What Is a Diploma?
Diplomas are documents awarded by a higher education establishment to showcase one's mastery in a particular study. Below is a list of the various types of diplomas one can require, along with what to look out for when pursuing such a program.
The Diploma: Types and Purposes
A diploma is a certificate that proves that you have completed a certain course of education. For example, a high school diploma is proof that you finished all the classes and requirements to graduate from high school. Diplomas can be earned in many fields, and are useful for those who are interested in advancing their careers in those fields.
Important Facts About Diplomas
| Online Availability | Some diploma programs are partially available online, especially for adult high school diplomas. Few diplomas can be fully acquired through online programs, depending on the career path. |
| Program Length | Varies, usually between 1-4 years. Vocational diplomas usually take two years of study in a community college. A diploma earned through a bachelor's degree program usually requires four years of study. Post-graduate diplomas range between 1.5 to 3 years of study, depending on the field of study. |
| Cost | Most diploma programs, regardless of level, require some type of tuition or fee for the services of the school. However, some programs, like adult high school diploma programs, offer free services. |
| Admission Requirements | Most community/vocational colleges as well as universities require either a high school diploma or a GED, along with ACT or SAT test scores, and sometimes letters of recommendation. Post-graduate programs require undergraduate transcripts, resumes, and sometimes a standardized test depending on the field of study (e.g., LSAT for law school). |
| Median Salary (2021) | $38,660 (for Dental Assistants) |
| Job Outlook (2021-2031) | 8% growth (for Dental Assistants) |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
High School Diploma
This diploma attests that you have completed high school. A person who hasn't completed high school can pass an exam and get a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). The GED is accepted in place of a high school diploma by most employers and colleges.
Vocational Diploma
Typically offered by community and technical colleges, career or vocational diploma programs usually take two years. Some examples are:
- Radiation therapy
- Dental hygienist
- Electrical engineering
- Digital Graphic Design
Baccalaureate or Graduate Diploma
When you graduate from a college or university with a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, you are awarded a diploma by the school. Besides passing your required classes and any exit exams, you must have paid your bills to the school and returned your library books.
Special Interest Diploma
Smith College offers a 1-year American Studies Diploma Program for international students to study intensively in the U.S. at the graduate level. At other schools, someone who loves stringed instruments may become a luthier with a diploma in Violin Making and Restoration. If you have a strong interest in something, there is probably a diploma program for you.
Diploma Mills
Many websites offer diplomas 'to recognize your life experience,' or require a few very easy classes in exchange for a college diploma. These are fakes. If you buy one, you may find yourself unable to get the job or the college admission you hoped for. If you do get in, you may be kicked out at any point for having fraudulent credentials. Excellent information about recognizing fake diplomas is available from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.