Two years ago, we published a list of Advanced Placement (AP) online courses. This update represents a complete overhaul, rebuilt by sifting through our vast catalog. The result? A longer, more comprehensive list of some 200+ AP courses covering 24 subjects that's easier to read and better organized.
We hope you'll find the resources in this list helpful. If you do, please remember to bookmark this page and tell a friend about it. Best of luck in your AP endeavors!
Table of Contents
- What is the Advanced Placement program? What are its benefits?
- How you can use these online courses
- Self studying AP subjects
- Advanced Placement Online Courses: Our 2019 List
- The Arts
- History & Social Science
- Human Geography
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Psychology
- United States Government and Politics
- United States History
- World History
- Math & Computer Science
- Sciences
- World Languages & Cultures
What is the Advanced Placement program? What are its benefits?
In the US, high schools offer AP courses to students who demonstrate a readiness to take on college level courses. Students who perform well in these courses can register to sit for AP exams for various subjects. These exams are graded on a scale from 1-5.
Many colleges and universities recognize high scores (usually a 4 or 5) as indicators of competence in a subject. While these institutions differ in how they reward high scores, most will grant credit and allow students to place out of certain intro level courses. In other words, if you score highly, you may earn credit on your transcript and skip ahead a bit.
Ultimately, this means being able to save time and tuition money. When you consider the annual cost of undergraduate studies in the US ($21,370/year for public four-year college, $48,510 for private four-year college according to College Board), placing out even one course can yield implicit savings in the thousands of Dollars.
There are other less tangible benefits as well. AP courses by design offer a level of rigor meant to match those found in first-year university classrooms. Performing well in these courses signals to others that you’re college-ready, academically. Indeed, the College Board asserts that admissions officers view having “AP” on a transcript favorably.
How you can use these online courses
These online courses are designed for virtually any audience. You might be taking AP courses now, planning on sitting in on this year’s AP exams, or anticipate taking AP courses in the future. You might not be taking them at all.
Generally, we’ve seen students take these courses to help them:
- Prepare for the May exams
- Preview AP courses they’ll take in the upcoming academic year
- Get a head start on intro-level university courses
- Self-study AP courses in preparation for the exam
Many of these courses are structured so that they can effectively supplant a formal course. They also provide test preparation for the exams. Because of this, most students use these courses as study aids or as supplements to existing courses.
Self studying AP subjects
Several universities and institutions whose courses are featured here recognize that AP’s have much to offer students. They’re also aware, however, that not all students have access to AP’s. Most high schools only have enough resources to offer a handful of the 38 AP subjects. Those that do often lack enough seats to accommodate all students interested in taking them.
In response this gap, these institutions have created online courses designed to substitute in-classroom instruction. They might not replicate the in-classroom experience, especially in subjects with lab components, but enterprising students can use them to perform well on the AP exams.
Finally, know that College Board offers reduced exams fees for those with a financial need. You can find out more here.
Advanced Placement Online Courses: Our 2019 List
Our 2019 list comprises of a whopping 214 online courses. We’ve grouped these into AP subjects. Note that many subjects do not have online courses available for them. Similarly, you may not find the perfect course for you in available subjects.
We’ll try to fill these gaps over time. In the meantime, subscribe to our newsletter and bookmark this post for future updates.
The Arts
Art History
AP®︎ Art history
Free | A 12-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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Art History Renaissance to 20th Century
11.99 | A 48-hour course from Udemy
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Music Theory
Music Theory Fundamentals (AP Music Theory Part 1)
Free | A 3.5-hour course from Udemy
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English
Preparing for the AP* English Language and Composition Exam
$25 | A 35-week course from Tennessee Board of Regents & edX
Last started June 2016; next session TBD
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AP® English Literature & Composition – Part 1: Stories
$49 | A 7-week course from Berkeley, UC BerkeleyX & edX
Last started August 2017; next session TBD
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AP® English Literature & Composition – Part 2: Poems
$49 | A 7-week course from Berkeley, UC BerkeleyX & edX
Last started September 2017; next session TBD
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AP® English Literature & Composition – Part 3: Plays
$49 | A 7-week course from Berkeley, UC BerkeleyX, BerkeleyX & edX
Last started March 2018; next session TBD
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History & Social Science
Human Geography
Introduction to AP* Human Geography
$49 | A 14-week course from The University of Texas at Austin, UTAustinX & edX
Last started September 2017; next session TBD
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Microeconomics
Introductory AP® Microeconomics
$49 | A 12-week course from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MITx & edX
Last started August 2018; next session TBD
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AP®︎ Microeconomics
Free | A 7-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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Macroeconomics
AP® Macroeconomics
$49 | A 18-week course from Davidson Next, DavidsonNext & edX
Last started August 2018; next session TBD
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AP® Macroeconomics: Challenging Concepts
$49 | A 14-week course from Davidson Next, DavidsonNext & edX
Last started August 2018; next session TBD
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AP®︎ Macroeconomics
Free | A 8-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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Psychology
AP® Psychology - Course 0: Introduction
Free | A 1-week course from University of British Columbia, UBCx & edX
Last started October 2018; next session TBD
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AP® Psychology - Course 1: What is Psychology?
