In this phase of constant change, high schools in America are evolving to meet the needs of new-age learners. Penn Foster is one of many online accredited high schools that has been serving the student community for over 125 years. This institution has a massive number of self-paced courses (over 100).
And the best part is that it has career-relevant programs across the stages of high school, and college as well. Like many other best schools in United States, this online school prioritizes preparing students for in-demand jobs. This helps students from all parts of the world to chase their career goals. And they can reach the pinnacle of success in their career paths.
In this write-up, we will cover the aspects of Penn Foster’s High School Diploma program.
Accreditation & Recognition
Starting with the accreditation part, Penn Foster High School is duly accredited by the following:
Regional accreditations:
Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
National accreditations:
Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and Cognia.
Penn Foster Features and Offerings:
Penn Foster has only a high program for school-going age groups. A student can enroll in a minimum of grade 9 to be in their high school online program
This program (grades 9-12) has the following features:
- Students need to earn a total of 21 credits. The breakup for these is 16 core credits along with 5 electives.
- The average time for course completion is estimated as 15 months. And the fast track time is around 6 months.
- The curriculum for their high school diploma program can be checked on this page.
- Credit transfer is possible through a formal process. This detailed process is mentioned on this page of their official website.
- Penn Foster high school graduates are prepared for the next level. They get a Tier I enlistment priority only if they score 50 (or higher) on the AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test).
- This platform is one of the best schools in United States in terms of career preparation. Students get to study a great mix of career-preparation courses such as Vet Assistant and Auto Repair.
Fee Structure of Penn Foster Online School
Please find below the details of Penn Foster’s Tuition fee:
| Penn Foster Tuition | Full cost payment | Monthly Auto Pay | Mail your payment plan |
| Cost | $949 | $1,299 | $1,399 |
| Savings | $450 | $100 | NA |
*Please note that the fee details are subject to the school’s discretion. These might change as per some ongoing offers as well.
- Credit transfer option can help students to save $20 per high school course.
- The upper limit for credit transfer is 15 courses.
- Military benefits are given to eligible students. The requirements/process can be checked through their admission specialists.
- The monthly payment option also has a 0% interest facility to ease the financial burden on students.
- There is no provision to accept financial aid.
- You can check their detailed refund policy here.
Inclusions:
- Course content
- Student support (unlimited)
- Career services
- Mobile-friendly coursework for convenience
- Tracking tools
- Goal setting and progress tools
- Digital textbooks
School Highlights:
- Earning a high school diploma from Penn Foster is great to explore better job opportunities (as a high school graduate). Such students can earn as much as $9,516 more every year in comparison with non-diploma holders.
- There are no specific due dates for exams.
- Interactive study guides, videos, quizzes, learning resources, simulations, etc.
- Anytime access to resources and study material.
- A dedicated student portal help center is available for handholding.
- Any student who has completed 13 years of age or has completed grade 8th can enroll in their high school online program.
- Every year, over 200,000 active students enroll in this online school.
- All enrolled students get access to the e-books that they require. The school also arranges to send the physical books, if there is a need to do so.
- By far, Penn Foster has 40,000 student enrollments.
Acceptance in Colleges
Students who graduate from Penn Foster have a seamless transition to college.
Please find below a small of list of colleges that have accepted Penn Foster’s high school diploma in the past. You can refer to this complete list here.
| Colleges That Accepted Penn Foster’s High School Diploma |
| Academy of Art University |
| Art Institute (Online) |
| American Intercontinental University |
| Atlanta Metropolitan College |
| Ashford University |
| Bay Mills Community College |
| Barton College |
| American Institute |
| Brown Mackie College |
| Blue Cliff College |
| Beckfield College |
| CalCoast University |
| Bucks County Community College |
| Career Education |
| Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute |
| Bryant University |
| Cedar Valley College |
| Central Michigan University |
| Career Point College |
Points to Note Before Applying
For students, Penn Foster has different types of diplomas:
General high school diploma
Almost like the ones awarded by high schools in America
Occupational diploma
This one covers the general education requirements with English, Math, and Science. In addition, it also supports students to focus on their chosen career paths.
Honors diploma
Students who take up advanced courses, maintain a specific Grade Point Average, and excel in academics, are eligible for this diploma.
Penn Foster Student Handholding and Other Details:
Another important aspect is that like many other accredited online high schools, Penn Foster does not provide any virtual classes. Let’s give you a brief overview of the support that it offers:
- Messaging and e-mail support are available for students wherein they can connect with instructors or academic advocates. This feature is available under the ‘Help’ section of the student portal. It is open from 9 AM to 5 PM (Eastern) for students.
- The student portal has resources, tests, lessons, and guides.
Adult students have an advantage in their programs as well. The high school diploma program offered by Penn Foster is not perfectly broken down into grades. The class a student has completed before enrolling in Penn Foster can be transferred to this school (subject to the standard process).
Final Thoughts
We are fortunate to live in an era where K12 online schooling is increasingly becoming popular. Penn Foster is a good choice for students who can thrive without much teacher assistance. However, for the ones who look for more teacher handholding, some other accredited online high schools can serve a better purpose. If you are sure about a good learning coach, this school can be a good option for you. With your previously earned credits, this platform will also help you in saving some costs.
However, we advise you to scrutinize all aspects of their courses thoroughly before making a payment. To be on the safer side, it is also a good idea to have a list of some shortlisted colleges/universities that you wish to enter after earning a high school diploma. You can ask them about their acceptance of a Penn Foster’s High School Diploma just to be double sure before investing your precious time and money!
Do get in touch with this school to know more about its online programs. Website: https://www.pennfoster.edu
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is the difference between online schools and regular high schools in America?
An online school operates 100% virtually. On the other hand, traditional high schools in the US are regular schools with a brick-and-mortar structure.
- Are all online schools as credible as good as the top US high schools?
You can never trust a school for its credibility if it is not accredited properly. Do check this aspect carefully before you shortlist any school.
- Is Penn Foster among the best online K12 schools?
Penn Foster offers different types of diplomas only for high school grades i.e. 9-12. K12 online schooling through other institutions covers all grades from Kindergarten to 12.
