Choosing from the list of AP courses available today feels a bit like trying to order from a massive Cheesecake Factory menu when you’re already starving. You know you want something good, but there are 40 different options, and honestly, half of them sound like they might be way too much work.
Most students think they should just grab the hardest ones to impress colleges. That is a trap. I’ve seen kids burn out by junior year because they thought taking five STEM APs at once was a personality trait. It’s not. It’s a recipe for a 2.0 GPA and a lot of late-night crying over Taylor series.
The reality of the list of AP courses is that they aren't created equal. Some are "GPA boosters" (if you're into that sort of thing), while others are notorious GPA killers that will have you questioning why you ever liked science.
The Complete List of AP Courses for 2026
If you’re looking for the full menu, here’s what the College Board is serving up this year. They’ve actually expanded things recently, adding more career-focused stuff which is kinda cool.
The Humanities and Arts
These are for the writers, the history buffs, and the people who actually enjoy reading 50 pages of a textbook on a Tuesday night.
- English: AP English Language and Composition (the "rhetoric" one) and AP English Literature and Composition (the "reading books" one).
- History: AP United States History (APUSH), AP World History: Modern, AP European History, and AP African American Studies—which is now fully launched and actually super interesting.
- Social Sciences: AP Psychology, AP Human Geography, AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Comparative Government and Politics, and AP U.S. Government and Politics.
- Arts: AP Art History, AP Music Theory, and the three "Design" portfolios: 2-D, 3-D, and Drawing.
STEM (Science, Math, and Tech)
This is where the heavy lifting happens. If you want to be an engineer or a doctor, you’re going to live in this section of the list of AP courses.
- Math: AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, and the relatively new AP Precalculus.
- Science: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science (APES), and the four Physics flavors: Physics 1, Physics 2, and the two calculus-based Physics C courses (Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism).
- Computer Science: AP Computer Science A (Java coding) and AP Computer Science Principles (more broad and "big picture").
World Languages and the "Capstone"
- Languages: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Spanish Language, and Spanish Literature.
- Capstone: AP Seminar and AP Research. These are different because they aren't about a specific subject, but about how to do research.
The "Career Kickstart" Newcomers
College Board is piloting some new ones that are more about jobs. Keep an eye out for AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity. These are starting to pop up in more schools this year and are honestly way more practical than learning how to scan Latin poetry.
Which Ones are Actually Hard?
Let's be real. If you ask a senior, they'll tell you AP Physics 1 is a nightmare. And the data actually backs them up. In 2024, AP Physics 1 had one of the lowest pass rates in the entire list of AP courses, with only about 46% of students getting a 3 or higher.
On the flip side, you have classes like AP Chinese Language and Culture where the pass rates are sky-high (often over 85%). But wait—that's usually because the people taking it already speak the language. Don't let the stats fool you into thinking it's an "easy A" if you've never spoken a word of Mandarin.
The "Secretly Difficult" Courses
- AP English Language: Most people take this, but only about 9-10% of students get a 5. It's easy to pass, but really hard to master.
- AP Human Geography: Often called "AP Human," this is frequently the first AP freshman take. Because younger students take it, the pass rates (around 56%) are lower than you'd expect for the content.
- AP Music Theory: This one is a beast. If you don't have a background in music, the ear-training and sight-singing portions will wreck you.
How to Build Your Schedule Without Losing Your Mind
You’ve seen the list of AP courses, so now what? Don't just pick based on what your friends are doing. That's how you end up in AP Chemistry when you actually hate lab work.
Think about your "spike." If you want to go into business, taking AP Macro and Micro is a no-brainer. Throw in AP Statistics too. You don't necessarily need AP Biology unless you just really like plants and Punnett squares.
Colleges look for "rigor," sure, but they also like to see a coherent story. If your transcript is a random hodgepodge of APs, it doesn't tell them much. If you have a cluster of social sciences and English, it shows you're a humanities person.
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Does the "Easy AP" Strategy Work?
Some people try to pad their GPA by taking "easy" ones like AP Psychology or AP Environmental Science. Honestly, these are great classes, but top-tier colleges know which ones are the heavy hitters. Taking "Easy APs" is fine, but if you're aiming for the Ivy League, you usually need a mix. You can't just dodge Calculus and Physics forever.
Practical Next Steps for You
Stop scrolling through the list of AP courses and do these three things instead:
- Check your school's specific "Program of Studies." Just because the College Board offers 40 courses doesn't mean your school does. Most schools only offer 10 to 15. See what's actually on the table for you.
- Look at the 2026 Exam Schedule. If you're planning on taking four APs, make sure the exams aren't all on the same day. For example, in 2026, AP Biology and AP Latin are both on Monday morning, May 4. If you're in both, you'll have to take a late-testing date for one, which can be extra stress.
- Talk to the teachers, not just the students. Ask to see a syllabus. Some teachers give two hours of homework a night; others give none. That "lifestyle" factor matters more than the course title itself.
Focus on a balance that keeps you sane. A "B" in a class you actually care about is often better for your mental health than an "A" in a class that makes you miserable every morning.