IB Credits

Please search the list of exams by subject to see the Penn State credit awarded for each exam. Penn State will award transfer credit for exams taken at the Higher Level in which students have received a 5 or above. This evaluation of the credits awarded for IB Higher Level Examinations is subject to change and may be reviewed and revised periodically by Penn State faculty.

Students earning credit through IB Exams cannot earn duplicate credit in the same subject, and the IB credit must be useful in a student's program of study. Additionally, if credit is awarded, a student’s University record will carry notation of credit, but no grade will be recorded and credit will not affect a student’s grade-point average at Penn State.

Credit awards for the Higher Level Examinations will reflect the introductory sequence in the subject at Penn State. Since Penn State’s evaluation will focus on the results of individual examinations completed at the Higher Level, a student does not have to complete the full IB Diploma to be eligible for consideration for transfer credit. Examinations at the Subsidiary Level are not eligible for transfer credit consideration.

General credits may be awarded for an IB Higher Level Exam that covers material that is not the substantial equivalent of material covered in a specific university course. General credits may be used to fulfill degree requirements in any area; such use is not necessarily limited to General Education or elective requirements. General credits are applied to a student’s program of study in accordance with the procedures established by the college of enrollment. Information on the use of general credits or specific course credits earned by the IB Higher Level Exams in individual programs of study may be obtained from a student’s academic adviser or from the office of the dean of a student’s college.

Undergraduate students interested in receiving credit for IB Higher Level Exams should arrange to have their official grade reports sent to Undergraduate Admissions directly from the International Baccalaureate Program.

Please be advised that a student’s tuition will increase when the Penn State transcript reflects 59.1 total credits. Credits earned from sources such as tests, like AP or IB exams, other colleges or universities, or military credit, are considered transfer credits and are included in the cumulative credit total. If the credits you are transferring or have transferred to Penn State place you above 59.1 total credits after the start of the semester, your tuition will increase immediately. You will receive a bill for the additional tuition on the first day of the following month. For more information, visit the Office of the Bursar's website.