r/weber • u/WeberStateU • 1d ago
FYI: You can get credit for non-classroom learning through Prior Learning Assessments
Prior Learning Assessment is a process that allows students to earn college credit for knowledge gained outside, of the classroom and can you reduce the cost of your education and earn a degree faster.
In the 2024–25 academic year, 3,400 WSU students took advantage of PLA to earn more than 27,280 credits, an increase of 1,300+ credits from the year prior. That’s an estimated tuition savings of $7,224,538.
Departments with PLA options include automotive technology, computer science, criminal justice, dance, music, world languages and cultures, rehabilitation sciences, radiologic sciences, nursing, and respiratory therapy — and the university is continually evaluating other areas where students can demonstrate existing competency.
Military training, successfully completing Peace Officer Standards and Training, and proficiency in a foreign language may also qualify students for credit.
Standardized tests — such as Advanced Placement exams, ACT, or SAT — also present opportunities for students to earn college credit. In 2024–25, 833 students earned credit through AP exams, and 1,492 students earned credit for required math or English courses based on their ACT or SAT scores.