COD awards a Certificate of Secondary Education Completion, which is equal to any
traditional high school diploma.
*Passing the GED Exam awards a High School 'Equivalency' Certificate issued by the
State of California.
The Certificate of Secondary Education Completion is earned by counting previously
earned credits and successfully taking classes to earn credits that are lacking.
*The GED certificate is awarded by passing a five subject exam.
A Certificate of Secondary Education issued from College of the Desert may be used
for anything that a traditionally-awarded diploma may be used for.
*The GED can be used for almost the exact same things, excluding the following-
*Going directly into some branches of the military or directly to a university would,
generally, not be possible with a GED. (Earning 15 community college units, along
with the GED, would make a person eligible for the military.)
*Completing two years at a two-year institution, along with the GED, would qualify
an individual to transfer to almost any university.