Is the GED free in your state?

Free for everyone: 2 states

Nobody pays a test fee for first attempts.

New York

Ways to pay less: Testing is paid for by the state: New York State does not charge test takers to take GED subtests.Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

West Virginia

Ways to pay less: GED testing is free to the test taker, with no additional cost for retakes. The GED Ready practice test is free through the local adult learning center. The first transcript and diploma are free through DiplomaSender; replacements have a fee.Must go through a local adult learning or Option Pathway program to schedule. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Free if you qualify: 12 states

The state or a named program pays the full test fee for some people, for example residents, people who pass a practice test, or while funding lasts.

Alaska

Ways to pay less: Alaska pays for your first GED test in each subject while funding lasts. In person: one discounted retake per subject not passed within 365 days ($10 test center fee). One free electronic diploma and transcript after passing.Funding is limited; terms are linked from the GED page. State education department page not separately checked. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

California

Ways to pay less: GED: in person only, one discounted retake per subject not passed within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; $15 California test center fee); not available online. HiSET: fee waiver for students under 25 certified as homeless youth or foster youth (Education Code Section 48412), covering test administration fees but not accommodation documentation or prep.GED discounted-retake detail from https://www.ged.com/policies/california.html. No state-funded GED voucher found on the GED page. Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10

Maine

Ways to pay less: Maine residents who show proof of Maine residency can take the HiSET free, including retakes. Maine adult education programs offer instruction at little or no cost.No vouchers mentioned. Maine DOE page not opened. Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10

Massachusetts

Ways to pay less: Massachusetts pays for the first GED test in each subject plus two retakes per subject while funding lasts (codes MAFREEGED1, MARETAKE; the page lists MAFREEGED1 twice, so the second-retake code is unclear). HiSET: the Commonwealth covers the first test per subtest plus two retakes per subtest (lifetime) with promo codes MAHISETMATH, MAHISETSCIENCE, MAHISETSOCIALSTUDIES, MAHISETREADING, MAHISETWRITING.HiSET details from https://hiset.org/massachusetts/ (effective Feb 6, 2023). GED retakes also carry a $10 test center fee per the GED page. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Minnesota

Ways to pay less: GED: promo code MNGED10 gives $10 off the first GED test in each subject (up to 4), in person or online, while state funding lasts. HiSET: promo code MNHSEFREE covers the full testing fee per subtest (capped at $156.25 per test across five subtests) for self-paying candidates with a Minnesota address, at approved test centers or at home; not valid for retakes; funds not guaranteed. Local adult education programs may offer other assistance.HiSET side: https://hiset.org/minnesota/. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Mississippi

Ways to pay less: GED: Mississippi pays for GED tests, including retakes, at Mississippi test centers (not online); voucher codes MSFREEGED (full price) and MSRETAKE (retake). HiSET: the State of Mississippi pays for HiSET tests from July 1, 2026, using promo codes MSHISETMATH, MSHISETSCIENCE, MSHISETSOCIALSTUDIES, MSHISETREADING, MSHISETWRITING.HiSET side: https://hiset.org/mississippi/. GED in-person retakes still carry a $10 Mississippi test center fee per the GED page. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

New Mexico

Ways to pay less: New Mexico Free High School Equivalency program: residents may have GED testing fees covered if they score 145 or higher on a GED Ready test within 60 days of scheduling the official test. In-person GED: one discounted retake per subject not passed within 365 days (New Mexico charges a $10 test center fee per retake); online GED retakes are not discounted ($36). HiSET: check with the State Office or an adult education provider for voucher codes.HiSET voucher statement is from https://hiset.org/new-mexico/. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Pennsylvania

Ways to pay less: The Commonwealth covers up to four GED subtests for PA residents: enter promo code PAFreeGED at checkout (test center or online proctoring; first attempt of each subtest only, not retakes; residents only). HiSET: covers up to five subtests for residents via promo code PAFreeHiSET (needs a valid PA address, first attempt only, while funds last). In-person GED: one discounted retake per unpassed subject within 365 days ($10 PA test center fee).HiSET side: https://hiset.org/pennsylvania/ Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Rhode Island

Ways to pay less: Fee waiver for applicants with limited income who can show financial hardship and earn a 'Likely to Pass' GED Ready score; details on the Rhode Island Department of Education site (www.ride.ri.gov/ged). In person: two discounted retakes per unpassed subject within 365 days (GED waives its $17 fee; $13 test center fee, or $3 with a $10 voucher). One free electronic diploma and transcript after passing; one free printed diploma can be ordered once.The RIDE page itself was not opened. Statute basis for the waiver, found via search only, is R.I. Gen. Laws 16-63-18. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Tennessee

Ways to pay less: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development HiSET Voucher Program covers all HiSET exam costs for Tennessee residents who show test readiness through a qualifying official practice test; vouchers are issued by a local Adult Education program. For GED, adult education program vouchers may cover test costs, and in person there is one discounted retake per subject not passed (within 365 days; GED Testing Service $26 fee waived, $10 Tennessee test center fee). First diploma and transcript copy free.GED details from https://www.ged.com/policies/tennessee.html. Online GED retakes are $36 with no discount. Source: hiset.org, checked 2026-10-10

Texas

Ways to pay less: State pays for GED tests while funding lasts. HSE Subsidy Program: vouchers covering GED test fees for eligible residents aged 21+, applied for through a local Texas Workforce Commission Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program. In-person: two discounted retakes per subject not passed.Funding is limited; voucher terms at https://www.ged.com/texas-free-ged-testing-terms-and-conditions.html. AEL provider search: https://tcall.tamu.edu/search.aspx Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Virginia

Ways to pay less: Virginia free GED testing promotion: local Adult Education programs buy vouchers that cover each of the four GED subject tests at no cost, including retake vouchers. Requires Virginia residence, enrolment in an Adult Education program, at least 12 hours of participation, and a green (passing) GED Ready score in the subject. Computer-administered tests only; valid while funds last. In person: one discounted retake per subject not passed, within 365 days of the full-price test (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; a $10 Virginia test center fee applies). Free electronic diploma and transcript after passing.Discounted retake and free diploma details are from https://www.ged.com/policies/virginia.html. Voucher funding is limited and the terms can change. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Reduced price: 5 states and Washington, DC

A state subsidy or promo code lowers the first-attempt price.

