GED and HiSET testing near you: the cost in your state, center or online
Pick your state and the test: the total you will pay, what the state covers, what a retake adds and the age and residency rules, from the official state pages.
GED cost in Texas
$145
The HSE Subsidy Program pays the test fees of eligible people aged 21 and older through a Texas Workforce Commission Adult Education and Literacy program, while funding lasts.
| Price per subject | $36.25 |
| First attempts (4 subjects) | $145 |
| Rank, cheapest first | 34 of 49 |
Fees from the Texas page of ged.com, read on October 22, 2026. Tick “I qualify” under More options to see the cost with the state program.
- Most common GED price$36 per subject in 23 states
- Free first attempt for everyone5 jurisdictions
- States that offer the HiSET24, of which 22 also offer the GED
- Fees and rules read onOctober 22, 2026
The GED costs $144 in a typical state: four subjects at $36 each, the price 23 states charge at a test center. The full range runs from nothing in Alaska, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, where the state pays the first attempt, to $200 in South Dakota. Texas charges $36.25 a subject, $145 in all, California $164 and Florida $152. The HiSET, offered in 24 states, has five subtests and costs $120 in the middle state, from $90 in the cheapest paying states to $190 in California; it is free in Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. In 15 of the 22 states that offer both tests, the HiSET costs less. A failed GED subject at a test center opens a discounted retake, $10 in 26 states; online retakes are full price. Every figure here was read on the state pages of ged.com and hiset.org on October 22, 2026, and the calculator adds them up for your own case.
This site gives the total cost of the GED or the HiSET for your own state, across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with retakes, state discounts, age and residency rules read on the official state pages on October 22, 2026, and free practice questions with every answer explained, with no sign-up and no paywall.
The whole test, state by state
Every state and Washington, D.C., with the price of the whole test on a first pass. Discounts open to everyone and public promo codes are counted; programs you must qualify for are not. Sort, filter and highlight your state in the calculator.
| State | GED, test center | GED, online | HiSET, test center | Age | Residency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $144 | $144 | 18 | Residency only for ages 16 and 17 | |
| Alaska | $0 | $0 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Arizona | $164 | $164 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Arkansas | $16 | $144 | 18 | State residents only | |
| California | $164 | $164 | $190 | 18 | State residents only |
| Colorado | $174 | $174 | $163 | 17 | No residency requirement |
| Connecticut | $13 | not listed | 19 | State residents only | |
| Delaware | $144 | $144 | 18 | State residents only | |
| District of Columbia | $15 | $144 | 18 | State residents only | |
| Florida | $152 | not listed | 18 | State address needed at registration | |
| Georgia | $184 | $184 | $170 | 18 | No residency requirement |
| Hawaii | $174 | not listed | $90 | 18 | No residency requirement |
| Idaho | $144 | $144 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Illinois | $40 | $40 | $130 | 18 | Resident for at least 30 days |
| Indiana | $180 | $144 | set by center | 18 | Resident for at least 30 days |
| Iowa | not offered | $90 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Kansas | $156 | $156 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Kentucky | $144 | $144 | 19 | State residents only | |
| Louisiana | $154 | $144 | $130 | 19 | No residency requirement |
| Maine | not offered | $0 | 17 | No residency requirement | |
| Maryland | $57 | $57 | 18 | State residents only | |
| Massachusetts | $144 | not listed | $0 | 18 | State residents only |
| Michigan | $174 | $174 | $160 | 18 | No residency requirement |
| Minnesota | $104 | $104 | $100 | 19 | No residency requirement |
| Mississippi | $0 | $144 | $0 | 18 | State residents only |
| Missouri | $142 | $154 | $120 | 17 | State residents only |
| Montana | $104 | $144 | $140 | 19 | State residents only |
| Nebraska | $144 | $144 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Nevada | $124 | $144 | $115 | 18 | State residents only |
| New Hampshire | $144 | $144 | $140 | 18 | State residents only |
| New Jersey | $144 | $144 | 18 | Photo ID showing eligibility | |
| New Mexico | $144 | $144 | $130 | 18 | No residency requirement |
| New York | $0 | not listed | 19 | Resident for at least 30 days | |
| North Carolina | $104 | $144 | $90 | 18 | No residency requirement |
| North Dakota | $144 | $144 | 16 | No residency requirement | |
| Ohio | $144 | $144 | $130 | 18 | State residents only |
| Oklahoma | $164 | $164 | $165 | 18 | No residency requirement |
| Oregon | $176 | $176 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Pennsylvania | $0 | $0 | $0 | 18 | State residents only |
| Rhode Island | $120 | $144 | 18 | State residents only | |
| South Carolina | $150 | $174 | 19 | State residents only | |
| South Dakota | $200 | $200 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Tennessee | $144 | $144 | $115 | 18 | No residency requirement |
| Texas | $145 | $169 | 18 | State residents only | |
| Utah | $144 | $144 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Vermont | $144 | $144 | 18 | State residents only | |
| Virginia | $144 | $144 | 18 | No residency requirement | |
| Washington | $144 | $144 | 19 | State residents only | |
| West Virginia | $0 | not listed | 19 | No residency requirement | |
| Wisconsin | $164 | $164 | 18.5 | Resident for at least 10 days | |
| Wyoming | $104 | not listed | $90 | 18 | No residency requirement |
How the total is built
A high school equivalency test is sold by the part, not as one exam. The GED has four subjects (math, reasoning through language arts, science and social studies) and each is booked and paid on its own. The HiSET has five subtests (math, science, social studies, language arts reading and language arts writing). The price per part is set state by state, and a state can add a one-time fee, cover the first attempt, or hand out vouchers through adult education programs. The GED cost page and the HiSET page give each rule; the calculator above applies them to your state, your test format and the subjects you have left.
