If you are applying to study in the United States, your university may ask for a credential evaluation. This is an official review of your foreign diploma and transcripts to determine how they compare to the US education system. Not every university requires one, but many do—especially for transfer students, applicants seeking transfer credits, or institutions that require an official GPA conversion. In this guide, you will learn what a credential evaluation is, when you need one, the different evaluation types, and which evaluation agencies are commonly accepted by US universities.
What is a credential evaluation and why is it required?
A credential evaluation is an independent assessment of your academic qualifications by a recognized evaluation agency.
The evaluator reviews your diploma, transcripts, completed coursework, grading system, and academic level before translating them into the American educational framework. Depending on the type of evaluation, this may also include an official Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation and an assessment of possible transfer credits.
Many universities request a credential evaluation to ensure that all international applicants are assessed according to the exact same academic standards.
🔗 Read more: Understanding GPA calculations for US universities.
When do you need a credential evaluation?
Although not every university requires one, there are four situations where a credential evaluation is commonly requested:
- First-year admission requirements (Diploma Equivalency & GPA): Some universities require an official credential evaluation instead of reviewing foreign transcripts themselves. The evaluation confirms that your diploma is academically equivalent to a US High School Diploma and may include an overall GPA calculation.
- Transfer students: If you have already completed college or university coursework outside the United States, a Course-by-Course evaluation is mandatory to determine which credits can transfer toward your bachelor’s degree.
- Students seeking transfer credits (e.g., VWO diploma holders): Some international secondary school qualifications may qualify for university credit. For example, Dutch VWO students may receive transfer credit for selected subjects depending on the evaluation agency and the university’s credit transfer policy.
Our experience: WES (World Education Services) often awards relatively generous transfer credit recommendations for Dutch VWO qualifications compared to other evaluation agencies.
⚠️ Requirements for VWO Transfer Credits: Transfer credits are generally awarded for subjects that match the US university curriculum (such as Mathematics, Physics, History, or Chemistry—not foreign language studies like native Dutch) and where your final exam grade is a 7 or higher (on a 10-point scale).
- NAIA eligibility: Student-athletes enrolling at NAIA institutions must complete an academic evaluation through InCred, the official evaluation partner for the NAIA Eligibility Center.
Course-by-Course vs. Document-by-Document evaluations
Before submitting your application, you will need to select the type of evaluation required by your university.
| Evaluation Type | Includes | GPA Calculation | Typical Use |
| Document-by-Document | Verifies your diploma and determines its US educational equivalency. | May include an overall cumulative GPA depending on the agency. | First-year undergraduate admissions when verifying high school graduation equivalency. |
| Course-by-Course | Reviews every completed subject individually, converts grades and semester credits. | Calculates a detailed GPA for every individual course. | Transfer students, transfer credit requests, and universities requiring a detailed academic breakdown. |
Always verify which evaluation type your university requires before placing an order. A Course-by-Course evaluation is more comprehensive and universally accepted, whereas a Document-by-Document report cannot be used if you wish to transfer credits.
Recognized evaluation agencies: NACES, WES, TEC and InCred
Most US universities only accept evaluations from agencies that belong to NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services). NACES establishes quality standards for international credential evaluations, giving universities confidence that evaluations are consistent and reliable.
The most common agencies include:
1. The Evaluation Company (TEC) – Our official partner
- Accreditation: NACES Member.
- Submission: 100% Digital. Documents can be directly uploaded or emailed via secure portals, significantly speeding up processing times.
- Made Scholarships Advantage: The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran) is one of our primary preferred partners. Through our partnership, Made Scholarships students receive discounted pricing, faster processing, and a streamlined digital document submission process.
Start your TEC credential evaluation with our partner discount
2. WES (World Education Services)
- Accreditation: NACES Member.
- Submission: Physical Mail. In many cases, WES requires official academic documents to be sent directly by your school via international mail/courier. Processing can therefore take longer than with fully digital providers.
- Advantage: For Dutch VWO students and university transfer applicants, WES frequently recommends a relatively high number of transfer credits.
3. ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators)
- Accreditation: NACES Member.
- Submission: Digital. Like TEC, ECE accepts secure digital document submissions directly from institutional email addresses and serves as an excellent alternative when WES is not required.
4. InCred (Specifically for NAIA)
- Accreditation: AICE Certified (Non-NACES).
- Submission: 100% Digital. Documents are submitted securely online or via official school email.
- Application: InCred serves as the official credential evaluation provider for NAIA eligibility and is required for student-athletes enrolling at NAIA institutions.
Translating your transcripts and diploma
Your academic documents must be submitted in English. Although many credential evaluation agencies offer in-house translation services, these are often relatively expensive.
There are generally two better, more cost-effective options:
- Through Made Scholarships and your school (Recommended): As part of our guidance process, we prepare professional English translations of your transcripts and diploma. Once your school verifies, signs, and officially stamps (or digitally certifies) these documents, agencies such as TEC, ECE, and InCred generally accept them as official documents.
- Certified translation services: If your school cannot certify the translations, you can use an independent certified translation service. This is often considerably more affordable than ordering translations directly through the evaluation agency.
What documents do you need?
Most evaluation agencies request academic records covering the equivalent of US Grades 9 through 12 (your last four years of secondary education).
Typically, you will need:
- High school diploma and final transcript / exam results (in the original language plus certified English translations);
- Official transcripts covering your final four years of secondary education;
- Additional transcripts if you repeated a year or combined educational pathways (e.g., VMBO/MAVO to HAVO) to ensure a complete 4- to 5-year academic timeline;
- The completed online application form for the evaluation agency.
💡 Digital document submission: Many agencies, including TEC and ECE, accept documents electronically when they are sent directly by your school administration or guidance counselor from an official institutional school email address. This eliminates physical paper shipping and significantly speeds up the evaluation process.
How much does a credential evaluation cost?
Costs and processing times vary depending on both the evaluation agency and the type of report:
- Document-by-Document: Typically between $100–$150.
- Course-by-Course: Typically between $170–$250.
- Made Scholarships Discount: Through our partnership with The Evaluation Company, Made Scholarships students receive exclusive discounted pricing.
Most evaluations are completed within 5–10 business days after all required documents have been received by the agency. Rush processing (24 to 48 hours) is usually available for an additional fee.
Need help with your credential evaluation?
Choosing the correct evaluation agency, preparing your documents, and selecting the right type of report can be complex.
At Made Scholarships, we guide you through the entire process. We help you prepare the required translations, advise you on the exact evaluation your university requires, and offer discounted pricing through our official partnership with The Evaluation Company.
Contact us today to find out exactly what you need for your application!