Item saved to your backpack!

"I liked it because I didn't have to sit through hours upon hours of lectures of something I already knew," says Rae, who's studying atmospheric science at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Rae earned over 50 credits by completing tasks and trainings in the Air Force and about 40 credits by taking exams. You don't need to be in the military to follow in his footsteps. With more and more good colleges offering alternative ways to earn college credit, an increasing number of students are taking this route.

Here are five ways to earn college credits outside the classroom.

1. Earn credit on the job

Certain institutions offer college credit programs, including some fire and police departments. Many military branches allow those enlisted to earn credits through training, tasks and exams. However, not all colleges accept these kinds of credits or only accept a certain amount.

A growing number of companies are offering college credits to their employees as well. A few examples are Walmart, Walt Disney and Microsoft. Rae thinks more companies should offer this to their employees.

"It'd be a valuable incentive plan for employees," Rae says. "If they had the ability to receive education credits toward their degree, it'd make it easier to complete that degree while working."

2. Take an exam

There are exams you can take to test out of a class. The most popular of these programs is the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). About 2,900 colleges accept these exams. There are 33 CLEP exams, in a variety of subjects. The exams cost $77 and take around 90 minutes to complete.

A popular option for students in the military is taking exams offered through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES). Like CLEP, these tests cover many subjects and are accepted by several colleges.

Melissa Thomas, registrar at George Fox University (a school that accepts alternative credits), is an avid believer in these kinds of tests.

"If they show that kind of aptitude on the test, I think it's fairly clear they're familiar with the material," Thomas says.

3. Do an internship

Internships provide a learning experience you won't find in the classroom. If you can land an internship, and get it approved by your school, then you can rack up three more credits and increase your chances of a job after graduation by nearly 58 percent, according to a 2011 survey conducted by National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

To find internships, some good websites include internqueen.com, internmatch.com and craigslist.org.

4. Study independently

Some schools offer independent study, where students research a subject on their own or directly under professor supervision. This varies case by case. Sometimes the student has a lot of freedom, and other times the professor develops the syllabus.

A great example of independent study is at Brown University. This Ivy League school has several independent study options, including group independent study. This is where a few students draft a syllabus and work on a semester-long course together. Another independent study option at Brown is global independent studies, where a student works with a professor to draft a course unique to both the location and the student's academic focus.

5. Put together a compelling portfolio

A less common way to earn college credits is through portfolio assessments. This may include essays, exams, interviews and presentations. The goal of these assessments is to prove to your school how your knowledge and life experience displays your adequacy in the class you're trying to receive credit for. So, making sure it's both specific and compelling is crucial.

To meet the standards set out by the U.S. Department of Education, these prior learning assessments need to demonstrate both theory and practical application.

Thomas thinks portfolio assessments and earning college credits outside the classroom are prime examples of education becoming more about outcome and less about course content. This determines whether students have acquired the skills, knowledge, and values necessary for them to succeed, she says.

"If they've already acquired those things outside the classroom, let's recognize it," Thomas says.