08/01/2024
GED certificate-holders can go on to earn undergraduate and advanced degrees. GED diploma-holders may choose to go to a community college to earn an in-demand associate degree, or they may apply directly to a four-year school.
Most U.S. colleges, including Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale, accept an applicant's GED certificate, just as they do a high school diploma. GED diploma-holders can apply as first-year applicants or transfer students if they've already earned some college credits. Keep in mind, however, that college application processes can vary depending on the school.
Colleges want to know that applicants can successfully complete an advanced education. Some schools and competitive programs, such as programs that prepare students for nursing careers, require you to have a minimum GED test score or some prior college credit.
Other institutions require applicants who hold a GED diploma to take additional placement tests. Additionally, a small percentage of schools do not accept the GED diploma at all.