AP Comparative Government and Politics credit at Virginia colleges

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

Quick answer

35 of 51 Virginia colleges (69%) award credit for AP Comparative 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). 51 of these colleges link to their own policy page below. Captured July 30, 2026.

Colleges that award credit for AP Comparative Government and Politics, with the minimum qualifying score, credit hours awarded and the equivalent course.
CollegeMin scoreCreditsCounts asSource
Liberty University
Lynchburg
33GOVT 210 Introduction to Political SciencePolicy
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg
33PSCI 1XXX PSCI ELECTIVEPolicy
George Mason University
Fairfax
33GOVT 133Policy
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond
33POLI 109Policy
Old Dominion University
Norfolk
33POLS 102SPolicy
Radford University
Radford
33POSC 231Policy
Brightpoint Community College
Chester
33PLS 140Policy
Germanna Community College
Locust Grove
33PLS 140Policy
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Richmond
33Policy
Christopher Newport University
Newport News
33POLS 215Policy
Regent University
Virginia Beach
33GOVT 220Policy
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Hampton
33PLS 140Policy
Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke
33PLS 140Policy
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg
33PSCI-NOTMJPolicy
Hampton University
Hampton
33POL 205Policy
Laurel Ridge Community College
Middletown
33PLS 140Policy
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Charlottesville
36PLS 211, 212Policy
Shenandoah University
Winchester
33PSCI ELECPolicy
Southside Virginia Community College
Alberta
33Policy
Marymount University
Arlington
33POL 103Policy
Southwest Virginia Community College
Cedar Bluff
3PLS 211/212Policy
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg
33INTL 101Policy
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington
33Free ElectivePolicy
Patrick & Henry Community College
Martinsville
33PLS 140Policy
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater
33PSCI 240Policy
Rappahannock Community College
Glenns
33PLS 140Policy
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach
34POLS ElectivePolicy
Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap
33PLS 140Policy
Wytheville Community College
Wytheville
33PLS 120Policy
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise
33POL 100TPolicy
Averett University
Danville
33POS311Policy
Richard Bland College
South Prince George
33GOVT 203Policy
Ferrum College
Ferrum
33PSC 205Policy
Paul D Camp Community College
Franklin
33PLS 140Policy
Patrick Henry College
Purcellville
33Policy
James Madison University
Harrisonburg
43POSC 240Policy
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville
43PLCP 1000TPolicy
William & Mary
Williamsburg
43GOVT 203Policy
University of Richmond
University of Richmond
41PLSC 240Policy
Longwood University
Farmville
43POSC 200Policy
Roanoke College
Salem
41POLI 111Policy
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland
43PSCI 101Policy
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton
43POLS 111Policy
Emory & Henry University
Emory
43POLS electivePolicy
Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista
4Policy
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney
43Government and Foreign Affairs 140Policy
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg
42POL 111 Comparative PoliticsPolicy
Hollins University
Roanoke
4Policy
Randolph College
Lynchburg
44Policy
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar
43POLS 122Policy
Washington and Lee University
Lexington
53POL 105Policy

AP Comparative 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 Comparative Government and Politics?+

51 colleges in Virginia publish a credit-bearing policy for AP Comparative Government and Politics. 35 of them (69%) 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 Comparative 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 210 Introduction to Political Science. 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?+

51 of the 51 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.