College Level Exam Program gets much use as tuition soars

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- As college tuition rates jump as high as 39 percent, an increasing number of people are opting to use the College Level Examination Program, which allows students to skip a semester-long course in lieu of a $65 test.
The College Board, a New York City-based group that began offering the tests in 1967, reported a 20 percent jump nationwide in testing last year.
"With the increase in tuition, people are looking for creative ways to reduce their expenses," CLEP Director Ariel Foster told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
The organization traditionally sees an annual increase between 2 percent and 5 percent per year, she said. Foster called last year's increase "a huge jump."
Students attending four-year public colleges and universities in 49 of the 50 states have seen tuition increases ranging from 1.7 percent in Montana to 39 percent in Arizona.
Students must demonstrate proficiency in a subject during the 90-minute tests in any of 34 subjects, mostly multiple choice.
The Community College of Allegheny County, Boyce campus, reported a 24 percent jump in testing last year.
The campus administered 210 CLEP exams two years ago. Last year, 500 exams were administered, according to Bob Russo, manager of the downtown center.
"It's a wonder they're not stampeding me here, but they will be," he said. "We may double last year's volume."
Mirroring trend
Robert Morris University mirrored the national trend, reporting a 22 percent increase in CLEP testing, said Eric Pond, CLEP administrator at the school.
Eric Ash Jr., 18, graduated from high school last spring and has passed five CLEP exams, earning 21 college credits.
He plans to graduate from CCAC in one year and transfer to the University of Pittsburgh.
"My reason for attending CCAC was because I didn't have the money to attend a state school," he said. "And by saving all this money on the CLEP tests, I'll have more money when I do transfer to Pitt."
Yet only 12 percent of the people taking CLEP tests are under 19; 27 percent are between the ages 19 and 22.
About 24 percent of those taking the tests are at least 36 years old, including Nan Wittler, 47, who Russo, of CCAC, calls "the queen of CLEP."
Wittler has passed 14 CLEP exams, saving as much as $11,000.
"I was working alone and I wanted to get back in the world," said Wittler, who had been running her own porcelain doll business from home. "I'm an outgoing person and it was lonely. After 10 years, I wanted to try something else."
She will attend Robert Morris as an accounting major, which accepts 30 credits from CLEP exams.
"Every one I took I thought was challenging," she said. "But when you pass it, it's a great feeling."
There are 2,900 colleges that grant credit and/or advanced standing for CLEP exams.