Sponsored Search
What is Penn Foster College known for?
Penn Foster College is a private, remote education institution in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was founded in 1890 and offers an affordable, flexible education for students seeking to complete high school degrees, vocational certificate programs, and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees.
The school is known for their efficient program length and affordable tuition and payment plans, enabling students to optimally finance their educational investment and start earning sooner than most because of their self-paced distance curriculum.
Is Penn Foster Legit?
Penn Foster High School, Penn Foster Career School, and Penn Foster College have all earned national accreditation, and the institution has been accredited since 1956. The high school is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) to provide high school diplomas, as well as by Cognia, a global nonprofit that assesses the education quality of distance learning programs.
Penn Foster’s career school branch is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IASET) organization, qualifying the school to provide certificates and IASET’s Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) for its programs that meet the IACET standards. Penn Foster College’s participation in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) has been approved by the Arizona SARA (AZ SARA) Council, enabling them to participate in oversight programs for distance learning.
In addition to these general certifications, specific programs offered by Penn Foster have additional licensing in their respective fields; for example, Penn Foster College’s Veterinary Technician Associate Degree Program has full accreditation with the American Veterinary Medical Association–an incredibly high standard of achievement for the program.
Is Penn Foster College worth it?
Over 300,000 students enroll in Penn Foster College each year, and with their vast array of 100 self-paced, career-relevant programs, it makes sense why. The school’s programs typically take up to a year to complete, costing students, on average, $2 a day.
Penn Foster provides students of all diploma and degree levels an affordable, flexible, and supportive experience. Alumni laud the quality of their Penn Foster education, stating that “everything [they] learned … is actually something [that they’re] doing out in the field.” The institution provides incredibly efficient and flexible opportunities for non-traditional learners who may not have the time or financial support to afford traditional-length degree programs.
Penn Foster College vs. COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Penn Foster College offers high school diplomas, vocational training certificates, and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees. While many community colleges offer students 2- and 4-year degree pathways and some vocational training opportunities, students are expected to have earned a high school diploma or GED, often limiting students at different progression levels.
Penn Foster College allows students to transfer high school credits from their incomplete education, picking up their learning where they left off to complete their education efficiently and affordably, even presenting the option to progress to one of Penn Foster’s vocational or college degree programs. Students may even earn college degrees comparatively earlier than traditional learners, allowing them to start earning and pay back their initial educational investment remarkably early.
Penn Foster offers non-traditional learners flexibility in all areas of their education, with 0% payment plans and a financial assistance department that offers tuition plans for all students, promoting financial literacy and affordability. Diplomas, certificates, and degrees at Penn Foster typically take 4 to 11 months to complete. Still, programs are offered online under a complete-at-your-own-pace policy, letting working students learn on a schedule that fits their needs.
Penn Foster College Acceptance Rate
Penn Foster College’s acceptance rate is 100%.
Penn Foster College Cost Per Year
Penn Foster College offers students of all degree and diploma levels a competitive tuition rate of about $2 a day. A high school diploma costs, in total, $1,400. Vocational training programs and Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs tuition varies, but students can expect to pay between $1,000 to $2,000 for their certificate or degree.
Because of their comparatively low tuition, Penn Foster College does not accept financial aid. However, they offer students payment plans with a 0% interest rate and includes students’ supplies in their tuition–this includes supplies such as lab equipment and textbooks, which may typically cost students a few hundred dollars at least.
School Catalog
A copy of the course catalog may be found here.
School Hours
As Penn Foster College offers its education through distance learning programs, students can access their online coursework 24/7.
Student Services are available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM ET. Course instructors are also available by phone from 9 AM to 6 PM ET.
Programs & Courses
Business
- Accounting Undergraduate Certificate
- Accounting Associate of Science
- Business Management Undergraduate Certificate
- Business Management Associate of Science
- Business Management Bachelor of Science
- Finance
- Human Resources Management
- Marketing
- Administrative Assistant
Criminal Justice & Law
- Criminal Justice Associate of Science
- Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science
- Paralegal Studies Associate of Science
Graphics, Design, and Arts
- Graphic Design
General Studies Undergraduate Certificate
- Prepares students to continue their education in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program
- Arts & Humanities
- Communications
- English
- Math
- Natural Science
- Social Science
Healthcare
- Healthcare Management
- Medical Assistant
- Dental Assistant
- Medical Billing & Coding
- Pharmacy Technician
Automotive
- Automotive Technician
- Collision & Body Repair
- Motorcycle Repair Technician
Sports Management
- Certified Personal Trainer
Computer & IT
- Computer Support Technician
- Computer Aided Design
Trucking & Transportation
- Diesel Mechanics
HVAC & Building Services
- HVAC
- Electrician
Veterinary Services
- Veterinary Assistant
- Veterinary Technician
Wellness
- Physical Therapy Aide
Campus Locations
Scottsdale, AZ 14300 N. Northsight Blvd., Ste 125, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Financial Aid Services
The school works with attendees to develop affordable payment plans. If paid up front, the price of tuition may be lower. Penn Foster College also gives incentives for referrals. Applicants are able to view the current promotions on the website that help save money or provide tuition credit.
