AP English Language and Composition credit at California colleges

Every California college with a published AP English Language and Composition credit policy — minimum score, credit hours, and the course it replaces.

Quick answer

163 of 185 California colleges (88%) award credit for AP English Language and Composition at a score of 3. 21 require a 4 and 1 requires a 5. The lowest bar in the state is a 3 at California State University-Fullerton (6 credit hours). 177 of these colleges link to their own policy page below. Captured July 30, 2026.

Colleges that award credit for AP English Language and Composition, with the minimum qualifying score, credit hours awarded and the equivalent course.
College	Min score	Credits	Counts as	Source
California State University-Fullerton Fullerton	3	6	ENGL 101 (3), ENGL 105 (3)	Policy
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach	3	6	ENGL 100B & ENGL elective	Policy
University of California-San Diego La Jolla	3	8	meets Entry Level Writing requirement	Policy
San Diego State University San Diego	3	6	RWS 100 and 3 units of RWS 299	Policy
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley	3	5	—	Policy
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles	3	8	—	Policy
California State University-Northridge Northridge	3	6	ENGL 115	Policy
University of California-Davis Davis	3	8	—	Policy
University of California-Irvine Irvine	3	8	Elective credit only. Fulfills UC Entry Level Writing requirement	Policy
California State University-Sacramento Sacramento	3	6	ENGL 5	Policy
San Jose State University San Jose	3	6	ENGL 001A	Policy
American River College Sacramento	3	3	ENGWR 300	Policy
Mt San Antonio College Walnut	3	6	ENGL 1A	Policy
East Los Angeles College Monterey Park	3	6	—	Policy
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona	3	6	ENG 1103 or IGE 1200	Policy
Ashford University San Diego	3	6	WRITTEN COMMUNICATION I CORE COMPETENCY; OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION II CORE COMPETENCY	Policy
University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara	3	8	Writing 1, 1E	Policy
University of California-Riverside Riverside	3	8	ENGL 001A	Policy
Santa Ana College Santa Ana	3	—	ENGL 101	Policy
Long Beach City College Long Beach	3	6	ENGL 99P	—
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo	3	9	ENGL 134 and Elective Units	Policy
California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles	3	3	—	Policy
Santa Monica College Santa Monica	3	6	English 1	Policy
California State University-Fresno Fresno	3	6	ENGL 10 & ENGL 2	Policy
Pasadena City College Pasadena	3	4	ENGL C1000	Policy
San Francisco State University San Francisco	3	6	ENG 114 & 214	Policy
El Camino Community College District Torrance	3	4	English 1A	Policy
FCC Fresno City College Fresno	3	4	ENGL C1000	—
Cerritos College Norwalk	3	3	—	Policy
University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz	3	8	—	Policy
Riverside City College Riverside	3	4	English 1A	Policy
Sacramento City College Sacramento	3	3	ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGWR 300)	Policy
Southwestern College Chula Vista	3	4	ENGL C1000 or ESL 115A	Policy
Fullerton College Fullerton	3	4	ENGL 100 F	Policy
Bakersfield College Bakersfield	3	3	ENGL B1A	Policy
Palomar College San Marcos	3	6	ENG 100	Policy
Orange Coast College Costa Mesa	3	4	ENGLC1000	Policy
CCSF City College of San Francisco San Francisco	3	4	English 1A	Policy
Saddleback College Mission Viejo	3	3	ENG 1A	Policy
San Diego Mesa College San Diego	3	6	ENGL 101	Policy
California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino	3	6	ENG 1070	Policy
College of the Canyons Santa Clarita	3	6	English 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111 Psychology 101H, Sociology 101H	Policy
Rio Hondo College Whittier	3	3.5	ENGL 101	Policy
De Anza College Cupertino	3	3	EWRT 1A	Policy
Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto	3	6	ENGL-C1000	Policy
Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill	3	6	—	—
Modesto Junior College Modesto	3	3	—	Policy
California State University-San Marcos San Marcos	3	6	GEW 101B	Policy
San Joaquin Delta College Stockton	3	3	ENG 1A	—
Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga	3	3	ENGL-1A	—