The cheapest case is the person who passes every part on the first try. Retakes change the bill in two different ways. At a GED test center, every failed full-price subject opens a discounted retake within 365 days: GED Testing Service waives its own fee and you pay only what remains, $20 in Georgia, $16.25 in Texas, nothing in North Carolina. Texas, South Carolina and Rhode Island give two discounted retakes. Online, a retake is full price. On the HiSET, you pay the full fee only on the first and fourth attempt of a subtest; the second and third cost the center or proctoring fee. The retake page works through both.
What your next attempt costs
Attempt 2 of one subject
$20
| Attempt 1 | $46 |
| Attempt 2 | $20 |
| Total for this subject | $66 |
GED or HiSET
Most states offer only the GED. Iowa and Maine offer only the HiSET, and 22 states offer both, so in those you can choose. Both lead to the same state high school equivalency credential. The price gap can be large: in North Carolina the GED costs $104 at a test center and the HiSET $90, while in California the GED is $164 and the HiSET $190 including the state fee. The passing rules differ too: 145 on each GED subject, against 8 of 20 on each HiSET subtest, 45 of 100 overall and 2 of 6 on the essay. The comparison page puts the two side by side for each state.
Practice before you pay
The free practice questions on this site are written by us from the topics ged.com and hiset.org publish, with the reasoning for every answer. They are not real test questions and do not predict a score. The official GED Ready practice test costs $7.99 a subject or $25.99 for all four, and a green result is required within 60 days before each subject you take online. Start with the mixed GED practice test or the math questions, which come with every step of the working.
GED Ready against the price of a retake
GED Ready for 4 subjects
$25.99
| One subject | $7.99 |
| All four (bundle) | $25.99 |
| A retake in Ohio | $10 |
| Full-price subject | $36 |
What this site does not do
It does not sell classes, tutoring or test prep, and it does not ask for your name, email or phone number. It is not GED Testing Service, ETS or a state agency, and it cannot book a test or confirm your eligibility. When a state page publishes no amount, as for HiSET centers in Indiana, the calculator says so instead of guessing. Each result links to the state page it was read from, which remains the reference.
Cost and retakes
- GED test costPrice per subject, all states, fees and discounts
- HiSET cost and rulesThe 24 HiSET states, fees per subtest, at-home testing
- GED or HiSETWhich one costs less in your state, and how they differ
- Free GED testingStates that pay the test, codes and vouchers
- GED test onlineWhere it is offered, price, the GED Ready rule
- Retaking the GEDDiscounted retakes, waiting periods, cost per attempt
Practice and preparation
- GED practice test12 free questions across the four subjects, explained
- GED math practice8 math questions with every step, the formula sheet
- GED language arts practice8 reading and grammar questions, the essay explained
- GED science practice8 science questions: experiments, data, life and physical science
- GED social studies practice8 civics, history, economics and geography questions
- HiSET practice test8 questions across the 5 subtests, with the passing rules
- GED ReadyThe official practice test: price, score bands, when it pays
- GED classesIn-person, online, free: and the states where class pays the test
- How long the GED takesStudy weeks, test hours, waiting rules: your finish date
Scores and rules
- The GED testFour subjects, 7 hours, scored 100 to 200: the test in one page
- GED passing scoreCheck four scores: pass, College Ready, college credit
- HiSET scoresFive subtests, a total of 45 and the essay: check your scores
- GED requirementsAge, residency, ID and the underage rules of each state
By state
- GED in Texas$36.25 a subject, two cheap retakes, TxCHSE
- GED and HiSET in CaliforniaGED $164 or HiSET $190, side by side
- GED in Florida$38 a subject at a center, $12 retakes, a state diploma
- GED in New YorkFree for every subject, age 19, a 60-day wait after a fail
- GED and HiSET in GeorgiaGED $184 or HiSET $170: the HiSET costs less
- GED and HiSET in OhioGED $144, HiSET $130, and the $80 voucher
- GED in Arizona$41 a subject anywhere, $15 retakes at a center
- GED and HiSET in MichiganGED $174 or HiSET $160 at a center
Rules worth knowing before you book
Minimum age and waivers
Most states set the GED age at 18 with no conditions, and accept 16 and 17 year olds with documents: proof of withdrawal from school, a parent’s consent, or approval from a state office. Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, New York, South Carolina, Washington and West Virginia set the standard age at 19; Colorado and Missouri at 17; North Dakota at 16. Online, a parent or guardian must usually be present at the check-in of a tester under 18. The requirements page lists each state.
