United States: Education System

Education system
United States
described and compared with
the Dutch system
Flow chart | Evaluation chart
Education system United States
This document contains information on the education system of the United States.
We explain the Dutch equivalent of the most common qualifications from the
United States for the purpose of admission to Dutch higher education.
Disclaimer
We assemble the information for these descriptions of education systems with the
greatest care. However, we cannot be held responsible for the consequences of
errors or incomplete information in this document.
Copyright
With the exception of images and illustrations, the content of this publication is
subject to the Creative Commons Name NonCommercial 3.0 Unported licence.
Visit www.nuffic.nl/en/subjects/copyright for more information on the reuse of this
publication.
Education system United States | Nuffic | 2nd Edition, June 2010 | Version 6, July 2019 2
 Background
• Country: United States (US), officially the United States of America (USA).
• Responsible for education: The U.S. Department of Education (ED or DoEd).
Responsibilities of the State Boards of Education include statewide curriculum
standards and high school graduation requirements.
• International treaties: The Department of Education (ED) has several bilateral
relationships and agreements with other countries on cooperation and
knowledge sharing.
• Compulsory education: 5/6/7 to 16/17/18 years, it varies from state to state.
• Language of instruction: English.
• School year: starts between mid-August and the end of September and ends
between mid-May and the end of June (varies from state to state).
• Academic year: September to May/June.
 Flow chart: education system United States
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) L8

(university)
4-6
graduate
Master’s degree L7 Doctor of Medicine (MD) L7

(MS/MA/MBA) Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
(university/college) Juris Doctor (JD)
1-3 (university) 3-4
GREs/LSAT/GMAT/MCAT L6
(entrance examinations)
undergraduate
Bachelor’s degree L6 Associate’s degree L5

(BS/BA/BBA) (AS/AA/AAA/AAS)
(university/college) (junior college/community college/college/university)
4 2
SAT/ACT L4
(entrance examinations)
High School Diploma L4

(secondary education)
6
Elementary school L1
(primary education)
6
0 Duration of education
 Evaluation chart
The left-hand column in the chart below lists the most common qualifications in
the Unites States. The other columns show the Dutch equivalent along with the
comparable levels in the Dutch and European qualifications frameworks.
Degree or qualification Dutch equivalent and NLQF level EQF

level
General Educational Development VMBO-T diploma 2 2

diploma
High School Diploma usually a HAVO diploma, but 2-4+ 2-4

at least VMBO-T diploma and
at most a VWO diploma
Associate’s degree usually an MBO diploma 4 4

(‘terminal/vocational program’) (qualification level 4)
Associate’s degree an associate degree, but in 5/4+ 5/4

(‘transfer program’) some cases a VWO diploma
Bachelor’s degree usually an HBO or WO 6 6

bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree usually an HBO or WO 7 7

master’s degree
Note:
• The information provided in the chart is a general recommendation from
which no rights may be derived.
• NLQF = Dutch Qualifications Framework. EQF = European Qualifications
Framework.
• The EQF/NLQF level is not so much a reflection of study load or content;
rather, it is an indication of a person’s knowledge and skills after having
completed a certain programme of study.
• Information about Dutch equivalent qualifications can be found on our
website: education and diplomas the Netherlands.
• The Cooperation Organisation for Vocational Education, Training and the
Labour Market (SBB), evaluates statements on foreign qualifications and
training at VMBO and MBO level. The evaluation may vary if SBB evaluates the
diploma for admission to VET schools or the labour market in the Netherlands.
 Primary and secondary education
In the United States, elementary/primary education lasts 6 years. Secondary

