AP Credit
UC Santa Cruz AP Credit
UC Santa Cruz 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
AP exams taken in 2025-26 (quarter units), 2025-26
A maximum of eight units is awarded in each of art and design, English, mathematics, and physics, however many exams are taken in that area.
What each AP exam earns at UC Santa Cruz
Twelve common exams. An exam is left out when UC Santa Cruz’s page does not name it.
| AP exam | Lowest score | What it earns | With a 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 units, MATH 11A, 19A | Same |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 units, MATH 11A, 19A | 8 units, MATH 11A, 11B, 19A, 19B |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 8 units, satisfies Entry Level Writing Requirement | Same |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 8 units, satisfies Entry Level Writing Requirement | Same |
| United States History | 3 | 8 units, satisfies American History and Institutions | Same |
| Biology | 3 | 8 units, no course equivalent | 8 units, BIOL 20A and BIOE 20B |
| Chemistry | 3 | 8 units, no course equivalent | 8 units, CHEM 3A and 3B |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 units, no course equivalent | 4 units, PHYS 5A and 5L |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 8 units, CSE 10 | 8 units, CSE 5J |
| Statistics | 3 | 4 units, no course equivalent | 4 units, STAT 5, PSYC 2, SOCY 3B |
| Psychology | 3 | 4 units, no course equivalent | 4 units, PSYC 1 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 units | Same |
“Exam credit is awarded based on the year an exam was taken.”
Frequently asked questions
Does UC Santa Cruz accept AP credit?
UC Santa Cruz awards credit on 12 of the 12 common AP exams listed here. A 3 is enough on each. A maximum of eight units is awarded in each of art and design, English, mathematics, and physics, however many exams are taken in that area.
What AP score do you need at UC Santa Cruz?
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 Santa Cruz’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.
