<p>Remember that each AP essay you write and/or each free-response question you take is graded by at least one AP grader (though it might be two; at the very least, the scores are checked against discrepancies). The CollegeBoard needs to process the multiple choice, scan the essays/sort them correctly, pay for the readers to read the essays, assembly/norm the scores, etc. CollegeBoard is also a for-profit company.</p>
<p>Also, look at the AP exams you’re planning on taking. Most schools won’t give credit to some of the less popular ones (Human Geo pops into mind), and some schools won’t take ones in your major, etc. Look at the schools you’re planning on applying to and their AP policies. And if the schools you’re looking at will take your AP credits, the cost is more than worth it because of the hours you will save. And if you can rack up enough to cover, say, a semester, that’s also a semester less of room/board/misc. student fees you’ll save, in addition to the actual credit hours of the course.</p>