Quick Answer: U.S. colleges, universities, and credential evaluation agencies generally require a certified English translation of any foreign-language diploma. The translation must be complete and carry a signed statement of accuracy from the translator, who cannot be the applicant. Most diplomas are one page — typical cost is $25, delivered in 24-48 hours. Requirements vary by institution and evaluator, so confirm your specific recipient's rules before ordering.
If you earned your degree outside the United States and you are applying to a U.S. college or university — or having your credentials evaluated for admission, employment, or licensing — you will almost always need a certified English translation of your diploma. This guide explains what schools and evaluators require, how the two paths differ, what it costs, and how to avoid the common mistake of buying a translation your recipient won't accept.
When Do You Need a Certified Diploma Translation?
A certified diploma translation is required whenever you submit a foreign-language diploma to a U.S. institution that needs to read and verify it. The most common situations are:
- Undergraduate and graduate admissions — when applying to a U.S. college or university with a foreign secondary or post-secondary diploma
- Transfer applications — when moving from a foreign institution and submitting prior degrees
- Credential evaluation — when an agency assesses your foreign degree for U.S. equivalency
- Professional licensing — when a licensing board requires proof of your educational background
- Employment verification — when an employer needs to confirm a foreign degree
In most of these cases the diploma is submitted alongside an academic transcript, which we cover further below.
Submitting Directly to a College or University
This is the most common path. Most U.S. colleges and universities ask international applicants to provide a complete English translation of any diploma not originally issued in English. The translation is submitted to the admissions office or the international student services office alongside the original-language document.
What institutions generally require:
- A complete English translation of the entire diploma — including the institution name, degree awarded, date, and any seals, stamps, or signatures
- A signed statement of accuracy from the translator confirming the translation is complete and correct
- The original-language document submitted alongside the translation
Requirements vary from one school to the next. Some accept a translation commissioned by the applicant; others have specific formatting or submission preferences. Always review the international admissions instructions for the specific school you are applying to before ordering.
Need a certified diploma translation for a university application? Exacta Translation Services provides complete certified translations in Spanish and French to English. $25 per page — most diplomas are one page. Signed certification always included. Quote sent within 5 minutes.
Get a Free Quote →Diploma Translation for Credential Evaluation
Credential evaluation is a separate path from direct university submission. Evaluation agencies assess your foreign degree and produce a report describing its U.S. equivalency, which you then submit to schools, employers, or licensing boards. The best-known agencies are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), including World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and Josef Silny & Associates, among others.
These agencies generally require certified translations of foreign-language documents. However — and this is important — each agency has its own rules, and they are not the same:
- Some agencies require academic documents to be sent directly from the issuing institution in a sealed envelope, rather than from the applicant
- Some evaluate directly from the original-language document and do not require a separate translation at all
- Some accept applicant-provided certified translations, while others provide their own translation service as part of the evaluation
- Requirements often differ by the type of evaluation you order, even within the same agency
Before you order a translation for credential evaluation, confirm your specific agency's requirements for your specific evaluation type. Buying a translation an agency won't accept — because they needed it sent directly from your school, or because they evaluate from the original language — is a common and avoidable mistake. A few minutes checking the agency's document requirements page will tell you exactly what they need.
If your evaluator does accept an applicant-provided certified translation, we are glad to provide one that meets the standard certified-translation requirements those agencies describe.
Do You Also Need Your Transcript Translated?
In most cases, yes. Universities and credential evaluators typically request both the diploma and the academic transcript. The diploma proves the degree was awarded; the transcript shows the courses taken and grades earned. Because they serve different purposes, institutions usually want both, translated and submitted together.
If you need both documents translated, see our academic transcript translation page — transcripts are often multi-page, so the pricing works differently from a single-page diploma.
What Languages Can Diplomas Be Translated From?
Exacta Translation Services specializes in Spanish and French to English certified translations. If your diploma is in Spanish, see our Spanish certified translation page. For a diploma in French, see our French certified translation page.
How Long Does a Diploma Translation Take?
Most certified diploma translations are completed within 24 to 48 hours of receiving the document. Diplomas are typically a single page with standard formatting, making them quick to translate accurately. If you have an application deadline, rush delivery within 24 hours is available for a flat fee of $35.
How Much Does a Diploma Translation Cost?
At Exacta Translation Services, certified diploma translations cost $25 per page. Most diplomas are a single page, making the typical total $25. The signed certification is always included at no extra charge.
If you are translating a diploma and transcript together, the transcript is priced separately by page count since transcripts are usually longer. For a full cost breakdown across document types, see our guide: How Much Does a Certified Translation Cost in 2026?
Can You Translate Your Own Diploma?
Generally, no. Most universities and credential evaluators require the translation to come from a competent third party — not the applicant — who certifies that the translation is complete and accurate. AI tools such as Google Translate are also not accepted for official submissions, because they cannot provide the signed certification institutions require. A qualified translator who is not the applicant must provide and certify the translation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most U.S. colleges and universities require a certified English translation of any foreign-language diploma submitted with an application. Requirements vary by institution, so check the specific admissions or international student office instructions.
Credential evaluation agencies such as WES, ECE, and other NACES members generally require certified translations, but each has its own submission rules. Some require documents sent directly from the issuing institution, and some evaluate from the original-language document. Always confirm your specific evaluator's requirements before ordering.
At Exacta Translation Services the cost is $25 per page. Most diplomas are a single page, making the typical total $25, with the signed certification always included.
Standard delivery is within 24-48 hours of receiving your document. Rush delivery within 24 hours is available for a flat fee of $35.
Usually yes. Universities and evaluators typically request both — the diploma proves the degree was awarded and the transcript shows the coursework and grades. They should be translated and submitted together.
Generally no. Most institutions and evaluators require the translation to come from a competent third party who certifies its accuracy. Translating your own diploma is typically not accepted.