A transcript is more than a report card. It is the official record schools, colleges, and employers use to understand your academic history at a glance.
A typical transcript shows where you studied, which courses you took, the grades you earned, and when you completed your program. It is what colleges look at when they review applications, and what employers often ask for when they need proof of your education.
If you have never seen one before, it is normal to wonder what a transcript actually looks like, how a high school transcript compares to a college transcript, and what makes an official transcript different from a regular printout. This guide walks through the key parts so you know what to expect.
What does a transcript look like? Quick overview
Most transcripts are one or two pages printed on school letterhead or secure paper, or saved as a secure PDF if they are digital. At the top, you will see the name and logo of the school, plus your own identifying information such as your full name, student ID, and dates of attendance.
The center of the page is usually a table of your classes. Each row is a course you completed, and each column shows details like the course code, course title, credit hours, and the grade you earned. At the bottom or side, you will see your totals and summary information, such as your overall GPA and the total number of credits.
Official transcripts also include security details that show they are authentic, such as an embossed or printed seal, a registrar signature, and a note about how the document was delivered or verified.
Key parts you will see on most transcripts
Even though every school uses its own format, most transcripts include the same core pieces of information:
- School information
The school’s name, logo, address, and sometimes a phone number or website. - Student information
Your full name, sometimes your date of birth, student ID number, and the dates you attended that school. - Program or grade level details
For high school, this may mention your grade levels and whether you earned a standard, honors, or specialized diploma. For college, you will usually see your major, minor, and degree type. - Course list
A term by term or year by year list of the courses you took. Each course typically has a code, title, credit value, and the grade you received. - Grades and GPA
A summary of your grades, including term GPAs and a cumulative GPA. Some transcripts also show class rank or academic standing. - Grading scale and legend
A short explanation of how grades are converted to points, and what special symbols mean. For example, it might explain the difference between a withdrawal, an incomplete, and a pass or fail mark. - Signatures and security features
On an official transcript, you will usually see the registrar’s signature, a school seal, and some type of security background or watermark.
What does a high school transcript look like?
A high school transcript is the complete record of your classes and grades from grades 9 through 12. It is what high schools send to colleges, trade schools, and scholarship programs when they need to see how you performed over all four years.
On a typical high school transcript you will see:
- Your school’s name, address, and logo at the top
- Your full name, date of birth or student ID, and expected or actual graduation date
- A list of courses grouped by school year or semester, with the grade you earned in each class
- The number of credits each course is worth and how many total credits you have earned
- Your cumulative GPA, often on a 4.0 scale, and sometimes your class rank or honors
- A grading scale or key that explains how letter grades convert to points
Official high school transcripts often include a seal and registrar signature and are delivered in a sealed envelope or sent through a secure electronic system. An unofficial copy may look very similar but will usually be marked as unofficial and is not sealed.
What does a college transcript look like?
A college or university transcript looks a lot like a high school transcript, but with more emphasis on your program details and college level credits.
Most college transcripts include:
- The name and logo of the college or university, plus the campus if the school has more than one
- Your full name, student ID, date of birth, and the dates you attended
- Your declared major and minor, and sometimes your degree program and catalog year
- A term by term list of every course you attempted, including withdrawals and repeated classes
- The credit hours and final grade for each course
- A term GPA for each semester or quarter and a cumulative GPA for your whole program
- Any academic honors, probation notices, or special status notes
- A grading legend that explains the institution’s grading system
College transcripts almost always use a 4.0 scale for GPA, even if the grades in your classes were originally recorded as percentages or letter grades. When graduate schools or employers say they want to see your college transcript, they are talking about this official record.
What does a trade school or vocational transcript look like?
Trade schools, technical colleges, and vocational programs often use transcripts that emphasize hands on training and specific skills.
These transcripts usually include:
- Your program name, such as Culinary Arts, Automotive Technology, Welding, or Medical Assisting
- A list of modules, courses, or competency blocks along with the hours or credits for each one
- Final grades or completion marks for each part of the program
- Any licenses, certifications, or industry exams you earned as part of the training
In many cases, a vocational transcript is one of the main documents employers review when they want to confirm that you completed a certain level of training or logged a required number of hours. The overall layout is similar to a high school or college transcript, but the language focuses more on skills and practical experience.
What do official transcripts look like compared to unofficial transcripts?
Official and unofficial transcripts often contain the same academic information, but they do not look exactly the same to the people who review them.
Official transcripts usually:
- Are printed on secure paper or generated as secure PDFs
- Show a school seal, crest, or watermark in the background
- Include a registrar or records officer’s signature or stamped name
- Have a note about how they were delivered, such as “issued to student in sealed envelope” or “sent electronically to” a specific institution
- Do not allow you to change or edit the information yourself
Unofficial transcripts usually:
- Are printed by the student from an online portal, or viewed as a screen shot or basic PDF
- Do not have a raised seal, special security paper, or a registrar’s signature
- May show recent grades and classes that have not yet appeared on the official record
- Are meant for your own reference rather than for formal admissions or hiring decisions
If you are applying to college, transferring schools, or starting a job that requires verification, you will almost always be asked for an official transcript. An unofficial copy is still useful for planning your classes or checking your progress.
How to read your transcript at a glance
If you are looking at your transcript for the first time, start with these three areas:
- Header
Check that your name, school, and program details are correct. Catching errors early makes future applications smoother. - Course list
Scan down the list of courses to confirm that nothing is missing and that repeated or withdrawn classes look correct. This is also where you can confirm that required subjects such as math, science, and language arts appear for high school, or that your major requirements are complete for college. - Summary section
Look at your total credits and GPA. This tells you whether you have met graduation requirements and how your record might be viewed by colleges or employers.
Once you understand how your transcript is organized, it becomes much easier to spot mistakes or figure out what you still need to finish.
Need a clear transcript for your records or display?
If you misplace your transcript, need a cleaner copy for display, or want a personal backup that is easier to read, it can be frustrating to wait on your school’s processing times.
For anything official, you should always request an original transcript directly from your high school, college, or trade school, or through their approved records service. That is the only version schools and employers will treat as an official record of your education.
If you also want a replica for personal use, ValidGrad can help. Our transcript maker lets you:
- Recreate the layout of a high school, college, or vocational transcript
- Include accurate course names, dates, and grades based on your own records
- Customize details for a display copy or personal archive
Replica transcripts from ValidGrad are meant for display, personal record keeping, or as a backup copy at home. They do not include official seals or signatures and are not a substitute for the official transcripts schools and employers request for admissions, licensing, or verification.