A high school transcript evaluation is a report from a specialized agency that compares a foreign or non-standard secondary school credential to a U.S. high school diploma, converts the grades to the American scale, and tells colleges, employers, or licensing boards whether your education counts as equivalent. Expect to pay roughly $80 to $300 and wait anywhere from a few business days to several weeks, depending on the agency, the report type, and how quickly you can gather your records.
Why You Might Need One
Three situations drive almost every request.
The first is college admission. Federal law ties financial aid eligibility to a recognized high school diploma or its equivalent, and students without a qualifying secondary credential have a much narrower path to federal grants and loans.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 20 USC 1091 – Student Eligibility Universities use a credential evaluation to confirm that a foreign diploma clears that threshold.
The second is federal employment. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management requires applicants with foreign education to submit their credentials to a private evaluation service before the hiring agency will count that education toward job qualifications.2U.S. Office of Personnel Management. How Do I Receive Credit for a College Degree Obtained in a Foreign University in Another Country Military recruiters also typically need documented equivalency before processing an enlistment based on foreign schooling.
The third is professional licensing. Boards in fields like nursing, pharmacy technology, and accounting often require proof of high school completion, and they will not accept a foreign diploma at face value. If a license lists “high school diploma or equivalent” among its prerequisites, plan on an evaluation.
Choosing the Right Agency
Two professional bodies set the quality standards in this field: the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Both vet their member agencies for accuracy, ethical practices, and expertise in international education systems.3National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. What Is an NACES Evaluation4Association of International Credential Evaluators. Who We Are Neither performs evaluations itself; the seal signals that the agency meets the association’s standards.
Before you pay anyone, check what the receiving institution actually requires. Some universities accept evaluations only from NACES members. Others accept both NACES and AICE. A few name specific agencies they prefer. Spending $200 on a report from the wrong organization is a mistake five minutes on the admissions page or licensing board website can prevent. Both NACES and AICE publish member directories where you can confirm an agency’s membership.
Document-by-Document vs. Course-by-Course
Evaluation agencies offer two main report types, and picking the wrong one is the most common avoidable error in this process.
Document-by-Document
The simpler option. It confirms the school you attended and states whether your credential is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma.3National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. What Is an NACES Evaluation It does not break out individual courses or calculate a GPA. Employers and government agencies that just need to verify you finished high school usually accept this version, and it is cheaper, typically $80 to $170.
Course-by-Course
This report lists every class, converts your grades to the U.S. scale, and calculates a GPA on the 4.0 scale.3National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. What Is an NACES Evaluation College admissions offices almost always require this version because they need to assess your performance, not just confirm graduation. Registrars also use it to decide whether specific courses satisfy prerequisites. Expect $150 to $300 or more.5Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute. Credential Evaluation Costs – Course vs Document Breakdown
When unsure, order the course-by-course. It contains everything the document-by-document report does, plus the detail. Buying the cheaper one and then learning you needed the fuller version means paying twice.
Documents You’ll Need to Gather
Start with your original high school transcripts showing every subject you completed and the grades you earned each year. You also need your final diploma or graduation certificate. Request these early. Getting records from a foreign school can take weeks, especially by mail.
If your documents are not in English, you need a certified translation. Most agencies require translations to be exact and word-for-word, done by a professional translator rather than a friend or relative.6World Education Services. Translation Requirements for a WES Credential Evaluation Professional certified translations of academic records typically run $20 to $40 per page. Budget for that on top of the evaluation fee. The translator should include their contact information and a signed statement attesting to the accuracy of the translation.
You will also fill out the agency’s online application with the full name of your school and your exact dates of attendance, and you’ll need a government-issued ID like a passport or driver’s license for identity verification. Check everything twice before submitting. Errors in names, dates, or school information cause delays.
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
Fees vary by agency and report type. As a benchmark, World Education Services, one of the largest NACES members, charges $118 for a basic document-by-document evaluation and $186 for a basic course-by-course evaluation as of 2026, with premium tiers running higher.7World Education Services. Credential Evaluations and Fees Other agencies fall in a similar range. Add certified translations at $20 to $40 per page, shipping if you need to mail originals, and any rush fees you choose.
Processing runs from a few business days to several weeks. Some agencies deliver standard reports in as little as three business days; others take longer and charge extra for rush service. The clock typically does not start until the agency has every required document, so delays in collecting transcripts or translations add to the total wait. If you have a hard application or job-offer deadline, work backward from it and build in a buffer.
Submitting Your Application
Most agencies use online portals where you upload scanned transcripts, diploma, translations, and ID, then track your file’s progress in the same place. Some agencies also require original sealed documents to be mailed directly from your school to prevent tampering.8Educational Credential Evaluators. Documentation Requirements Use a tracked shipping service if that applies to you. Replacing lost academic records from a foreign institution can be extremely difficult.
Once the evaluation is finished, you receive the final report electronically or by mail. Most agencies will also send copies directly to universities, employers, or licensing boards you designate during the application. Keep a copy for yourself. You may need evaluations for several purposes over the years, and some institutions require reports to be recent.
If Your Records Were Lost or Destroyed
Refugees, displaced persons, and anyone whose school records were lost to conflict or disaster face a harder path, but options exist. First try reaching your former school through whatever channels are available. If that fails, some agencies run alternative programs specifically for people who cannot obtain official documents.
The WES Gateway Program, for example, evaluates credentials for eligible applicants from countries including Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine who cannot get official transcripts.9World Education Services. WES Gateway Program Applicants need at least personal copies of their diploma or transcript, even if unofficial.
Beyond dedicated programs, alternative evidence can support your case. Partial or unofficial transcripts are the strongest substitute for official records. Diplomas, student ID cards, proof of tuition payment, and professional licenses can all help reconstruct your academic history. Sworn statements and notarized testimonials from former teachers or classmates can supplement the documents. Some institutions will also assess competency directly through interviews, writing samples, or tests like the SAT or GRE. Expect this process to take significantly longer than a standard evaluation.
If Your Evaluation Is Rejected
A rejection does not necessarily mean your education is inadequate. Common reasons include submitting the wrong report type, using an agency the institution does not recognize, letting the evaluation go stale, or having a GPA below the institution’s minimum.10Educational Credential Evaluators. What to Do If Your Credentials Are Not Accepted by an Institution or Employer The first step is finding out the specific reason.
If the problem is the report type or the agency, the fix is straightforward: order the correct report from an accepted provider. If the institution questions the validity of your evaluation, contact the evaluating agency and ask them to reach out directly. Agencies like ECE will communicate with admissions offices to explain their methodology and the legitimacy of the report.10Educational Credential Evaluators. What to Do If Your Credentials Are Not Accepted by an Institution or Employer
Keep your reports current. Some institutions and employers require evaluations completed within the past few years, and an outdated report is a rejection you can prevent. If you got an evaluation for one purpose and want to reuse it for another, confirm it still meets the new recipient’s requirements before you submit.