Do colleges know which AP courses are harder?

When looking at my transcript, will colleges be aware of the relative difficulty of different AP courses? I'm trying to figure out if they give more weight to certain AP classes over others.

Admissions officers are typically well-versed in the curriculums offered at high schools across the country and are therefore aware of the generally perceived rigor of various AP classes. That being said, they primarily look at the difficulty of the courses you've taken in the context of what was available to you at your school. They prefer to see students challenge themselves within the scope of what is offered, rather than exactly what those classes are.

However, this doesn't mean that all AP classes are viewed completely equally. While colleges do not officially rank AP courses based on difficulty, certain courses like AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C, or AP English Literature are often seen as particularly rigorous because of the advanced content they cover.

Finally, remember that your performance in these courses matters. A high grade in a moderately challenging course may be more impressive than a low grade in the most rigorous course available. In addition, the relevance of the AP course to your intended major or field of study can also influence how admissions officers perceive your course selection. For example, a student planning to study engineering who has taken AP Calculus BC and AP Physics may be seen in a more favorable light compared to a student with the same intentions who has opted for other classes.