Ability to Benefit

Effective with the 2012-2013 award year, new students who do not have a high school diploma, or an equivalent such as a GED, or who did not complete secondary school in a homeschool setting are not eligible for Title IV funds. Such students can no longer become eligible by passing an approved "ability-to-benefit" test or by satisfactorily completing at least six credit hours or 225 clock hours of college work that is applicable to a degree or certificate offered by the student's postsecondary institution.

However, students who were enrolled in an eligible educational program of study before July 1, 2012 may continue to be considered Title IV eligible under either the ATB test or 6 credit hour standards.

Barstow College DOES NOT give GED tests and DOES NOT have a GED test preparation class. However, we strongly encourage our students to earn their GED.

• Barstow Adult School offers FREE GED test preparation classes

For more information contact:
Nancy Wilcox at (760) 255-6131

• If interested in taking the GED test*, please contact Hesperia Alternative Education Center
  at (760) 244-1771 ext. 107 or 110

*Cost of test is $165