For students planning to apply for undergraduate programs in the United States, AP courses have always been a crucial component of academic planning during high school.
But are more AP courses always better? Are popular courses necessarily favored by university admissions officers? Does the impact on college admission vary across different AP subjects?
Recently, the U.S. college counseling firm Empowerly released its 2026 "The Course Premium Report." By analyzing the application outcomes of 11,764 students across 524 universities, the report examined the correlation between 36 AP courses and college admission probabilities.
The study found that only six AP courses demonstrated a relatively clear positive correlation with admission, while several popular AP courses did not show any significant advantage.
Which AP courses stood out? How should students from different majors select their courses? CheersYou (清柚教育) takes you through the specific findings below.
Revealing the Admission Performance of 36 AP Courses
Six AP Courses Stand Out, Calculus BC Leads the Pack
Among all 36 AP courses, the following six showed a relatively clear and stable positive correlation.
AP Calculus BC topped the list with a relative increase of 5.18%, followed closely by AP Psychology and AP Biology.
In terms of subject distribution, mathematics and natural science courses occupied four spots, while Psychology and English Language and Composition also made it into the top six. This indicates that the courses showing positive correlations in the study are not limited to traditional STEM fields.
Some Popular AP Courses Show No Clear Admission Advantage
In contrast to the above courses, another six AP courses did not demonstrate a clear admission advantage, including several highly popular subjects.
Take AP Calculus AB and AP Computer Science A as examples: although the study did not find these two courses to offer a distinct admission advantage, this does not imply lower academic value. Calculus AB may still be the highest-level calculus course offered by some high schools, and Computer Science A holds significant foundational value for applicants majoring in Computer Science.
Furthermore, the report notes that some top-tier universities may view courses like AP U.S. History as essential academic preparation for students. Therefore, one cannot judge whether a course is worth taking based solely on data.
Seven AP Courses Show Positive Correlations, but Results Remain Uncertain
Additionally, the study found that seven other AP courses exhibited positive correlations, with model estimates for some courses even surpassing those of AP Calculus BC.
However, the estimated ranges for these courses are quite wide, making it difficult to accurately confirm the magnitude of their admissions advantage.
For example, while AP Comparative Government shows a figure of 32.70%, the sample size is only 85 students; the sample for AP Latin is even smaller at just 34 students, resulting in significant uncertainty in the findings.
Overall, the 36 AP courses studied exhibit varying associations with admissions outcomes. Some courses show a clear positive correlation, while others demonstrate no obvious advantage or yield inconclusive results due to high data uncertainty.
Note: The percentages above represent model-estimated relative changes in admission probability, not direct percentage point increases or decreases in acceptance rates. The research results reflect statistical correlations only and do not imply causation.
How to Choose AP Courses by Major? Key Considerations
In addition to analyzing the correlation between different AP courses and admission probabilities, the report invited consultants with university admissions experience to provide course selection recommendations for five major academic tracks, based on the relevance of each course to the specific field of study.
STEM: Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, etc.
We recommend prioritizing core courses such as AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C, AP Biology, and AP Chemistry. These can be complemented by AP Statistics, AP Psychology, or AP English Language, depending on your personal interests.
Healthcare: Medicine and Health Sciences
AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Psychology are core courses worth prioritizing. AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics can serve as supplements, helping students build quantitative analysis skills.
Business: Business Studies
AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics are identified as core courses with a clear positive correlation. While AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics have not been confirmed to offer an admissions advantage, they still hold strong relevance to the business major.
Social Sciences
You should consider focusing on AP Psychology, AP English Language, AP European History, and AP Statistics. Depending on your specific area of interest within social sciences, you may also pair these with history or economics courses.
Arts & Humanities
AP English Language, AP European History, and specialized courses like AP Music Theory are worth noting. Courses such as AP English Literature and AP U.S. History also maintain strong relevance to this field.
For students who have not yet determined their major, the report recommends focusing on AP English Language, AP Biology, AP Psychology, and AP Statistics, as these courses offer valuable reference across multiple academic directions.
Beyond major alignment, several key points should be considered when selecting AP courses:
Plan Your Math Course Progression in Advance
Students planning to apply for STEM, Economics, or Business-related majors should familiarize themselves early with their high school’s math curriculum sequence, preparing for advanced courses such as AP Calculus BC.
Balance Course Difficulty with GPA Performance
If your academic ability permits, you may prioritize more challenging courses. However, do not sacrifice grades simply to increase the number of AP courses taken. Relevant data shows that among U.S. Top 100 universities, 96% and 91% respectively consider high school grades and course rigor as important admissions factors.
Select Courses Based on School Resources
University admissions officers evaluate course difficulty in the context of what is actually offered at the student’s high school. The absence of certain advanced AP courses at your school does not mean you lack competitiveness.
While this report reveals correlations between specific AP courses and university admission outcomes, correlation does not imply causation. University admissions reviews also comprehensively consider factors such as academic performance, course challenge level, and the curriculum resources available at the applicant’s high school.
Therefore, the data in this report is best used as a reference for AP course selection rather than as an official standard for university admissions preferences. For students planning to apply for undergraduate programs in the United States, a reasonable AP plan should combine personal academic ability, target major, and school curriculum offerings—demonstrating sustained and deep academic growth while maintaining strong grades.
Image/Source: Empowerly
