Are you considering taking the General Education Development, also known as GED, test? Is a high school diploma better than a GED? Read this article to find out the pros and cons of a GED and the facts about getting a GED.

Getting a GED? The General Education Development credential, commonly known as the GED, is a multi-hour exam designed to test your knowledge of math, science, writing, reading and social studies. But how do employers and universities view the GED? Is it worth as much as a high school diploma? Get a GED online today.

GED vs. Diploma, Which is Better?

Want to quit high school but don't want to flip burgers for the rest of life? Consider your options. The GED may be your answer to future education, better employment and higher pay.

The General Education Development credential, commonly known as the GED, is a multi-hour exam designed to test your knowledge of math, science, writing, reading and social studies. You must pass each of the above subjects with a 60 percent or above.

How do employers and universities view the GED? Is it worth as much as a high school diploma?

The short answer is maybe. Most colleges will accept a GED in lieu of a high school diploma, with community colleges almost always accepting GED scores. However they do look at it as a lower form of diploma and it should be combined with good references and tests scores in order to ensure college acceptance. This is similar with employers, many will accept a GED as a substitute, but again, view it lower than a high school diploma.

Most teachers will argue that the GED lacks the depth and breadth found in a traditional high school education. Interestingly enough, it was not created for high school dropouts. It began as a means for World War II veterans to receive their high school educational accreditation without actually having to go back to high school after the war. In 1999 more than half a million people passed the GED, out of the over 700,000 who took it.

Another factor to consider is that the military has a cap on how many GED recipients it will accept. Only 10 percent inductees can have a GED, and even then, they are placed in a lower tier than high school graduates. Research has shown that GED recipients are less successful than high school graduates. Yet, both comedian Bill Cosby and Wendy's founder Dave Thomas took GEDs and became highly successful so it is also a measure of what the person does with their GED skills. Research has also found that:

  • Those who pass the GED have a higher self-esteem than if they never went back to high school. They feel good that they received some sort of educational certification.
  • GED recipients are more likely to continue learning, read more and become financially secure than if those who just drop out.
  • They usually tell their children to finish school as they realize the problems they encountered by not finishing high school.
  • GED recipients also have more full-time work and better employment options than high school dropouts.

Thus passing a GED is better than just dropping out completely, but again, it is not on the same level as a high school education.

Sources:

specialops.org/fssecondary.asp
cete.org
math-and-reading-help-for-kids.org/articles/High_School_Diploma_versus_GED.html