Obtaining a GED is an effective substitute for a high school diploma. 98 percent of colleges and universities that require high school diplomas for entrance also accept the GED credential, and 96 percent of employers that require a high school diploma accept a GED. Passing the test certifies that the taker has attained high-school level knowledge and skills, according to the GED website. Tests must be taken at one of the 3,400 approved GED testing centers across the country.
Some colleges allow high school students to enroll in classes without having first earned their high school diploma. These programs vary from college to college, but typically students must be sophomores, juniors or seniors and have a satisfactory grade-point average in their high-school classes before being allowed to take college classes. College credits earned while a student is in high school may be applied to the credits needed for a student's high school diploma, depending on school district regulations.
If a student has neither a high school diploma nor a GED, and isn't enrolled in high school, he may still enroll in one of the colleges and universities that accept students without high school completion. According to a 2006 New York Times article, nearly 400,000 college students nationwide do not have high school diplomas or GEDs, accounting for two percent of all college students and three percent of all community college students. Among the options open to students without high school completion are all of California's community colleges, where anyone over the age of 18 can enroll. However, these students may need to take remedial courses offered by colleges.
Some students without a high school diploma or equivalency degree take ability-to-benefit tests accredited by the state or federal government. These tests aim to determine whether the student would benefit from post-secondary education. Importantly, passing this test (usually administered by the student's college) makes the student eligible for federal financial aid, which is usually reserved for students with high school credentials.
Students who have not completed a high school degree or the equivalent are generally not eligible for federal student aid, and may not be eligible for state financial aid. In addition to taking an "ability to benefit" test, a student may become eligible to receive federal student aid if their college determines they have the ability to benefit from postsecondary education by satisfactorily completing six credit hours or the equivalent coursework toward a degree or certificate, according to the federal government's student aid guide. The student would not be eligible for aid while taking these first six credits. Students should check with their state to see if they are eligible for state aid.