education also lasts 6 years. There are both public and private schools.
How these 12 grades are divided varies from one state or district to another.
The following divisions are common:
• 6 + 3 + 3 (elementary + junior high + high school);
• 6 + 2 + 4 (elementary + middle school + high school);
• 8 + 4 (elementary + high school).
At any rate, secondary education begins in the 7th year, i.e. when students start
receiving instruction in individual subjects from subject teachers.
Secondary education
Secondary education is predominantly general in nature. There are differences
according to the high school and region. For example, students can sometimes
take vocational-technical subjects as well.
Subject areas
The core curriculum consists of the following subject areas:
• English
• mathematics
• science
• social science/social studies
• art
• foreign language
• physical education
Mandatory subjects
Mandatory subjects, or in American: ‘mandatory courses’ or ‘core courses’, are
offered in each subject area. Each year, students study 1 ‘course’ at an ever
higher level. In the case of mathematics, for example, students generally start
with algebra 1, and then geometry and finally algebra 2.
Elective subjects
As well as ‘mandatory courses’, there are also ‘elective courses’ (electives) which
students can take in all subject areas. Electives for English include creative writing,
world literature and film study, while electives for mathematics include
trigonometry or computer math. At good schools, the choice of electives can be
quite broad. Students can study electives at an ever higher level.
Choice of subjects
The subjects (‘courses’) chosen will depend on students’ abilities and interests. If
students plan to go on to higher education, they must always exceed the
minimum requirements for the High School Diploma.
Advanced Placement (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) is a College Board programme that offers college-
level courses to high school students (for information on colleges, see Higher
education). The AP programme gives students the opportunity to obtain college
credits early and sometimes enables them to enter an undergraduate
programme at a college at a higher level.
AP subjects:
• are the only secondary education subjects with an external examination
(developed and administered by bodies outside of the school), so the
examinations are more like European secondary school examinations;
• can be taken by students even if they do not sit the examination;
• have examination grades from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).
See also the College Board’s overview of AP Courses and Exams.
Evaluation of High School Diploma

Due to the differences in programme content (the levels of the subjects and the
subjects chosen), a High School Diploma can equate to anything from a VMBO-T
diploma to a VWO diploma in the Netherlands. Generally speaking, the level is
comparable to a HAVO diploma.
HAVO-level High School Diploma

A combination of the following characteristics can result in a High School Diploma
being evaluated as HAVO level:
• a completed ‘college preparatory program’ (see details below), in which
students have ideally (but not mandatorily) studied subjects at an advanced
level, e.g. AP or ‘honors’;
• consistently good results; see grades and Grade Point Average (GPA).
College preparatory program

A ‘college preparatory program’ means that students:
• have studied mathematics, science and social science for a minimum of 3
years (have obtained 3 credits) and English for 4 years (4 credits).
NB If students want to study science, social science or mathematics at the
higher education level, they should ideally have studied this subject for 4
years (i.e. have obtained 4 credits);
• have studied a foreign language and an arts subject (1 credit per subject);
• have taken an elective in a field of study for which they have already
obtained the mandatory number of credits (for graduation).
VWO-level High School Diploma

In order to be admitted to a more selective university or college, students must
have followed a highly academic high school curriculum and achieved good
results. By highly academic curriculum, we mean an extra challenging college
preparatory curriculum.
Nuffic recommends for a High School Diploma to be classified as VWO level if

students meet 1 of the following 3 requirements:
1. Students have obtained a grade of 3, 4 or 5 in at least 4 AP subjects in the AP

examinations. Note: This requirement only applies to AP subjects concluded
with an official AP examination. In addition to the official transcript, the AP
exam score report is required. This document will be forwarded by the College
Board (the organisation that manages the examinations).
2. Students have not sat the AP examinations set by the College Board but:
• have passed at least 4 AP subjects;
• have additionally taken several ‘honors’ subjects;
• have consistently obtained very good results.
3. Students have not passed any AP or ‘honors’ subjects, but the curriculum
comprises a combination of the following characteristics:
• In the case of mathematics, the requirements of algebra 1 and 2 and
geometry have been supplemented with calculus or trigonometry.
• In the case of science, the subjects biology, chemistry and physics (or
earth science) have been supplemented with another science elective
such as environmental science or geology.
• At least 18 credits have been obtained in academic subjects, including 4
credits in mathematics, 4 in science, 4 in social studies, 4 in English and 1 in
foreign language.
• A Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above has been obtained.
• A high score has been obtained in the SATs or ACTs, i.e. the college
readiness tests which measure students’ aptitude for mathematics and
English, among other things.
VMBO-T level High School Diploma

