Will Home Study Diploma Graduates Be Able to Attend College?

About this article
There are some misconceptions floating around that online diplomas will not allow you to pursue a postsecondary education. This article is designed to clear up those misconceptions.
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First and foremost, let me say that getting a high school diploma from a traditional high school is no guarantee that you'll be accepted into your college of choice. With that said, online diploma seekers from accredited schools have the same chances, as do traditional diploma graduates, in terms of getting into college.

The key here is proper accreditation. If the online school isn't accredited, colleges can reject the diploma or require you to prove your knowledge in another way such as by standardized testing. You need to be very aware of accreditation. Don't fall for the 'diploma mills' online degree. 'Diploma mills' are 'schools' that offer a diploma that is essentially worthless because it has no backing from a proper accreditation agency.

One important thing to keep in mind if you are an online diploma seeker considering a postsecondary education is to check with the colleges you want to apply to. You should see what their requirements are before you pay any tuition.

For more information on fraudulent 'diploma mills' schools and accreditation, see the articles titled Fraudulent Online Schools: Some Warning Signs and Online High School Accreditation in LearningPath.

Popular Schools

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    1. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Masters in Psychology
      • Masters in Dispute Resolution
      • Masters in Legal Studies
      • Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis
      • Masters in Clinical Psychology (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
      • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Quantitative Research
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology: Performance Psychology (Quantitative Research)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning
    Master's
      • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
      • MA in Curriculum and Instruction
      • MS in Psychology: General Psychology
      • M.A. in Communication with an Emphasis in Education
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (ITL)
      • M.Ed. in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in Humanities (NITL)
    Bachelor's
      • Bachelor: Communications
      • BS in Psychology
      • B.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Performance and Sports Psychology
      • Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an Emphasis in Interpersonal Communication and Human Relationships
      • Bachelor: Business Admin
      • BA in Digital Film - Screenwriting
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    3. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
      • MSN-DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Health Sciences
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Master of Science - DNP Path (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
      • Master of Science -DNP Path Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
    Master's
      • M.S. in Health Education
      • MS in Psychology - Forensic Psychology
      • Master of Science in Legal Studies
      • MS in Psychology
      • Master : Business Admin
      • Master: Psychology/General Psychology
    Bachelor's
      • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
      • BS in Communication
      • Bachelor of Science in Psychology
      • BS in Organizational Management - Decision Management
      • BS in Communication - Business Fundamentals
      • BS in Communication - Digital Communication
    Associate's
      • AASBA in Business
      • Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
      • Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services
      • Associate: Business Admin.
      • Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development
      • Associate of Applied Science in Human Services
    Certificate
      • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate
      • Professional Focus + Google Project Management Certificate
      • Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology Graduate
      • Professional Focus + Google UX Design Certificate
      • AWS Cloud Technologies
      • Project Management
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    4. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DBA - General Business
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice
      • Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
      • Doctor of Education in Instructional Design
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
      • EdD - Curriculum and Teaching
    Master's
      • MAPsy - General Psychology
      • MEd - General Education
      • MSOL - Criminal Justice
      • Master of Science in Computer Science
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      • MBA - Entrepreneurship
    Certificate
      • EdS - Educational Leadership
      • EdS - Learning Analytics in Higher Education
      • EdS - Learning Analytics in K-12 Education
      • Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
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    5. Colorado Christian University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
    Master's
      • Criminal Justice, M.S.
      • Criminal Justice, M.S. - Campus, Event, and Organizational Safety
      • Business Administration, MBA - Advanced Accounting
      • Business Administration, MBA - Health Care Administration
      • Business Administration, MBA - Leadership
    Bachelor's
      • Communication Studies, B.A.
      • Criminal Justice, B.S.
      • Applied Psychology, B.S. - Biblical Studies
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Abilene Christian University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.)
      • Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)
    Master's
      • Instruction and Learning (M.Ed.)
      • Higher Education (M.Ed.)
      • Organizational Leadership (MS)
      • Divinity (M.Div.)
      • Christian Ministry (MA)
      • Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT)
    Bachelor's
      • Psychology (BS)
      • Organizational Leadership (BS)
      • Christian Ministry and Spiritual Formation (BS)
      • Exercise Science (BS)
  • Campus and Online Programs
    7. The Chicago School

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Online - Ph.D. International Psychology
      • Online - Ph.D. Organizational Leadership
      • Online - Ph.D. Business Psychology: Consulting Track
      • Online - Ph.D. Business Psychology: Industrial/Organizational Track
      • Online - Psy.D. Applied Clinical Psychology
      • Online - Ed.D. Educational Psychology and Technology
    Master's
      • Online - M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Internship/Thesis Track
      • Online - M.A. International Psychology
      • Online - M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: ARP Track
      • Online - M.A. Applied Psychology
      • Online - M.A. Behavioral Economics
      • Online - M.A. Forensic Psychology: Non-Licensure Track
    Bachelor's
      • Online - B.S. Business Management
      • Online - BA Psychology: Focused Path
      • Online - B.A. Psychology
      • Online - B.S. Business Psychology
      • Online - B.A. Criminology
    Certificate
      • Online - Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning
      • Online - Industrial and Organizational Psychology Generalist Certificate
      • Online - Certificate in Behavioral Economics
      • Online - Certificate in Organizational Leadership
      • Online - Child and Adolescent Psychology Certificate
      • Online - Crisis-Informed Care for a Diverse, Globalized World Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    8. Keiser University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Criminal Justice
      • Doctor of Education in Curriculum Leadership
      • Doctor of Education in Education Leadership
    Master's
      • Master of Arts in Criminal Justice with Interdisciplinary Concentration
      • Master of Business Admin - Accounting
      • Master of Business Administration - Management (Spanish)
      • Master of Business Administration - International Business (Spanish)
      • Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
      • Master of Science in Financial Technology
    Bachelor's
      • B.A. - Legal Studies
      • Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (Accelerated Track to MACJ)
      • B.A. - Accounting
      • Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Accelerated Track to MBA)
      • B.A. - Business Admin: Finance
      • B.A. - Criminal Justice
    Associate's
      • Associate of Sciences - Information Technology
      • Associate of Arts - Criminal Justice
      • Associate of Arts - Accounting
      • Associate of Arts - Paralegal
      • Associate of Arts - Homeland Security
      • Associate of Sciences - Medical Assistant
  • Online Programs Available
    9. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Associate's
      • A.S. Degree in Veterinary Technology
    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
      • Career Diploma - Sterile Processing
      • Career Diploma - Medical Administrative Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Pharmacy Technician
      • Medical Assistant Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    10. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BSN: R.N. to B.S.N. to M.S.N. Accelerated Program: Community Health
      • BSN: R.N. to B.S.N. to M.S.N. Accelerated Program: Health Policy
      • BSN: R.N. to B.S.N. to M.S.N. Accelerated Program: Nurse Educator
      • BSN: R.N. to B.S.N. to M.S.N. Accelerated Program: Nursing Administration
      • BSN: R.N. to B.S.N. to M.S.N. Accelerated Program: Nursing Informatics
    Certificate
      • BS: Special Student (Non-Degree) - General
      • THG: Willmington School of the Bible: Biblical Studies

Featured Schools

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

Which subject are you interested in?

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. in Psychology with an Emphasis in Human Factors
  • Bachelor: Communications

What is your highest level of education?

Purdue Global

  • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
  • M.S. in Health Education
  • Undergraduate in Legal Studies
  • AASBA in Business
  • Human Services - Child and Family Services Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

National University

  • DBA - General Business
  • MAPsy - General Psychology
  • EdS - Educational Leadership

What is your highest level of education?

Colorado Christian University

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
  • Criminal Justice, M.S.
  • Communication Studies, B.A.

What is your highest level of education completed?

Abilene Christian University

  • Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.)
  • Instruction and Learning (M.Ed.)
  • Psychology (BS)

What is your highest level of education completed?

The Chicago School

  • Online - Ph.D. International Psychology
  • Online - M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Internship/Thesis Track
  • Online - B.S. Business Management
  • Online - Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning

What is your highest level of education completed?

Keiser University

  • Doctor of Criminal Justice
  • Master of Arts in Criminal Justice with Interdisciplinary Concentration
  • B.A. - Legal Studies
  • Associate of Sciences - Information Technology

What is your highest level of education?