Updated
National pathway · College credit for less

Modern States · Freshman Year for Free

Free CLEP preparation and a conditional exam voucher, with a separate test-center reimbursement process and institution-controlled credit acceptance.

Free if eligibleSources checked Oct 16, 2026View sources ↓Compare related routes ↓
Students & families · General optionAdult learners · General option

At a glance

Free if eligible
What it covers
Free self-paced CLEP preparation, with a voucher after qualifying coursework and request approval. The voucher covers the specific earned CLEP exam and, according to the provider, remote proctoring; a test-center charge may need separate payment and reimbursement. The college decides whether any credit is awarded.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
Income / financial rules
Course access is free. Voucher eligibility depends on course completion, required scores and a submitted request; the receiving college separately decides whether and how to award credit.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
Who to check first
For a voucher, attempt all Check for Understanding quizzes, earn at least a 75% average quiz score and score at least 75% on the final exam. Check the Grades Progress page for the actual voucher-eligibility average.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
Application timing
Courses are self-paced; use the expiration date in your voucher email. Submit any eligible test-center reimbursement within one year of the exam date; no universal exam date is established.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
Read official guidanceYou’ll leave FreeCheapEdu. The program makes the eligibility decision.

Check your eligibility

Some items describe alternative routes rather than requirements for everyone. Use the route that applies to you as a preparation checklist; the program makes the eligibility decision.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗

How to apply

  1. 1
    Start with the target college’s CLEP policy and registrar/advisor. Confirm the exact subject and how a passing score applies to your intended degree before investing time in the course.
    As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
  2. 2
    Create a free Modern States account, enroll in the aligned course, complete all required quizzes and the final, then click the course’s actual voucher-request button. Wait for the approved code before paying/registering for the exam.
    As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
  3. 3
    Use the approved code during College Board CLEP registration and select score recipients before test day. Confirm the registration subtotal and schedule with the selected test center, or check the technical requirements for remote proctoring.
    As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
  4. 4
    For a qualifying test-center fee, save the dated fee receipt and score report. Submit the reimbursement form with both documents and the matching voucher number within one year of the exam; verify the mailing address because payment is by check in U.S. dollars.
    As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗

What to watch for

Modern States does not award/send college credit; College Board reports exam scores and the receiving institution decides credit. Vouchers do not cover credit-transfer or transcript-processing fees, and a course completion alone does not establish degree credit.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
Do not buy the exam first expecting reimbursement: the provider does not reimburse exam fees paid before receiving/using its voucher, or fees for an unrelated exam subject. Test-center reimbursement is separate and the policy quotes approximately 8–10 weeks after complete documents, not an immediate refund.
As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗

Common questions

What is the main benefit?

Free self-paced CLEP preparation, with a voucher after qualifying coursework and request approval. The voucher covers the specific earned CLEP exam and, according to the provider, remote proctoring; a test-center charge may need separate payment and reimbursement. The college decides whether any credit is awarded.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
Is there an income limit?

Course access is free. Voucher eligibility depends on course completion, required scores and a submitted request; the receiving college separately decides whether and how to award credit.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗
When should I apply?

Courses are self-paced; use the expiration date in your voucher email. Submit any eligible test-center reimbursement within one year of the exam date; no universal exam date is established.

As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗As of Oct 16, 2026 · Modern States ↗

Sources & verification

Source summaries checked by automated research on the dates below. No human professional review is claimed.

Checked Oct 16, 2026
Checked Oct 16, 2026
Checked Oct 16, 2026
Checked Oct 16, 2026
Read official guidance