AP United States History credit at California colleges

Every California college with a published AP United States History credit policy — minimum score, credit hours, and the course it replaces.

Quick answer

164 of 183 California colleges (90%) award credit for AP United States History at a score of 3. 17 require a 4 and 2 require a 5. The lowest bar in the state is a 3 at California State University-Fullerton (6 credit hours). 175 of these colleges link to their own policy page below. Captured July 30, 2026.

Colleges that award credit for AP United States History, 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	HIST 180 (3), GE HUMS 3B (3)	Policy
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach	3	6	HIST 172 & 173	Policy
University of California-San Diego La Jolla	3	8	exempts 2 quarters US history; may take HILD 2A, 2B, or 2C. Satisfies American History and Institutions.	Policy
San Diego State University San Diego	3	6	HIST 109 and HIST 110	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	HIST 270 & 271	Policy
University of California-Davis Davis	3	8	HIS 017A & HIS 017B	Policy
University of California-Irvine Irvine	3	8	Satisfies American History and Institutions requirement	Policy
California State University-Sacramento Sacramento	3	6	HIST 17A & HIST 17B	Policy
San Jose State University San Jose	3	6	HIST 020A & 020B	Policy
American River College Sacramento	3	6	HIST 310 & 311	Policy
Mt San Antonio College Walnut	3	6	HIST 1	Policy
East Los Angeles College Monterey Park	3	6	—	Policy
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona	3	6	HST 2202, IGE 2150, or IGE 2250	Policy
Ashford University San Diego	3	6	HIS 205 UNITED STATES HISTORY I; OR HIS 206 UNITED STATES HISTORY II; OR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY COMPETENCY; OR INTERCULTURAL & GLOBAL AWARENESS COMPETENCY	Policy
University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara	3	8	—	Policy
University of California-Riverside Riverside	3	8	HIST 017A & 017B	Policy
Santa Ana College Santa Ana	3	6	HIST 120 and 121	Policy
Long Beach City College Long Beach	3	3	HIST 10P	—
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo	3	9	Elective Units	Policy
California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles	3	3	—	Policy
Santa Monica College Santa Monica	3	3	History 11	Policy
California State University-Fresno Fresno	3	6	HIST 11 & HIST 12	Policy
Pasadena City College Pasadena	3	3	HIST 007A	Policy
San Francisco State University San Francisco	3	6	HIST 120 & 121	Policy
El Camino Community College District Torrance	3	6	History 101-102	Policy
FCC Fresno City College Fresno	3	3	HIST 23	—
Cerritos College Norwalk	3	3	—	Policy
University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz	3	8	—	Policy
Riverside City College Riverside	3	6	History 6 and 7	Policy
Sacramento City College Sacramento	3	6	HIST C1001 (formerly HIST 310) and HIST C1002 (formerly HIST 311)	Policy
Southwestern College Chula Vista	3	6	HIST 100 and HIST 101	Policy
Fullerton College Fullerton	3	6	HIST 170 F & HIST 171 F	Policy
Bakersfield College Bakersfield	3	3	HIST B17A	Policy
Palomar College San Marcos	3	6	GE Area C or D (3 units) and AH&I US-1	Policy
Orange Coast College Costa Mesa	3	6	Hist A170 & A175	Policy
CCSF City College of San Francisco San Francisco	3	6	Hist 17A & 17B	Policy
Saddleback College Mission Viejo	3	3	HIST 22	Policy
San Diego Mesa College San Diego	3	6	HIST 109	Policy
California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino	3	6	HIST 2000>A and HIST 2010>A	Policy
College of the Canyons Santa Clarita	3	6	—	Policy
Rio Hondo College Whittier	3	6	HIST 143, 144	Policy
De Anza College Cupertino	3	3	HIST 17C	Policy
Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto	3	6	HIST-111 & HIST-112 AREAS B1 & B2: 6 units	Policy
Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill	3	6	—	—
Modesto Junior College Modesto	3	—	HIST 101	Policy
California State University-San Marcos San Marcos	3	6	HIST 130 & 131	Policy
San Joaquin Delta College Stockton	3	3	HIST 17A and 17B	—
Cosumnes River College Sacramento	3	6	HIST 310 & HIST 311	Policy
Sierra College Rocklin	3	6	HIST 17A,17B	Policy
California State University-Chico Chico	3	6	HIST 130	Policy
Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills	3	6	—	Policy