A High School Diploma is not often classified as a VMBO-t level diploma.
Indications include:
• an inadequate score in the general subjects;
• a very simple range of subjects with a very low GPA;
• a low score in the SATs or ACTs.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling entails that the parents or another designated adult educate
students at home. While homeschooling is legal in the United States, the
regulations vary significantly from one state to another. For example, less than half
of states require homeschooled children to undergo any form of evaluation or
examination. Parents often use a pre-defined curriculum, or they create part or all
of their own curriculum, e.g. faith based learning. The parents produce and sign
the final diploma and associated list of grades themselves.
Note: Since the quality of the education received by homeschooled students is
not guaranteed by a specific body, Nuffic cannot assess the level achieved by
these students.
Online schools
Although there are many similarities between online schools and homeschooling,
there are also differences. The main difference is that online schools have
teachers who manage students’ education remotely (online). This management
takes place within a structured curriculum, which is developed by the online
school (also known as a virtual school). Parents can play the role of supervisor
alongside the online teachers. In the case of public online schools, the curriculum
is not based on religious principles. Public online schools use the standardised
tests. Students can only be awarded the diploma from a public online school if
they meet the graduation requirements set by the state.
Nuffic can assess the High School Diploma of an online school if the school has
been regionally accredited in the United States. In order to estimate the level that
the student has reached with reasonable accuracy, Nuffic uses SAT or ACT
scores.
Overview of High School Diploma

• Duration: 4 years (grades 9-12).
• Content: core curriculum, electives and AP or ‘honors’ subjects; assessment
varies according to the subject and the school.
 Diploma: High School Diploma.
In terms of level, a High School Diploma from an accredited school is

generally comparable to a HAVO diploma, but the evaluation can vary
from a VMBO-T diploma to a VWO diploma, depending on the content and
the results.
General Education Development test

Anyone who did not finish school but still wishes to obtain a secondary school
diploma can sit an examination known as a GED test. This test enables them to
obtain a High School Equivalency Diploma or General Educational Development
credential, also known as a GED credential or GED for short.
• Duration: a series of tests.

• Content: a multiple-choice test in 4 subjects – mathematics, science, social
science and reasoning through language arts.
 Diploma: High School Equivalency Diploma or General Educational
Development credential (GED credential).
In terms of level, a High School Equivalency Diploma or GED credential is

comparable to a VMBO-T diploma (theoretical track).
High school outside the US

A fair number of students who apply for Dutch universities of applied sciences
and research universities have obtained a High School Diploma from an
international school abroad (having completed an American curriculum). These
programmes largely correspond to an American high school programme. Where
a diploma is obtained abroad, paying careful attention to accreditation is
particularly important.
Further information on the accreditation of American schools in the US and

elsewhere can be found in the section on Accredited and quality assurance.
 Admission to higher education
Since the level and quality of American higher education institutions varies
significantly, there are also major differences in admission requirements. These
requirements vary from extremely low to extremely stringent.
Low or no requirements
Institutions with an open doors admissions policy have low requirements or no
requirements at all.
• No diploma requirements: anyone aged 18 and over is welcome.
• Low requirements: anyone with a High School Diploma or GED is welcome.
Selection sometimes takes place during the programme rather than during the
admissions process. In that case, the institution admits almost anyone but only a
small percentage of students actually graduate.
Average requirements
Most institutions fall between low and stringent admission requirements.
• Requirement: a High School Diploma obtained following a college
preparatory curriculum, plus average scores in the SAT or ACT college
readiness test.
Stringent requirements
A relatively small number of institutions select the best students based on:
• level, content and performance during the last 4 years of high school;
• scores in the SAT or ACT college readiness test.
In addition, these institutions take into account:

