AP Music Theory credit at Virginia colleges

Every Virginia college with a published AP Music Theory credit policy — minimum score, credit hours, and the course it replaces.

Quick answer

35 of 46 Virginia colleges (76%) award credit for AP Music Theory at a score of 3. 9 require a 4 and 2 require a 5. The lowest bar in the state is a 3 at Liberty University (3 credit hours). 46 of these colleges link to their own policy page below. Captured July 30, 2026.

Colleges that award credit for AP Music Theory, with the minimum qualifying score, credit hours awarded and the equivalent course.
CollegeMin scoreCreditsCounts asSource
Liberty University
Lynchburg
33MUSC 1XX Music Elective-Lower LevelPolicy
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg
33MUS 2025Policy
George Mason University
Fairfax
33MUSI 100Policy
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond
33MHIS 115Policy
Old Dominion University
Norfolk
33MUSC 1ELEPolicy
Radford University
Radford
36MUSC 111 & 112Policy
Brightpoint Community College
Chester
34MUS 111Policy
Norfolk State University
Norfolk
32MUS 145Policy
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Richmond
34MUS 111Policy
Virginia State University
Petersburg
33MUSI 154Policy
Regent University
Virginia Beach
33ElectivePolicy
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Hampton
34MUS 111Policy
Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke
34MUS 111Policy
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg
34MUTH-NOTMJPolicy
Hampton University
Hampton
33Evaluated by DepartmentPolicy
Laurel Ridge Community College
Middletown
34MUS 111Policy
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Charlottesville
36MUS 111, 112Policy
Longwood University
Farmville
33MUSC 113 & 115Policy
Southside Virginia Community College
Alberta
34MUS 111Policy
Marymount University
Arlington
33MUS 901Policy
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg
33ElectivePolicy
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington
36Policy
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater
33MUS 225Policy
Rappahannock Community College
Glenns
38MUS 111/112Policy
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach
34MUS 225Policy
Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap
34MUS 111Policy
Wytheville Community College
Wytheville
38MUS 111, MUS 112Policy
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise
33MUS 100TPolicy
Averett University
Danville
34MUS270Policy
Emory & Henry University
Emory
33MUSC 152Policy
Ferrum College
Ferrum
36MUS 102 & MUS electivePolicy
Paul D Camp Community College
Franklin
34MUS 111Policy
Randolph College
Lynchburg
32MUSC 1103Policy
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar
33MUSC 163Policy
Patrick Henry College
Purcellville
33Policy
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville
43MUSI 2000TPolicy
Shenandoah University
Winchester
43TAKE AND PASS FINAL FOR MUTC 115Policy
Roanoke College
Salem
41MUSC 150Policy
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland
43MUSC 101Policy
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton
44MUS 111*Policy
Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista
43MUS 151Policy
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney
46Music 221/321Policy
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg
43CMUS 181 Music Theory IPolicy
Hollins University
Roanoke
4Policy
William & Mary
Williamsburg
54MUSC 201, MUSC 201LPolicy
Washington and Lee University
Lexington
54MUS 161,163Policy

AP Music Theory credit in other states

How we ranked this

One row per Virginia 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 Virginia colleges give credit for AP Music Theory?+

46 colleges in Virginia publish a credit-bearing policy for AP Music Theory. 35 of them (76%) award credit at a score of 3, 9 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 Music Theory score that earns credit in Virginia?+

3. Liberty University in Lynchburg awards credit at a score of 3, worth 3 credit hours, counting as MUSC 1XX Music Elective-Lower Level. 35 Virginia colleges in total set their bar at a 3 or lower.

Does in-state residency change AP credit in Virginia?+

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 Virginia AP credit policies?+

46 of the 46 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

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. CertiHomes Education does not sell rankings or accept placement fees.