Cosumnes River College Sacramento	3	3	ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGWR 300)	Policy
Sierra College Rocklin	3	4	ENGL C1000	Policy
California State University-Chico Chico	3	6	ENGL 130W	Policy
Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills	3	6	—	Policy
California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson	3	6	ENG 110 & 111	Policy
Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen	3	6	ENGL C1000, ENGLISH 101X, ENGLISH 101Y, ENGLISH 101Z, or E.S.L. 110	Policy
Cypress College Cypress	3	4	ENGL C1000	Policy
Victor Valley College Victorville	3	4	ENGL C1000	Policy
Moorpark College Moorpark	3	6	ENGL C1000	Policy
Grossmont College El Cajon	3	3	ENGL 120	Policy
San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino	3	3	ENGL 101 or 101H	Policy
Foothill College Los Altos Hills	3	5	English 1A	Policy
Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster	3	3	ENGL 101	Policy
Chabot College Hayward	3	4	ENGL C1000 or ENGL	Policy
Los Angeles City College Los Angeles	3	6	—	Policy
College of the Sequoias Visalia	3	4	ENGL C1000	Policy
San Diego Miramar College San Diego	3	6	ENGL 101	Policy
SCC Santiago Canyon College Orange	3	4	ENGL 101	Policy
MiraCosta College Oceanside	3	6	ENGL 100	Policy
California State University-East Bay Hayward	3	8	ENGL 1001 & 1002	Policy
Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles	3	6	—	Policy
Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara	3	4	ENGL C1000	Policy
Ventura College Ventura	3	6	ENGL C1000	Policy
National University San Diego	3	9	ENG 102 and ENG 240	Policy
Merced College Merced	3	3	—	Policy
Folsom Lake College Folsom	3	6	ENGWR 300	Policy
Golden West College Huntington Beach	3	4	ENGL G100	Policy
College of the Desert Palm Desert	3	6	—	Policy
California State University-Stanislaus Turlock	3	6	ENGL 1001	Policy
Butte College Oroville	3	6	ENGL C1000	Policy
University of California-Merced Merced	3	5.3	WRI 001. Also satisfies the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement. (When multiple AP English exams are taken and passed, total credit is limited to 5.3.)	Policy
Norco College Norco	3	4	ENGL-C1000	Policy
Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley	3	4	English 1A	—
California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield	3	6	—	Policy
Citrus College Glendora	3	3	ENGL 101	Policy
Los Angeles Mission College Sylmar	3	6	ENGLISH 101	Policy
California Baptist University Riverside	3	3	ENG 113	Policy
Allan Hancock College Santa Maria	3	4	ENGL 101	Policy
Solano Community College Fairfield	3	—	ENGL 001	Policy
Evergreen Valley College San Jose	3	3	—	—
Cabrillo College Aptos	3	6	—	Policy
College of San Mateo San Mateo	3	6	—	Policy
West Los Angeles College Culver City	3	3	English 101	Policy
Hartnell College Salinas	3	6	ENG 1A + 3 Elective	Policy
Skyline College San Bruno	3	3	—	Policy
Los Medanos College Pittsburg	3	3	ENG 100	Policy
San Jose City College San Jose	3	3	—	Policy
Coastline Community College Fountain Valley	3	3	Engl C100	Policy
Ohlone College Fremont	3	6	ENGL-101A	Policy
Imperial Valley College Imperial	3	4	ENGL 110	Policy
Cuesta College San Luis Obispo	3	6	ENGL C1000	Policy
Cuyamaca College El Cajon	3	3	ENGL 120	Policy
Las Positas College Livermore	3	6	ENGL C1000	Policy
Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington	3	6	—	Policy
West Valley College Saratoga	3	3	Engl 1A	Policy
Oxnard College Oxnard	3	6	ENGL C1000	Policy
California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside	3	6	1A	Policy
Monterey Peninsula College Monterey	3	6	ENGL 1A	—
Mission College Santa Clara	3	3	ENG C1000	Policy
Shasta College Redding	3	3	ENGL C1000	Policy
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata	3	6	ENGL 104 (GE Area 1A Written Communication)	Policy
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park	3	6	—	Policy
California State University-Channel Islands Camarillo	3	6	ENGL 105 plus 3 units free electives	Policy
Merritt College Oakland	3	4	ENGL 1A	Policy
Crafton Hills College Yucaipa	3	4	ENGL 101	Policy
Canada College Redwood City	3	3	—	Policy
Reedley College Reedley	3	4	ENGL 1A	Policy
CCC Contra Costa College San Pablo	3	6	—	Policy
