How Much Do AP Exams Cost?

Reviewed by: Liam Taft

Published

23 June 2025

Contents

If you’re a high school student who is planning on taking AP exams, you may have a lot of questions about the exam process. Specifically, you may wonder how much taking your AP exams is going to cost. Let’s look at how much it will cost to take your AP exams.

Standard AP Exam Cost in 2025

On average, AP exams cost $99 per test. However, several factors can come into play that affect the cost of the exam. Here are the 2025 AP Exam fees.

Exam Description	Cost Per Exam
AP Exam (excluding AP Research and AP Seminar) taken in the US, US Territories, DoDEA schools, and Canada	$99
AP Exam (excluding AP Research and AP Seminar) taken outside the United States.	$129
AP Capstone: AP Research or AP Seminar Exam (No matter where it’s taken)	$147

Additional Fees and Charges

There may be other fees or charges. For example, if you order an AP exam between November 16 and March 14, you will have to pay the exam fee plus an additional $40 per exam. This can also make you ineligible for an AP Fee Reduction. However, this late order fee doesn’t apply to new students who transfer into the school.

If you order an AP exam and then decide you do not want to take it, you will have to pay a fee of $40. This $40 fee applies to cancelled or unused exams. You will still be charged this fee even if you qualify for a fee reduction. If you decide that you do not want to take an exam, inform your AP coordinator.

Financial Assistance

Students who have financial need can have their AP exam fees reduced. The College Board can take $37 off the fee for each exam. Individual states also offer some financial assistance that can bring the cost of AP exams down for financially eligible students. To learn more about available state and local funding options, check with your AP coordinator.

School districts sometimes offer their own reduced costs, as there is local funding to cover them. Students who qualify for some programs, like the reduced/free lunch program, are usually eligible for financial help paying AP exam fees, too. Some schools charge financially eligible students as little as $25 per exam.

You will not get financial aid automatically. During the registration process, you’ll indicate that you need assistance. You will have to provide documentation of your family’s financial standing. This is usually as easy as showing you are eligible for a free or reduced lunch program. Just remember that you’ll need to get the approval before making your payment.

According to the College Board website, there are various ways students can qualify for an AP exam fee reduction. Students may qualify if they meet any of these criteria:

The student is enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that offers financial aid or services to low-income families. (e.g., Upward Bound)
Students whose family receives public assistance.
Students who live in foster homes, are homeless, or live in federally subsidized public housing.
A student who is a ward of the state or an orphan qualifies.
Students in a family that participates in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are qualified for fee reductions.
If a student receives free meals at their high school, they qualify, unless they attend a school where all students get free meals by default.

Payment Process

AP exams can’t be paid for through the College Board website. You’ll go through your high school or the organization that is administering your AP exams. The payment process can be different for each school, but here are the basic steps for paying for your AP exams.

General Payment Information

Your school’s AP exam coordinator will tell you how you can register and pay for your AP exams.
Payments are usually made through your school, and NOT to the College Board directly.
Some schools streamline the process by using an online registration and payment platform like Total Registration.
Some schools may require that payment be made through the school via check or money order. Other schools may only provide online payment options.

Payment Process

If your school uses an online payment collection provider like Total Registration, you will be given the information on how and when to pay.
Online payment is preferred, but make sure to check with your AP coordinator for specific instructions.
Some schools will work with you by allowing partial payments or deposits. They will have a deadline for the full payment.
The payment deadline is usually by November 15, whether you pay through your school or a payment collection agent.
If you qualify for reduced AP exam fees, your school will confirm your eligibility and then adjust your payment amount for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are AP Exams Worth The Cost?

Yes. AP exams are worth the cost. They can potentially earn you college credit, which can save you quite a bit on tuition. By earning college credit and skipping introductory classes, you may graduate early, which saves you a lot of money and time. Taking AP exams also looks good on your profile when applying to colleges. They show that you are willing to take on more challenging coursework.

Having strong AP exam scores can improve your chances of getting a merit-based scholarship. They may help you when you apply for financial aid, since AP exam scores are often looked at as an indicator of your academic potential. Students who do well in AP courses and on AP exams tend to develop essential skills needed to succeed in college and in life, such as critical thinking, time management, and good study habits.

Is The AP Exam Fee Refundable?

You can get a refund of your AP exam fee, minus the $40 cancellation fee charged by the College Board. The amount of your refund will depend on when you cancel and your school’s specific policies.

Generally speaking, if you cancel your AP exam after the November ordering deadline, you may not get a full refund. The College Board will charge a $40 cancellation fee per exam.

If you cancel before the November deadline for ordering AP exams, you may be eligible for a full refund minus applicable processing fees. Schools also have their own policies pertaining to AP exam cancellations and refunds. They may charge additional fees or have different deadlines for the cancellation process.

To cancel a scheduled AP exam, you will need to talk to your school’s AP coordinator. Your refund, if you are eligible, will be handled by your school or the online platform you used to register.

Do I Have to Pay Tax on AP Exams?

No. Taxes are not added to the AP exam fees. They are handled as a flat fee per exam, and they are not subject to sales taxes in most states. The College Board does not add taxes to exam fees. However, exam fees are not a tax-deductible expense.

The IRS sees the fees as a service-related expense, not as a tuition expense. That’s why they are not eligible for a tax deduction. According to tax experts, AP exams are an optional expense. Even though the exam fees are not a tax deduction, some other education-related expenses might be. For example, the Lifetime Learning Credit or the American Opportunity Credit may qualify as tax deductions, according to the experts at TurboTax.

Final Thoughts

How much AP exams cost depends on where you take them. They cost $99 each if you take them in the US and $129 if they are taken internationally. Capstone AP exams (AP Seminar and AP Research) cost $147 no matter where they are taken. Plan your AP exams well to avoid cancellation or unused exam fees. Students who meet certain criteria may be eligible for some financial assistance to help cover exam fees.

Payments for AP exams are handled through your local school and AP coordinators, not through the College Board. Some schools may offer students a payment plan, as long as the entire amount is collected by the registration deadline in November. Most students pay online through a collection portal, but some schools will take checks or money orders and make the payments for students.

It is worth it to take AP courses and their related exams. You can earn college credit that can help you skip introductory coursework, making your academic journey to a college degree shorter, and less expensive in the long run.

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