AP Physics 1 credit at Alabama colleges
Every Alabama college with a published AP Physics 1 credit policy — minimum score, credit hours, and the course it replaces.
Quick answer
16 of 19 Alabama colleges (84%) award credit for AP Physics 1 at a score of 3. 3 require a 4 and 0 require a 5. The lowest bar in the state is a 3 at The University of Alabama (4 credit hours). 19 of these colleges link to their own policy page below. Captured July 30, 2026.
| College | Min score | Credits | Counts as | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa | 3 | 4 | PH 101 | Policy |
 University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham | 3 | 4 | PH 201 | Policy |
 Troy University Troy | 3 | 4 | PHY 2252 and PHY L252 | Policy |
 Jacksonville State University Jacksonville | 3 | 4 | PHS 201/203 | Policy |
| 3 | — | — | Policy | |
 University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville | 3 | 4 | PH 101 | Policy |
 Jefferson State Community College Birmingham | 3 | 4 | PHY 201 | Policy |
 Samford University Birmingham | 3 | 4 | PHYS 101, PHYS 111 | Policy |
| 3 | — | PHY 201 | Policy | |
 Athens State University Athens | 3 | 4 | PHY 201 | Policy |
| 3 | 4 | PHY 201 | Policy | |
 University of Montevallo Montevallo | 3 | 4 | PHYS 201 | Policy |
 Faulkner University Montgomery | 3 | 4 | PHY 1371, 1171 | Policy |
 Central Alabama Community College Alexander City | 3 | 4 | PHY 201 | Policy |
 University of Mobile Mobile | 3 | 4 | PH 101 | Policy |
 Spring Hill College Mobile | 3 | 3 | Science Core | Policy |
 Auburn University Auburn | 4 | 4 | PHYS 1500 | Policy |
| 4 | 5 | PH 114/114L | Policy | |
 Huntingdon College Montgomery | 4 | 4 | PHYS151 | Policy |
AP Physics 1 credit in other states
How we ranked this
One row per Alabama 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 Alabama colleges give credit for AP Physics 1?+
19 colleges in Alabama publish a credit-bearing policy for AP Physics 1. 16 of them (84%) award credit at a score of 3, 3 require a 4, and 0 require 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 Physics 1 score that earns credit in Alabama?+
3. The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa awards credit at a score of 3, worth 4 credit hours, counting as PH 101. 16 Alabama colleges in total set their bar at a 3 or lower.
Does in-state residency change AP credit in Alabama?+
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 Alabama AP credit policies?+
19 of the 19 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
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.