What you’ll learn in this article…
- Long Beach Public Library has awarded 160 diplomas in ten years.
- Its largest graduating class of 32 finished in August 2026.
- Career Online High School is free, accredited, and for adults 19 plus.
How Public Libraries Help Adults Earn a Real High School Diploma
From Long Beach to LA County, see how libraries turned library cards into diplomas—and what it means for the field.
A high school diploma can cost $1,000 to $2,200 through accredited online providers, yet Long Beach Public Library offers it free to residents 19 and older with a library card. In August 2026, 32 adults graduated, the largest class in the program's decade-long run; 160 have earned diplomas and 53 are currently enrolled.
Public libraries are moving beyond GED prep toward accredited diploma pathways with career tracks in child care, commercial driving, and hospitality. That shifts the comparison from a GED-versus-diploma choice to provider, timeline, and support model, and it changes the library hiring trends for staff who coordinate those programs.
Why Public Libraries Are Becoming Diploma Providers
Why are public libraries becoming high school diploma providers? The simplest answer is that libraries already sit at the center of adult learning, digital access, and workforce support, and programs like Career Online High School (COHS) let them add a formal credential without building a school from scratch.
Partnering with accredited providers, not building schools
A public library rarely has the staff or budget to design its own high school curriculum. COHS and similar programs work differently. The library provides the enrollment point, library card verification, study space, and community outreach; the accredited provider supplies the online curriculum, teachers, credits, and diploma. That division of labor makes the program realistic for a library system of almost any size.
Building on existing adult literacy and workforce roles
Libraries have long hosted GED prep, English language classes, digital literacy workshops, and job search help. Adding a high school diploma program is a natural extension. It turns a patchwork of standalone services into a clearer path: a patron can get a library card, enroll online, complete coursework, choose a career track like child care or commercial driving, and finish with a diploma that supports a job application or community college enrollment.
From library card to credentialing pathway
This shift matters because it changes what a library card can represent. The card is no longer just a borrowing tool; it can be the first step in a formal credential. Long Beach Public Library, for example, has offered COHS for a decade and has seen 160 graduates, with 53 students currently enrolled.1 Those numbers reflect a program that has moved from pilot to core service.
Why this matters for library staff and MLIS professionals
For librarians and MLIS students planning adult programming, diploma initiatives illustrate how partnerships, online learning platforms, and library community roles combine to address educational equity. They also raise practical questions about staffing, budget protection, learner support, and outcome tracking, which are increasingly part of public library workforce development work.
Inside the Long Beach Public Library Diploma Program
Long Beach Public Library's Career Online High School is a free, self-paced option for adults who want to finish a high school diploma. Students need to be 19 or older, live in Long Beach, and meet library card eligibility requirements with fines under $20.1 Once enrolled, they have up to 18 months to complete coursework in English, math, science, and social studies, plus a career component in fields such as child care, commercial driving, and hospitality. The program's format, blending online coursework with a library-based credential, lets students balance study with work and family obligations.
Who Can Enroll
- Age 19 or older
- Long Beach resident
- Long Beach library card with fines under $20
- Complete coursework within 18 months
A Decade of Enrollment and Graduation
The program has been offered locally for a decade. Since its start, 160 adults have earned diplomas. As of September 2026, 53 students are currently enrolled. In August 2026, the program held its largest graduating class yet, with 32 students receiving diplomas at the Billie Jean King Main Library. Those figures come from the Long Beach Post's September 2026 report. For historical context, the library's own program page lists more than 75 graduates since 2017,1 a narrower window than the Post's all-decade count. The gathered material contains no later Long Beach Public Library press release that updates the 160, 53, or 32 totals.
Real Student Outcomes
Martha Coronel paused her education 25 years ago as a senior because of pregnancy. She was inspired by her seven children, some of whom attended college. She returned through the program, studied 10 to 12 hours a day, and finished in six months. Coronel pursued the childcare career path and is now considering Long Beach City College. Nicky Weeks, a parent of five, called the experience "life-changing."
Staff Support and Budget Stability
Program coordinator Viviana Garcia supports day-to-day library operations. Public affairs assistant Maurina Cintron told the Long Beach Post the program is not at risk from upcoming library budget cuts, even as the broader system faces proposed reductions to hours and staffing in the fiscal year 2027 budget.
Career Online High School Vs. Excel Adult High School Vs. Other Providers
For adult learners exploring a library-partnered high school diploma, two online providers appear most often in public library systems: Career Online High School and Excel Adult High School. Both are typically free to qualified patrons through library scholarships, but they differ in completion window, elective structure, and regional availability. Other regional providers follow a similar scholarship model, so the table below focuses on the two programs with the clearest public library track record.
| Feature | Career Online High School | Excel Adult High School |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost to eligible adult | Free through library scholarship; San Diego Public Library says the scholarship covers tuition for eligible cardholders | Free through limited library scholarships; Miami Public Library offers the program to qualifying adults |
| Program length | 18 months or less | Up to 24 months |
| Curriculum focus | High school diploma plus a career certificate in one of 10 fields | Online high school diploma with core subjects and dozens of electives |
| Library availability | Used by Long Beach Public Library and San Diego Public Library for over 10 years; also offered through other public libraries via scholarship model | Offered by San Francisco Public Library, Miami Public Library, and four other public libraries in the state |
| Format and flexibility | Self-paced online format with a completion target of 18 months or less | Online format with a longer window of up to 24 months |
Library High School Diploma Vs. GED: Which Path Fits You
In 2026, the typical GED test battery costs about $144 total, while accredited online high school diploma programs often list $1,000 to $2,200 when they are not offered through a library partnership.1 That price gap is real, but it is only one part of a larger decision about the credential you earn.
