AP United States Government and Politics credit at Virginia colleges

Every Virginia college with a published AP United States Government and Politics credit policy — minimum score, credit hours, and the course it replaces.

Quick answer

37 of 53 Virginia colleges (70%) award credit for AP United States Government and Politics at a score of 3. 15 require a 4 and 1 requires a 5. The lowest bar in the state is a 3 at Liberty University (3 credit hours). 53 of these colleges link to their own policy page below. Captured July 30, 2026.

Colleges that award credit for AP United States Government and Politics, with the minimum qualifying score, credit hours awarded and the equivalent course.
CollegeMin scoreCreditsCounts asSource
Liberty University
Lynchburg
33GOVT 220 American GovernmentPolicy
George Mason University
Fairfax
33GOVT 103Policy
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond
33POLI 103Policy
Old Dominion University
Norfolk
33POLS 101SPolicy
Radford University
Radford
33POSC 120Policy
Brightpoint Community College
Chester
33PLS 135Policy
Norfolk State University
Norfolk
33POS 100Policy
Germanna Community College
Locust Grove
33PLS 211Policy
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Richmond
33PLS 211Policy
Virginia State University
Petersburg
33POLI 150Policy
Regent University
Virginia Beach
33GOVT 240Policy
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Hampton
33PLS 135Policy
Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke
33PLS 135Policy
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg
33PSCI-NOTMJPolicy
Hampton University
Hampton
33POL 203Policy
Laurel Ridge Community College
Middletown
33PLS 135Policy
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Charlottesville
36PLS 135, 211Policy
Shenandoah University
Winchester
33PSCI 201Policy
Southside Virginia Community College
Alberta
33PLS 130 OR 211Policy
Marymount University
Arlington
33POL 104Policy
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg
33POLI 221Policy
Patrick & Henry Community College
Martinsville
33PLS 135Policy
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater
33PSCI 210Policy
Danville Community College
Danville
33PLS 211Policy
Virginia Highlands Community College
Abingdon
33PLS 135Policy
Rappahannock Community College
Glenns
33PLS 135Policy
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach
34POLS 112Policy
Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap
33PLS 135Policy
Wytheville Community College
Wytheville
33PLS 211Policy
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise
33POL 1010Policy
Averett University
Danville
33POS215Policy
Richard Bland College
South Prince George
33GOVT 201Policy
Ferrum College
Ferrum
33PSC 101Policy
Bluefield University
Bluefield
33PLS 1013Policy
Paul D Camp Community College
Franklin
33PLS 135Policy
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar
33POLS 159Policy
Patrick Henry College
Purcellville
33Policy
James Madison University
Harrisonburg
44POSC 225Policy
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville
43PLAP 1000TPolicy
William & Mary
Williamsburg
43GOVT 201Policy
Christopher Newport University
Newport News
43POLS 101Policy
University of Richmond
University of Richmond
41PLSC 220Policy
Longwood University
Farmville
43POSC 100Policy
Roanoke College
Salem
41POLI 112Policy
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland
43PSCI 102Policy
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton
43POLS 100Policy
Emory & Henry University
Emory
43POLS 103Policy
Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista
43POL 223Policy
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney
43Government and Foreign Affairs 101Policy
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg
42POL 112 American PoliticsPolicy
Hollins University
Roanoke
4Policy
Randolph College
Lynchburg
44POL 1101Policy
Washington and Lee University
Lexington
53POL 100Policy

AP United States Government and Politics 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 United States Government and Politics?+

53 colleges in Virginia publish a credit-bearing policy for AP United States Government and Politics. 37 of them (70%) award credit at a score of 3, 15 require a 4, and 1 requires 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 United States Government and Politics score that earns credit in Virginia?+

3. Liberty University in Lynchburg awards credit at a score of 3, worth 3 credit hours, counting as GOVT 220 American Government. 37 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?+

53 of the 53 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.