Credit by Examination
At National Louis University, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their subject knowledge and earn credit through standardized exams such as CLEP, DSST (DANTES), and the NYU Language Proficiency Exam. Here's how you can take advantage of these opportunities:
If you are currently enrolled at NLU as an undergrad, you may be able to earn credit by taking a standardized exam! Achieving acceptable scores on these exams allows you to count the credits as transfer credits toward your degree.
To see which exams qualify for credit at NLU and what qualifies as a passing score for each exam type, click here.
Be sure to check out the FAQ page under Credit by Exam for more specifics.
Take CLEP Exams at NLU!
CLEP exams (administered through College Board) evaluate your knowledge across various academic subjects such as Composition and Literature, Foreign Languages, History and Social Sciences, Science and Mathematics, and Business. These exams are timed but do not penalize for incorrect or skipped answers. Depending on the exam, you can earn between 5QH and 14QH of credit.
Take your CLEP test at NLU! Take your CLEP exam in person at our Wheeling, Lisle, or Chicago campus by signing up for an available testing slot.
Check out our CLEP Overview video and our CLEP FAQ section for more details on how to register for CLEP through College Board and schedule your CLEP test at an NLU campus!
DANTES/DSST Exams
Dantes Subject Standardized Exams (DSST) subject exams traditionally offered to military personnel but are now open to civilians as well. DSST exams cover a more than 37 subjects in various areas including Humanities, Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences, Social Sciences, and Technical Writing, and they offer credit awards equivalent to 5QH.
Funding Your CLEP and DSST Exams with DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support)*
- CLEP Exams: DANTES provides funding for CLEP exams, making them free for eligible military personnel, civilians, and spouses. For more details on funding and eligibility criteria, visit the DANTES Funding page.
- DSST Exams: Since 2006, DANTES has also authorized upfront funding for DSST exams for eligible military members at authorized National Test Centers. For details, visit the DSST funding webpage.
*Please note: NLU currently does not administer DANTES-funded CLEP or DSST exams. If you take these exams at another institution, be sure to send your score reports to "National-Louis University - Wheeling 7676" for transfer credit evaluation.
NYU Language Proficiency Exam: Available Virtually
You can showcase your language proficiency through the NYU Language Proficiency Exam, now available virtually for over 30 different languages. To explore the full catalog and register for the exam, visit the NYU Testing webpage.
