Lowest score | What it earns | With a 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 units; score of 3 exempts MATH 10A | 4 units; score of 4 or 5 exempts MATH 20A or 10A |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 units; score of 3 exempts MATH 20A or MATH 10A and 10B | 8 units; score of 4 or 5 exempts MATH 20A, 20B or 10A, 10B |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 8 units; score of 3, 4, or 5 meets Entry Level Writing requirement | Same |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 8 units; score of 3, 4, or 5 meets Entry Level Writing requirement | Same |
| United States History | 3 | 8 units; exempts 2 quarters US history; satisfies American History and Institutions | Same |
| Biology | 3 | 8 units; score of 3 = BILD 10 (may take BILD 1, 2, 3 for credit) | 8 units; score of 4 or 5 exempts BILD 1, 2, and 3 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 8 units; score of 3 exempts CHEM 4 | 8 units; score of 5 exempts CHEM 6A, 6B, 6C |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 units; score of 3 exempts PHYS 1A | 4 units; score of 4 or 5 exempts PHYS 1A or 2A |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 8 units; no course exemption listed for a score of 3 | 8 units; score of 4 or 5 exempts CSE 8A |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 units; no UC San Diego course exemption ("None") | Same |
| Psychology | 3 | 4 units; no course exemption listed for a score of 3 | 4 units; score of 4 or 5 exempts PSYC 1 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 units; score of 3 exempts LISP 1C/1CX | 8 units; score of 5 exempts LTSP 2B |
“The University of California grants credit for most College Board Advanced Placement Tests (AP) on which a student scores 3 or higher.”
Frequently asked questions
Does UC San Diego accept AP credit?
UC San Diego awards credit on 12 of the 12 common AP exams listed here. A 3 is enough on each. How the units count toward general education differs by college.
What AP score do you need at UC San Diego?
The lowest score that earns anything on the non-language exams listed here is a 3. The score needed differs by exam, so check the row for each one.
Read from UC San Diego’s own page and last checked 2026-10-08. Colleges change these charts, and rules can differ by school within a university, so confirm with the official page before you plan around it.
