How much does the GED cost in California, and is the HiSET cheaper?
California offers both tests. The GED costs $164 for four subjects, the HiSET $190 for five with the state fee. Compare them for your case.
Cheaper test in California
GED, $26 less
Cheaper first pass of the whole test, before any retake.
| GED, 4 subjects | $164 |
| HiSET, 5 subtests | $190 |
Fees read on ged.com and hiset.org on October 22, 2026. Discounts open to everyone and public codes are included; programs you must qualify for are not.
| GED | HiSET | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per part | $41 | $34 |
| Whole test, first pass | $164 | $190 |
| Parts | 4 | 5 |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Residency | State residents only | State residents only |
| Passing rule | 145 on each subject | 8 of 20 on each, 45 in all, essay 2 of 6 |
Prepared by Radif Partners · Method · fees and rules read on ged.com and hiset.org on October 22, 2026
California is one of the states where you can choose between the GED and the HiSET, and the cheaper choice depends on how many retakes you expect. The GED costs $41 per subject, the same at a test center and online, so $164 for the four subjects, rank 40 of 49 GED jurisdictions by center price. A failed subject retaken at a center costs $15, the California center fee, while online every retake is $41. The HiSET costs $34 per subtest at a center and $43 at home, plus a $20 state fee paid once, at the first booking: $190 for the five subtests at a center. Its second and third attempts cost only $14, and a fee waiver exists for those who qualify. Both tests require California residency and an age of 18, or 17 after at least 60 consecutive days out of school with a letter from the military, a college or an employer for the GED. The GED leads to the California High School Equivalency Certificate, which the state issues from age 18, and the HiSET to a credential issued by the state as well.
One subject, four attempts
The table follows one GED subject and one HiSET subtest through four attempts at a California center. The GED gives one discounted retake per failed subject, so attempts alternate between $41 and $15. The HiSET charges the full $34 on the first and fourth attempts only.
| Case | Attempt 1 | Attempt 2 | Attempt 3 | Attempt 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GED, test center | $41 | $15 | $41 | $15 |
| GED, online | $41 | $41 | $41 | $41 |
| HiSET, test center | $34 | $14 | $14 | $34 |
Your retakes in California
Attempt 2 of one subject
$15
| Attempt 1 | $41 |
| Attempt 2 | $15 |
| Total for this subject | $56 |
GED or HiSET in California
On a clean first pass the GED wins by $26: four subjects at $41 against five subtests at $34 plus the $20 state fee. The structure differs too. The GED needs 145 in each subject; the HiSET needs 8 of 20 in each subtest and a total, so a strong subject helps a weak one. If you expect to retake several parts, the HiSET's cheap second and third attempts and its fee waiver may tip the balance. The comparison page sets out the general rules.
Three cases priced
Everything passed the first time: $164 for the GED against $190 for the HiSET at a center. Two parts retaken once each: $194 for the GED, $218 for the HiSET; the GED still costs less. One hard subject taken four times: on the GED that is $235, since the third attempt is full price again, and on the HiSET $252, with the full price back only on the fourth attempt. The more you retake one subject, the closer the two get. The calculator above does the sum for any mix, at a center or at home, and the retake calculator on this page shows each attempt.
At home
The GED costs the same online, $41 a subject, but needs a green GED Ready score before each subject and gives no discounted retakes. The HiSET at home costs $43 a subtest, $9 more than at a center. For both, the price gap with a center shows most on retakes.
Who can test
You must be a California resident as defined in Government Code section 233; members of the armed services assigned to duty in California qualify too. Bring an ID that proves residency, or a second document; without proof you cannot test and lose the fee. A photographic driver license with a signature, from any US state or foreign government, is one accepted ID; military IDs are not accepted online. The standard age is 18. At 17 the GED is open after at least 60 consecutive days out of school, with a request letter from the military, a college or a prospective employer, and the certificate waits until 18.
After the last subject
A passed GED leads to the California High School Equivalency Certificate; a passed HiSET to the diploma or certificate the state sends to the address in your HiSET account. GED transcripts and certificates earned after 1990 are ordered through GED Credentialing and usually arrive by email. Tests can be taken in English or Spanish, and the languages can be mixed. The requirements page sets California against other states, and the HiSET scores page explains the subtest and total rules.