• involvement in extracurricular activities;
• evidence of leadership;
• essays;
• letters of recommendation.
 Higher education
The American higher education system is based on the principle that almost
anyone with a secondary school diploma should be able to follow a higher
education programme. To establish the value of a diploma from the United
States, it is important to establish at which institution and what level the person
studied.
Types of education
There is no difference between higher professional education and higher
academic education. Students can follow both types of education at the same
institution. Consequently, they can always supplement a professionally-oriented
major with academic subjects and vice versa.
Types of institution
The US has over 4,000 higher education institutions. These institutions are either
public or private. The fact that an institution is public or private is no indication of
the quality or level of the institution. It is important that all institutions are
accredited; see Accreditation and quality assurance.
Colleges and universities

The terms college and university are used interchangeably. The quality of
education at a college or university can be both good and not as good.
In this description, college is taken to mean a four-year college. Four-year
colleges offer 4-year undergraduate programmes (bachelor’s programmes),
whereas junior colleges or community colleges generally offer 2-year
undergraduate programmes (associate degree programmes) only.
Although there are many exceptions, the main differences are generally as
follows:
• A university offers both undergraduate programmes (‘associate and
bachelor’s programs’) and graduate programmes (‘master’s and doctoral
programs’).
• A college mainly offers undergraduate programmes.
Junior colleges and community colleges

A junior college is an institution that offers 2-year undergraduate programmes.
Community colleges are mainly public junior colleges which offer 2-year
associate degree programmes and various certificate programmes.
Students who plan to continue in the third year of a bachelor’s programme
(undergraduate programme) must complete a so-called ‘transfer program’
offered by community colleges.
 University and higher professional education
Institutions in the United States do not make a distinction between higher

academic education (WO) and higher professional education (HBO). In this
section, we provide an overview of the most commonly awarded degrees, which
students can obtain at both academic and higher professional level:
• Associate’s degree
• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Advanced professional degrees
Associate degree
Students can obtain an associate degree from:
1. a two-year college (junior college or community college); or
2. a four-year college; or
3. a university
• Duration: 2 years.
• Admission requirements: usually an open doors admissions policy, but there is
often some form of selection for specific programmes, e.g. technical
specialisations, nursing and most ‘transfer programs’.
• Content: there are generally 2 types of associate degree programmes:
1. a ‘terminal program’ or ‘vocational program’, which mainly prepares
students for employment;
2. a ‘transfer program’ (vocationally oriented or general), which prepares
students for admission to the 2nd or 3rd of a bachelor’s programme;
 Diploma: Associate Degree. The name of the degree is often followed by an
indication of whether it is an arts or science programme:
- Associate in Arts (AA); Associate in Applied Arts (AAA);
- Associate in Science (AS); Associate in Applied Science (AAS).
In terms of level, an associate degree obtained following a ‘terminal

program’ or ‘vocational program’ is generally comparable to an MBO
diploma at qualification level 4.
In terms of level, an associate degree obtained following a ‘transfer

program’ is comparable to an associate degree or to a VWO diploma in
some cases, depending on the content.
Bachelor’s degree
Students can obtain a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or a university.
• Duration: usually 4 years.

