AP Physics C: Mechanics credit at Virginia colleges

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

Quick answer

33 of 49 Virginia colleges (67%) award credit for AP Physics C: Mechanics at a score of 3. 14 require a 4 and 2 require a 5. The lowest bar in the state is a 3 at Liberty University (4 credit hours). 49 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
Liberty University
Lynchburg
34PHYS 231 University Physics IPolicy
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg
34PHYS 2205 & 2215Policy
George Mason University
Fairfax
34PHYS 243, 244Policy
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond
35PHYS 207Policy
James Madison University
Harrisonburg
34PHYS 140 & PHYS 140LPolicy
Old Dominion University
Norfolk
34PHYS 111NPolicy
Radford University
Radford
34PHYS 221Policy
Brightpoint Community College
Chester
34PHY 201Policy
Norfolk State University
Norfolk
34PHY 160Policy
Germanna Community College
Locust Grove
34PHY 241Policy
Virginia State University
Petersburg
34PHYS 105Policy
Regent University
Virginia Beach
34PHYS 221Policy
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Hampton
34PHY 201Policy
Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke
34PHY 201Policy
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg
34PHYS-101Policy
Hampton University
Hampton
38PHY 201 & 202Policy
Laurel Ridge Community College
Middletown
34PHY 201Policy
Longwood University
Farmville
34PHYS 221Policy
Shenandoah University
Winchester
34PHYS 121Policy
Southside Virginia Community College
Alberta
34PHY 121Policy
Marymount University
Arlington
34PHYS 161, PHYS 161LPolicy
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington
33PY-160 & PY-155Policy
Patrick & Henry Community College
Martinsville
34PHY 202Policy
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater
34PHYS 125Policy
Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap
34PHY 201Policy
Wytheville Community College
Wytheville
34PHY 241Policy
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise
35PHY 100TPolicy
Averett University
Danville
34PSC201Policy
Richard Bland College
South Prince George
34PHYS 201Policy
Ferrum College
Ferrum
33Policy
Paul D Camp Community College
Franklin
34PHY 201Policy
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar
34PHYS 171Policy
Patrick Henry College
Purcellville
33Policy
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville
43PHYS 1425Policy
Christopher Newport University
Newport News
44PHYS 201/201LPolicy
University of Richmond
University of Richmond
41PHYS 131Policy
Roanoke College
Salem
41PHYS 201Policy
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg
44PHYS 161Policy
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland
44PHYS 151Policy
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach
44PHYS 221Policy
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton
44PHYS 201Policy
Emory & Henry University
Emory
44PHYS 201Policy
Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista
43PHY 175RPolicy
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney
44Physics 131/151Policy
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg
44PHYS 252 and 253 University Physics I lecture, labPolicy
Hollins University
Roanoke
4Policy
Randolph College
Lynchburg
44PHYS 1115/1115LPolicy
William & Mary
Williamsburg
54PHYS 101 PHYS 101LPolicy
Washington and Lee University
Lexington
53PHYS 1-SC-N (3-credit SC non-major elective)Policy

AP Physics C: Mechanics 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 Physics C: Mechanics?+

49 colleges in Virginia publish a credit-bearing policy for AP Physics C: Mechanics. 33 of them (67%) award credit at a score of 3, 14 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 Physics C: Mechanics score that earns credit in Virginia?+

3. Liberty University in Lynchburg awards credit at a score of 3, worth 4 credit hours, counting as PHYS 231 University Physics I. 33 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?+

49 of the 49 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.