$49 | A 3-week course from University of British Columbia, UBCx & edX
Last started October 2018; next session TBD
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AP® Psychology - Course 2: How the Brain Works
$49 | A 5-week course from University of British Columbia, UBCx & edX
Last started October 2018; next session TBD
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AP® Psychology - Course 3: How the Mind Works
$49 | A 4-week course from University of British Columbia, UBCx & edX
Last started October 2018; next session TBD
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AP® Psychology - Course 4: How Behavior Works
$49 | A 6-week course from University of British Columbia, UBCx & edX
Last started October 2018; next session TBD
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AP® Psychology - Course 5: Health and Behavior
$49 | A 4-week course from University of British Columbia, UBCx & edX
Last started October 2018; next session TBD
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AP® Psychology - Course 6: Exam Preparation & Review
$49 | A 2-week course from University of British Columbia, UBCx & edX
Last started October 2018; next session TBD
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United States Government and Politics
American Government
$99 | A 16-week course from Harvard University, HarvardX & edX
Last started April 2017; next session TBD
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U.S. Government - Foundations, Democracy & Politics
$49 | A 6-week course from Purdue University, PurdueX & edX
Last started January 2017; next session TBD
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AP®︎ US Government and Politics
Free | A 7-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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United States History
AP US History
Free | A 10-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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World History
AP®︎ World History
Free | A 4-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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Math & Computer Science
Calculus AB and BC
Calculus 1A: Differentiation
$100 | A 12-week course from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MITx & edX
Last started August 2018; next session TBD
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Calculus 1B: Integration
$100 | A 15-week course from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MITx & edX
Last started November 2018; next session TBD
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Calculus 1C: Coordinate Systems & Infinite Series
$50 | A 8-week course from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MITx & edX
Last started March 2018; next session starts March 06, 2019
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Preparing for the AP Calculus AB Exam – Part 1: Derivatives
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started October 2015; next session TBD
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Preparing for the AP Calculus AB Exam – Part 2: Integrals
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started January 2016; next session TBD
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Pre-University Calculus
$50 | A 6-week course from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), DelftX & edX
Last started July 2018; next session TBD
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AP® Calculus BC
$49 | A 11-week course from Davidson Next & edX
Last started August 2017; next session TBD
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AP® Calculus: Challenging Concepts from Calculus AB & Calculus BC
$49 | A 14-week course from Davidson Next, DavidsonNext & edX
Last started August 2018; next session TBD
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On-Ramp to AP* Calculus
$49 | A 6-week course from Weston High School & edX
Last started July 2015; next session TBD
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AP®︎ Calculus AB
Free | A 9-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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AP®︎ Calculus BC
Free | A 11-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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2MATH013: Calculus
| A 6 segments course from Saylor Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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Computer Science A
AP Computer Science A: Java Programming Loops and Data Structures
$49 | A 6-week course from Purdue University, PurdueX & edX
Last started October 2018; next session TBD
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AP Computer Science A: Java Programming Classes and Objects
$49 | A 6-week course from Purdue University, PurdueX & edX
Last started January 2019; next session TBD
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AP Computer Science A: Java Programming
$49 | A 6-week course from Purdue University, PurdueX & edX
Last started September 2018; next session TBD
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Preparing for the AP* Computer Science A Exam — Part 1
Free | A 4-week course from Cooper Union & edX
Last started May 2015; next session TBD
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Preparing for the AP* Computer Science A Exam — Part 2
Free | A 4-week course from Cooper Union & edX
Last started July 2015; next session TBD
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Introduction to Programming with Java: Fundamental Data Structures and Al
Free, or get a Verified Certificate for $99 | A 5 weeks course from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid & edX
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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Learn to Program in Java
$99 | A 4-week course from Microsoft & edX
Last started January 2019; next session TBD
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Java Programming Essentials: AP Computer Science A
10.99 | A 21.5-hour course from Udemy
Start this course anytime
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Decoding AP Computer Science A
Free | A 10.5-hour course from Udemy
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Computer Science Principles
CS50's AP® Computer Science Principles
$100 | A 36-week course from Harvard University, HarvardX & edX
Last started August 2016; next session TBD
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The Beauty and Joy of Computing - AP® CS Principles Part 1
$49 | A 14-week course from Berkeley, UC BerkeleyX & edX
Last started September 2017; next session TBD
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The Beauty and Joy of Computing - AP® CS Principles Part 2
$49 | A 14-week course from Berkeley, BerkeleyX & edX
Last started January 2018; next session TBD
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Statistics
Preparing for the AP* Statistics Exam
$25 | A 35-week course from Tennessee Board of Regents & edX
Last started June 2016; next session TBD
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AP®︎ Statistics
Free | A 15-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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ACE the AP Statistics Exam and MASTER Elementary Statistics!
