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High School Diploma and Career Education Opportunities

Step 1: Research Careers & Education

  • Visit FinishYourDiploma to find free educational programs near you.
  • Visit 2-1-1 San Diego to search for local educational and career programs, or call 2-1-1 for live help from a community navigator.
  • Search the Occupational Outlook Handbook to learn about careers, wages, and training.
  • Research career information, training, or jobs with CareerOneStop.
  • Search for jobs and find other career information and resources at CalJOBS.
  • Visit San Diego Workforce Partnership to learn about career and training opportunities and find other information so you can make informed choices.

Step 2: Explore Job Training Opportunities & Colleges

  • San Diego Continuing Education
    • Offers a high school diploma program, and GED preparation courses. Also offers adult basic education and English as a Second Language classes for free. They provide career training and certificate programs for variable costs. Classes available to California residents age 18 and older.
  • Mira Costa College Continuing Education
    • Offers tuition free day and night classes for adults to earn their high school diplomas. They also offer English as a Second Language classes and some short term vocational classes for free.
  • Sweetwater Union High School District Adult Education
    • Offers free high school diploma programs, English as a Second Language courses, and adult basic education classes for foundational academic skills to adults 18 years of age or older. They also offer many career technical education programs at varied costs.
  • Vista Unified School District
    • Offers morning, evening, and online classes for obtaining a high school diploma and classes to prepare for an equivalency exam like the GED or HiSET to adults age 18 or older for free in English and Spanish. They also offer classes to improve basic academic skills and English as a Second Language classes. Career Technical Education courses are available, fees vary.
  • San Marcos Adult School
    • Offers a high school diploma program three evenings during the week and through an independent study option. Courses also offered to help prepare students to take the GED equivalency test. Career technical education, adult basic education, and English as a Second Language classes available.
  • Ramona Adult School
    • Offers a high school diploma program and GED test preparation classes for free. They also offer career technical education courses, fees vary.
  • Escondido Adult School
    • Offers a high school diploma program, GED and HiSET test preparation classes, and English as a Second Language classes for free. They also offer career technical education courses, fees vary.
  • Poway Adult School
    • Offers a high school diploma program, GED and HiSET test preparation classes, and English as a Second Language classes for free. They also offer career technical education courses, fees vary.
  • Grossmont Adult Education
    • Offers high school diploma classes, GED/HiSET preparation classes, and English as a Second Language classes for free to adults 18 years of age or older. They also offer career training programs, costs vary.
  • Palomar College
    • Offers adult basic education courses to help adults gain foundational academic skills, as well as English as a Second Language courses to adults for free.
  • Urban Corps Charter School
    • Offers a free accredited high school diploma program combined with job skills training and paid work-experience in areas related to environmental conservation. Available to students ages 18-26.

Helpful Resources

Financial Aid & Scholarships

  • All of the resources listed here are offered for free or at low cost.
  • Once you complete your high school diploma, you may be eligible for financial aid, grants, or scholarships to pay for career training programs or community college courses.
  • Financial aid is funding that you can apply for to help with college expenses (tuition, books, supplies, transportation, housing, etc.).
  • You become eligible for financial aid by filling out the federal application for student aid (FAFSA) online. Learn more about the FAFSA.
  • Scholarships are need or merit based. Learn more about scholarships.
  • Grants and scholarships do not have to be paid back.
  • Ask about EOPS and programs for first-time students. These programs often provide new students with mentoring, early registration, and other helpful resources.
  • San Diego Promise is a grant that makes tuition free for first-time students who enroll full-time at a community college.

How to Request Your High School Transcript

You may need to provide your high school transcript to the program you choose to earn credit for high school classes you already completed. Contact your previous high school and request an official transcript.

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