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Foreign High School Diploma

Foreign High School Diploma Equivalency Requirement

Beginning with the 2025-26 Financial Aid Award Year, all students seeking Financial Aid Funding who indicated on their FAFSA that they have a foreign high school diploma, GED, Home School, or other equivalent, will be required to have their documents evaluated by a third-party company to confirm this equivalency.  This requirement is for both new and continuing students at Highline College, even if you have received financial aid from Highline before.

This evaluation is not free, and is expected to cost students between $200 and $350 depending on the company you choose, and if your documentation is in English already or if it needs to be translated.  Unfortunately, there is no financial aid options available through Highline College to help cover these costs.

Students can choose any member company of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. There are a number to choose from, and students are encouraged to check pricing before choosing a company.  Highline College staff cannot make any recommendations on which company you should choose.

Getting Started: Finding an Evaluation Agency NACES does not perform credential evaluations. However, our members do and can assist you with all your needs pertaining to evaluation services. They can answer all questions related to your specific situation and process. All our members are in good standing, and should be contacted directly for assistance. They are located across the US and work with clients electronically from around the world. Therefore there is no need to be in geographic proximity to an agency. See the directory of NACES members below.

The evaluation should take 10-14 days for processing, and your evaluation will either be sent to you via email or available on the company’s portal for download.  The evaluation company will not automatically send Highline College the evaluation once it is complete.  Each student is responsible for submitting the completed evaluation to the Financial Aid Office to be added to their Application for Financial Aid.  You may submit your evaluation through our Document Upload Tool, or by dropping it off in the Financial Aid Dropbox located in our office.  You may not submit this evaluation via email, as the Financial Aid Office cannot accept any documents via email.

This video will provide more information about the Foreign High School Equivalency Requirement: 

 

I Do Not Have Proof of My High School Diploma or Equivalent

Unfortunately, there are very few exceptions under federal law for this evaluation requirement.  If you graduated from a war-torn area, or are in the United States under Asylum, under very strict conditions, there may be an exception to this process.

Please schedule a Watermark Appointment with the Financial Aid Office to discuss your possible options.

 

I Do Not Have Enough Money To Pay For The Evaluation

We understand the financial burden this places on students, and apologize on behalf of the Federal Government for this inconvenience.  Unfortunately, as Highline College does not employ a certified Credential’s Evaluator, you must get this evaluation done through a 3rd party company, and are subject to their costs for the evaluation.

Note that Highline College Emergency fund options are not available to cover this evaluation requirement.

You may make a Watermark Appointment with Financial Aid staff to discuss if you qualify for one of the extremely strict conditions of exception, and we are happy to go over your other possible options.

 

My Evaluation Is Complete And It Says My Foreign Diploma Is Not Equivalent To A US High School Diploma

Because all students must have a US High School Diploma or equivalent to qualify for financial aid funding, it is highly likely that you will not be eligible for Financial Aid funding at any college or university, including Highline College.

However, there may be alternative options we can discuss with you so you can still get some funding for a degree at Highline College.

If your evaluation says your foreign high school diploma is not equivalent to a US high school diploma, please follow these steps:

  1. Do not drop off your evaluation, or send us your evaluation through the Document Upload Tool, we want to speak with you in person about your options
  2. Schedule a Watermark Appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor to discuss your options
  3. Bring your evaluation form to your Advisor meeting
  4. During that meeting, we’ll discuss your possible funding and degree options both through the Financial Aid Office, and other possible funding sources available at Highline College.

Be aware, if you have received financial aid funding in the past, and it is determined that you do not have an equivalent high school diploma, you will be required to repay all financial aid funding you have received in previous quarters.

While the Highline College Financial Aid Office will only bill you back from financial aid received at Highline College, you will likely be responsible for repayment any other financial aid received at all other colleges or universities you attended in the past.