High School Equivalency Diploma

We all start somewhere. Northeast Iowa Community College will meet you where you are and help you until your education goals are met. Earn your high school equivalency diploma (HSED, formerly known as GED) to open the door to new job opportunities and continuing education.

Video credit: Your Future Starts Here Iowa

Get Started

The first step to earning your HSED is to register and attend an orientation. Here you'll meet with an advisor, career coach, instructor or enrollment specialist to discuss options and complete enrollment steps. Classes are free and offered year round, but registration is required. Call 844.642.2338, ext. 3100 to get started today!

Mini Summer Session

Orientation/Registration: July 1-3
Session: July 6 - August 14

Fall Session

Orientation/Registration: August 17-21, 2020
Session 1: August 24 - October 16, 2020
Orientation/Registration: October 19-23, 2020
Session 2: October 26-December 11, 2020
Wrap Up: December 14 - 18, 2020

Spring Session

Orientation/Registration: January 4-8, 2021
Session 3: January 11 - March 5, 2021
Orientation/Registration: March 8-12, 2021
Session 4: March 15 - May 28, 2021
Wrap Up: May 31 - June 9, 2021

Graduation June 10 (Dubuque) and June 11 (Calmar)

Attend Classes

Class attendance is a mandatory requirement of the Department of Education in order to be eligible for the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET). Classes are held at several locations throughout northeast Iowa. During severe weather, listen for announcements of NICC centers or campus closings; follow local school district announcements for non-NICC sites.

LocationDaysTimes
Calmar Campus, 1625 Hwy 150 S. Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
1014 S. Mill St., Decorah Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dubuque Center, 680 Main St. Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Oelwein Center, 1400 Technology Dr. Monday and Thursday 4:30 - 7 p.m.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 116 E. Military Rd., Postville Monday and Wednesday 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Waukon Center, 1220 Third Ave NW Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. - Noon

Meet regularly with your advisor, career coach or instructor. They will work through barriers with you to advance your education and achieve your career goals. Complete mid-term assessments to check your progress and prepare for testing.

Take the HiSET

After completing classes and checking your progress, it's time to schedule a testing session. NICC offers the HiSET at our testing centers in Calmar, Peosta and Dubuque.

The HiSET consist of five areas:

  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies

Contact the testing center to schedule your testing session and learn more about requirements and fees.

Be a Graduate

Congratulations! You completed classes and passed the HiSET. After earning your high school diploma you can: