According to the American Council of Education, the GED provides students an opportunity to earn an educational equivalent to a high school diploma. Although the official GED test can't be taken online, students can prepare for the test through online classes. These classes are offered through community colleges and private programs.

State GED Programs

The first step to finding GED classes online is contacting your state's Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development. These organizations offer GED preparation programs through their adult learning program. Programs are typically facilitated through your local community college and available in an online format. Online preparation programs help students learn about language arts, social studies, science and mathematics, so they'll be able to do well on the GED test.

Private GED Programs

If your state doesn't offer an online GED course, consider private programs (see Resources). These programs provide GED preparation that teaches students what they need to pass the test. These programs don't offer an online diploma, but they do provide an opportunity to learn the required information to pass the official GED test. Preparation programs typically provide an entrance exam, which allows the students to determine which subject areas need the most attention. Then, the program will create a custom GED study plan to catch up on areas of weakness. Most programs can be completed in 4 to 5 weeks, according to the GED Academy. However, the speed in which you complete the program will depend on how quickly you move through the materials and what subjects you need to study.

GED Costs

Costs for an online program will vary; however, you can expect to spend about $300, according to the GED Academy. Also, once you've completed the online curriculum, you'll need to contact your state Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development to schedule a testing date. The cost for testing usually varies, depending on your state. However, you can expect to pay about $15 per test (there are five tests total). This cost is in addition to what you've already paid for the online GED study course.

Source:

American Council on Education: GED Preparation Contacts by State

Eastern Idaho Technical College: GED Costs

GED Academy: Online Courses