• Admission requirements: a high school diploma + additional requirements,
where appropriate.
• Content:
- usually introductory subjects in various fields (liberal arts), electives, a major
and sometimes a minor;
- in Year 4, where appropriate, a research methodology module and a
research project (occasionally a bachelor’s thesis);
- sometimes a work placement or internship, which is often no longer than a
few months.
 Diploma: Bachelor’s Degree; Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS).
NB As students in American bachelor’s programmes do not usually choose a
major until their second year, the first year of the programme is broad in scope.
In terms of level, a bachelor’s degree is generally comparable to a

bachelor's degree from a university of applied sciences (HBO) or a research
university (WO), depending on the nature of the programme.
Master’s degree
Students can obtain a master’s degree from a graduate school of of a college or
university.
• Duration: usually 1-3 years; 2-3 years for a professional master’s programme.
• Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree in all cases, plus additional
requirements such as GPA score, required subjects and entrance
examinations (GRE/GMAT/LSAT/MCAT).
• Content:
- research: a thesis or capstone project (often case studies or ‘program
evaluations’);
- professional: while a professional master’s may include a thesis and/or
comprehensive examinations, the emphasis is on practising a profession
(at a high level).
 Diploma: Master’s Degree; Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS),
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Social Work, Master of
Public Health, and so on.
In terms of level, a master’s degree is generally comparable to a master's

degree from a university of applied sciences (HBO) or a research university
(WO), depending on the nature of the programme.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Students follow a PhD programme at the graduate school of a university.
• Duration: 4-6 years.

• Admission requirements: a good master's degree, although the more selective
research universities sometimes admit promising students with a bachelor’s
degree.
• Content: at least 1 year of instruction; having passed extensive oral and
written examinations (qualifying exams), students are given final approval to
conduct research as well as to write and publicly defend a dissertation.
 Diploma: PhD (written as Ph.D. in American English).
Advanced professional degrees

Advanced professional degree programmes form a separate category. These
programmes prepare students for specific careers, e.g. in medical sciences and
law.
• Duration: 1 to 5 years; for example: 3 years (law), 4 years (medical

professions).
• Admission requirements: usually a bachelor’s degree with a number of
compulsory subjects, such as a pre-medicine, pre-engineering or pre-law
programme, supplemented with entrance examinations and the selection
criteria for master’s programmes specified above.
• Content: a combination of theoretical subjects (e.g. basic science courses,
advanced theory courses, seminars), practical subjects (professional
development courses, clinics, mock trials) and work placements (e.g.
internship, externship, field experience, clinical clerkships, directed research
project).
 Diploma: Juris Doctor, J.D. (law), Doctor of Medicine, M.D., Doctor of Dental
Surgery, D.D.S. and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, D.V.M.
Note 1. In this case, the term Doctor is a professional title, not an academic
doctorate as in a PhD.
Note 2. These diplomas are required for admission to a licensing examination,
which enables students to obtain a ‘professional license’ in one of the states.
Students can only be officially permitted to practise the profession in that
state if they have obtained this ‘license’.
 Assessment systems
Grading system
In secondary and higher education, institutions use letter grades to assess results.
The meaning of the letters used is as indicated below, unless specified otherwise
in the notes to the transcript (there are many different variations).
In figures Letter grade Description

(GPA)
4 A excellent/superior
3 B very good/above
average
2 C average
1 D below average
0 F failure
Common abbreviations on transcripts, particularly in higher education, include:
P pass: no grade awarded
S satisfactory: no grade awarded
I incomplete: student did not satisfy all of the requirements by the end of the
semester (the requirements must be met within the prescribed period)
W withdrawn: student has stopped taking a subject (with permission)
NC no credit: no credits have been awarded
R repeat: a subject being taken for the second time because the student did
not pass the first time
Credit system
There are a number of different credit systems, which are all based on the
number of contact hours rather than on the study load as a whole. Below, we
describe the most common systems in secondary and higher education.
Secondary education
• 1 credit for a subject that involves 5 hours of lessons per week over 1
academic year (of approximately 36 weeks).
Note: the school sometimes awards 5 credits for this period rather than 1
credit. For example: if students take physics for 5 hours a week, they will be
awarded 1 credit or 5 credits at the end of the school year, depending on the
system used by the school.
Higher education
• Theory: 1 credit = approx. 1 hour of teaching + 2 hours of preparation time.
• Practice: 1 credit = 2-3 hours of laboratory work, practical or work placement.
It is important to establish whether an institution divides the year into semesters or

