A high school equivalency diploma — earned by passing the GED or the HiSET — is accepted for college admission, federal student aid, most civilian jobs, vocational training, and state professional licensing. Federal education law does not classify it as a “regular high school diploma,” and that distinction has real consequences in a few places, most notably military enlistment.1Legal Information Institute. 20 USC 7801(43) – Regular High School Diploma Everywhere else, the credential does the work a traditional diploma does.
What the Credential Is
Two exams dominate. The GED tests four subjects: Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science.2GED. Test Subjects The HiSET covers five: Language Arts–Reading, Language Arts–Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.3HiSET. HiSET Test at a Glance Information Brief Which one you take depends on your state. More than 30 states and territories offer the HiSET, the GED is available in most states, and some states let you choose between them.4HiSET. HiSET Exam Requirements by State or Jurisdiction
GED fees are set by each state and typically run $30 to $40 per subject, so the full battery costs roughly $120 to $160. A handful of states cover the cost.5GED. How Much Does Getting a GED Cost? Fees, Courses, and Materials HiSET pricing varies more and can range from about $115 to over $400 for all five subjects. You generally must be 18 to test; some states allow 16- or 17-year-olds who can show official withdrawal from their last school, parental consent, or other state-specific proof.6GED. What Are GED Requirements?
Free preparation classes are more widely available than most people realize. The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds a nationwide network of GED and HiSET prep programs through public school districts, community colleges, libraries, and nonprofits, often with evening and weekend scheduling for working adults.7U.S. Department of Education. Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Resource Guide
College Admissions and Federal Student Aid
The vast majority of community colleges and four-year universities accept an HSE for undergraduate admission. Admissions offices treat a GED or HiSET as proof of academic readiness, so you can apply to associate and bachelor’s programs without additional high school coursework. Some schools require placement exams like Accuplacer or ALEKS in math and English, but those determine your starting course level, not whether you are admitted.
Federal student aid is explicitly available to HSE holders. The Higher Education Act makes students eligible for Title IV funding if they hold “the recognized equivalent of” a high school diploma, and federal guidance names the GED, HiSET, and other state-authorized equivalency tests as qualifying credentials.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 20 USC 1091 – Student Eligibility On the FAFSA, you self-certify that you have received a high school equivalency certificate.9Federal Student Aid. 2025-2026 Federal Student Aid Handbook – Volume 1 – Chapter 1 – School-Determined Requirements That eligibility covers Pell Grants, federal student loans, and work-study. For the 2025–2026 award year, the maximum Pell Grant is $7,395; the amount you actually receive depends on financial need, enrollment status, and cost of attendance.10Federal Student Aid. 2025-2026 Federal Pell Grant Maximum and Minimum Award Amounts For federal aid purposes, an HSE puts you on equal footing with a traditional graduate.
College Credit for High GED Scores
The GED uses a scaled score where 145 is passing in each subject. A score between 165 and 174 earns a “College Ready” designation, and 175 or higher reaches “College Ready + Credit.” At that top level, the American Council on Education recommends up to 10 semester hours of credit: 3 in math, 3 in science, 3 in social studies, and 1 in humanities.11GED. Understanding Your Scores – GED Not every college honors ACE recommendations, so confirm with your intended school’s transfer credit office. Where accepted, those credits reduce both tuition cost and time to a degree.
Civilian Jobs
For most civilian jobs, an HSE works the same as a traditional diploma. Large employers’ applicant tracking systems generally group both into a single “high school graduate” category, so an HSE does not filter you out of entry-level positions in retail, manufacturing, customer service, or administrative work. When a posting says “high school diploma or equivalent,” the equivalency is exactly what the word covers.
Public sector hiring often offers a stronger floor. Many government agencies at the local, county, and state level follow administrative codes or civil service rules that explicitly treat an HSE the same as a traditional diploma for any position listing a high school credential as a prerequisite. The specifics vary, but the pattern is consistent enough that government jobs are generally a level playing field.
