An Analysis of Rural and Urban Pennsylvania Adults Taking, Completing and Passing the GED

Dropping out of high school seriously impacts an individual's job opportunities, income potential and employment stability. To minimize those risks, individuals can earn a General Educational Development (GED) credential. Researchers have studied the impact of obtaining a GED on candidates' lives and found that the credential affects their perceptions of themselves and their future success in terms of education, training, employment and income. This study identified similarities and differences among rural and urban GED students to determine if certain factors affect the success of these students in obtaining a GED. The study also looked to identify program considerations that may serve the educational needs of out-of-school rural and urban GED candidates. The research found that, on average, GED candidates were 24 years old, did not complete schooling beyond the 10th grade, and earned about $5,800 the year prior to taking the GED. The largest percentage of rural and urban candidates indicated they were unemployed, and about one-third indicated they were employed full-time. Overall, the most common reasons for taking the GED were personal satisfaction, to get a better job, to enter college, to enroll in a technical or trade program, and to be a role model for family. Typically, the GED candidates found out about the GED through a friend, neighbor or family member. The most common methods/approaches for preparing for the GED were home study, public school adult education class, official practice tests, and being self-taught. See appendix for the full demographic results of the research. (Contains 5 figures and 15 footnotes.)