Washington, DC/ Minneapolis, MN, Feb. 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Since the launch of the enhanced GED program in 2014 a higher percentage of GED graduates are attending college programs, enrolling more quickly, and are more prepared than ever to succeed in college and beyond. One statistic shows a meteoric increase in preparedness for college certificate and degree programs.
Research conducted by GED Testing Service, through a data match with the National Student Clearinghouse, revealed that:
- 45% of GED grads enrolled in a college certificate or degree program within three years,
- 35% do so within one year of earning a GED credential, and
- 90% of those grads persisted by re-enrolling from one semester to the next.
“The most recent numbers are very exciting, especially when you compare the 90 percent persistence rate to the pre-2014 rate of 29 percent,” said Randy Trask, President of GED Testing Service. “Education and credentials beyond a GED diploma are the keys to unlocking opportunity for adult learners—opportunities for new career pathways, higher wages, and better quality of life.”
GED graduates are in a much stronger position to compete with traditional high school graduates, especially after earning a certificate or degree in addition to a GED credential. This is increasingly important as the vast majority of new jobs that will be created over the next two decades will require more than a high-school-level credential. An estimated 2.5 million new middle skill jobs (those that require post-high school education but not a four-year college degree) are expected to be added to the U.S. workforce, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all job growth.
According to the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce, there are 30 million “good jobs” in the United States today that pay without a bachelor’s degree. These “good jobs” have median earnings of $55,000 annually.
To create a more seamless pathway for GED graduates into college programs, the GED test debuted two new college-related performance levels in 2016. Based on recommendations from the ACE CREDIT program—the same program that backs CLEP and Advanced Placement (AP)—GED grads can earn a GED College Ready or College Ready + Credit score.
The GED College Ready score level indicates that a student has demonstrated the skills to start college-level courses and should be able to bypass a placement test and developmental education courses in that subject. The GED College Ready + Credit score level indicates that the test taker has demonstrated college-level skills and knowledge in that subject. Students that score within this level may be eligible for up to 10 college credit hours.
More than 200 community colleges and postsecondary institutions around the country have implemented admissions policies based on GED College Ready scores. These policies are saving GED graduates time and money as it moves them more quickly into and through college programs.
More information about the growing momentum surrounding the adoption of the College Ready score levels is available here.
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About GED Testing Service
The GED test has opened doors to better jobs and college programs for more than 20 million graduates since 1942. The GED test is accepted by virtually all U.S. colleges and employers. As the creator of the one official GED test, GED Testing Service has a responsibility to ensure that the program continues to be a reliable and valuable pathway to a better life for the millions of adults without a high school diploma. GED Testing Service is a joint venture between the American Council on Education and Pearson.
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