While Chesterton scholars can take AP exams like any other student, they have another way to earn college credits for high school classes.

Since a number of Chesterton courses align with offerings at Franciscan University of Steubenville, scholars can get credit for those courses by taking an extra midterm and final exam through the Franciscan Advantage Program.

“The course matches with Chesterton classes about three-quarters of the time,” says Chesterton scholar, John ’26, who earned credit for philosophy and theology last year.

The 25 percent where there isn’t a match means studying is important, John adds. That included watching video lectures and consulting a study guide, but it was not as if he were taking a completely additional class.

James ’26 added a Franciscan theology class to strong scores on a couple of AP exams last year to get potential credit for three classes before he even sets foot on a college campus. “It will give me more time to focus on my major, pursue other academic interests, and do extracurricular activities,” James says.

“I would prefer to devote my time to my major, rather than a topic that I already took in high school.”

Franciscan Advantage credits can be applied to many other schools. But if a student enrolls at Franciscan, passing one Advantage Program course gets him a $2,000 scholarship each of four years, while earning a 3.0 GPA in three courses means automatic acceptance.

Credits earned through the Franciscan Advantage Program cost $150 each, with many classes granting three credits. That compares with several hundred to thousands of dollars per credit at other colleges. Scholars can get a full refund if they withdraw shortly after the first midterm in January.

Contact Thomas Costello at Franciscan University of Steubenville with questions. His email is TJCostello@franciscan.edu.