Perceptions and Pathways: Life Decisions of GED Test Credential Recipients from Secondary to Postsecondary Education; A Preliminary Report

GED diplomas account for about 12 percent of high school degrees earned in the United States. More than half of GED test credential recipients cite postsecondary education as the motivation for passing the GED test. However, less than 15 percent of GED test credential recipients complete postsecondary education. In order to uncover factors impacting GED test credential recipients’ decision to pursue, or not pursue, postsecondary education, the American Council on Education (ACE) released its preliminary report, Perceptions and Pathways. This report presents themes and patterns of ACE’s examination of the experiences, motivations, and developed perceptions that have influenced post-secondary achievement among 2005-2006 GED test credential recipients.