How to Get High School Transcripts
How to Get High School Transcripts
If you've been out of high school for a few years or longer, the thought of pulling up your transcripts can feel like a blast from the past. But when you're ready to apply to college–whether for a bachelor's degree, an associate, or even a graduate program–most schools will ask for them. At AIU, we often review high school transcripts to help confirm prior academic performance and sometimes evaluate transfer credit eligibility.
Here's everything you need to know (in simple steps) about retrieving your transcripts and submitting them effortlessly.
Why You Need Them
Transcripts are the official record of your high school courses, grades, and graduation date. Even if you graduated years ago, colleges, employers, or certification programs may require them to:
- Verify completion of certain courses
- Confirm your GPA
- Assess eligibility for transfer credits
- Validate your high school graduation status
At AIU, we include transcript evaluation as part of the admissions process and consider transcripts when awarding potential transfer credits.*
- Start With Your High School
Your first stop is your high school's records or registrar's office. Here's what to do:
- Contact them directly. Many schools allow transcript requests in person, by phone, by email, or via an online portal.
- Provide identifying info. You'll typically need your full name (including any former names), date of birth, years you attended, graduation year, and possibly your student ID or Social Security number.
- Specify "official" vs "unofficial." You can usually obtain an unofficial copy for your own reference; but for college admission, you'll need an official, sealed transcript, which the school sends directly to the college.
- Use an Electronic Transcript Service
If your high school offers electronic forwarding via a third-party service, this can be faster and more reliable. Common services may include:
You'll log into the service, input details for your high school and the school(s) you want to send to and pay a small processing fee if required. These services often submit the official transcript directly to the receiving institution in a secure format.
- Understand Timelines & Deadlines
A key tip is to not wait until the last minute. Transcripts can take time. Even within the same state, postal delivery and processing at both ends can add delays. Additionally, schools need processing time. Ideally, request your transcripts at least 3–4 weeks before your application deadline to avoid issues.
Getting your high school transcripts doesn't have to be stressful – but it does require planning. Start early, know whether you need an official version, and use electronic services where possible. If your situation is complicated, don't hesitate to contact records offices, state departments, or the university's admissions office for help.
At AIU, we're here to support your journey every step of the way. If you're ready to get started, visit our apply now page.
*Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.
REQ2171070 – 10/2025