Should Homeschoolers Get A GED?

Last Updated on April 13, 2024.

If you wonder if a homeschooled student should take the GED test, the short answer is no. It’s not needed, but there is more to it. Keep reading to fully understand this important issue.

In the U.S., parents have the right to teach their children academics at home, and the students can receive a high school diploma upon graduation.

On the other hand, many academic institutions will require homeschool students to demonstrate proof of academic knowledge and skills by providing ACT or SAT scores, taking a college admissions test, or attaining “college-ready” scores on the GED® exam.

Homeschoolers can benefit from our free GED online classes as well, which are generously provided by Onsego GED Prep. Many parents use our free resources to instruct their kids.

So, it can be beneficial for homeschooled students to take the GED exam, though some people still think there are stigmas related to the GED.

It used to be that the GED exam was also referred to as the “Good Enough Diploma,” but the fact of the matter is that since the latest, entirely computer-based, and very challenging version of the GED exam was introduced, GED graduates have been well-received at colleges and the employment market.

So Should Homeschoolers get a GED?

Many homeschooling parents get a bit antsy when their kids’ high school years come to an end. Their teaching and their children’s grades and academic level will come under the scrutiny of outsiders’ eyes.

There will be questions about transcripts, GPAs, and diplomas when it comes to their children’s college applications, as the validation of their children’s last four homeschooling years may get questioned.

The GED is Equivalent

But still, for some schools, a GED symbolizes “street smart” knowledge, a more general life-based knowledge. Technically, a GED is equivalent to a high school degree, though it is not a replacement for four years of high school education.

A high school diploma and transcript stand for a disciplined and completed academic pursuit. A high school diploma symbolizes an accomplishment; it is more than just an assessment of ability.

So many parents feel they shouldn’t shy away from awarding their children a high school diploma, though opting for the GED route may seem so much easier and more affordable.

So, after having homeschooled their children, they often choose an online high school diploma program as there are quite a few respectable and accredited Online High School Diploma programs available in America, such as Excel High School or Acellus Academy.

Is Getting a GED Right?

Well, that depends. If you are convinced your homeschool teaching was excellent, your children will probably pass the four GED subtests with flying colors.

Attaining GED “College-Ready” scores often means they are exempt from having to take additional remedial coursework or a college admissions test.

The GED exam is often taken to eliminate attendance requirements for high school and lessens the record-keeping burden that home educators are faced with in order to comply with their state’s attendance laws.

But it is the question of whether that is what you and your children have been working so hard for. Often, the advantages of homeschooling your kids are obvious, and opting for a GED may sell your children’s education short.

For many educational institutions, educators, and regulators, holding a GED still symbolizes being a “student who couldn’t finish high school,” and that’s something you don’t want your children to experience, do you?

On the other hand, an increasing number of colleges and universities are aware that the stigmas associated with a GED are actually a thing of the past.

More and more schools are accepting “GED College-Ready” scores in lieu of college-entrance tests or ACT or SAT scores for admission.

Nothing Wrong with Homeschooling

Then again, your family and your children are unique, and you may have so many reasons why you have chosen to homeschool your children.

In the U.S., homeschooling is a legal method of educating your children and is viable. There’s no need to short-change your children’s accomplishments. So, having your students acquire a GED rather than awarding a high school diploma isn’t always the appropriate thing to do.

When your children have completed their high school education through home education, there’s all the cause in the world to celebrate that achievement, wouldn’t you agree? It’s a job well done that’s worthy of a reward, right?

Are there still GED Stigmas?

Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that there are still stigmas associated with the GED. Holding a GED implies that the holder didn’t complete high school. It still symbolizes students who didn’t complete high school.

The GED indicates that the holder received a high school-equivalent credential without finishing high school, whereas a homeschool diploma implies the students graduated from high school.

Graduation Requirements

When homeschooling your child, make sure you meet all of your state’s homeschool education laws and requirements for graduation.

And, if your state has no specific graduation requirements for homeschooled students, be sure to meet the graduation requirements that apply for regular education.

Usually, this includes 3 to 4 math, 4 English, 3 social studies, 2 to 3 sciences, 2 foreign languages, 1 art class, 2 P.E., and a few electives, so it all will add up to at least 19 credits overall.

This website offers free GED math practice tests and video lessons as well to get you started with your GED prep. Our free help has been made available through Onsego’s fully accredited GED program. If you think this approach is right for you, just transfer to Onsego and earn your GED diploma fast!

Please note that state regulations and requirements for graduation may vary widely between states. Note also that usually, graduation requirements are less than those needed to get your children into college. But this not only applies to homeschooled students.

Do Homeschoolers Need a GED to Join the Military?

No, they do not. For the U.S. Armed Forces, homeschoolers are seen as “Tier 1” recruits in the same way as high school grads, whereas GED holders are considered “Tier 2” applicants.

For enlistment in the U.S. Military, there are three tiers:
Tier 1: High school graduates, and this includes homeschooled grads. Non-graduates who hold at least 15 college credits also fall in this tier.
Tier 2: GED graduates. They are still seen as persons who had some difficulty with achieving objectives.
Tier 3: Applicants without any education credentials.

The higher your children qualify for enlistment, the higher the starting salary will be when enlisted. So when your children hold a GED, that might harm their military options, careers, and their future.

So there are circumstances where providing a homeschool diploma is preferable to letting them earn a GED. This is particularly relevant for students looking to join the U.S. Marines with a GED, where even stricter rules apply.

To apply for service in the armed forces, homeschooled students are required to present homeschool diplomas, and they may have to demonstrate that their homeschool obeyed all local homeschool regulations and laws.

They may also have to provide documentation as required by their school districts, such as a declaration of intent for homeschooling. Homeschooled students also need to present transcripts, and there must be no doubt that the parents directed the education.

Do Homeschoolers need a GED to get into College?

No, homeschooled students do not need a GED to get into college. It might even negatively affect their college applications as there still are schools that only think of GED graduates as people who never completed high school.

It used to be that students with GED were less likely to be successful in college, though since the latest GED exam was introduced, that has changed significantly.

In earlier days, of all high school graduates, more than 70 percent went off to college, and almost 35 percent earned a college degree. Of all GED grads, just some 45 percent went on to college, and not even 5 percent earned a bachelor’s degree.

Today, however, that has totally changed as we can see over 60 percent of GED holders continue their education in college, and many students with GED “College-Ready” scores outperform their high school diploma peers in college!

Well, as we all know, a college degree will dramatically increase your earning potential, and this starts already with having a secondary education degree (high school or equivalent diploma).

Though there are still minor differences, we can see that holders of a high school or equivalent diploma will earn at least more than $9,600 more annually than people without a secondary education degree.