Collin classes are officially over, so I have experienced dual credit and AP courses. In my sophomore year, I was extremely worried about making the wrong decision in choosing Collin classes, and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect or if the choice would work best for me. 

Now that I have some experience, I wanted to compare the two, so you are confident in your decisions and know exactly what to expect.  

1) Price 

To state it bluntly: Collin is more expensive than AP courses. A one-semester dual credit class, three credit hours, is $201, meaning that a year-round Collin class will cost you $402. 

Meanwhile, AP courses don’t have tuition fees; these classes have optional exam fees. The average AP exam taken in the U.S. (excluding AP Seminar and AP Research) is $99. However, this cost is not mandatory, meaning students are not required to take the exam if they do not wish to. 

2) Credit 

While both course options count toward high school graduation requirements, only some may earn you college credit. Since receiving college credit depends on the specific class and the college’s policies, this section will, unfortunately, be extremely generalized. 

For the most part, dual credit students have a higher chance than AP students of receiving college credit if they stay in-state, since dual credit courses are directly transferable. 

However, AP classes have a higher chance of being accepted out of state, depending on the university, due to their standardized nature. 

Once again, the chance of receiving credit for the class highly depends on each university’s policy. Before signing up for either, check if the universities you’re interested in accept it. 

3) Difficulty & course load 

When I signed up for dual credit courses, I expected them to be difficult. However, I quickly learned that the difficulty and course load depend entirely on your professor. Some professors might be extremely lenient on course policies and grading, while others are strict. 

For this reason, Rate My Professors will be your best friend. As soon as your schedule is released, I recommeGTnd that you sit and read through the comments left on the site and use them to your advantage. If you notice your professor might not be the best, don’t walk into class discouraged. Instead, check for patterns in comments and devise a game plan for your success in the class. For instance, if your professor is a very hard grader, take advantage of their office hours and don’t hesitate to ask for help or feedback when necessary.  

In my experience, AP courses are more difficult than dual credit. Although the teacher plays a role in the course’s difficulty and load, expect to work hard to receive good grades. Every AP course is different, but they all try to prepare you for college. Most AP teachers expect you to take extensive notes and spend hours outside class doing extra practice, projects, homework, etc., so be prepared to do the heavy lifting. 

It is essential to choose the option that best fits your academic needs. Overall, if you wish to save money, are considering going out of state, or don’t mind taking a standardized course that is a lot of work, then AP courses might be the best option. On the other hand, if tuition is not a primary factor, and you are looking into staying in-state, or prefer an easier class determined by your professor, then consider dual credit classes. 

I hope this has helped you! Happy studying!