High School Diploma Vs. GED: What’s The Difference?

During the 1940s, many young men were drafted into the military before they could finish high school. Instead of making them go back to school after they returned, the American Council on Education developed the General Educational Development (GED) test to give these men access to colleges and jobs that required a high school education.

Today, the GED is still a widely used equivalent to a high school diploma. In this article, we’ll explain more about both high school diplomas and the GED and the similarities and differences they have.

Key Takeaways:

What Is a High School Diploma?

A high school diploma is a document that signifies that you graduated from high school and have a twelfth-grade education in math, science, social studies, and language arts. It allows you to enter the workforce or college, and it usually takes four years to earn.

Here are some more specifics about what a high school diploma is:

• It designates you as a high school graduate. When you pass all of your required high school classes, you earn a high school diploma. You don’t necessarily have to walk across the stage at graduation to earn a diploma, and walking doesn’t necessarily mean you earned one, but this achievement is what the graduation ceremony honors.

• It allows you to enter the workforce and attend college. Many jobs – even entry-level ones – require a high school diploma or GED to apply. Colleges are the same way, be it a community college, technical institute, or university.

• It takes about four years to earn. Some states structure their high schools differently, and some students may graduate early, but in general, it takes about four years to complete the classes required to earn a high school diploma.

• It signifies that you have a twelfth-grade education in math, science, language arts, and social studies. The exact classes high school diploma-holders take will vary based on their interests, school requirements, and academic strengths and weaknesses, but every core class can fit into one of those four categories.

What Is a GED?

A GED is a certificate showing that someone passed the General Educational Development (GED) test. It’s a high school equivalency diploma, typically takes less than a year to earn, and allows you to get a job or go to college just as a high school diploma would.

Here is some more information about what a GED is:

• It shows that you passed the General Educational Development (GED) test. You don’t have to take four years of classes to earn your GED – you simply have to pass the GED test, which you can usually take once you’re 16 years old.

• It allows you to enter the workforce and go to college. Only a minuscule number of employers, community colleges, universities, and technical education programs don’t accept a GED as they would for a high school diploma. This means that even if you didn’t complete high school, you could still get a job or a degree, just as a high school graduate can if you have your GED.

• It takes less than a year to earn. GED test takers have to study hard for their seven-hour test, and the time it takes to do this depends on the individual. Even if you have to study for a full year, that’s still significantly less time than it takes to earn a traditional high school diploma.

• It’s a high school equivalency diploma. Having a GED means you have knowledge equivalent to that of a high school graduate in math, science, language arts, and social studies.

High School Diploma Vs. GED FAQ

1. Is a diploma better than a GED?

   Yes, a diploma is better than a GED. Some colleges and employers will look more favorably on a high school diploma than a GED, making it easier to get into programs with a high school diploma. In addition, it’s often easier to get financial aid with a high school diploma than it is with a GED.

   However, this is typically only true if the high school graduate has good grades and ACT or SAT scores to go with their diploma. If they don’t, they’ll have trouble getting into college, even with a diploma.

   At the same time, if you have a GED and are trying to get into college, getting a high score on your ACT or SAT will make you an attractive applicant to colleges even without a high school diploma.

   The other aspect of high school diplomas that colleges like over GEDs is that they assume high school diplomas often come with more classroom experience, which can help students be more successful in college.

   However, just because you didn’t sit in school as long doesn’t mean you won’t be a successful college student – you’ll just have to demonstrate your work ethic and dedication to studying in your essays and applications.

2. Is the GED harder than getting a high school diploma?

   No, the GED isn’t harder than getting a high school diploma. In fact, it’s often easier since it’s just one test over four subjects rather than four years of tests in a myriad of classes.

   However, if you have a full-time job and other adult obligations, it can be far more difficult to find the time, energy, and financial resources needed to study for and pass the GED test than it is to pass high school classes as a teenager.

   Even with their busy schedules, many people still find taking the GED easier than four years of high school, though, especially if they have to drop out of high school because they need to work and don’t have time to do that and go to class. Plus, it’s still far easier to spend a year studying and taking tests than it is going back to school for four years in order to earn a high school diploma.

3. Can you be successful with a GED?

   Yes, you can be successful with a GED. The vast majority of the time, having your GED will put you on equal footing with high school graduates, opening up doors to jobs, college, and technical programs. Many famously successful people have their GED, and some studies suggest that GED-holders eventually make higher salaries than many high school diploma-holders do.

   Once you’re in college or have some work experience, employers and universities will usually only care about your college degree or most recent work experience. They’ll probably check to make sure you have a high school diploma or GED, but that’s typically just a box to check to make sure you’re eligible for the position or program.

   If you weren’t able to finish high school for any reason, a GED is your ticket to starting a career and/or a postsecondary education, just like a high school diploma is.

Author

Abby McCain

Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.