AP English Literature and Composition credit at California colleges

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

Quick answer

164 of 184 California colleges (89%) award credit for AP English Literature and Composition at a score of 3. 19 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). 176 of these colleges link to their own policy page below. Captured July 30, 2026.

Colleges that award credit for AP English Literature 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 200 (3)	Policy
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach	3	6	ENGL 100B & ENGL 180	Policy
University of California-San Diego La Jolla	3	8	meets Entry Level Writing requirement	Policy
San Diego State University San Diego	3	6	3 units of ECL 299 and RWS 100	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 255	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 & 010	Policy
American River College Sacramento	3	6	ENGWR 300 & 301	Policy
Mt San Antonio College Walnut	3	6	ENGL 1A + ENGL 1B	Policy
East Los Angeles College Monterey Park	3	6	—	Policy
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona	3	6	ENG 1103 and ENG 2885, or IGE 1100 and 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	6	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	6	—	Policy
Santa Monica College Santa Monica	3	6	English 1 or GE Humanities	Policy
California State University-Fresno Fresno	3	6	ENGL 10 & ENGL 20	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	3	English 1A (4 credits) or 1B (3 credits)	Policy
FCC Fresno City College Fresno	3	7	ENGL C1000 & ENGL 1B	—
Cerritos College Norwalk	3	3	—	Policy
University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz	3	8	—	Policy
Riverside City College Riverside	3	7	English 1A and English Literature Elective	Policy
Sacramento City College Sacramento	3	6	ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGWR 300)	Policy
Southwestern College Chula Vista	3	7	ENGL C1000 and ENGL 220 or ENGL 270	Policy
Fullerton College Fullerton	3	7	ENGL 100 F & ENGL 102F	Policy
Bakersfield College Bakersfield	3	6	—	Policy
Palomar College San Marcos	3	6	ENG 100 and 205	Policy
Orange Coast College Costa Mesa	3	7	ENGLC1000	Policy
CCSF City College of San Francisco San Francisco	3	4	English 1A	Policy
Saddleback College Mission Viejo	3	3	ENG 1A, 2 electives	Policy
San Diego Mesa College San Diego	3	6	ENGL 101	Policy
California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino	3	6	ENG 1070 and ENG 1700>A	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	6.5	ENGL 101, LIT 102	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 & LTWR 100	Policy
San Joaquin Delta College Stockton	3	3	ENG 1A	—
Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga	3	6	ENGL-1A and ENGL-1C	—
Cosumnes River College Sacramento	3	6	ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGWR 300)	Policy
Sierra College Rocklin	3	7	ENGL C1000, ENGL 1B	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 or ENGL 102 C	Policy
Victor Valley College Victorville	3	3	ENGL C1000 and 102	Policy
Moorpark College Moorpark	3	6	ENGL C1000 + ENGL M01B	Policy
Grossmont College El Cajon	3	6	ENGL 120, 122	Policy
San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino	3	6	(ENGL 101 or 101H) + ENGL 151	Policy
Foothill College Los Altos Hills	3	5	English 1A	Policy
Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster	3	6	ENGL 102 & 102	Policy
Chabot College Hayward	3	4	ENGL C1000 or ENGL 1	Policy
Los Angeles City College Los Angeles	3	6	—	Policy
College of the Sequoias Visalia	3	7	ENGL C1000 + ENGL C1002	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 and LIT elective	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 and ENGL V01B	Policy
National University San Diego	3	9	ENG 102 and LIT 100	Policy
Merced College Merced	3	6	—	Policy
Irvine Valley College Irvine	3	3	LIT 1	Policy
Folsom Lake College Folsom	3	6	ENGWR 300	Policy
Golden West College Huntington Beach	3	8	ENGL G100 + G110	Policy
College of the Desert Palm Desert	3	6	—	Policy
California State University-Stanislaus Turlock	3	6	ENGL 1001 & 1010	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	8	ENGL-C1000	Policy
Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley	3	8	English 1A and 1B	—
California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield	3	6	—	Policy
Citrus College Glendora	3	3	ENGL 101 or ENGL 102	Policy
Los Angeles Mission College Sylmar	3	6	—	Policy
California Baptist University Riverside	3	3	ENG 201	Policy
Solano Community College Fairfield	3	6	ENGL 002	Policy
Evergreen Valley College San Jose	3	6	—	—
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
Laney College Oakland	3	8	ENGL 1A and 1B	Policy
Hartnell College Salinas	3	6	ENG 1A & ENG 1B	Policy
Skyline College San Bruno	3	6	—	Policy
Los Medanos College Pittsburg	3	3	ENG 100	Policy
San Jose City College San Jose	3	6	—	Policy
Coastline Community College Fountain Valley	3	6	Engl C100 & ENGL C140	Policy
