| Over 30 million American adults lack a GED or high | | | | Navarre credits the GED with giving her confidence to |
| school diploma. If you're an adult without a high school | | | | go on to college. |
| diploma, the GED is an important step in moving on | | | | If you are working toward a GED, start thinking of the |
| with your life. It opens up more job opportunities and | | | | next step. Look into local community colleges and |
| enhances self-esteem. The GED is just the tip of the | | | | universities. Many states and colleges have programs |
| iceberg, though. The greatest career opportunities | | | | for GED graduates, and scholarships may be available. |
| come with college education. You can gain the most | | | | Some scholarships are set up especially for GED |
| benefit from a GED by using it as a stepping stone to | | | | earners. An example is the Columbus, Ohio Ivy Tech |
| higher education. | | | | Community College, which is awarding a $1,000 |
| The income level of adults goes up, with more | | | | scholarship to a top-scoring GED earner in the area |
| education, and at the college level, it makes a large | | | | for the 2010-2011 school year. The GED testing center |
| leap. Among people 25 and over who had full-time | | | | in your area or your local adult education center might |
| jobs, the median weekly income for people without a | | | | be able to give you information about scholarships. |
| high school diploma was $426 in 2008. With a high | | | | Other scholarships are open to GED earners as well |
| school diploma, it jumped to $591 a week, an increase | | | | as high school graduates entering college. Try meeting |
| of nearly 40%. With a 2-year Associate degree, | | | | with a counsellor at your local community college and |
| median income was $736 a week, and with a | | | | ask about what scholarships and other financial aid are |
| bachelor's degree, median income was $978. That's | | | | available. |
| more than double the median income without a high | | | | For most GED earners, community college is a great |
| school diploma. | | | | step toward a four-year college or an associate's |
| Can GED graduates succeed in college? They can, | | | | degree. Community colleges are typically less |
| and do. Rockingham Community College student Khori | | | | expensive and offer evening classes that fit into adult |
| Navarre earned a GED in 2008 before enrolling as a | | | | students' lives. They act as bridges to universities and |
| full-time student. Now, Navarre has a 4.0 grade-point | | | | career training, and they often offer transitional classes |
| average and won the North Carolina Community | | | | in reading, writing, math, and study skills, to help |
| College System's Academic Excellence Award. | | | | students prepare for college level courses. |