New York City has one of the most extensive networks of GED courses in the US, with free and low-cost programs at CUNY colleges, public libraries, adult education centers, and workforce development sites across all five boroughs. This guide covers where to find GED courses NYC residents can enroll in, how to access free classes, what the courses cover, where to test in New York City, and how to get your official GED diploma.
NYC offers several pathways to completely free GED preparation:
CUNY Adult Literacy Programs: The City University of New York operates free adult literacy and GED preparation programs at multiple campuses. CUNY's Adult Literacy Programs serve adults 21+ who need high school equivalency preparation. Programs include evening and weekend classes, with in-person and hybrid options. Visit cuny.edu/academics/workforce-development to find a CUNY program near you.
NYC Department of Education Adult and Continuing Education (ACE): The DOE's adult education division operates free GED preparation classes through its Adult Learning Centers in all five boroughs. Classes are free for NYC residents. Find your nearest Adult Learning Center at schools.nyc.gov/school-life/programs/adult-continuing-education.
New York Public Library (NYPL) and BPL/QPL: The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library offer free GED tutoring programs and access to online study platforms at branches throughout the city. Many branches host in-person GED preparation workshops.
Use our ged classes near me directory to find specific program locations in your NYC neighborhood, and our ged programs near me resource for more program types and enrollment guidance.
NYC's GED resources are distributed across all five boroughs:
Manhattan: CUNY programs at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), Lehman College, and City College; DOE Adult Learning Centers throughout Harlem, Washington Heights, and Lower Manhattan; NYPL branches with tutoring programs.
Brooklyn: CUNY programs at Kingsborough Community College and Medgar Evers College; DOE ACE programs in Flatbush, Brownsville, and Sunset Park; Brooklyn Public Library GED support at Central Library and branches.
Queens: CUNY programs at Queensborough Community College and LaGuardia Community College; DOE ACE programs in Jamaica, Flushing, and Jackson Heights; Queens Public Library tutoring programs at many branches.
The Bronx: CUNY programs at Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College; Bronx DOE Adult Learning Centers; NYPL Bronx branches with literacy programs.
Staten Island: CUNY programs at College of Staten Island; DOE ACE programs in St. George and Bay Ridge areas; NYPL Staten Island branches.
For targeted practice before your NYC GED test, our ged ready practice test covers all four subject areas, and our ged study guide provides structured subject-by-subject preparation.
GED tests in NYC are administered at Pearson VUE authorized testing centers. There are multiple testing sites throughout the five boroughs, with many locations at CUNY campuses and community colleges. Scheduling is done online at ged.com.
To schedule your NYC GED test:
New York State allows each GED subject to be taken independently — you do not need to take all four on the same day. If you fail a subject three times, a 60-day waiting period is required before retesting that subject. New York City test centers tend to book up quickly — schedule at least 1–2 weeks in advance.
GED test vouchers that reduce or eliminate the ~$36 per-subject fee are available through some NYC programs. CUNY Adult Literacy Programs and certain DOE ACE sites have access to GEDTS voucher programs for enrolled students — ask your program coordinator. NYC residents enrolled in workforce development programs (SNAP E&T, WIA/WIOA) may also qualify for test fee assistance through the NYC Human Resources Administration. For free preparation, use our free ged practice test and our ged lessons online free guide.