17 Sep 2026
The American Council on Education (ACE) has expanded its list of Cambridge International AS & A Level exams recommended for college credit, giving US students who take Cambridge qualifications an even broader route into higher education.
ACE's recommendations are widely used by US colleges and universities to determine how incoming students' prior learning translates into credit. With more Cambridge exams now on that list, more students arriving with Cambridge International AS & A Levels stand to enter university with credit already recognised, a significant advantage as they start degree courses.
The expansion is the latest sign of how far Cambridge's reach into US education has grown. Notably, 96% of Cambridge schools in the US are in the non-fee-paying sector, meaning this widened recognition gives public (state) school students the same access to advanced standing and credit that has traditionally been associated with fee-paying international education students.
That pattern is playing out globally, too. In our June 2026 exam series, nearly 20% of exam entries came from state (non-fee paying) students worldwide. The reason is largely because Cambridge International AS & A Levels are recognised by universities around the world, offering students a reliable wide and trusted pathway to higher education. In our recent Destination Survey, schools who responded said that 90% of their AS & A Level students had gone on to university.
From Japan to Egypt, Italy to Uzbekistan, such a powerful curriculum leading to AS & A Levels that open doors is why more state schools are turning to Cambridge.
Find out more in this blog on how Cambridge a education is opening more doors to young people.