quarters. An academic year has:
• 3 x 15-16 week semesters (‘fall’, spring and summer); or
• 4 x 10-12 week quarters (‘fall’, winter, spring and summer).
How the year is divided affects the value of the number of credits. This value is
usually clear from the transcript (or from the notes to the transcript):
• 1 semester credit = 1 contact hour per week over the course of 15-16 weeks; a
total of 120 semester credits for a bachelor’s degree (30 credits per year).
• 1 quarter credit = 1 contact hour per week over the course of 10-12 weeks; a
total of 180 quarter credits for a bachelor’s degree (45 credits per year).
 Accreditation and quality assurance
Accreditation indicates that the institution or programme meets certain minimum

criteria for quality assurance. In the United States, there are 2 types:
• accreditation of institutions, regional or national (institutional) accreditation;
- accreditation of higher education institutions (see box on page 18);
- accreditation of high schools (see box on page 19);
• accreditation of programmes in higher education, professional
(programmatic) accreditation.
Accreditation of higher education institutions

The main aim of the accreditation of institutions – regional (institutional)
accreditation – is to establish the extent to which an institution is capable of
fulfilling its mission. Where necessary, the institution will be given suggestions for
improvement.
In the United States, there are 7 regional accrediting organisations which accredit
higher education institutions:
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSCHE);
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE);
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC);
• Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NWCCU);
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC);
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC);
• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western
Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC).
There are 2 organisations which recognise these regional accrediting bodies and
supervise their work:
• the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) defines most of the
standards for accreditation;
• the Department of Education (ED) primarily deals with issues relating to the
award of government funding.
In the case of higher education institutions, it is important to be certain that an

institution has been accredited by 1 of the 7 regional accrediting bodies.
CHEA has a database of higher education institutions that have been

accredited by recognised, American organisations.
National (institutional) accrediting organisations

As well as the 7 regional accrediting organisations, there are a number of other
bodies recognised by CHEA or ED which accredit institutions. These are known as
national (institutional) accrediting bodies. They are often responsible for
accrediting institutions that primarily offer single-purpose education (education in
a specific sector, such as art or business), or faith-based programmes.
In the US, however, students who have studied at a non-regionally accredited

institution are often not eligible for exemptions or for admission to (further) studies
at a regionally accredited institution.
High schools
The 7 regional accrediting bodies have a separate commission, which monitors
the quality of secondary education. In the case of American secondary schools
outside the US in particular, it is important to check whether the school has been
regionally accredited in the US.
The commissions for the accreditation of secondary education are as follows:

• Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association for Schools and
Colleges (ASCWASC).
• AdvancED was created from the merger of 3 commissions: the North Central
Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA
CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), and the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School
Improvement (SACS CASI).
• Commission on secondary schools of the Middle States Association (MSA-
CESS).
• The 3 separate commissions of the New England Association of Schools and
College (NEASC) are described on the NEASC website:
- Independent Schools PK-12

- International Education PS-12
- Public Schools K-12
In the case of high schools in the US, it is important to be certain that they:
• have been regionally accredited by 1 of the commissions; or
• have been recognised (accredited) by the state.
Note: Public schools are accredited by a regional accrediting body and/or by

the state.
The State Boards of Education are responsible for accreditation by the state.
Terms for this accreditation include state-approved, ‘state-recognized’ or state-
accredited. A state’s State Board of Education can be found through ‘State
Profiles’ on the State Board Insight website of the National Association of State
Boards of Education (NASBE).
Other bodies are also involved in the accreditation of high schools. It is often
unclear whether their work is monitored. In the case of private schools in
particular, other (non-regional) bodies are responsible for accreditation.
High school outside the US