California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson	3	6	HIS 101	Policy
Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen	3	6	HISTORY 011 and 012	Policy
Cypress College Cypress	3	6	HIST 170 C and HIST 171 C	Policy
Victor Valley College Victorville	3	6	Hist 117+118	Policy
Moorpark College Moorpark	3	6	HIST M130 + HIST M140	Policy
Grossmont College El Cajon	3	6	HIST 108, 109	Policy
San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino	3	3	HIST 100 or 100H or 101 or 101H	Policy
Foothill College Los Altos Hills	3	4	HIST 17A	Policy
Antelope Valley Community College District Lancaster	3	6	HIST 107 & 108	Policy
Chabot College Hayward	3	6	History 7 or 8	Policy
Los Angeles City College Los Angeles	3	6	—	Policy
College of the Sequoias Visalia	3	3	HIST 017	Policy
San Diego Miramar College San Diego	3	6	SDCCD HIST 109	Policy
SCC Santiago Canyon College Orange	3	6	POLT 101	Policy
MiraCosta College Oceanside	3	6	HIST 110 and HIST 111	Policy
California State University-East Bay Hayward	3	8	HIST 1101 & 1102	Policy
Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles	3	6	—	Policy
Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara	3	3	HIST 101 or 102	Policy
Ventura College Ventura	3	6	HIST V46 and HIST V56	Policy
National University San Diego	3	9	HIS 220A & HIS 220B	Policy
Merced College Merced	3	3	—	Policy
Folsom Lake College Folsom	3	6	HIST 310 & 311 or HIST 312 & 313	Policy
Golden West College Huntington Beach	3	6	HIST G170 + G175	Policy
College of the Desert Palm Desert	3	6	—	Policy
California State University-Stanislaus Turlock	3	6	HIST 2600	Policy
Butte College Oroville	3	6	HIST-8	Policy
University of California-Merced Merced	3	5.3	General Education Credit: fulfills (1) Approaches to Knowledge course for the Area B: Societies and Cultures of the Past requirement.	Policy
Norco College Norco	3	6	History 6 and 7	Policy
Moreno Valley College Moreno Valley	3	6	History 6 and 7	—
California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield	3	6	—	Policy
Citrus College Glendora	3	3	HIST 107 or HIST 108	Policy
Los Angeles Mission College Sylmar	3	6	HISTORY 011 and 012	Policy
California Baptist University Riverside	3	6	HIS 213 & HIS 223	Policy
Allan Hancock College Santa Maria	3	3	HIST 118	Policy
Solano Community College Fairfield	3	6	HIST 017/018	Policy
Evergreen Valley College San Jose	3	3	—	—
Cabrillo College Aptos	3	6	—	Policy
College of San Mateo San Mateo	3	3	—	Policy
West Los Angeles College Culver City	3	3	History 11 & 12	Policy
Laney College Oakland	3	3	HIST 7A or 7B	Policy
Hartnell College Salinas	3	6	HIS 17A + 3 Electives	Policy
Skyline College San Bruno	3	6	—	Policy
Los Medanos College Pittsburg	3	6	—	Policy
San Jose City College San Jose	3	3	—	Policy
Coastline Community College Fountain Valley	3	6	Hist C170 & C175	Policy
Ohlone College Fremont	3	6	HIST-117A and HIST-117B	Policy
Imperial Valley College Imperial	3	3	HIST 120	Policy
Cuesta College San Luis Obispo	3	6	—	Policy
Cuyamaca College El Cajon	3	6	HIST 108 and HIST 109	Policy
Las Positas College Livermore	3	6	HIST C1001 and HIST C1002	Policy
Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington	3	6	—	Policy
West Valley College Saratoga	3	3	—	Policy
Oxnard College Oxnard	3	6	HIST R130 & R140	Policy
California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside	3	6	3B or 4A +US1	Policy
Monterey Peninsula College Monterey	3	6	HIST 17 & 18	—
Mission College Santa Clara	3	3	HIS 017A	Policy
Shasta College Redding	3	3	—	Policy
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata	3	6	US History, US-1; GE area 4 Social Sciences; GE area 3B Humanities	Policy
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park	3	6	HIST 251	Policy
California State University-Channel Islands Camarillo	3	6	HIST 270 and GE Area D plus HIST 271; or HIST 270 or HIST 271 plus GE Area C2 or D for 3 units	Policy
Merritt College Oakland	3	3	HIST 7A or 7B	Policy
Crafton Hills College Yucaipa	3	6	HIST 100 and 101	Policy
Canada College Redwood City	3	3	—	Policy
Reedley College Reedley	3	6	HIST 11, HIST 12	Policy
CCC Contra Costa College San Pablo	3	6	—	Policy
Berkeley City College Berkeley	3	3	HIST 7A or 7B	Policy
Gavilan College Gilroy	3	3	HIST 1	Policy
College of Alameda Alameda	3	3	HIST 7A OR 7B	Policy
Academy of Art University San Francisco	3	3	LA 270	Policy
College of Marin Kentfield	3	6	HIST 117 and 118	Policy
Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles	3	6	—	Policy
Pepperdine University Malibu	3	4	THIS 100.01	Policy
College of the Redwoods Eureka	3	6	Hist 8 or 9	Policy
Cerro Coso Community College Ridgecrest	3	3	HIST C131 or HIST C132	Policy
Biola University La Mirada	3	3	HIST 200	Policy
UV University of La Verne La Verne	3	4	GE Humanities (LVHU) or GE Social Science (LVSS)	Policy
Lemoore College Lemoore	3	3	Hist 017A	Policy
TC Taft College Taft	3	6	HIST 2231	Policy
Napa Valley College Napa	3	6	—	Policy
Azusa Pacific University Azusa	3	3	HIST 152	Policy
Woodland Community College Woodland	3	6	HIST 17A + 17B	Policy
Lake Tahoe Community College South Lake Tahoe	3	4	—	Policy
Palo Verde College Blythe	3	6	—	Policy
MC Mendocino College Ukiah	3	6	HST-202, 203	Policy
Porterville College Porterville	3	6	HIST P117 & P118	Policy
Barstow Community College Barstow	3	6	HIST 2A and 2B	Policy
Saint Mary's College of California Moraga	3	4	HIST 199SS	Policy
Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa	3	6	HIST-156C & HIST-1XX	Policy
Columbia College Sonora	3	3	—	Policy
Fresno Pacific University Fresno	3	3	HIST 150 American Civilization (GE)	Policy
The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita	3	3	H230	Policy
FRCC Feather River Community College District Quincy	3	3	HIST 110	Policy
Lassen Community College Susanville	3	—	—	Policy
Concordia University-Irvine Irvine	3	3	*GE History (C2) OR HST 900	Policy
Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles	3	3	Social Science or LAS Sophomore Elective	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	HIST 291	Policy
Pacific Union College Angwin	3	8	HIST 134+135	Policy
Woodbury University Burbank	3	6	—	Policy
Whittier College Whittier	3	3	HIST 206 or 207	Policy
Menlo College Atherton	3	3	HIS 250 or 251	Policy
California State University Maritime Academy Vallejo	3	6	American Institutions I	Policy
SU Simpson University Redding	3	3	HIST-2330	Policy
Hope International University Fullerton	3	3	HIS2305 or HIS2310 OR HIS2315 or HIS2320	Policy
University of Silicon Valley San Jose	3	—	GE: Social Perspectives	Policy
Alliant International University-San Diego San Diego	3	—	—	Policy
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles	3	3	HIS 141	Policy
San Diego Christian College Santee	3	6	HI 201, HI 202	Policy
University of the West Rosemead	3	3	General Education	Policy
BHDI Beverly Hills Design Institute Beverly Hills	3	—	—	Policy
University of Southern California Los Angeles	4	4	—	Policy
Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga	4	6	HIST-17 and HIST-18	—
Irvine Valley College Irvine	4	3	HIS 20 or 21	Policy
Chapman University Orange	4	3	HIST-101	Policy
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles	4	4	HIST 1300	Policy
Santa Clara University Santa Clara	4	4	HIST 96AT or 96BT	Policy
University of San Francisco San Francisco	4	4	US History Core and HIST 120	Policy
University of San Diego San Diego	4	3	Lower Division Elective Credit	Policy
University of the Pacific Stockton	4	4	—	Policy
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego	4	3	HIS1011 or HIS1020	Policy
University of Redlands Redlands	4	4	HIST 122	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	Elective	Policy
Pomona College Claremont	4	1	—	Policy
Westmont College Santa Barbara	4	8	CI-2G, HIS-ELEC	Policy
Scripps College Claremont	4	1	—	Policy
California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks	5	3	Hist 121 or 122	Policy
Pitzer College Claremont	5	1	—	Policy

AP United States History credit in other states

New York 115 Texas 104 Pennsylvania 101 Ohio 95 Illinois 90 North Carolina 82 Florida 66 Massachusetts 66 Michigan 59 Virginia 56 Georgia 53 Washington 50

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 United States History?+

183 colleges in California publish a credit-bearing policy for AP United States History. 164 of them (90%) award credit at a score of 3, 17 require a 4, and 2 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 United States History 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 HIST 180 (3), GE HUMS 3B (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?+

175 of the 183 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 United States History 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.