Oregon Students Demonstrate Increased College Readiness Through Advanced Placement​

NEWS RELEASE
Date: November 6, 2025
ODE Media Contact:Liz Merah

(Salem, OR) - New data released by the College Board show that Oregon students with access to challenging courses continue to make strides in college readiness, particularly through the state's growing participation and success in Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and exams.

According to the 2025 Advanced Placement State and District Integrated Report for Oregon, the number of Oregon students participating in AP courses has increased by 70% since 2021, including a 4% increase between 2024 and 2025. Oregon exceeded pre-pandemic participation levels in 2024, and participation continued to rise this year. In 2025, 21,862 Oregon students took 37,203 AP exams, up from 19,464 students taking 32,007 exams in 2019. Oregon's High School Success initiative has played a key role in expanding access to advanced coursework.

More students are not only taking AP courses but also succeeding. In 2025, 71.9% of Oregon AP exams received a qualifying score of 3, 4, or 5, surpassing the national average score of approximately 70%. This represents a 17.9% increase over 2024 in the number of exams earning qualifying scores.

"These results show that Oregon students are rising to the occasion when given the opportunity to learn at the highest levels," said Dr. Charlene Williams, Director of the Oregon Department of Education. "We're especially encouraged to see growth among students historically underrepresented in advanced coursework. This is what progress looks like when schools, students, and families work together."

Among the 2025 highlights:

• Participation in AP courses grew 4.4% overall from 2024, including a 16.2% increase among Black/African American students and a 4.1% increase among Hispanic/Latinx students.
• Overall participation in AP exams increased by 8.5% from 2024.
• 20.9% of AP test-takers qualified for the state-funded AP Test Fee Program for students experiencing poverty.
• The number of students receiving scores of 3, 4, or 5 increased by 32.9% for Black/African American students and 17.7% for Hispanic/Latinx students compared to 2024.

Oregon's AP participation and performance can translate into tangible savings for students and families. A 4-credit class can cost from $375 to over $1,000 at a community college or public university in Oregon, so the 26,738 qualifying AP scores in 2025 represent significant potential tuition savings for Oregon students and families.

In addition to AP, many Oregon students also earn college credit through International Baccalaureate (IB) programs and dual credit or dual enrollment opportunities, which together provide multiple pathways for students to demonstrate college readiness and reduce the cost of higher education.

Through strategic investments and partnerships, Oregon is strengthening pathways for students to earn college credit while in high school through:

• High School Success funds , created by Measure 98 (2016), which help schools expand access to accelerated college credit opportunities such as AP, IB, and dual credit courses, including CTE dual credit. These funds also support communication with students and families so they understand available options and how to access them.
• ODE's Student Success Plans and related grants, which provide districts with strategies to improve outcomes for historically underserved student groups. Each plan includes goals to increase college readiness, often through expanded accelerated credit opportunities.
• Collaboration between ODE and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) through the AP/IB Policy Workgroup, which coordinates the Statewide Course Credit Policy. The policy's online table shows how AP and IB exam scores translate to credit at Oregon's 24 public colleges and universities, helping students plan their postsecondary pathways.
• State-funded exam fee support, as the legislature allocates funding each biennium to cover full AP and IB exam costs for students experiencing poverty and to reduce fees for all Oregon test-takers.

Together, AP, IB, and dual credit opportunities reflect the state's ongoing commitment to expanding college readiness opportunities for all students, especially those historically underrepresented in higher education pathways. When given the opportunity to learn and high expectations, Oregon students are showing that they will rise to the occasion.

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