What You Actually Earn
A library-offered program such as Career Online High School awards an accredited high school diploma with graded courses, a transcript, and a career component.2 A GED is a state high school equivalency credential earned by passing subject tests. Career Online High School is not a GED program. That distinction can matter with some colleges, employers, and military screening processes, which may prefer a full transcript or apply separate tier requirements for equivalency holders.
Time and Cost Compare
- GED: Preparation and testing commonly take one to six months.1 Missouri charges $142 at a test center or $181.96 online,3 while California charges $41 per GED subject, about $164 total.4 Online fees often run higher than in-person testing.
- Library diploma: Career Online High School can take up to 18 months, averages 12 months, and may be as short as six months with transfer credit.2 Through participating libraries it is no-cost to students,2 but eligibility is limited to qualified adults with a library card and residency.
- Paid online diploma: Outside library partnerships, accredited online diploma programs often cost $1,000 to $2,200 and run 12 to 24 months.1 Penn Foster's adult high school diploma averages about 14 months, with a six-month fast track.
When a GED Is the Faster Route
Choose a GED if your timeline is tight and you need the lowest-cost recognized credential quickly for a job opening, promotion, or adult education enrollment. It is also the more accessible option when your local library does not offer a diploma program, or if you do not meet the age, residency, or library card requirements.
When a Diploma Is Worth the Longer Timeline
Choose a library diploma if you want a genuine high school transcript with graded courses, a career certificate, or stronger alignment with college and workforce programs , including Community College to MLIS pathways , that prefer diplomas. The tradeoff is a longer commitment even when tuition is free, but for many adult learners the structured courses and transcript are worth the extra months.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you need a full high school diploma rather than a GED?
Some employers and military enlistment paths require a diploma instead of an equivalency. If your goal depends on that distinction, a library diploma program may be the safer route.
Can you commit up to 18 months to self-paced study?
A full diploma track takes longer than many GED prep options. If you need a credential quickly, a GED may fit, but consistent study time can make the diploma and its career component worthwhile.
Would a career pathway in child care, hospitality, or commercial driving support your job goals?
Choosing a relevant elective can make the diploma more practical for your next step. If your target field does not match the offered pathways, ask whether the program can still help you advance.
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Accreditation, Credits, and Whether Employers Recognize the Diploma
Is a library high school diploma accredited? Yes, for the two providers most often used by public library systems. Career Online High School (COHS), operated by Smart Horizons Career Online Education, is fully accredited by Cognia.1 Excel Adult High School, offered through Gale with Excel High School as the institution, also holds Cognia accreditation.2 Excel has additional Middle States Association accreditation, though earlier materials described the adult program as a candidate for MSA status, so current standing should be confirmed before relying on that detail.2
What Accreditation Covers
Cognia is a regional accrediting body that oversees SACS CASI, NCA CASI, and NWAC. Accreditation means the institution's curriculum, instruction, and student support meet recognized quality standards. COHS materials describe the diploma as fully accredited by Cognia and state that it satisfies minimum postsecondary requirements, including admission to a Masters in Library Science program. This positions the credential as a regionally accredited high school diploma, not a certificate of completion.
How Employers, Colleges, and the Military Treat These Diplomas
Employers including Amazon, Walmart, and McDonald's recognize COHS.1 Excel states its diplomas are recognized by colleges, employers, and the military.3 In practice, regionally accredited adult high school diplomas typically meet minimum education requirements for many jobs, including early-career library jobs without an MLIS, and community college admission. The military generally accepts such diplomas, but individual branch policy can vary. No source guarantees universal acceptance identical to every traditional brick-and-mortar diploma.
Credits and the Path to Further Education
The diploma itself does not convert into transferable college credit. It satisfies the high school completion requirement for admission, but each college evaluates the credential individually. Martha Coronel's experience shows how this can work: after finishing COHS, she is now considering Long Beach City College. That path indicates the diploma clears the way to community college enrollment, though students should confirm with the specific admissions office.
Why This Matters for Library Science Careers and Workforce Development
Traditional library roles center on reference support and collection access, but adult diploma programs shift the work toward case management, employer outreach, and learner coaching. That shift is changing what library careers can look like. The Long Beach example offers a practical model for that expanded job description.
Expanding Roles for Library Staff
A program like Long Beach Public Library's Career Online High School requires coordination far beyond scheduling a class. Staff handle adult learner intake, verify residency and library card status, track 18-month completion windows, and connect graduates with next steps. These responsibilities overlap with adult education liaison work and community partnership management, creating pathways for librarians who want to blend public service with social impact.
Implications for MLIS Students and Working Librarians
For MLIS students, this trend makes adult learning theory, program evaluation, and grant writing more directly relevant. Students can build field projects around learner retention, digital inclusion, or employer partnerships. Working librarians can document outcomes like graduation rates and career pathway completions, which strengthens proposals for expanded adult services roles within library professional organizations. Field placements with adult schools or workforce development boards can show this work in practice.
Libraries as Workforce Development Infrastructure
The career electives make the workforce connection concrete. Students choose tracks such as child care, commercial driving, or hospitality, aligning diploma completion with local hiring needs. That makes the library a workforce development partner, not just an education provider, and can build relationships with employers, community colleges, and job training agencies.
Adapting Curricula and Professional Development
Library science programs and librarian professional development may need to include education technology platforms, adult learner coaching, student data privacy, and cross-sector collaboration. Skills like motivational interviewing and trauma-informed service can help staff support learners who have paused their education for years.
