The College Board adds Business and Cybersecurity
to help students thrive in the real world.
For decades, high school students have taken classes to prepare for college — algebra, biology, literature, U.S. history — but far too often, they graduate without knowing how to create a budget, avoid identity theft, or understand how a business works.
That’s finally changing.
The College Board just announced two new Advanced Placement (AP) courses that are relevant to students’ futures: AP Business Principles with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity. Both are designed to give students practical skills and to be prepared for life.
“Students need more than test prep — they need life prep.”
Financial Literacy: A Must for Every Teen
AP Business with Personal Finance will cover key topics like entrepreneurship, investment basics, economic systems, and — most importantly — how to manage money.
Right now, fewer than half of American high school students are required to take a financial literacy course before graduating. That means most teens enter adulthood without understanding how credit works, how to save for emergencies, or how to avoid falling into debt.
This AP course will give students the tools to take control of their financial lives early — before the mistakes begin piling up. They’ll learn about loans, taxes, savings, and how to navigate the real-world financial systems they’ll encounter the moment they turn 18.
Cybersecurity: Essential for Everyone
The second new course, AP Cybersecurity, covers how to protect sensitive information and recognize threats like phishing scams, malware, and identity theft. Whether students go into tech, business, healthcare, education, or the arts, they’ll all need to understand how to protect themselves from cyber threats.
This class will teach students how cybersecurity works and why it matters — not just at the personal level, but globally. In an era of increasing digital risk, cybersecurity has become a fundamental part of being an informed, responsible citizen.
It’s About Career AND College
While most AP courses are seen as stepping stones to college, these two also build career-readiness.
AP Business helps students develop leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills — qualities every employer looks for. Cybersecurity fosters analytical thinking, precision, and digital fluency.
Together, these courses do more than boost a GPA. They provide practical, hands-on experience with real-world challenges and prepare students for fields that are growing fast and in need of skilled workers.
Equal Access to Critical Knowledge
What’s especially exciting is the potential for equity.
Financial literacy and cybersecurity aren’t taught at home for everyone — and yet they’re essential for everyone. These new AP courses ensure that all students, regardless of background or zip code, can build the knowledge and confidence to make smart decisions in their adult lives.
This kind of curriculum levels the playing field and opens doors to careers many students might never have considered.
What Schools Need to Do Next
It’s now up to schools to offer these courses and support students who enroll in them. That means training teachers, making space in student schedules, and encouraging all types of learners to give these classes a try — not just the “AP kids.”
Parents can help by asking their schools to offer these classes and helping their teens see the long-term value of understanding money and technology.
College prep is still important, but preparing students for life is even more so.
The College Board adds Business and Cybersecurity
to help students thrive in the real world.
For decades, high school students have taken classes to prepare for college — algebra, biology, literature, U.S. history — but far too often, they graduate without knowing how to create a budget, avoid identity theft, or understand how a business works.
That’s finally changing.
The College Board just announced two new Advanced Placement (AP) courses that are relevant to students’ futures: AP Business Principles with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity. Both are designed to give students practical skills and to be prepared for life.
“Students need more than test prep — they need life prep.”
Financial Literacy: A Must for Every Teen
AP Business with Personal Finance will cover key topics like entrepreneurship, investment basics, economic systems, and — most importantly — how to manage money.
Right now, fewer than half of American high school students are required to take a financial literacy course before graduating. That means most teens enter adulthood without understanding how credit works, how to save for emergencies, or how to avoid falling into debt.
This AP course will give students the tools to take control of their financial lives early — before the mistakes begin piling up. They’ll learn about loans, taxes, savings, and how to navigate the real-world financial systems they’ll encounter the moment they turn 18.
Cybersecurity: Essential for Everyone
The second new course, AP Cybersecurity, covers how to protect sensitive information and recognize threats like phishing scams, malware, and identity theft. Whether students go into tech, business, healthcare, education, or the arts, they’ll all need to understand how to protect themselves from cyber threats.
This class will teach students how cybersecurity works and why it matters — not just at the personal level, but globally. In an era of increasing digital risk, cybersecurity has become a fundamental part of being an informed, responsible citizen.
It’s About Career AND College
While most AP courses are seen as stepping stones to college, these two also build career-readiness.
AP Business helps students develop leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills — qualities every employer looks for. Cybersecurity fosters analytical thinking, precision, and digital fluency.
Together, these courses do more than boost a GPA. They provide practical, hands-on experience with real-world challenges and prepare students for fields that are growing fast and in need of skilled workers.
Equal Access to Critical Knowledge
What’s especially exciting is the potential for equity.
Financial literacy and cybersecurity aren’t taught at home for everyone — and yet they’re essential for everyone. These new AP courses ensure that all students, regardless of background or zip code, can build the knowledge and confidence to make smart decisions in their adult lives.
This kind of curriculum levels the playing field and opens doors to careers many students might never have considered.
What Schools Need to Do Next
It’s now up to schools to offer these courses and support students who enroll in them. That means training teachers, making space in student schedules, and encouraging all types of learners to give these classes a try — not just the “AP kids.”
Parents can help by asking their schools to offer these classes and helping their teens see the long-term value of understanding money and technology.
College prep is still important, but preparing students for life is even more so.