10.99 | A 22.5-hour course from Udemy
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Sciences
Biology
AP® Biology - Part 1: The Cell
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started September 2015; next session TBD
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AP® Biology - Part 2: Genetics
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started November 2015; next session TBD
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AP® Biology - Part 3: Evolution and Diversity
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started January 2016; next session TBD
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AP® Biology - Part 4: Ecology
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started February 2016; next session TBD
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AP® Biology - Part 5: Review and Exam Preparation
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started April 2016; next session TBD
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On Ramp to AP* Biology
$50 | A 3-week course from Weston High School, WestonHS & edX
Last started June 2018; next session TBD
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AP®︎ Biology
Free | A 30-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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Chemistry
General Chemistry: Concept Development and Application
$49 | A 12-week course from Rice University & Coursera
Last started February 2019; next session TBD
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Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios
$49 | A 8-week course from Duke University & Coursera
Last started February 2019; next session starts March 04, 2019
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Introduction to Chemistry: Structures and Solutions
$49 | A 8-week course from Duke University & Coursera
Last started January 2019; next session starts February 25, 2019
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Chemistry
Free | A 8-week course from University of Kentucky & Coursera
Last started February 2019; next session TBD
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Advanced Chemistry
Free | A 6-week course from University of Kentucky & Coursera
Last started February 2019; next session TBD
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EM101: General Chemistry
| A 9 segments course from Saylor Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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AP®︎ Chemistry
Free | A 15-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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Environmental Science
AP Environmental Science
Free | A 1.5-hour course from Udemy
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AP® Environmental Science - Part 1: The Living World
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started September 2015; next session TBD
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AP® Environmental Science - Part 2: Populations
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started November 2015; next session TBD
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AP® Environmental Science - Part 3: Pollution and Resources
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started February 2016; next session TBD
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AP® Environmental Science - Part 4: Exam Review
$49 | A 5-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started March 2016; next session TBD
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Physics C
Preparing for the AP* Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Exam
$50 | A 4-week course from Georgetown University, GeorgetownX & edX
Last started February 2016; next session TBD
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On-Ramp to AP* Physics C: Mechanics
$25 | A 12-week course from Weston High School, WestonHS & edX
Last started June 2018; next session TBD
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Physics 1
AP Physics 1
$49 | A 18-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started September 2016; next session TBD
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AP® Physics 1 - Part 1: Linear Motion
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started November 2015; next session TBD
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AP® Physics 1 - Part 2: Rotational Motion
$45 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started January 2016; next session TBD
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AP® Physics 1 - Part 3: Electricity & Waves
$45 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started February 2016; next session TBD
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AP® Physics 1 - Part 4: Exam Prep
$45 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started April 2016; next session TBD
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AP®︎ Physics 1
Free | A 12-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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AP® Physics 1: Challenging Concepts
$49 | A 8-week course from Davidson Next & edX
Last started August 2017; next session TBD
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Physics 2
AP® Physics 2 - Part 1: Fluids and Thermodynamics
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started September 2015; next session TBD
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AP® Physics 2 - Part 2: Electricity and Magnetism
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started November 2015; next session TBD
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AP® Physics 2 - Part 3: Optics and Modern Physics
$49 | A 4-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started February 2016; next session TBD
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AP® Physics 2 – Part 4: AP Review and Exam Preparation
$49 | A 3-week course from Rice University, RICEx & edX
Last started March 2016; next session TBD
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AP®︎ Physics 2
Free | A 7-course Topic from Khan Academy
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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AP® Physics 2: Challenging Concepts
$49 | A 9-week course from Davidson Next, DavidsonNext & edX
Last started September 2018; next session TBD
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World Languages & Cultures
Italian
AP® Italian Language and Culture (2018-2019)
$49 | A 12-week course from WellesleyX & edX
Last started August 2018; next session TBD
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AP® Italian Language and Culture
Free, or get a Verified Certificate for $49 | A 12 weeks course from Wellesley College & edX
Last started date unknown; next session TBD
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Latin
The AP Latin Selections from Caesar's Gallic Wars
10.99 | A 25-hour course from Udemy
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Spanish
AP® Spanish Language and Culture
$50 | A 12-week course from BUx & edX
Last started February 2018; next session TBD
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