Saving Students Time and Money

Navigating through the college admission process can be intimidating for anyone -- especially adult learners returning to school after a long period of time. They depend on you to get them going and to get them through. Why not tell them about credit by examination? Affordable and flexible, the DSST credit by exam program doesn’t require a major investment of time or money. Give your students credit for what they already know.

Save Them Time

Everyone can appreciate having a little extra time. Receiving credits from a DSST exam provides students with the capability to earn their degree in an abbreviated amount of time. The exams take less than 90 minutes each to complete – substantially less time than sitting in a classroom all semester to take an equivalent course. For those learners who aren’t sure if they have the right knowledge level to pass the test, practice exams are available in many of the subject areas. All of the tests are offered online and scored in real time (*), so students know immediately if they passed, freeing them up to address other educational requirements.

Save Them Money

Many learners, whether returning to school after a long break or starting for the first time, struggle with the financial implications of going back to school. Reducing the number of courses a student takes lowers the cost of their education. In the U.S., the average cost for a college course is around $300 U.S. DSST exams are reasonably priced at $70 per test, significantly less costly than taking a semester long course in the subject.

Leverage Skills They Already Have

DSST exams don’t require additional learning; credit is awarded for pre-existing knowledge through experience. Many adult learners have been in the workforce for years. Similarly, many college seniors have held internships or other jobs. Since DSST exams are offered in 37 subjects, it is likely that any type of learner has enough life experience or on-the-job knowledge to identify with at least one topic area – and get college credit for passing that exam.

Give Them Credit

Any advantage you can give your students, as their advisor, would be valued and appreciated. They’re trusting you to guide them through the degree process to the end. With the DSST credit by exam program, you can get them there more quickly and more cost-effectively.

Credit by Exam Programs

Offering both DSST and CLEP to your students gives them a broader path toward degree completion. While both DSST and CLEP exams are both methods of prior learning assessment, the 37 subject areas of the DSST exams are unique and have little overlap with CLEP exam titles.

DSST exams closely correlate with many course titles at most colleges and universities. For example, the Personal Finance exam can be taken by students seeking to earn a business degree. Most college or university Social Science programs offer courses that closely mirror content from the Fundamentals of Counseling exam. Seniors who have elective credits to fill in order to graduate could take an Introduction to World Religions or Ethics in America exam to get the credit instead. Whether your students are new to school, late in returning or eager to graduate, DSST offers a flexible alternative to earning credit.

* except Public Speaking