High-school diploma equivalent is a credential recognized as the alternative to a standard high-school diploma for purposes of Title IV eligibility and college admission.
How it works
The student submits a copy of the equivalency certificate or transcript to the admissions or registrar’s office. The institution verifies that the credential is on the federal list of recognized equivalents. Once verified, the student may be admitted and packaged for aid if other eligibility criteria are met. Students who lack both a diploma and an equivalent must use an approved alternative path, such as completing six applicable college credits, before aid can be disbursed.
Example: an adult learner who left high school without a diploma later passes the GED. The online university accepts the GED certificate as the high-school equivalent, admits the student under its open-admission policy, and processes a Pell Grant.
How it differs
A standard high-school diploma is issued by a secondary school. College credits used as an ability-to-benefit alternative are postsecondary. An equivalency certificate is a specific recognized substitute for the diploma. Admission to a particular program may require additional preparation beyond the equivalency.
Common errors
Accepting an unrecognized certificate as sufficient for aid eligibility. Disbursing aid before documentation is on file. Assuming every state equivalency test is automatically accepted without verification.
References
- 1. Federal Student Aid high-school equivalencyRecognized equivalents
- 2. State equivalency optionsGED, HiSET, TASC
High-school diploma equivalent is a credential recognized as the alternative to a standard high-school diploma for purposes of Title IV eligibility and college admission.