Every year, around 150,000 U.S. students earn a GED, and many wonder if their General Education Development (GED) credential qualifies them for a college education.
Steve Gory, the Education Strategist at BestGEDclasses.org, says YES, GED graduates can enroll in college. Practically all U.S. colleges and universities accept the GED like a standard high school diploma.
But there are things to keep in mind when deciding on the type of college you want to apply to and the academic programs they offer. More about that later.
Though most colleges and universities accept GED graduates for their degree and certificate programs, applicants will also have to meet additional application requirements.
Additional acceptance requirements
For example, there may be requirements regarding SAT/ACT scores, GPA, grades, letters of recommendation, personal essays, or extracurricular activities and accomplishments. Many GED holders may find it challenging to meet these additional requirements.
Fortunately, GED Testing Service, the official developer and publisher of the GED High School Equivalency Test, has created a scoring system where students with higher (“College-Ready”) scores may have some of these additional requirements waived.
GED graduates who reached “College Ready” scores may qualify to bypass, for example, additional placement testing and even earn college credit hours for academic coursework related to the subject tests.
So, colleges and universities will not reject GED graduates, but additional requirements may have to be met, just like it applies to high school graduates.
What is the GED Test?
The GED test is a series of four independent, modular exams that measure a candidate’s knowledge level in the academic subject areas of math, science, social studies, and language (reading and writing combined).
Once a candidate has completed these four modular tests, states issue a high school or a high school equivalency diploma that has legally and academically the same status as a standard high school degree.
In the U.S., there are more than 20 million GED graduates, and many people, like successful entrepreneurs and other famous individuals, are GED holders.
The GED is a state-specific exam, and, in general, candidates are eligible to sit for the GED exam if they meet their state’s requirements and are at least 16 years of age. For 16 and 17-year-olds, however, there will be additional requirements.
Some states require GED candidates to be state residents, and test-takers cannot already have a secondary education degree or be registered for another education program.
Qualifying candidates may take the four GED modules online or at official, state-designated testing centers. All states that use the GED offer online testing options, except New York, which offers only on-site testing.
What schools accept a GED?
Again, practically all higher education institutions accept a GED as equivalent to a high school degree. Many GED graduates apply to community, junior, and technical/vocational colleges, which may even enroll applicants without a GED or high school diploma!
This route offers you the chance to gain experience in college-level coursework, work toward your GED simultaneously while learning key job skills, earn an associate’s degree or professional certification, and work on a solid grade point average (GPA) that will be helpful to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program.
Most four-year traditional colleges and universities will accept a GED as well, though a few still do not. So before applying, check the schools’ websites carefully to avoid disappointment.
Online colleges also accept GEDs, but please check if the college you want to apply to is officially accredited. Degrees from accredited online colleges are valuable, but the chance that an unaccredited college issues a worthless degree is quite realistic.
Enroll in Community College
Many GED graduates first enroll in a local community college to earn an associate’s degree. Then, they will go on to a 4-year college or university to earn a bachelor’s degree. Some go on to earn their Master’s or even a Ph.D.
Usually, the academic requirements at your local community college are not as rigid as in 4-year colleges, and the atmosphere is quite supportive. Most states also have transfer agreements, so you can later enroll in academic programs nationwide.
So, many GED graduates start at their local community college and later move to a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s degree or even higher after learning how to master college-level coursework best.
GED vs GPA
Usually, colleges and universities request applicants to submit their GPA scores. So, how does that apply to GED graduates? Well, there are some good online calculators that will help you convert GED scores into a GPA.
Keep in mind, however, that colleges and universities have their own methods of weighing GPAs and GED scores, so it is advisable to speak with admissions officials of the college you want to apply to regarding evaluating your GED scores.
Are a GED and a High School Diploma the same thing?
No, they are not the same thing. A GED shows that the holder has successfully taken the four exams of the GED test and has shown proficiency at a level comparable to that of a graduating high school senior.
A high school diploma, on the other hand, indicates that the holder has successfully completed a curriculum associated with a high school program of usually four years.
Overall, we can say that there are more similarities between a GED and a high school diploma than differences. Employers, academic institutions, and government agencies generally perceive both credentials as equivalent.
In job postings, you commonly see the requirement that candidates hold “a high school or equivalent diploma,” where the “equivalent” is usually a GED.
In the U.S., there are two nationally accepted HSE (High School Equivalency) exams, the GED and HiSET. The HiSET exam is much like the GED test, but it includes five modules, as reading and writing are separate sub-exams.
GED Scores
Scores on the four GED sub-exams are calibrated on a 100-to-200 scoring scale. The passing score on each module is 145; there is no averaging. There are four scoring ranges.
- 100-144 scores: Below Passing Range
- 145-164 scores: High School Equivalency Range
- 165-174 scores: College-Ready Range
- 175-200 scores: College-Ready Plus up to 10 Credits Range
GED test-takers who score in the 175-200 range can be eligible to receive college credit of up to 10 college credit hours, depending on the school and the subject. Hundreds of U.S. colleges and universities honor these GED scores.
The following maximum applies: Math up to 3 credits, Science up to 3 credits, Social Studies up to 3 credits, and Humanities up to 1 credit.