NU Costa Mesa accepts 36 CLEP® exams for transferable college credit. Here's every exam, its minimum required score, and credit hours awarded — plus the other credit-by-exam and prior-learning pathways available at this university.
8691 at registration — scores transmit to the Registrar automatically.36 CLEP® exams organized by category, with the minimum score and credit hours awarded for each.
| Exam | Min Score | Credits | Prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Literature | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| Analyzing and Interpreting Literature | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| College Composition | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| College Composition Modular | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| English Literature | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| Humanities | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| Exam | Min Score | Credits | Prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Government | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Human Growth and Development | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Introduction to Educational Psychology | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Introductory Psychology | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Introductory Sociology | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Social Sciences and History | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Exam | Min Score | Credits | Prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| Calculus | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Chemistry | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| College Algebra | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| College Mathematics | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| Natural Sciences | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| Precalculus | 50 | 4 | Start prep → |
| Exam | Min Score | Credits | Prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Language Level I | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| French Language Level II | 59 | 18 | Start prep → |
| German Language Level I | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| German Language Level II | 60 | 18 | Start prep → |
| Spanish Language Level I | 50 | 9 | Start prep → |
| Spanish Language Level II | 63 | 18 | Start prep → |
NU Costa Mesa is listed as an NCCRS member on nationalccrs.org and recognized on acenet.edu. Beyond CLEP®, it may accept both ACE-recommended and NCCRS-recommended coursework — three complementary pathways to your degree. Acceptance of specific courses is determined by the NU Costa Mesa Registrar under its prior-learning policy; confirm before enrolling.
Most students pass their CLEP® on the first try. If you don't, your subscription unlocks the matching ACE/NCCRS self-paced course — with a retake-able final exam. Either route earns you transferable credit at NU Costa Mesa.
Self-paced courses across the full gen-ed and major-requirement catalog. Each carries an official ACE or NCCRS credit recommendation — submitted to the Registrar like any transcript.
NU Costa Mesa is both an ACE-aligned institution (per acenet.edu) and an NCCRS member (per nationalccrs.org). Acceptance of specific courses is determined at the Registrar's discretion under prior-learning policy — confirm with your registrar before enrolling.
NU Costa Mesa's minimum CLEP® scores run 50 – 63. Generic flashcard apps aim for "passing." We're built for acing.
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We're credit-by-exam prep provider and offer ACE/NCCRS coursework via our partners — both pathways produce official records that feed into NU Costa Mesa's Registrar workflow like any other transcript.
8691 at test registration — College Board transmits scores directly to the Registrar(confirm with Registrar)Three legitimate ways to earn NU Costa Mesa credit without sitting in a 15-week university classroom. Here's the honest comparison.
National University is a private nonprofit university with a campus in Costa Mesa, California, serving students in Orange County and the broader Southern California region. It is part of the National University system and offers programs in a flexible format designed for adult learners and working professionals.
The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across fields such as business, education, health professions, and public service. National University is known for its adult-focused scheduling and online learning options, which are central to its academic model.
For transfer and credit-by-exam purposes, National University is generally a transfer-friendly institution that evaluates prior college coursework and may accept standardized exam credit when it aligns with program requirements and institutional policies. CLEP credit acceptance can vary by program and course equivalency, so students should confirm applicability with the university before relying on exam credit.
Credit evaluation at National University is handled through the registrar and academic records processes, where transfer work is reviewed for institutional equivalency and degree applicability. Students should expect official transcripts, course descriptions, and other documentation to be used in the review of transfer credit, and final decisions are made according to university policy and the requirements of the specific degree program.
8691 when registering for your CLEP® exam. Scores transmit automatically to the Registrar.One subscription. 25+ CLEP® subjects for prep. 70+ ACE/NCCRS courses via partner. Pass-or-pivot safety net. Start your trial today.
TransferCredit.org is an independent education service, not affiliated with or endorsed by National University - Costa Mesa. CLEP® is a registered trademark of the College Board. DSST is a registered trademark of Prometric. Credit policy facts verified at time of writing; always confirm current policy with the Registrar.