Consider the Costs

Use these estimates to get a general idea of the costs required to launch an AP course. Your actual costs will depend on factors^{Jump to footnote [1]} such as location, class size, existing resources, etc.

Arts

Materials and equipment assumptions:

• Art History: $200 for digital projector
• Music Theory: $100 for recording devices
• Art and Design (2-D, 3-D, Drawing): $200 for digital projector, $200 for digital camera, and $50 per student materials budget

Capstone Diploma Progam

Professional learning assumptions: 

• The cost of professional learning for AP Seminar and AP Research is per participant. 
• AP Seminar and AP Research teachers must complete a one-time, four-day workshop during the summer before their first year of teaching these courses. This workshop is provided by select AP Summer Institutes.  

• A limited number of AP Capstone fee waivers—which cover the full tuition fees for recipients—may be awarded to eligible applicant teachers who register to attend an AP Summer Institutes session for AP Seminar or AP Research. To learn more about eligibility and how to apply, visit AP Summer Institute Tuition Fee Waivers. 

Textbook assumptions: 

• There are no required textbooks for AP Seminar or AP Research.
• Learn more about recommended textbooks for AP Seminar. 

Materials and equipment assumptions: 

• Audio Equipment: AP Capstone courses do not require the purchase of specific equipment for recording or storing student presentations. It is at the district's discretion to supply audio equipment. Teachers can use any available resources in the building, such as laptops, iPads, external web cameras, or phones, to record student presentations. 
• Internet Access: Teachers and students need internet access and technology to conduct research, complete multimedia presentations, and submit team and individual projects.
• Research Databases: AP Seminar and AP Research students can access EBSCO Academic Search Ultimate and Turnitin via the AP Digital Portfolio at no additional cost.

English

History and Social Sciences

Textbook assumptions:

• There are no required textbooks for AP African American Studies.
• Learn more about recommended textbooks for AP African American Studies.  

Math and Computer Science

Professional learning assumptions:

• Computer Science A and Computer Science Principles: Both courses offer innovative curricula and professional learning by expert education organizations endorsed by the College Board. A school can choose to adopt a curriculum from one of these endorsed providers. Costs will vary depending on if the school decides to attend professional learning offered by the endorsed provider, or to participate in AP professional learning, or both. See CSA providers. See CSP providers.

Textbook assumptions: 

• Computer Science A and Computer Science Principles: The cost provided assumes schools would pay $60 per textbook for a class of 25 students. Schools may also decide to use resources offered by endorsed providers—most resources are free. 
• Precalculus: For schools that already offer a precalculus course, new textbooks are not required. 

Materials and equipment assumptions: 

• Calculus (AB and BC) and Statistics: $100 per student calculator 
• Jump to footnote * referrer.Computer Science A and Computer Science Principles: The school needs to ensure that each student has access to a computer and the internet in class for completion of course requirements. 
• Precalculus: The Desmos graphing calculator is available for free at Desmos.com and a version is also embedded in Bluebook for use on exam day. 

Sciences

Materials and equipment assumptions:

• Biology:
  • $3,500 for technology (includes resources such as probeware/sensors to collect data on cellular respiration/photosynthesis, osmosis/diffusion, transpiration, primary productivity, genetics of organisms and animal behavior, etc.)
  • $1,500 for glassware and equipment (includes resources such as flasks, beakers, graduated cylinders, pipettes, Petri dishes, reagents and solutions, incubator, UV light, scales, living organisms, etc.)
  • $50 for four-function calculators
• Chemistry:
  • $3,000 for technology (includes resources such as probeware/sensors to collect data on molar mass of volatile liquids, molar volume of gases, acid/base titrations, equilibrium constants, Beer’s law, etc.)
  • $1,500 for glassware and equipment (includes resources such as flasks, beakers, graduated cylinders, burettes, pipettes, reagents and solutions, hot plates, magnetic stirrers, Bunsen burners, etc.)
• Environmental Science:
  • $4,000 for technology (includes resources such as probeware/sensors to collect data on dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, conductivity, salinity, total suspended solids, pH, carbon dioxide, soil moisture and temperature, etc.)
  • $1,500 for field equipment (includes resources such as kick-nets, seines, quadrats, line transects, air sampling devices, water and soil quality kits, and organisms for population studies, etc.)
• Physics (1, 2 and C):
  • $3,000 for technology (includes resources such as probeware/sensors to collect data on motion, force, temperature, voltage and current, etc.)
  • $1,500 for equipment (includes resources such as ballistic carts, spring scales, inclined planes, tuning forks, resonance tubes, mirrors, concave and convex lenses, prisms and magnets, etc.)

World Languages and Cultures

Materials and equipment assumptions:

• Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish Language: $300 for digital recorders

Jump to footnote [1] referrer. Existing resources: In many cases, your school will have resources that meet the needs of the AP course, which will significantly reduce these costs.

Jump to footnote [2] referrer. Professional learning: These estimates reflect the lowest and highest average costs for an AP Summer Institute in the United States (non–College Board member prices). Travel costs are not included. Costs for AP Summer Institutes will vary by location and subject.

Jump to footnote [3] referrer. Materials and equipment: Student and teacher computers are not included in these costs.