GED or HiSET: which costs less in your state
22 states let you choose. In 15 of them the HiSET costs less on a first pass; the format and passing rules differ too.
Cheaper test in North Carolina
HiSET, $14 less
Cheaper first pass of the whole test, before any retake.
| GED, 4 subjects | $104 |
| HiSET, 5 subtests | $90 |
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 | $26 | $18 |
| Whole test, first pass | $104 | $90 |
| Parts | 4 | 5 |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Residency | No residency requirement | No residency requirement |
| 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
Both tests lead to the same state high school equivalency credential, so where a state offers both the choice comes down to cost, format and how you test best. 22 states offer the GED and the HiSET in 2026. On a first pass at a test center the HiSET costs less in 15 of them, the GED in California, Illinois, Montana and Oklahoma, and in the others the two cost the same because the state pays for both. The largest gap is in Massachusetts, where the GED costs $144 more because the state pays for the HiSET. The GED has four subjects and passes with 145 on each, scored 100 to 200. The HiSET has five subtests and passes with 8 of 20 on each, 45 of 100 in total and 2 of 6 on the essay. Retakes favour the HiSET: its second and third attempts cost only the center fee, while a GED retake is discounted only once per full-price attempt and only at a center. The GED can be taken online in more states. The comparison tool puts both side by side for your state.
The 22 states that offer both
The table gives the whole test on a first pass at a test center, with discounts open to everyone, and which one costs less. Programs you must qualify for are left out because they depend on your situation; the comparison tool shows them when you tick that you qualify.
| State | GED, 4 subjects | HiSET, 5 subtests | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $164 | $190 | GED, $26 |
| Colorado | $174 | $163 | HiSET, $12 |
| Georgia | $184 | $170 | HiSET, $14 |
| Hawaii | $174 | $90 | HiSET, $84 |
| Illinois | $40 | $130 | GED, $90 |
| Indiana | $180 | set by center | |
| Louisiana | $154 | $130 | HiSET, $24 |
| Massachusetts | $144 | $0 | HiSET, $144 |
| Michigan | $174 | $160 | HiSET, $14 |
| Minnesota | $104 | $100 | HiSET, $4 |
| Mississippi | $0 | $0 | same |
| Missouri | $142 | $120 | HiSET, $22 |
| Montana | $104 | $140 | GED, $36 |
| Nevada | $124 | $115 | HiSET, $9 |
| New Hampshire | $144 | $140 | HiSET, $4 |
| New Mexico | $144 | $130 | HiSET, $14 |
| North Carolina | $104 | $90 | HiSET, $14 |
| Ohio | $144 | $130 | HiSET, $14 |
| Oklahoma | $164 | $165 | GED, $1 |
| Pennsylvania | $0 | $0 | same |
| Tennessee | $144 | $115 | HiSET, $29 |
| Wyoming | $104 | $90 | HiSET, $14 |
In North Carolina the GED costs $104 and the HiSET $90; in Georgia $184 against $170. In California the GED costs $164 and the HiSET $190 with its one-time state fee. In Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Massachusetts the state pays the first attempt of the HiSET, and in Pennsylvania and Mississippi of the GED too.
GED or HiSET where you live
Cheaper test in Georgia
HiSET, $14 less
| GED, 4 subjects | $184 |
| HiSET, 5 subtests | $170 |
Format
| GED | HiSET | |
|---|---|---|
| Parts | 4 subjects | 5 subtests |
| Math | 115 min | 90 min |
| Language | 150 min, reading and writing together, with an essay | Reading 65 min, writing 120 min with an essay |
| Science | 90 min | 80 min |
| Social studies | 70 min | 70 min |
| Formats | Computer at a center, online | Paper or computer at a center, at home where allowed |
The GED is given on computer only and mixes question types: multiple choice, drag and drop, fill in the blank, select an area and drop-down menus. The HiSET is mostly multiple choice and can still be taken on paper in many states, which some people find easier to manage. Both exist in English and Spanish.
Passing rules
On the GED each subject stands alone: 145 in each of the four, and a high score in one cannot make up for a low score in another. The HiSET combines two rules: at least 8 of 20 in every subtest and a total of 45 of 100, so five scores of 8 would fail on the total. The essay needs 2 of 6. The GED score page and the HiSET score page check your numbers.
Retakes
A failed GED subject at a center opens one discounted retake, then the next attempt is full price. On the HiSET the second and third attempts of a subtest cost only the center fee, and only the fourth is full price again. For someone who expects to retake a part or two, the HiSET often costs less in the end even where its first pass costs the same or slightly more. The retake page computes both cycles. Waiting periods differ as well: most GED states let you retake a subject twice with no wait and then impose 60 days, while HiSET waiting rules are set state by state, so check your state page before you plan a quick second attempt.
A worked example: Tennessee
Take someone in Tennessee who pays the fees alone and expects to fail one part once. The GED costs $36 a subject, so four subjects come to $144; the discounted retake of the failed subject adds $10, for $154. The HiSET costs $23 a subtest at a center, five subtests come to $115, and the second attempt of the failed one costs only the center fee, $5, for $120. With two failed parts the gap stays: $164 for the GED against $125 for the HiSET. In Tennessee both tests can also be paid by vouchers through local adult education, which would bring either total to nothing. The comparison tool and the cost calculator redo this for any state and any number of retakes.
How to choose
Start from what your state offers and what it pays. Then look at the format: paper testing, five shorter sessions and cheaper retakes favour the HiSET; wide online availability and a single score per subject favour the GED. Try our practice questions in both formats, GED and HiSET, before you book.