Arkansas

Ways to pay less: In-person GED is state-subsidised to $4 per subject. In person only: one discounted retake per subject not passed within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; Arkansas adds no extra fee). No discounted retakes online.Local adult education voucher claims (college pages) were not confirmed from the state Division of Workforce Services. Contact: 501-682-1980, GED@arkansas.gov. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Connecticut

Ways to pay less: GED subject tests are $0; the state charges only a $13 registration fee. One discounted retake per unpassed subject within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; no extra Connecticut fee). Official transcript requests have no fee.Verifier 2026-10-10: a veterans/under-21 fee exemption is NOT on the cited page; unconfirmed lead at https://portal.ct.gov/sde/adult-ed/ged/getting-a-ged-in-connecticut/register (search snippet only). Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Illinois

Ways to pay less: GED: promo code ILSAVE2026 takes $26 off each subject while funding lasts; one discounted in-person retake per unpassed subject within 365 days; the Illinois Constitution exam is free at Regional Offices of Education and local adult education programs. No HiSET waiver or voucher listed.Code terms are linked from the GED page; funding is limited. HiSET page https://hiset.org/illinois/ mentions no waivers. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Maryland

Ways to pay less: Maryland subsidizes $21.75 per subject on the first attempt: pay $14.25 per subject using code MDGED2175 at checkout, at test centers and online. The page says the voucher can be used four times in total. Retests are not subsidized.The page is inconsistent about retake pricing (mentions a reduced $10 retake but also says online retakes are $36). Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Ohio

Ways to pay less: First-time test takers can get a voucher worth up to $80 by contacting a Career-Technical Planning District (CTPD) before scheduling and paying. Only one voucher code, applied to the first subtest only; no-shows count against it. In-person GED: one discounted retake per unpassed subject within 365 days. HiSET page also describes $80 voucher codes for paper/computer testing, entered at registration (no reimbursement otherwise).HiSET voucher details: https://hiset.org/ohio/ Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Washington, DC

Ways to pay less: DC subsidizes $36 per in-person GED subject: apply promo code DCSAVE36 at checkout, so the first attempt costs $3.75 per subject (code usable up to four times). One discounted in-person retake per unpassed subject within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; DC adds no fee). One free electronic diploma and one free electronic transcript after passing. Discounted retakes are not offered online.Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Help available, amount not confirmed: 5 states

The official page mentions vouchers, scholarships or discounts but does not say how much they cover.

Georgia

Ways to pay less: GED: free state-approved adult education classes with free readiness assessment and test fee scholarships for financial hardship; one discounted in-person retake per unpassed subject within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee, Georgia charges a $20 test center fee). HiSET: vouchers available through the Georgia State Program (Technical College System of Georgia).HiSET voucher statement: https://hiset.org/georgia/. A web search also surfaced a TCSG HOPE HSE grant (https://www.tcsg.edu/adult-education/hsetest4free/, award reportedly up to $210 or $200 in older sources). That page returned HTTP 503 when fetched, so the amount is not included here. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Indiana

Ways to pay less: GED: one discounted in-person retake per unpassed subject within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; Indiana charges a $10 test center fee); no discounted online retakes. HiSET: 'Indiana provides test code vouchers for fees' per HiSET.Voucher statement: https://hiset.org/indiana/. Eligibility and amount not found. Search results also showed Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP Plus) vouchers via DWD, but the DWD page was not read, so they are not included. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Montana

Ways to pay less: GED in-person: one reduced-price retake per subject not passed within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee). No discounted online retakes. Local adult education centers may offer scholarships; WIOA Youth, school districts, employers, health insurers and local churches may also help. HiSET page lists no reduced-cost options.HiSET page https://hiset.org/montana/ checked; none listed. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

New Hampshire

Ways to pay less: GED computer test center: one discounted retake per subject not passed within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; $10 NH test center fee applies). No discounted retakes online or on paper. Check local adult education centers for scholarships; WIOA Youth, the NH Employment Program, some school districts, employers, health insurers and local churches may help. HiSET page lists no reduced-cost options.HiSET page https://hiset.org/new-hampshire/ checked; none listed. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

North Dakota

Ways to pay less: North Dakota residents may qualify for discounted costs (the page links to a state information page; details not confirmed here). In person: one discounted retake per subject not passed within 365 days (GED Testing Service waives its $26 fee; North Dakota charges a $10 test center fee per retake). Online retakes are not discounted ($36).Eligibility and amount of the resident discount were not verified from a state page. Source: ged.com, checked 2026-10-10

Retake discount only: 22 states

No help with first attempts, apart from the standard discounted retake.

Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Not confirmed: 4 states

We could not confirm these from an official source.

Delaware

Why: Not confirmedNo official reduced-cost source was found (see reduced_cost_options).

Iowa

Why: Not confirmedNo official reduced-cost source was found (see reduced_cost_options).

Nebraska

Why: Not confirmedVerifier 2026-10-11: the page says Nebraska residents can take the GED for free but still lists $36 per subject and no way to claim it.

Oklahoma

Why: Not confirmedNo official reduced-cost source was found (see reduced_cost_options).