American schools abroad are often, but not always, regionally accredited. If they
are not regionally accredited, schools may be accredited by other organisations
such as:
• the Council of International Schools (CIS); or
• the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA).
Accreditation by these 2 organisations is accepted in the US and usually in the
Netherlands as well.
Accreditation of programmes
Besides organisations that accredit institutions, there are also organisations that
accredited study programmes in certain fields in the US. This recognition is known
as professional accreditation, or programmatic accreditation or ‘specialized
accreditation’. Among other things, it includes programmes in business,
engineering and medical/paramedical sciences.
Programmatic accreditation or ‘specialized accreditation’ is important for

professions in the US where this type of accreditation is required, such as
engineers, architects and medical/paramedical professions. This accreditation is
also important for practising these types of professions in the Netherlands.
 Checking documents
When evaluating an American diploma, the diploma alone is never sufficient. The
related list of grades, which is known as an official transcript or academic record,
is also required.
This official list of grades:

• indicates the level of both secondary and higher education;
• provides information on the content of the study programme, grades, credits
and the date of graduation;
• must have been issued by the institution where the study took place.
Dutch educational institutions receive this official transcript in a sealed envelope

or through a secure, electronic delivery service, so it is clear that the document is
reliable. The College Board must also send the results of Advanced Placement
examinations (high school), as well as the official transcript, directly to the Dutch
institution.
Authenticity
In principle, having the official transcripts sent by the US institutions themselves
ensures that the educational documentation is authentic. However, it is important
to note that degree mills or diploma mills issue official transcripts that are not
legitimate. Diploma mills are businesses posing as education institutions, which sell
certificates from high school to PhD level without any (serious) education having
been completed. The format and content of these documents often give the
impression that the transcripts have been issued by recognised US institutions,
which is not actually the case. It is a simple matter to check whether an institution
exists and/or has been accredited via the CHEA website.
When in doubt, always contact Nuffic. In the Netherlands, Nuffic has created the
Coordination Centre for Information on Diploma Mills (Coördinatiepunt
Informatieverstrekking Diploma Mills) together with the Education Executive
Agency (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, DUO) to provide information on diploma
mills.
Credential evaluation
Nuffic evaluates qualifications according to the principles of the Lisbon
Recognition Convention (1997). A practical implementation of these standards
can be found in the European EAR manual.
 Overview higher education institutions
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) provides a database with
higher education institutions which are accredited by recognised, American
accrediting organisations.
 Useful links
• U.S. Department of Education (ED or DoEd).

• U.S. Network for Education Information (UNSEI), the American ENIC, part of the
U.S. Department of Education.
• Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), a.o. databases with
accredited institutions and programmes.
• College Board provides information about Advanced Placement
examinations.
• State Boards of Education.
 Glossary
• ACT: a standardised college readiness test, which measures aptitude for

