AP Music Theory credit at Minnesota colleges

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

Quick answer

34 of 41 Minnesota colleges (83%) award credit for AP Music Theory at a score of 3. 3 require a 4 and 4 require a 5. The lowest bar in the state is a 3 at Minnesota State University-Mankato (2 credit hours). 41 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
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato
32MUSC 131Policy
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth
33MU 1111Policy
Normandale Community College
Bloomington
33MUSC 1131Policy
University of St Thomas
Saint Paul
34MUSC 113Policy
Century College
White Bear Lake
36MUSC ElectivePolicy
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud
36MUSM101Policy
Winona State University
Winona
33MUS 120Policy
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul
33Policy
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Minneapolis
33Policy
North Hennepin Community College
Brooklyn Park
36MUSC1241, MUSC1251, & ElectivePolicy
Rochester Community and Technical College
Rochester
33MUSC 1001Policy
Bemidji State University
Bemidji
33MUS2201Policy
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Moorhead
3MUS 107A + electivePolicy
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Fergus Falls
33MUSC1121Policy
St Cloud Technical and Community College
Saint Cloud
36Policy
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Saint Paul
31MUS 203Policy
Lake Superior College
Duluth
33MUSC1105Policy
Augsburg University
Minneapolis
34MUS 160Policy
St Catherine University
Saint Paul
38MUS ELECPolicy
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights
33MUSC 1110Policy
Dakota County Technical College
Rosemount
33MnTC Goal 6Policy
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall
33MUS 172Policy
Riverland Community College
Austin
34MUSC 1101Policy
The College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth
34Elective credit only.Policy
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Granite Falls
33Policy
University of Minnesota-Crookston
Crookston
33MUS 1111Policy
University of Northwestern-St Paul
Saint Paul
34Northwestern Music Theory Placement Exam results determine music credits awarded. Any remaining credits are appled to electives, if needed.Policy
Alexandria Technical & Community College
Alexandria
33Policy
Northland Community and Technical College
Thief River Falls
34Policy
Minnesota State College Southeast
Winona
33MUSC1203Policy
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona
33MU160Policy
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris
34MUS 1101Policy
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius
38MUS 164 Music Fundamentals for Worship Leading and Fine Arts ElectivesPolicy
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato
3Policy
Carleton College
Northfield
46Policy
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter
4MUS-101 (ARTSC)Policy
Hamline University
Saint Paul
44MUS 3410Policy
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis
53Music 1001Policy
St Olaf College
Northfield
51Policy
Macalester College
Saint Paul
54MUSI 113Policy
University of Minnesota-Rochester
Rochester
55Policy

AP Music Theory credit in other states

How we ranked this

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

41 colleges in Minnesota publish a credit-bearing policy for AP Music Theory. 34 of them (83%) award credit at a score of 3, 3 require a 4, and 4 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 Minnesota?+

3. Minnesota State University-Mankato in Mankato awards credit at a score of 3, worth 2 credit hours, counting as MUSC 131. 34 Minnesota colleges in total set their bar at a 3 or lower.

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

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 Minnesota AP credit policies?+

41 of the 41 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.