Proof of High School Completion Requirement

To be eligible for financial aid, you must submit an official high school transcript or a recognized equivalent of a high school diploma.

You must submit to Student Records one of the following documents that confirms that you have completed high school (or the equivalent):

  • a copy of a final, official high school transcript that shows the date when the diploma was awarded
  • a copy of a General Educational Development (GED®) certificate or GED® transcript
  • an academic transcript that indicates you successfully completed at least a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree
  • homeschool students:
    • a copy of a secondary school completion credential for homeschool (other than a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent), if state law requires homeschooled students to obtain that credential
    • a transcript or the equivalent, signed by your parent or guardian, that lists the secondary school courses you completed and documents the successful completion of secondary school education in a homeschool setting
  • documentation that the high school is now closed and a copy of your high school diploma
  • documentation the high school experienced a flood or fire and all records were destroyed and a copy of your high school diploma
  • a copy of your DD214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty

Two-Year Program Equivalent

To be a “recognized equivalent of a high school diploma,” the two years of coursework must be acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree. The following are considered the equivalent of completing a "two-year program," regardless of the time it takes to complete the coursework (e.g., on an accelerated schedule):

  • successful completion of an associate degree program
  • successful completion of at least 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or 72 quarter credit hours that do not result in the awarding of an associate degree, but that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree at any institution; or
  • enrollment in a bachelor’s degree program where at least 60 semester or trimester credit hours or 72 quarter credit hours have been successfully completed, including credit hours transferred into the bachelor’s degree program

A high school diploma/transcript from another country is acceptable as long as it is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. To determine if the high school diploma/transcript is equivalent, you will need to have the document evaluated by an evaluation service.