Berkeley City College Berkeley	3	4	ENGL 1A	Policy
Gavilan College Gilroy	3	3	ENGL 1A	Policy
College of Alameda Alameda	3	4	ENGL 1A	Policy
Academy of Art University San Francisco	3	3	LA 116	Policy
College of Marin Kentfield	3	3	ENGL 150	Policy
Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles	3	6	—	Policy
College of the Redwoods Eureka	3	4	Engl C1000	Policy
Cerro Coso Community College Ridgecrest	3	3	ENGL C101	Policy
Biola University La Mirada	3	3	ENGL 112	Policy
UV University of La Verne La Verne	3	4	GE Written Communication A (LVWA)	Policy
Lemoore College Lemoore	3	4	Eng 001	Policy
TC Taft College Taft	3	6	ENGL 1500	Policy
Napa Valley College Napa	3	6	—	Policy
Azusa Pacific University Azusa	3	3	WRIT 110	Policy
Woodland Community College Woodland	3	4	ENGL 1A	Policy
Lake Tahoe Community College South Lake Tahoe	3	4	—	Policy
Palo Verde College Blythe	3	6	—	Policy
MC Mendocino College Ukiah	3	6	ENG-200	Policy
Porterville College Porterville	3	4	ENGL P101A	Policy
Barstow Community College Barstow	3	3	ENGL 1B	Policy
Saint Mary's College of California Moraga	3	3	WRIT 199E	Policy
Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa	3	6	ENGL-120C & ENGL-1XX	Policy
Columbia College Sonora	3	3	—	Policy
Fresno Pacific University Fresno	3	3	COM 110 Written Communication (GE)	Policy
The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita	3	3	E110	Policy
FRCC Feather River Community College District Quincy	3	3	ENGL 101	Policy
Lassen Community College Susanville	3	—	—	Policy
Concordia University-Irvine Irvine	3	3	WRT 900	Policy
Dominican University of California San Rafael	3	4	—	Policy
Copper Mountain Community College Joshua Tree	3	3	—	Policy
William Jessup University Rocklin	3	3	ENGL 101A, 4 or 5 will receive additional 3 units of Humanities Elective	Policy
Pacific Union College Angwin	3	4	ENGL 101	Policy
Woodbury University Burbank	3	3	WRIT 113	Policy
Whittier College Whittier	3	3	—	Policy
Menlo College Atherton	3	3	ENG 101 English Comp 1	Policy
California State University Maritime Academy Vallejo	3	6	EGL 100	Policy
SU Simpson University Redding	3	3	ENGL-1210	Policy
Hope International University Fullerton	3	3	ENG1100 or ENG1110	Policy
University of Silicon Valley San Jose	3	—	GE: Communication	Policy
Alliant International University-San Diego San Diego	3	—	—	Policy
John Paul the Great Catholic University Escondido	3	3	College Writing I Advanced College Writing	Policy
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles	3	3	ENG 111	Policy
San Diego Christian College Santee	3	6	EN 101, EN 102	Policy
University of the West Rosemead	3	3	ENGL101	Policy
BHDI Beverly Hills Design Institute Beverly Hills	3	—	—	Policy
University of Southern California Los Angeles	4	4	—	Policy
Irvine Valley College Irvine	4	4	ENGL C1000	Policy
Chapman University Orange	4	3	ENG-103	Policy
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles	4	4	—	Policy
Laney College Oakland	4	4	ENGL 1A	Policy
Santa Clara University Santa Clara	4	4	Elective Credit	Policy
University of San Francisco San Francisco	4	8	General Elective	Policy
University of San Diego San Diego	4	3	Lower Division Elective Credit	Policy
Pepperdine University Malibu	4	3	ENG 101.01	Policy
University of the Pacific Stockton	4	4	—	Policy
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego	4	3	half ENG GE	Policy
California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks	4	3	ENGL 111	Policy
University of Redlands Redlands	4	4	ENGL 100	Policy
Art Center College of Design Pasadena	4	3	HWRI-102	Policy
Occidental College Los Angeles	4	4	—	Policy
Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles	4	6	GE 2 Written Communications requirement (ENG 1A & 1B fulfillment)	Policy
Pomona College Claremont	4	1	—	Policy
Westmont College Santa Barbara	4	4	ENG-002	Policy
Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles	4	3	Thought Lab 1 or LAS Sophomore Elective, Waive WPA	Policy
Pitzer College Claremont	4	0.5	—	Policy
Scripps College Claremont	4	1	—	Policy
Claremont McKenna College Claremont	5	—	Students may request Literature Department Chair permission to satisfy their FWS 010 CM general education requirement with a CMC Lit course numbered 60 or above.	Policy

