Taking AP, or advanced placement, courses in high school can put you a step ahead of your fellow freshmen in college and save you time and money later. You don't even have to be in the classroom to take a course. Approximately 20 states offer statewide online advanced placement programs, and new online academies are popping up every school year.

Time Constraints

Online AP courses don't have to fit into a school day. You can often listen to the lectures any time you want during the day or night, and can go back and listen to or read over material. Some online AP courses also have set start and end dates, but others don't.

Access

A student is no longer limited by whether or not his high school offers a particular advanced placement course during a given semester. He is able to take online courses that are continuously being offered.

High School Credit

Students who take an online AP course, especially through a state-sponsored program, are eligible to receive high school credit for the course.

College Credit

Like AP courses taken at a brick-and-mortar school, online AP courses prepare students to take an advanced placement exam on the subject matter. AP exams are graded on a scale of one to five. Although some colleges require a four or a five on the AP exam to receive college credit, many schools give college credit for a three.

AP Students Do Better in College

In 2007, a University of Texas study found that students who took advanced placement courses in high school earned better grades in college and were more likely to graduate.

Source:

Consumer Guide to Online AP Courses

Fastweb: AP Courses --- Accept the Challenge

Washington Post: Studies Find Benefits to Advanced Placement Courses