BLUEPRINT OR AP: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Learn about differences between Jayhawk Blueprint courses and AP courses

Story by Stella Mosier

Blueprint Ap

Jayhawk Blueprint courses are an option for all USD 497 students who would like to earn official college credits during high school, which is achieved through dual enrollment at the University of Kansas and the high school. Costing $309 per course, students receive their credits simply based on the completion and passing of the class. Math 101, English 101 and 102, Communications 130, US History 128 and 129 and Biology 100 are all currently offered. By earning college credits as a high school student, you are given the opportunity to take less classes throughout college and a guarantee of saving money. Additionally, the passing of the course can add up to 0.5 points to a GPA. It is guaranteed that the credit you earn will transfer to any public 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education in Kansas; however, eligibility for transfer of the credit to other schools is not guaranteed.

AP classes are offered to high school students across the nation as an opportunity to take the equivalent of a college course as a high schooler. Over the course of the year in an AP class, students learn at an advanced pace to prepare for a final exam, typically held in May. Students need to receive a high enough score on the exam to receive a college credit. Required scores differ for different colleges and tests. If students do not earn a high enough score on the exam, they risk not receiving any college credits at the end of the course. AP exams come with a fee of $97, which is considerably cheaper than a standard college course. Similarly to Jayhawk Blueprint classes, AP classes have the potential to boost a student’s weighted GPA by up to a full 0.5 point. The difficulty level of AP classes are often a deterring factor for many students, but a challenge may better prepare a student for their post graduate studies. AP course credits are redeemable at nearly all universities and colleges; only a few schools do not accept them.