High School Equivalency

Earn Your High School Diploma for Free at KC

Flexible, supportive, and free classes are available at multiple locations and online to fit your schedule. Call (618) 545-3115 for more information and take the next step toward achieving your goals.

What is the High School Equivalency Program?

Kaskaskia College offers free Illinois High School Diploma classes designed to help you earn your diploma and open new doors to job opportunities, higher education, and personal growth.

Our courses are available online and in person across Marion, Clinton, Washington, Bond, and Fayette counties.

Why Choose Our Program?

100% Free Classes: No cost to attend.
Flexible Schedules: Choose from day or evening classes.
Multiple Locations: Classes are available in convenient locations throughout the district.
Online Option: Learn from home with our fully online course.
Supportive Environment: Experienced instructors are here to guide you every step of the way.
Frequent Start Dates: New classes begin throughout the year.

Get Started on the Path to Success

Class Schedule: Classes meet twice a week for 3 hours per session. Both day and evening options are available to fit your lifestyle.

Eligibility: This program is open to adults who have not completed their high school diploma and want to improve their opportunities.

Locations: We offer courses across Marion, Clinton, Washington, Bond, and Fayette counties.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Students must be 16 years of age or older to begin the process of pursuing a HSED.

If you are 16 years old, you'll need permission from parents/guardians and the local school board before taking the HSED test.

If you are 17, you will need a drop form/letter of withdrawal from the high school you would be attending based on your current address. The letter must state your name, date of birth, and last day of attendance and be signed by an administrator. Even if you have not attended the high school based on your current address, they can still provide you with this letter, which will state you are not currently attending that high school.

However, all students must be 17 to take the High School Equivalency Diploma (GED) test if you have the letter or age 18 if you do not.

Before you can test, you must have been a resident of Illinois for 30 days or more. You must prove residency via a government-issued photo ID or proof of residency if your ID does not have your current address.

The Kaskaskia College Adult Education & Literacy Department requires all AEL students to attend a mandatory orientation before they enter class. During the orientation, students will fill out intake paperwork and do placement testing. Completion of the orientation is a requirement before entering class.

To register for an orientation, call or text us at 618-545-3115.

Classes meet twice a week, and you are expected to attend every class session.
To earn the HSED, you must take four different tests: Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts.

Studying 2-3 times a week can help you become test-ready and more likely to pass each test in just a few months, which can vary based on the last grade you completed and how recently you attended school. In most cases, the more you study, the quicker you can learn the information needed to pass the required test subjects.
Yes, but students will need to attend a face-to-face orientation before starting the classes.

These classes feature both asynchronous and synchronous assignments, such as submitting assigned work online and regularly scheduled meetings through Zoom.