mathematics and English language skills (and science and history).
• AP: Advanced Placement, a programme of the College Board that offers
high school students subjects at college level.
• Certificate programme: a (short) programme, usually at a community college,
that does not lead to a degree, but to a certificate.
• ‘College preparatory program’: a programme that prepares students for
American higher education during high school. They can take advanced
courses, such as AP or ‘honors’. This is not mandatory, but it is recommended
for selection at a university or college with strict admission requirements.
• Duration: the official length of the full-time programme (not part-time) without
study delay.
• GMAT: Graduate Management Admission Test, a standardised test that
measures basic verbal, mathematical and analytical skills.
• GPA: grade point average is the student’s average of the grades in all years
and/or per year, based on a scale of 0 to 4.0.
• Graduate programme: a programme leading to an advanced academic
degree (i.e. master's or doctoral degree). See also the description in the Nuffic
Glossary: graduate.
• Graduate school: a school that offers graduate programmes (i.e. master's and
doctoral programmes). Graduate schools are part of a university or college;
they are usually not separate schools.
• GRE: Graduate Record Examinations, a test that is used as an admission
requirement for students who want to pursue a master's degree in the United
States. The GRE is based on 3 elements: verbal reasoning, quantitative
reasoning and analytical writing. The GRE test score is also often asked by
students who want to pursue a master's degree abroad.
• ‘Honors’ subjects: subjects at a higher level than the core subjects of the high
school; more material is offered at a faster pace. Especially for students who
can handle more challenges. The more ‘honors’ subjects the student takes,
the greater the chance of admission to a selective institution. ‘Honors’
subjects are often seen as less challenging (‘academically rigorous’) than AP
subjects.
• Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC): the Convention on the Recognition of
Qualifications Concerning Higher Education in the European Region, was
drafted in 1997 by the Council of Europe and Unesco to facilitate and
promote fair recognition among Parties of the Convention. Read more on the
website of the Council of Europe.
• LSAT: the Law School Admission Test is part of the admission to degree
programmes in law.
• MCAT: the Medical College Admission Test is an exam that is used as a
condition for admission to degree programmes in medicine.
• Official transcript: an official (personal) document with an overview of the
subjects taken, exam results and credits obtained.
• SAT: Scholastic Assessment Test, a standardised admission test for colleges
and universities in the US.
• ‘Transfer program’: a liberal arts curriculum offered by a community college.
Students who complete a ‘transfer program’ may continue their studies in the
third year of a bachelor’s programme at a higher education institution in the
same state.
• Undergraduate programme: a programme for an associate degree or
bachelor degree. See also the description in the Nuffic Glossary:
undergraduate.
 Examples of diplomas
High School Diploma
High School Diploma

Official transcript
Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s degree
Official transcript, page 1
Bachelor’s degree
Official transcript, page 2

United States: Education System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

United States: Education System

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

United States: Education System

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Education system

Education system United States

Education system United States

Education system United States

 Flow chart: education system United States

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) L8

Master’s degree L7 Doctor of Medicine (MD) L7

Bachelor’s degree L6 Associate’s degree L5

High School Diploma L4

Education system United States

Degree or qualification Dutch equivalent and NLQF level EQF

General Educational Development VMBO-T diploma 2 2

High School Diploma usually a HAVO diploma, but 2-4+ 2-4

Associate’s degree usually an MBO diploma 4 4

Associate’s degree an associate degree, but in 5/4+ 5/4

Bachelor’s degree usually an HBO or WO 6 6

Master’s degree usually an HBO or WO 7 7

Education system United States

 Primary and secondary education

In the United States, elementary/primary education lasts 6 years. Secondary

Education system United States

Advanced Placement (AP)

Evaluation of High School Diploma

HAVO-level High School Diploma

College preparatory program

Education system United States

VWO-level High School Diploma

Nuffic recommends for a High School Diploma to be classified as VWO level if

1. Students have obtained a grade of 3, 4 or 5 in at least 4 AP subjects in the AP

VMBO-T level High School Diploma

Education system United States

Overview of High School Diploma

In terms of level, a High School Diploma from an accredited school is

Education system United States

General Education Development test

• Duration: a series of tests.

In terms of level, a High School Equivalency Diploma or GED credential is

High school outside the US

Further information on the accreditation of American schools in the US and

Education system United States

 Admission to higher education

In addition, these institutions take into account:

Education system United States

Colleges and universities

Junior colleges and community colleges

Education system United States

 University and higher professional education

Institutions in the United States do not make a distinction between higher

In terms of level, an associate degree obtained following a ‘terminal

In terms of level, an associate degree obtained following a ‘transfer

Education system United States

• Duration: usually 4 years.

In terms of level, a bachelor’s degree is generally comparable to a

Education system United States

In terms of level, a master’s degree is generally comparable to a master's

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

• Duration: 4-6 years.

Advanced professional degrees

• Duration: 1 to 5 years; for example: 3 years (law), 4 years (medical