College Board

Advanced Placement Program Founded in 1955, the Advanced Placement Program gives students the opportunity to take college-level coursework and exams in high school. Students who succeed on AP Exams are more likely to succeed in college and can potentially earn valuable college credit. Even AP students who earn a lower score have better college outcomes than academically similar college students who did not take an AP course and AP Exam. College Board is committed to expanding access and opportunities for students to challenge themselves with college-level coursework. Nearly 1.2 million students in the class of 2023 took more than 4.1 million AP Exams in U.S. public high schools nationwide, as educators across the country encourage a wider and more diverse population of students to experience the benefits of AP. Among 2023 U.S. public high school graduates, 34.7% took at least one AP Exam during high school, and 21.7% of the graduating class scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam. Over the past 10 years, the percentage of all U.S. public high school graduates earning a score of 3 or higher (out of 5) on at least one AP Exam has grown by 2.6 percentage points. During that same period more than 1 in 5 U.S. public school graduates scored 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam. Among 2023 high school graduates, 423,262 traditionally underrepresented students-including Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students-took at least one AP Exam, up 139,856 students from 2013. The growth in both participation and performance for students from all backgrounds reflects the hard work of students and teachers toward, and the commitment of states and districts to, providing students with greater access to academic opportunities. The AP Program provides students, teachers, and administrators with free resources, support, and feedback throughout the year. All students have access to free AP Daily videos and AP Daily: Live Review sessions. AP Daily videos are short on-demand segments led by expert AP teachers that cover all course content and skills. Teachers can assign them for out-of-class work and use valuable class time for more focused engagement with students. These resources help schools target instruction and provide practice opportunities. AP Computer Science Principles: In fall 2016, College Board launched AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) with the goal of giving all students-especially those who are traditionally underrepresented in the computer science field-tools and opportunities to be successful in today's workforce. AP CSP was the biggest course launch in the history of the AP Program. In the six years since the launch of AP CSP, participation among young women, African American, and Hispanic students has more than tripled. New research finds that students who take AP CSP in high school are more than 3 times as likely to major in computer science in college, compared to similar students who did not take CSP. Differences are similarly large for female, Black, Hispanic, and first-generation college students. Pre-AP: First piloted in fall 2018, Pre-AP courses are designed to support all students across varying levels of ability, challenging them to build relevant, interdisciplinary critical thinking skills. The program empowers all students to learn, grow, and build confidence through focused course frameworks, engaging instructional resources, learning checkpoints, and collaborative educator workshops. Pre-AP courses help get students ready for the PSAT-related assessments, SAT, and AP. There are currently 12 courses available in 5 subject areas. AP Potential: AP Potential is a free, web-based tool that helps educators increase access to AP by using SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 score data to identify students with the potential to succeed in AP. CLEP: The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), the most widely trusted college-based credit-by-examination program for more than 50 years, is accepted by 2,900 colleges and universities and administered in over 2,000 test centers. CLEP increases opportunities for students by enabling them to earn college credit by demonstrating knowledge they have gained in other settings, such as independent study, workforce training, or other experiences. CLEP exams can save money and time for students of all ages and backgrounds, including students in dual enrollment or continuing education programs, homeschooled, international, and/or transfer students. Members of the military can also take advantage of the financial savings CLEP offers; through a College Board partnership with the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), military personnel can take CLEP exams for free. Students may take any of 34 examinations in 5 subject areas, covering material usually taught in a 2-year degree program or the first 2 years of a 4-year program. Research shows students who earn course credit for achieving a required minimum CLEP exam score perform as well as or better than their classmates without CLEP exam credit in sequent or subsequent courses.

