Do You Need A High School Diploma To Go To College?

Can you go to college without a high school diploma? The answer is yes, but your path will differ from the usual route. First, you will need to identify colleges that have entry options for students without a traditional diploma.

These entry pathways take multiple forms, including open enrollment policies, equivalency exams, and individual courses that award transferable credits. The sections below explain your options in greater detail.

Not all accredited U.S. colleges require you to have a high school diploma or GED certificate. If you don’t have either of these credentials, you still have options for starting your college education. These options generally fall into two categories:

The right choice depends on whether you want to begin classes immediately or qualify for full admission and financial aid. Here are five moves you can make if you want to attend college without a GED certificate or high school diploma.

The exact path you will follow depends on where you live and the type of school you plan to attend. In general, though, these three strategies can help you get started:

Colleges that don’t require a high school diploma or GED certificate often follow a multistep application process. For example, you may need to speak to an admissions officer, submit high school transcripts, or take an ability-to-benefit test like ACCUPLACER.

College applicants without a diploma should primarily focus on accredited local community colleges and vocational schools. These institutions cater to prospective students who need to pass the GED test or take remedial courses.

Many junior and community colleges allow students to enroll in individual classes, usually for personal enrichment or professional development. Students without high school diplomas can also enroll in GED preparation courses. These courses emphasize the writing, math, and reading skills tested on the GED exam.

Some colleges that don’t require a high school diploma allow you to earn college credit as you prepare for the GED test. This policy may result in the school limiting the courses you can take.

Trade and vocational schools focus on career development, offering career-specific majors like automotive technician, business office administration, and electrician technician. These programs prioritize hands-on learning and normally take one or fewer years to complete.

You’ll usually need a GED certificate or high school diploma to enroll, but some trade schools may not have this requirement. They may even help you prepare you to pass the GED exam.

Equivalency paths offer another way to bypass diploma requirements. If you go this route, you can enroll in adult high school or obtain your GED. Most colleges will then consider you fully qualified for enrollment.

Many private organizations and school districts offer adult high school, where working professionals can learn in classroom settings with other adults returning to school.

Some programs offer night and weekend courses for adults working full time. Each participant who meets their school’s education requirements receives a high school diploma upon completion. School districts normally limit enrollment to residents and do not charge a fee.

Similar programs include free GED test preparation courses and adult basic education courses. The latter may charge tuition. Once you earn a diploma through adult high school, you can use the credential to apply to an associate or bachelor’s degree program at any accredited college or university.

Many accredited colleges allow you to enroll as long as you pass a high school equivalency test, like the GED test or HiSET exam. You must submit official scores with your application. Some schools may use a score cutoff for admission or enrollment in specific programs.

If you don’t meet a school’s cutoff, you may still receive conditional admission, which requires you to maintain a specific GPA for a period while taking remedial courses. After completing this phase, you can receive full admission to the college.

How to Get Started Without a High School Diploma or GED

1. Determine which pathway best suits your situation: Without a diploma or GED, your options may include open-admission community colleges or individual courses that award transferable credits. Start by identifying which path best fits your goals.
2. Focus your search on schools that accept non-diploma students: Many accredited schools have reformed their admission policies to be more inclusive to nontraditional students. Seek out both local and online options.
3. Ask how enrollment and pathway options work without a diploma: After building a list of suitable schools, compare their enrollment policies for students in your situation. If these are unclear, reach out to the school for more information.
4. Understand your enrollment and degree limitations: You may ultimately need to complete your diploma or GED before fully qualifying for a degree program. Get clarity on this point from each school under your consideration.
5. Decide if working toward a GED alongside enrollment makes sense: You may ultimately find it more practical to complete your GED separately before investing in further education. This is a perfectly valid path if it makes sense in your situation.

Although you may be able to find accredited schools that do not require a high school or GED diploma, you’ll have more options for higher ed with a GED certificate under your belt. Here’s a brief look at what you should know about the GED test.

The GED exam is a combination of four subject tests. You must pay to take each test, and fees vary depending on the state, but you are not required to take them all at once.

To earn a GED certificate, you must score a minimum of 145 out of 200 on all four tests. If you score 175 or higher, your results are considered “college ready + credit” and may qualify you for up to 10 college credits, though acceptance depends on the college.

You can register for the GED test online through the GED Testing Service website. Simply make an account, log in, choose the GED tests you want to take, and select a date and time. You’ll also get to decide whether you want to take the tests in person at a testing center or at home with an online proctor.

Testing accommodations are available to those with documented disabilities.