Can you test at your age?
Can you take the GED in New York at 18?
With conditions
| Age with no conditions | 19 |
| Youngest with conditions | 16 |
| Residency | Resident for at least 30 days |
Residency
AR,CA,CT,DE,DC,IL,IN,KY,MD,MA,MS,MO,MT,NV,NH,NY,OH,PA,RI,SC,TX,VT,WA,WI states ask GED testers to be residents, sometimes for a set time (30 days in Illinois, Indiana and New York, 10 days in Wisconsin); AK,AZ,CO,GA,HI,ID,KS,LA,MI,MN,NE,NM,NC,ND,OK,OR,SD,TN,UT,VA,WV,WY do not. Florida has no residency rule but asks for a Florida address at registration. A state that pays for your test almost always limits its help to residents, as Pennsylvania does for its free first attempt.
Online testing
The GED can be taken online in 42 jurisdictions. It needs a computer with a webcam, a private room with a closed door, a government ID, and a green GED Ready result within 60 days before each subject. You must be in the United States during the test. Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia and Wyoming list no online GED. Online prices are sometimes higher than at a center, as in Texas ($42.25 against $36.25). The online test page covers the rules.
Scores and what they open
Each GED subject is scored from 100 to 200. 145 passes; 165 to 174 is College Ready, which can exempt you from college placement tests; 175 to 200 is College Ready + Credit, worth up to 10 college credit hours where the college accepts it. The passing score page and the HiSET scores page check a set of scores for you.
Do your scores pass?
Your GED result
1 to retake
| Math | 150 · Pass |
| Language arts (RLA) | 146 · Pass |
| Science | 158 · Pass |
| Social studies | 140 · 5 points short |
Free classes
Adult education programs funded by states and the federal government teach GED and HiSET subjects for free in most places, and several states tie their test vouchers to them: Texas through Texas Workforce Commission programs for people 21 and older, Tennessee through local adult education, Ohio through Career-Technical Planning Districts. The classes page explains how to find one and what it can pay for.
Common questions
How much does the GED cost in 2026?
In a typical state $144: four subjects at $36 each at a test center. Prices range from nothing where the state pays the first attempt (Alaska, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) to $200 in South Dakota. Retakes, online testing and one-time state fees change the total; the calculator adds them for your state.
Where is the GED free?
On a first attempt, for everyone who meets the state rules: Alaska, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Alaska pays while funding lasts, Mississippi only at its test centers, Pennsylvania for residents with a promo code and West Virginia through adult learning programs. Connecticut charges only a $13 registration fee, and several states pay if you qualify through adult education.
Is the HiSET cheaper than the GED?
In 15 of the 22 states that offer both, yes, at a test center on a first pass. The HiSET has five subtests against four GED subjects, but its price per part is often lower, and its second and third attempts cost only the center fee. The GED costs less in California, Illinois, Montana and Oklahoma.
Can I take the GED online from home?
In 42 jurisdictions, yes. You need a webcam, a private room, a government ID and a green GED Ready score within 60 days before each subject. Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii and Massachusetts and a few others list no online test. Online retakes are full price, unlike retakes at a test center.
How many times can I retake a GED subject?
There is no lifetime limit in most states. At a test center the first two retakes usually have no waiting period, then you wait 60 days after the third attempt. New York and Connecticut make you wait 60 days before any retake and allow three attempts a year; Wyoming asks for seven days between attempts.
How do I find a GED testing center near me?
The official test is booked in your ged.com account: when you schedule a subject, you choose between online and a test center and pick a center by location. HiSET appointments are made from your state’s page on hiset.org. The price is the one your testing state charges; Arizona, Georgia and Michigan have no residency rule, so a center across a state line is an option there.
What score do I need to pass?
GED: 145 on each of the four subjects, scored 100 to 200; scores do not add up across subjects. HiSET: 8 of 20 on each of the five subtests, at least 45 of 100 in total and 2 of 6 on the essay. Both scales come from the official program pages.
Are the practice questions on this site real GED questions?
No. The GED and the HiSET are secure tests and their questions are not published. Our questions are written by us from the topics the two programs publish, with the reasoning for each answer, so you can see what kind of thinking each subject asks for. Your score on them does not predict an official score.
Official sources for this page
Prepared by Radif Partners
Independent publisher that reads each state's high school equivalency testing rules and fees and turns them into a total cost and a plan
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Fees 2026, updated from the state pages of ged.com and hiset.org read on