High School Diploma vs. GED: Which Path is Right for You?

Choosing between a high school diploma and a General Educational Development (GED) certificate is a significant decision with long-term implications. Both options demonstrate high school-level knowledge, but they differ significantly in their process, time commitment, and perceived value. This article explores the key differences and similarities between a high school diploma and a GED to help you make an informed decision about your educational journey.

Understanding the Basics

A high school diploma is earned after completing all the requirements needed to graduate from a high school program. This involves learning and studying various subjects, completing assignments, and passing tests over a period of years. A GED, or General Educational Development certificate, is an alternative path to earning a high school diploma. The GED is an exam that measures your competency in standard high school subjects like math, social studies, science, and English. Passing the GED signifies high school graduation equivalency.

Time Commitment: A Key Differentiator

Earning a high school diploma typically takes longer than earning a GED. If you are enrolled in a traditional high school, it will take four years to finish. Online high school can take less time; the average time to earn a high school diploma online is about 6-14 months. However, with an online school, the time it takes to graduate really depends on how much time you have to study. The GED, on the other hand, is a set of four exams. If you’ve been out of school for a while, it’s often recommended that you take a GED prep class before taking the test to increase your chances of passing. If you take a prep course, it can take around three months to prepare for and get your GED. The time frame for obtaining a diploma is usually much longer than obtaining a GED. Traditional high school students typically need four years to complete classes and graduate. The GED is a seven-hour test, and for most people, preparing for it takes less than a year.

Learning Styles and Knowledge Acquisition

A high school diploma involves studying, learning, taking tests, and completing assignments. In a high school diploma program, you’ll learn a variety of subjects and skills, from how to write an essay to basic math to learning a language. High school can teach a lot of skills beyond what you learn in books. Managing to find time to study and do homework are great ways to develop time management and study skills, while critical thinking problems found in your lessons are great ways to boost your problem-solving skills. Because you’ll have the chance to unravel subjects more in depth, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the world and how it works. One of the best advantages about high school is being able to reach out to an instructor when you need clarification.

The GED, on the other hand, is a set of tests that measures your knowledge versus teaching you knowledge. It focuses on assessing competency in four core subjects: math, science, social studies, and reasoning through language arts. While studying for the GED is highly recommended and can definitely take months before you’re ready to dive into the test, this method can still be pretty quick, especially if you have a solid grasp of the four subjects. If your career path requires only knowledge from the four subject areas in the GED, it may be a good idea to hone in on these instead of spending time learning irrelevant subjects.

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State Requirements for GED

Some states have additional requirements that must be met to be eligible to take the GED exam. For example, in Pennsylvania, you must be a resident of the state to take the exam. In other states, like North Dakota or Arizona, you must pass a Constitution test as part of your GED exam. It is important to check the specific requirements of the state where you plan to take the GED.

College Admissions: GED vs. Diploma

If you’re considering going to college, that can factor into whether you decide to get a GED or finish your high school diploma. Colleges can all have different admissions requirements. About 98% of colleges in the United States accept the GED for enrollment. However, depending on the type of program you want to enroll in or the school’s requirements, you may need to take additional steps to qualify for enrollment. For example, some schools may require you to take additional placement tests to ensure you can pass your college-level courses. Those who’ve earned a high school diploma may have an easier time being accepted by some colleges, but they still need to meet certain requirements for enrollment.

While this doesn’t mean that all colleges will accept you if you have a high school diploma, this means that all colleges will accept a diploma as proof of high school completion. Your GPA, or grade point average, is one of the main factors colleges will take into account when accepting a new student. Your class rank is what tells your college’s admissions department how you did versus all the other students in the same exact learning environment as you. Because a GED exam is just a test, there’s no class rank to compare. In order to become eligible for federal student aid, the government requires you to show that you’re qualified to obtain a college education. High school diploma recipients that have earned good grades may also qualify for additional financial aid which GED recipients would not be eligible for.

Earning Potential: Long-Term Financial Impact

On average, someone with a high school diploma is likely to earn more money over time than someone with a GED or equivalent. High school graduates tend to earn about $11,000 more than someone who didn’t complete high school, while someone with a GED earns, on average, about $9,000 more than someone who didn’t graduate. However, it’s important to mention that how much you earn per year really depends on several factors such as your specific job, where you live, and your work experience. While earning a GED can definitely open more doors for hiring and earning potential than someone who has not finished high school, a high school diploma can earn you even more.

Military Service: Diploma Preference

Having a GED or high school diploma can make the most difference if you’re interested in enlisting in the military. The military requires recruits to have either a GED or high school diploma to qualify. However, there are fewer spots available to those who have a GED versus those who have a high school diploma. All military branches prefer a high school diploma and have set limits on the number of people they will accept with a GED each year.

Addressing the Stigma

Yes, a high school diploma is generally regarded more highly than a GED. A diploma demonstrates a higher level of commitment and dedication to completing the required courses and may signal a greater level of resilience, persistence, and reliability. These attributes are favorable for both employers and higher education institutions. Although a GED signifies that the individual has taken the initiative to complete the standardized tests and demonstrate their high school education competency, there may still be a stigma associated with this alternative path.

Alternative Paths: Online High School

An online high school diploma may be the perfect fit for you. Finishing high school may not be the right fit for everyone, and that’s okay! That’s why the GED and similar exams exist, to make sure everyone has the opportunity for economic advancement and chances. An online high school, for example, is a great option for many - especially busy adults - but people still worry it will be taken less seriously than going to a “real” high school. However, when it comes time to apply for jobs, employers aren’t looking at the name of the school you graduated from; they just want to know you graduated!

Making the Right Choice

Choosing between getting a GED and a high school diploma isn’t always easy. Consider:

Your future goals: Do you want to go to college? Do you want to enroll in a specific program? If so, take some time to research the schools and programs you’re interested in. Do they often accept people with a GED?
Your time: How quickly do you need a high school diploma or GED? Do you have time to do GED prep classes? Do you need something that can work around your life? An online high school diploma can offer you the ability to learn at your own pace, around your schedule, with no set timeline to complete.
How you learn: Are you someone who can retain a lot of information by studying? Or do you like to learn in small doses? Are you a great test taker? Being able to earn your high school equivalency with a single test might be a good fit for you. Maybe a classroom environment isn’t for you, and that’s okay. While some people pursuing the GED choose to attend classes to prep for the exam, it’s definitely not necessary. Ready to go and take your test? Need some extra time to prepare? Whatever your situation is, the GED is ultimately a test that you schedule, so when you take it is totally up to you.

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