Assessment of the General Educational Development Certificate on Earnings for Washington High School Dropouts

Did high school dropouts who received their GED earn more than high school dropouts who did not?
Published: 
November, 2015

This research examines the impact of attaining a General Educational Development (GED) credential on the earnings trajectory of high school dropouts in Washington state. The results show overall indifferent earnings gains for GED recipients. Black GED recipients earn relatively less than non-GED dropouts while GED recipients of other nonwhite minority groups earn modest gains.