Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Legitimacy of online high school diplomas for college admissions?

I'm a student with an online high school diploma, and I'm a bit anxious that it might not be recognized by colleges. Do most universities accept these online high school diplomas, or should I prepare for some hurdles?

a year ago

Absolutely, many institutions of higher education consider an online high school diploma just as valid as one earned in a traditional, brick-and-mortar setting. Colleges are primarily interested in the academic abilities and potential of their applicants, which is demonstrated through a combination of test scores, your high school curriculum's rigor, your grades, and your extracurricular activities, regardless of the format in which you attended high school.

However, it's important to understand that not all online high schools are created equal. What matters is that the school you attend is accredited. Accreditation ensures that your school is meeting certain educational standards. If your diploma is from a properly accredited online high school, colleges and universities should recognize it as legitimate.

Regarding "hurdles," there may be some unique challenges to applying for college from an online high school. For instance, recommendations from teachers and/or counselors may be more difficult to acquire if you don't interact with these individuals face-to-face. But even in these cases, admissions counselors are typically understanding of different high school setups, so as long as you explain your situation in your application, you should not be penalized.

So, in a nutshell, yes, colleges accept online high school diplomas, but make sure your school is accredited! Keep in mind, however, that your high school program is just one factor among many that colleges consider, so continue to focus on other aspects of your application, like maintaining strong grades, taking rigorous courses, scoring well on standardized tests (if required), and pursuing engaging extracurricular activities.

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.