College and Career Opportunities and Enrollment By connecting students to colleges and scholarships, and providing access to credit programs, planning tools, and fee waivers for all who need them, College Board is increasing opportunities and breaking down barriers to college and helping students identify career opportunities. BigFuture: BigFuture is a free, online resource that helps students take the right first step after high school. It helps students explore careers, plan for college, and pay for college. Whether a student is interested in a four-year university, community college, or career training, BigFuture simplifies the steps students can take to start planning their future. Driven by insights from real students, educators, and industry leaders, and backed by over 100 years of College Board research, BigFuture provides personalized information that meets students' needs. And when students take important actions toward their future, they're rewarded with the chance to win scholarships. BigFuture Scholarships launched in December 2018 and are open to all students starting in 10th grade. Students who complete steps on BigFuture can win scholarship drawings-two $40,000 scholarships or multiple $500 scholarships per month. More than $18 million in scholarships has been awarded to more than 21,000 students since the program started. Student Search Service: College Board's Student Search Service, or Search, is a free, optional program that connects students with information about educational and financial aid opportunities from nearly 1,400 eligible colleges and universities, and scholarships and other educational programs. Students can opt in to participate in Search at any time when they visit the BigFuture website or when they take the SAT Weekend assessment. By choosing to participate, students give College Board permission to share their names and limited information with colleges and scholarship programs looking for students like them. Research shows that students contacted by colleges in Search are more likely to enroll in and finish college. The College Board National Recognition Programs: The program awards thousands of students nationwide every year with academic honors that help underrepresented students who excel academically to be seen during college recruitment. Starting in 10th grade, qualifying students can verify their eligibility on BigFuture to confirm they meet the academic criteria for the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP Exams and belong to one or more communities that the programs recognize: African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latino, Native American or Indigenous, first generation, or attend school in a rural area or small town. The College Board National Recognition Program is an opportunity for students to celebrate their hard work in high school, often garnering media coverage and recognition. As importantly, colleges and universities use these awards to reach out to high-achieving students who have opted in and are participating in Student Search Service. Expanded Scholarship Opportunities: Participating in Student Search Service helps students get found by scholarship providers. In addition to its partnership with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, College Board connects students to 22 scholarship partners that offer almost $300 million in annual rewards to qualified students based on merit and financial need. College Board works with many organizations on this effort, such as the APIA Scholarship Program, the Cobell Scholarship (awarded by Indigenous Education, Inc.), the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF), and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). By using information from the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10, our scholarship partners are able to access a wider group of eligible students from high schools across the country and make sure they're aware of the opportunities they've earned. Fee Waivers: In 2023, College Board provided over $93 million in fee waivers and fee reductions. CSS Profile: CSS Profile is a common application that helps colleges deliver nonfederal institutional aid dollars to students who need it most. CSS Profile provides additional information beyond the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so families can provide a more complete picture of their financial circumstances. This additional data also allows institutions to distribute aid more equitably and strategically. Hundreds of colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and scholarship organizations rely on CSS Profile to help make college a reality for students. Collectively, institutions and organizations that use CSS Profile award more than $10 billion annually in institutional grants and scholarships to students based on financial need. Landscape: In fall 2019, College Board launched Landscape, a comprehensive and free resource that provides consistent high school and neighborhood information so admissions officers can better understand applicants' high school and neighborhood environments.

SAT Suite of Assessments College Board's SAT Suite, which includes the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9, measures what research shows students need to succeed after high school. It also connects students with fee waivers, scholarship opportunities, free, personalized practice, and college and career planning tools. The 2023 SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report shows that 1.9 million students in the high school class of 2023 took the SAT at least once, up from 1.7 million in the class of 2022. The SAT can connect students with colleges and scholarship opportunities to help pay for college. College Board survey results continue to show more than 80% of students want the chance to send their scores to colleges. Most of these students took the assessment through SAT School Day, the in-school program that dramatically expands access and equity. In the class of 2023, 1.2 million students took the SAT through SAT School Day, which provides schools, districts, and states a way to offer the SAT to juniors and seniors in school, on a weekday, at no cost to students. Overall, more than 67% of SAT takers in the class of 2022 took the SAT on a school day, the highest percentage to date, compared to 63% of the class of 2022, 62% of the class of 2021, and 49% of the class of 2020. As of March 2024, we have completed the transition to delivering the SAT Suite of Assessments digitally.

Other Services Research and Advocacy - College Board's Research and Advocacy efforts are related primarily to the areas of college preparation and access, college affordability and financial aid, college admissions and completion, and the importance of teachers and school counselors. Membership - College Board works to strengthen relationships among members to achieve our shared goals through programs, services, and large-scale conferences, and seeks to foster community, expand knowledge, and enhance the education profession. Puerto Rico and Latin America - College Board Puerto Rico and Latin America develops programs and services specially designed for populations whose vernacular is Spanish and appropriate to the educational conditions of Latin America. These programs are aimed at systematizing the university evaluation and admissions processes, strengthening academic and personal orientation, and promoting educational excellence.