Ohlone College Fremont	3	6	—	Policy
Imperial Valley College Imperial	3	7	ENGL 110 and ENGL 102	Policy
Cuesta College San Luis Obispo	3	6	ENGL C1000	Policy
Cuyamaca College El Cajon	3	6	ENGL 120 and ENGL 122	Policy
Las Positas College Livermore	3	6	ENGL C1000	Policy
Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington	3	6	—	Policy
West Valley College Saratoga	3	6	Engl 1A+ 3 units toward Area C of WVC GE	Policy
Oxnard College Oxnard	3	6	ENGL C1000	Policy
California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside	3	6	1A+3B	Policy
Monterey Peninsula College Monterey	3	6	ENGL 1A & 1B	—
University of San Francisco San Francisco	3	8	Literature Core	Policy
Mission College Santa Clara	3	6	ENG 001A	Policy
Shasta College Redding	3	6	—	Policy
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata	3	6	ENGL 104 (GE Area 1A Written Communication and GE Area 3B Humanities)	Policy
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park	3	8	—	Policy
California State University-Channel Islands Camarillo	3	6	ENGL 105 plus 3 units GE Area C2	Policy
Merritt College Oakland	3	8	ENGL 1A + 1B	Policy
Crafton Hills College Yucaipa	3	8	ENGL 101 or 152	Policy
Canada College Redwood City	3	6	—	Policy
Reedley College Reedley	3	3	ENGL 1A or 1B	Policy
CCC Contra Costa College San Pablo	3	6	—	Policy
Berkeley City College Berkeley	3	8	ENGL 1A and 1B	Policy
Gavilan College Gilroy	3	6	ENGL 1A & ENGL 1B	Policy
College of Alameda Alameda	3	8	ENGL 1A and 1B	Policy
Academy of Art University San Francisco	3	3	LA 116 Looking at Art and Design (Additional 3 units for LA 202 for a score of 4 or higher)	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 or ENGL in Area 3B	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	7	Eng 001 & Eng 002	Policy
TC Taft College Taft	3	6	ENGL 1650	Policy
Napa Valley College Napa	3	6	—	Policy
Azusa Pacific University Azusa	3	3	ENGL 111	Policy
Woodland Community College Woodland	3	7	ENGL 1A + 3 Area C GE units	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, 201	Policy
Porterville College Porterville	3	4	ENGL P101A	Policy
Barstow Community College Barstow	3	3	ENGL 1A	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 230C	Policy
Columbia College Sonora	3	6	—	Policy
Fresno Pacific University Fresno	3	3	LIT 180 Introduction to Literature (GE)	Policy
The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita	3	3	E110 or Literature Elective	Policy
FRCC Feather River Community College District Quincy	3	6	ENGL 101 and ENGL 1XX	Policy
Lassen Community College Susanville	3	—	—	Policy
Concordia University-Irvine Irvine	3	3	ENG 900	Policy
Dominican University of California San Rafael	3	4	—	Policy
Copper Mountain Community College Joshua Tree	3	6	—	Policy
William Jessup University Rocklin	3	3	ENGL 160	Policy
Pacific Union College Angwin	3	4	ENGL 101	Policy
Woodbury University Burbank	3	3	WRIT 113	Policy
Whittier College Whittier	3	3	ENGL 110 and English Electives	Policy
Menlo College Atherton	3	3	ENG 101 English Comp 1 or 3 LD Humanities	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	ENG2100 or ENG2110	Policy
University of Silicon Valley San Jose	3	—	GE: English Composition	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	HUM 231 OR HUM 232	Policy
San Diego Christian College Santee	3	6	EN 101, EN 220	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
Allan Hancock College Santa Maria	4	3	ENGL 102	Policy
Chapman University Orange	4	3	ENG-100TRLIT	Policy
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles	4	4	—	Policy
Santa Clara University Santa Clara	4	4	Elective Credit	Policy
University of San Diego San Diego	4	3	Lower Division Elective Credit	Policy
Pepperdine University Malibu	4	4	TENG100.01	Policy
University of the Pacific Stockton	4	4	ENGL 025	Policy
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego	4	2	ENG2000	Policy
California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks	4	3	IDEAS Humanities - English	Policy
University of Redlands Redlands	4	4	ENGL 112	Policy
Art Center College of Design Pasadena	4	3	—	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	CI-2A, CSK-3A1	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 Literature and Composition credit in other states

New York 114 Pennsylvania 104 Texas 98 Ohio 94 Illinois 88 North Carolina 77 Massachusetts 66 Florida 66 Michigan 58 Virginia 56 Georgia 52 Minnesota 47

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 Literature and Composition?+

184 colleges in California publish a credit-bearing policy for AP English Literature and Composition. 164 of them (89%) award credit at a score of 3, 19 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 Literature 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 200 (3). 164 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?+

176 of the 184 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 Literature 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.