Competitive hiring for mid-career roles is less clean. An HSE will satisfy the minimum educational requirement on a management trainee track or internal promotion that does not require a college degree, but hiring managers carry their own biases about non-traditional paths. Listing the credential plainly on a resume — “High School Equivalency Diploma (GED)” rather than leaving the education section vague — tends to work better than trying to obscure it.
Military Enlistment
The military is the one major area where an HSE puts you at a real disadvantage. The Department of Defense sorts recruits into three tiers based on education credentials and their statistical correlation with completing a first term of service. Traditional high school graduates and anyone with some college credits fall into Tier 1 (high priority). GED and other alternative credential holders are Tier 2 (medium priority). Non-graduates are Tier 3.12Defense Technical Information Center. Education Credential Tier Evaluation
DoD policy sets a benchmark that 90 percent of each branch’s annual recruits should be Tier 1, leaving roughly 10 percent for Tier 2, with very limited Tier 3 slots.13Defense Technical Information Center. DoD Instruction 1145.01 – Qualitative Distribution of Military Manpower That cap means Tier 2 slots can fill quickly during strong recruiting periods. If the slots are gone, you may need to wait for the next fiscal year or try a different branch.
Tier 2 recruits also face higher score requirements on the Armed Forces Qualification Test, the portion of the ASVAB that determines enlistment eligibility. Federal law sets the absolute floor at the 31st percentile for anyone without a high school diploma, but individual branches typically require Tier 2 applicants to score at or above the 50th percentile.14Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 10 USC 520 – Limitation on Enlistment and Induction of Persons Whose Score on the Armed Forces Qualification Test Is Below a Prescribed Level A Tier 1 recruit might qualify with a 31; a Tier 2 recruit with the same score gets turned away.
There is a workaround. The DoD Instruction defines Tier 1 as including people with “some college credits,” not just traditional diploma holders.13Defense Technical Information Center. DoD Instruction 1145.01 – Qualitative Distribution of Military Manpower Earning college credits at a community college after your HSE can move you into Tier 1 and eliminate both the quota and the higher AFQT requirement. If military service is your goal and you have time before enlisting, a semester of community college is one of the most useful investments you can make.
Vocational Training and Professional Licensure
Vocational schools and technical institutes treat the HSE as a standard admission credential. Programs in HVAC, welding, automotive technology, and electrical work require a high school credential because the coursework involves technical manuals and applied math, and an HSE satisfies that requirement.
State licensing boards for regulated professions follow the same pattern. Cosmetology, real estate, and certified nursing assistant programs all require proof of a secondary education credential before you sit for a licensing exam or enter a training program. You submit your diploma or official transcript with your application; without documentation, the application stalls.
Emergency Medical Services also require a high school credential for entry-level certification. Prospective EMTs must demonstrate completion of secondary education before enrolling in accredited training or sitting for the National Registry exam, and an HSE meets that requirement.
Getting and Verifying Your Records
Employers, schools, and licensing boards increasingly verify education credentials during background checks. The National Student Clearinghouse operates DiplomaVerify, which provides instant online verification of high school diplomas and equivalency credentials; the verifier needs a signed agreement and your written consent before checking.15National Student Clearinghouse. Business Verifications
If you need a copy of your own records, the request goes through your state’s education department, not the testing company. Fees and procedures vary by state, but most charge between $0 and $20 for an official transcript or duplicate certificate. Requests can often be submitted online, with processing anywhere from a few business days to several weeks. Keep a personal copy of your diploma and score report in a safe place, especially if you move to a different state from where you tested.
One detail that catches people off guard: your state education department holds your HSE records, but not records from any high school you previously attended. If an employer or school asks for high school transcripts rather than your equivalency transcript, you have to contact the school district directly, and that request can be hard to fulfill if the records have been lost or the school has closed.