You don’t have to spend 16 weeks in a classroom to earn college credit. Colleges award legitimate, transferable credit for what you can prove you know through:

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• Exams
• A job
• Military service
• Professional certifications
• Online courses

This guide will show you how to turn these into college credit in as little as a single day.

Unlock Faster Credit Paths: Four Proven Ways to Hack Your Degree

You’re not limited to traditional 16-week classes to move your degree forward. By combining different options, you can stack legitimate, transferable credits much faster, and often cheaper, than the standard college path.

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Strategy 1: Use Credit-by-Exam (CLEP and DSST)

One of the fastest ways to earn college credits in a day is credit-by-exam. Instead of taking a full course, you take one exam that covers the same material. Pass the exam, and you earn the same number of credits you would have earned from the class.

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Two of the most widely accepted options are:

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• CLEP (College-Level Examination Program)
• ‍DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)

Key facts about CLEP/DSST:

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• Exams typically last about 90 minutes.
• They’re designed for people who already know the subject or can learn it quickly.
• They’re accepted by thousands of colleges across the U.S.
• They’re recognized by organizations like the College Board and the American Council on Education (ACE).

Example: If you’re strong in psychology, math, history, or business, you can:

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1️⃣ Prep for the exam using an online course or study guide.

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2️⃣ Schedule a CLEP or DSST exam online or at a testing center.

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‍3️⃣ Walk out with 3 (or more) college credits the same day you take the test.

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For motivated learners, credit-by-exam is like skipping the line in college—legitimately.

Strategy 2: Turn Your Experience into Credit (Prior Learning Assessment)

If you’ve been working for years, served in the military, or earned professional certifications, you might already have college-level learning. Many colleges will review that experience through a process called Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).

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PLA can include:

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• Portfolio assessments (showing projects, responsibilities, and outcomes)
• Evaluation of professional certifications
• Review of military training and Joint Services Transcripts (JST)
• Community College of the Air Force credits

Examples of how PLA works:

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• IT professional: You submit a portfolio with your certifications, job duties, and projects. The college may award credit for networking, security, or computer systems courses.
• Military service member: You submit your JST or CCAF transcript. Many colleges automatically apply those credits toward general education or major requirements.

💡 Tip: Some transfer-friendly schools—like Thomas Edison State University and Excelsior College,—are known for being generous with credit for prior experience. After your portfolio or transcripts are reviewed, credits can sometimes be added to your record very quickly…even the same day.

Strategy 3: Leverage Alternative Credit Platforms (ACE-Recommended Courses)

If you want an online class experience that’s faster and more affordable than traditional college, alternative credit platforms are a great option, offering self-paced, ACE-reviewed courses that many accredited colleges accept for transfer, including those from Study.com, Sophia Learning, and StraighterLine.

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Why they’re so useful:

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• Courses are online and self-paced, so you can take them any time you’re free.
• Many general education classes (like Intro to Psychology, College Algebra, or U.S. History) are available.
• Study.com, for example, offers unlimited courses under one subscription, so you can complete multiple classes without paying per credit hour.

⚡ Some courses are “finish-in-a-few-hours” fast, while others take longer thanks to extra quizzes or assignments. Check the syllabus to see whether it’s a one-day sprint or a week-long pace

Strategy 4: Make Your Credits Count with Transfer-Friendly Schools

Earning credits fast is only half the hack. You also need them to apply towards your degree. This is where transfer policies matter.

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Many accredited colleges, especially online and adult-focused schools, accept a high number of transfer credits from exams, PLA, and ACE-approved courses.

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Examples of transfer-friendly institutions include:

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• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
• ‍Purdue Global ‍
• Western Governors University (WGU)
• ‍Thomas Edison State University (TESU)

Some bachelor’s programs will accept up to 90 transfer credits, letting you complete only your remaining core or major requirements with them.

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Important: Every college sets its own rules. Some may:

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• Accept all CLEP exams, others only a handful
• Prefer ACE-recommended courses from specific providers
• Limit how many PLA or military credits they accept

📌 Tip: Before you start stacking exams and courses, talk with an academic advisor or review your target school’s transfer credit policy. One short conversation can ensure every credit you earn actually counts.

Stop Delaying, Start Earning Credits Smarter

You don’t have to choose between a degree and the rest of your life. By using credit-by-exam, prior learning assessments, and ACE-recommended online courses, you can turn what you already know, and a few focused hours into real, transferable college credits.

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Start with one exam, one PLA review, or one alternative course, and build from there. For more ways to finish your degree faster and cheaper, explore other Degree Hacked guides on testing out of classes, maximizing transfer credit, and choosing flexible, adult-friendly colleges.