GED and HiSET in North Carolina
In North Carolina the GED costs $104 in person or $144 online and the HiSET costs $90, minimum age 18.
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How North Carolina compares
GED, all 4 subjects in person
At $104, North Carolina (GED, all 4 subjects in person) is cheaper than 36 states, the same price as 1 state and more expensive than 4 states.
That is $40 below the national median. The national median is $144 (42 states with a confirmed price, range $0 to $200).
Compared with North Carolina, it is more expensive in Georgia ($184), South Carolina ($150), Tennessee ($144) and Virginia ($144).
GED, all 4 subjects online
At $144, North Carolina (GED, all 4 subjects online) is cheaper than 10 states, the same price as 25 states and more expensive than 1 state.
That is exactly the national median. The national median is $144 (37 states with a confirmed price, range $104 to $200).
Compared with North Carolina, it is the same in Tennessee ($144) and Virginia ($144); more expensive in Georgia ($184) and South Carolina ($174).
HiSET, all 5 subtests
At $90, North Carolina (HiSET, all 5 subtests) is cheaper than 17 states, the same price as 2 states and more expensive than 1 state.
That is $40 below the national median. The national median is $130 (21 states with a confirmed price, range $0 to $190).
Compared with North Carolina, it is more expensive in Georgia ($170) and Tennessee ($115).
Rankings use only prices confirmed from an official source. Neighboring states come from the US Census county adjacency file.
Which test you can take
- Tests accepted
- GED and HiSETHiSET listed on https://hiset.org/get-started/state-requirements/. GED page: https://www.ged.com/policies/north_carolina.html Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10
- Credential awarded
- North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges High School Equivalency DiplomaSource: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
Cost
- GED, all 4 subjects in person
- $104Calculated: $26 x 4 subjects. The page states only per-subject prices; North Carolina does not charge a state fee for test center retakes. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- GED, one subject in person
- $26Also $26.00 in https://www.ged.com/etc/clientlibs/websites/ged/assets/resources/dropdown-json/dropdown-price-and-rules.json Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- GED, all 4 subjects online
- $144Calculated: $36 x 4 subjects. The page states only per-subject prices. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- GED, one subject online
- $36Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- HiSET, all 5 subtests
- $90Page's expected total for paper or computer (5 subtests, no retakes, one calendar year). At-home is $205. Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10
- HiSET, one subtest
- $18Paper or computer at a test center: $18 per subtest ($0 test center fee, $0 state admin fee). At-home remote proctored is $41 ($18 + $23 proctor fee). Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10
- Ways to pay less
- In-person GED: one discounted retake per subject not passed within 365 days of the full-price test (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; North Carolina charges no state fee for test center retakes). Online GED retakes are not discounted. HiSET: retakes within the year pay only the test center fee ($0 as listed) or the $23 at-home proctor fee. No free-testing program or fee waiver found on the pages.HiSET retake detail from https://hiset.org/north-carolina/, which mentions no fee waivers. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
Online testing
Age
- Minimum age
- 18Same for HiSET: https://hiset.org/north-carolina/ Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
- Under the minimum age
- GED: 16- and 17-year-olds need approval through their local North Carolina Basic Skills Education program; online GED testing is open from age 16 and a parent or guardian must attend the pre-test check-in or the session is revoked. HiSET: 16- and 17-year-olds can test with special approval from the local Basic Skills Education program, and must not be enrolled in high school or hold a valid U.S. high school diploma or equivalency credential.HiSET part from https://hiset.org/north-carolina/. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
Residency
- Residency rule
- No residency requirement to test, but the last test must be passed in North Carolina to receive a North Carolina diploma.HiSET also does not require North Carolina residency: https://hiset.org/north-carolina/ Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10
Retakes
- Retake policy
- GED test center: no wait for the first two retakes; after three attempts on a subject, a 60-day wait each time; no yearly limit. GED online: one retake before a 60-day wait. HiSET: each subtest up to three times in a calendar year; two retakes within 12 months of the first attempt cost only the test center fee or the $23 at-home proctor fee.HiSET part from https://hiset.org/north-carolina/. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10