Getting Ghanaian Transcripts and Degrees Evaluated for US Admission
By Muntasir • Published Jul 17, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026
US schools cannot read a WASSCE certificate or a Ghanaian degree transcript directly, so most ask for a NACES-member evaluation that translates your grades and years of schooling into US terms.
🎓 WASSCE grades run A1 (highest) to F9 (fail). Only A1-C6 count as credit passes.
📩 Order your official WASSCE Statement of Results directly from WAEC. Evaluators will not accept a personal photocopy alone.
⏱️ A course-by-course evaluation usually takes several weeks, so order it as soon as you decide to apply.
NACES lists 18 member agencies. World Education Services (WES) is one of the most used for West African credentials.
Why evaluation matters
A US admissions officer who has never seen a WASSCE transcript cannot tell how it compares to a US high school diploma, or how a Ghanaian bachelor's degree from KNUST, University of Ghana, or Ashesi compares to a US bachelor's degree. A credential evaluation from a NACES-member agency translates your Ghanaian record into US-standard language: grade point average, degree level, and years completed. Many graduate programs and some undergraduate programs require this before they process your file.
How the WASSCE grading system works
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has run the WASSCE since it replaced the SSSCE in 2006, at the end of 12 years of schooling, according to World Education Services' research arm WENR . Grades run from A1 down through F9.
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A1-B3 | Excellent to Very Good (credit) |
| B3-C6 | Good to Credit |
| D7-D8 | Pass, not a credit |
| F9 | Fail |
University admission in Ghana requires credit passes (A1-C6) in six subjects, including English and core mathematics, with an aggregate score of 24 or better on the six best grades, per WENR. US evaluators use this same aggregate and subject list to judge whether your WASSCE record equals a US high school diploma.
Ordering your official results
Evaluators need results sent directly from WAEC, not a personal copy. WAEC's online results-checking system lets you buy a PIN, priced around $3 according to WENR, to print an official statement covering results back to 1990. Request this early, since evaluators reject applications backed only by a personal printout or a school-issued photocopy.
Getting your Ghanaian university degree evaluated
For a bachelor's degree, evaluators want an official transcript sent directly from your Ghanaian university's registrar, plus your degree certificate or a completion letter if you have not graduated yet. Ghanaian degrees carry a classification (First Class, Second Class Upper, Second Class Lower, Third Class, Pass) rather than a US-style GPA. Evaluators and admissions consultants commonly translate a First Class degree toward the 3.7-4.0 range on a 4.0 scale and a Second Class Upper toward 3.0-3.6, though the exact number depends on the evaluator and your specific transcript, according to a GPA-conversion guide for Ghanaian applicants . Treat this as a rough guide, not your official score. Only the evaluator's report carries weight with an admissions office.
Choosing a NACES-member evaluator
The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) lists 18 member agencies, including World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and Josef Silny and Associates, according to naces.org . Check which evaluator your target school names in its admission requirements before you pay, since some departments only accept a specific agency's report. WES is named first in several US graduate program requirements for West African applicants and runs a dedicated process for WASSCE and Ghanaian degree documents.
What to order
A document-by-document evaluation if the school only needs to confirm your credential is genuine and its level.
A course-by-course evaluation with a converted GPA if the program asks for a US-style GPA on each subject you studied.
Extra copies sent directly to each school you apply to, since most evaluators charge per copy and per recipient.
Names, dates, and other mismatches to fix early
Evaluators and admissions offices reject files where the name on your WASSCE certificate, your university transcript, and your passport do not match exactly, a common issue after a legal name change or a spelling variation between documents. Resolve any mismatch with your school or WAEC before you order an evaluation, since a correction after the report is issued means paying for a new one. WASSCE and most Ghanaian university transcripts are issued in English, so translation is not usually required, unlike credentials from non-English-medium countries.
If you are still completing your degree
Applicants who apply before finishing their Ghanaian bachelor's degree usually submit a partial transcript covering completed semesters, along with a letter from the registrar confirming your expected graduation date and remaining coursework. Most schools then require your final transcript and degree certificate, evaluated again if needed, before you register for classes in the US.
Building in enough lead time
Start this process as soon as you decide to apply. Between ordering official WAEC results, mailing university transcripts, and the evaluator's processing time, the full cycle commonly takes several weeks, longer if a document has to be re-requested. Order any rush service the evaluator offers only if a deadline is close, since it typically costs more than standard processing.