AP Physics C: Mechanics credit at Pennsylvania colleges

Every Pennsylvania college with a published AP Physics C: Mechanics credit policy — minimum score, credit hours, and the course it replaces.

Quick answer

39 of 98 Pennsylvania colleges (40%) award credit for AP Physics C: Mechanics at a score of 3. 52 require a 4 and 7 require a 5. The lowest bar in the state is a 3 at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (3 credit hours). 97 of these colleges link to their own policy page below. Captured July 30, 2026.

Colleges that award credit for AP Physics C: Mechanics, with the minimum qualifying score, credit hours awarded and the equivalent course.
CollegeMin scoreCreditsCounts asSource
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester
33PHY 100Policy
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg
34PHYS 211 Phys Eng/Scientists IPolicy
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg
34PHYS 211 General Physics 1Policy
Community College of Allegheny County
Pittsburgh
34PHY 221Policy
Northampton County Area Community College
Bethlehem
34PHYS 101Policy
Montgomery County Community College
Blue Bell
34PHY 121Policy
Delaware County Community College
Media
33PHY 270 Physics ElectivePolicy
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Indiana
34PHYS 131/141Policy
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock
34PHYS 216Policy
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville
35PHYS 231Policy
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh
33PHYS 123Policy
Bucks County Community College
Newtown
3PHYS 121Policy
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg
34PHYS 161Policy
Lehigh Carbon Community College
Schnecksville
33PHY 299Policy
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Williamsport
34PHS 201Policy
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg
34PHYS 205 and PHYS 124 (lecture and lab)Policy
Reading Area Community College
Reading
3PHY 250Policy
Robert Morris University
Moon Township
3PHYS 1210/1215Policy
Gannon University
Erie
33PHYS 210Policy
Point Park University
Pittsburgh
36PHYS 295Policy
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg
34PHYS 211Policy
Holy Family University
Philadelphia
33Tier 1 Science OR PHYS 202 (4) OR Tier 2 ElectivePolicy
Grove City College
Grove City
34SCIC 201Policy
Eastern University
Saint Davids
34PHYS-151/151LPolicy
Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre
34PHY 201, 204Policy
Butler County Community College
Butler
34PHYS 102Policy
Marywood University
Scranton
34Physics ElectivePolicy
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown
34PHY201Policy
Arcadia University
Glenside
34PH211Policy
Delaware Valley University
Doylestown
34MP-2123 (4 cr)Policy
Seton Hill University
Greensburg
34SPH 110 and 111 General Physics II and Lab, or fulfills Liberal Arts Curriculum - Science requirementPolicy
King's College
Wilkes-Barre
33PHYS 111Policy
Geneva College
Beaver Falls
34PHY 181Policy
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford
Bradford
38PHYS0201, 0202, or 0203, 0204Policy
Chestnut Hill College
Philadelphia
33Policy
Keystone College
La Plume
34PHYS 2110 General Physics IPolicy
Cairn University-Langhorne
Langhorne
33Policy
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Cheyney
34SPY 211Policy
Manor College
Jenkintown
3Policy
Temple University
Philadelphia
44Physics 1061Policy
Drexel University
Philadelphia
44PHYS 152Policy
Villanova University
Villanova
44PHY 1100 & PHY 1101Policy
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown
44PHY100/101Policy
Lehigh University
Bethlehem
45PHY 011, PHY 012Policy
Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia
4PHY 105, 105LPolicy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown
44Physics 211Policy
Bucknell University
Lewisburg
41100 level Physics Elective / No lab creditPolicy
University of Scranton
Scranton
4PHYS 120 Credit for laboratory is not automatically granted; however, the student may present lab books/syllabi to the department chair for review and possible credit assignment.Policy
York College of Pennsylvania
York
45PHY160 and PHY161Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington
Abington
44Physics 211Policy
Widener University
Chester
44PHYS 161 + 163Policy
Lafayette College
Easton
41Physics 131Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona
Altoona
44Phys 211Policy
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg
41PHY 103 / MI - Natural Science with labPolicy
Dickinson College
Carlisle
4PHYS 131Policy
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove
44PHYS-203Policy
DeSales University
Center Valley
45Either PH 201 or PH 203 (pending student's major)Policy
Moravian University
Bethlehem
44PHYS 111Policy
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster
41PHY 111Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks
Reading
44Physics 211Policy
Muhlenberg College
Allentown
41PHY 101-110Policy
Lebanon Valley College
Annville
44Majors: Elective (or PHY 111 with the permission of the department). Non-majors: PHY 111.Policy
Ursinus College
Collegeville
44PHYS 111QPolicy
Haverford College
Haverford
4.5Policy
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr
41Policy
Albright College
Reading
4PHY 202Policy
Immaculata University
Immaculata
44Policy
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe
44PH 111, 113Policy
Chatham University
Pittsburgh
44PHY251, PHY255LPolicy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine
Media
44Phys 211Policy
Allegheny College
Meadville
44PHYS*101Policy
Juniata College
Huntingdon
43PC-2XXTRPolicy
Mount Aloysius College
Cresson
44PHYS 106
Waynesburg University
Waynesburg
44PHY 212, General Physics IIPolicy
Lycoming College
Williamsport
44PHYS 225Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
Center Valley
44Physics 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
Dunmore
44Phys 211Policy
Wilson College
Chambersburg
44PHY-101: Physics IPolicy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York
York
44Phys 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill
Schuylkill Haven
44Physics 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto
Mont Alto
44Physics 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
Hazleton
44Physics 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver
Monaca
44Physics 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State New Kensington
New Kensington
44Physics 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
Lemont Furnace
44Phys 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny
McKeesport
44Phys 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Dallas
44Physics 211Policy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBois
DuBois
44Physics 211Policy
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church
Bryn Athyn
43Phys1xxPolicy
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango
Sharon
44Physics 211Policy
University of Pittsburgh-Titusville
Titusville
44PHYS 0174Policy
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh
54PHYS 0174Policy
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
51.5Physics 0150Policy
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh
51233-141Policy
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
Johnstown
54PHYS 0150Policy
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore
51Policy
University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
Greensburg
54PHYS 0174Policy
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington
5PHY 107Policy

AP Physics C: Mechanics credit in other states

How we ranked this

One row per Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania colleges give credit for AP Physics C: Mechanics?+

98 colleges in Pennsylvania publish a credit-bearing policy for AP Physics C: Mechanics. 39 of them (40%) award credit at a score of 3, 52 require a 4, and 7 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 Physics C: Mechanics score that earns credit in Pennsylvania?+

3. West Chester University of Pennsylvania in West Chester awards credit at a score of 3, worth 3 credit hours, counting as PHY 100. 39 Pennsylvania colleges in total set their bar at a 3 or lower.

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

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 Pennsylvania AP credit policies?+

97 of the 98 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.