Earning College Credits in High School

Taking College Courses in High School

Some students already have college credits from classes they took in high school or during the summer after high school when they start at Adelphi. If you took these classes, you’ll need to send an official record (transcript) from each college/university to the Office of University Admissions.

Before you start classes here, make sure not to sign up for the same ones you already earned credit for. Tip: Work with your academic adviser and use the preliminary transfer credit evaluation that you receive once you’ve submitted your transcripts to make sure you sign up for new courses, not the ones you’ve already finished successfully!

For your college credits to count, you should have earned a grade of at least a C-. We are also looking to see if Adelphi has similar courses, and to see if the classes were taken at regionally accredited colleges/universities.

You can use our Transfer Evaluation System (TES) to see how courses from other colleges/universities might count at Adelphi. Tip: Even if a course isn’t listed, we can still check if it’s eligible for credit – email us at transfer@adelphi.edu.

Key Points about High School College Credits

• Students can earn up to 30 credits from exams or college courses completed before finishing high school.
• If you do well in a college-level English Composition (level I) class during high school and earn at least a C-, you can transfer it as ENG 106 at Adelphi. Tip: ENG 106 and ENG 107 are interchangeable at Adelphi, so talk to your academic adviser before selecting any English classes.
• Due to the language level differences from high school to college, the highest level you can earn credit for with courses completed during high school is level II.
• If you earn an Associates of Arts or an Associates of Science degree through dual enrollment in high school, you may not have to complete Adelphi’s general education classes (PATH). Also, up to 30 credits from your associate’s will count towards your Adelphi degree.
• If you’re in special or signature programs like the Honors College or Levermore Global Scholars Program, you might have to retake some general education courses as part of that program’s curriculum. Tip: You will work with those program advisers directly to ensure you’re completing the best curriculum based on your academic record.
• For students in Early Assurance Programs, there may be restrictions on how many credits from high school can be transferred. It’s a good idea to talk to the Office of Pre-Professional Advising and Fellowships about any limits.