AP English Language and Composition credit in other states

New York 114 Texas 104 Ohio 95 Illinois 89 Pennsylvania 86 North Carolina 82 Florida 67 Massachusetts 66 Michigan 61 Virginia 56 Georgia 53 Minnesota 48

How we ranked this

One row per California college: the lowest score that earns actual credit under the policy that applies to all students, and the largest credit award published at that score. Placement-only policies — permission to skip a course without earning credit hours — are excluded. Credit hours and course equivalents are reproduced exactly as the college published them; “—” means no value was published and we do not estimate one. A page is published for a state only when at least 8 colleges back it.

Frequently asked questions

Which California colleges give credit for AP English Language and Composition?+

185 colleges in California publish a credit-bearing policy for AP English Language and Composition. 163 of them (88%) award credit at a score of 3, 21 require a 4, and 1 requires a 5. The full list, with credit hours and the course each exam replaces, is in the table on this page.

What is the lowest AP English Language and Composition score that earns credit in California?+

3. California State University-Fullerton in Fullerton awards credit at a score of 3, worth 6 credit hours, counting as ENGL 101 (3), ENGL 105 (3). 163 California colleges in total set their bar at a 3 or lower.

Does in-state residency change AP credit in California?+

No. AP credit policy is set per institution and applies to admitted students regardless of residency — residency affects tuition rate, not credit awards. What does vary is the school within a university: engineering and nursing colleges commonly set higher bars than arts and sciences. The rules shown here are the ones that apply to all students at each college.

How do I verify these California AP credit policies?+

177 of the 185 colleges on this page link to their own published AP credit page in the Source column; our snapshot was taken July 30, 2026. The college's page is authoritative and can change between admission cycles, so confirm there before building a graduation plan around the credit.

Keep exploring

📚 AP English Language and Composition nationwide 📚 All AP exams 🎓 All California colleges 🔁 Transfer credit policies 🧭 Counselor toolkit

Data sources: Each college's own published AP / advanced-standing credit page (captured July 30, 2026) · IPEDS institution directory (names, control, location). Figures are the most recent values published in each federal dataset; cells with no published value are shown as “—” and never estimated. Education does not sell rankings or accept placement fees.