Student Services
Classes take place online, so students could begin as soon as they enroll. This allows for flexibility, since each person can progress at their own pace without worrying about when the next semester begins. Previous education might transfer to Penn Foster College credits.
Career Services
Penn Foster offers many resources to current students and alumni to help with career planning and job search efforts.
Through Career Link, Penn Foster College helps connect candidates to employers. Virtual services include resume tips, job search aids, advisor meetings, and practice interviews. There are also resources for learning about new careers and finding what makes a good fit.
Career Cruising, a self-service employment tool is available to students and alumni and provides various resources on employability, including school/job exploration, employment recommendations, career portfolio development, resume-building, nationwide job search engine, tips and advice on improving job search success, and interview tips. Students and alumni can access Career Cruising through the student portal.
Penn Foster’s Career Coaches work with students and alumni to assist with career exploration, resume review and revision, social media presence, and mock interviews. The Learning Resource Center, which is located in the library, includes guides for career planning, instructions for writing a winning resume, tips and advice to succeed at a job interview and how to follow-up after the interview, and information on negotiating and understanding compensation levels and offers. Penn Foster also maintains a job board site where students and graduates are encouraged to search through jobs that are posted directly by employers.
Veteran and Military Services
Veterans or active duty service members may make use of several benefits recognized by Penn Foster College. Programs like the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill give financial support to those who qualify.
Students electing to use chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits must provide a Certificate of Eligibility, a Statement of Benefits, or VA Form 28-1905 before having their completed coursework certified for VA reimbursement.
The military-friendly school’s website features information on all the requirements.
Reviews
Based on student reviews, some common themes for Penn Foster College are:
Positive:
- Flexibility of online programs
“I absolutely love attending Penn Foster College! I have had nothing but great experiences. They are very helpful when you need the help. As a busy mom of two, it’s great to know I can do my studies when I am able to, and still have help when it is needed.” - Affordability of tuition
“I’m 57 years old. For years I’ve thought about taking Travel and Tourism classes but I was afraid I could afford it or have time. Omg Penn Foster has answered my dream. Affordable monthly payments and completing classes on my own time. I’m very excited and it’s never too late.” - Support from instructors and staff
“Customer service is incredible, I’m happy with all the staff members I had spoken with already. But to recognized an administrative named Dani, she’s the most patience, answered all of my questions, so helpful and sweet. This is the best customer service I ever gotten from a college, highly recommended..I ask the company to please recognize Ms. Dani for doing her job perfectly and to give an award or a raise because she deserve it. Thank you for all of your help Dani. I appreciate your time and effort.” - Career preparation and job readiness
“The course work is in depth and very well delivered while also being applicable in real world. They do a great job giving you a chance to learn in ways you can relate to and use in daily use.” - Availability of study materials and resources
“I’m just getting started in week 2 but the self paced online classes are easily accessed at home or on the go, the enrollment process was easy, so far this format and the curriculum layout are perfect for my lifestyle. I work fulltime.” - Convenience of online learning
“As a mother of two, my everyday life is pretty busy. The BEST thing about attending this college is the ability to study and take exams at my OWN pace. If you are considering enrolling at Penn Foster, I encourage you to take the next step. One of the best decisions I’ve made!!!!!!!!!!!”
Negative:
- Some courses may lack rigor or depth
“No videos have been included in my course so far and plain reading does not compare to the one-on-one feeling you have when you attend an in-person lecture. Also, no written assignments or graded discussions have been included in my course, so I don’t get feedback from an instructor. As a full time employee and a poor college grad, I have to forfeit some of those luxuries. All in all, though, it’s not too shabby!” - Limited interaction with instructors and peers
“I’m a graphic design student and I do feel like I am learning a lot through this program. My frustration with this program is how inaccessible it is when you need to reach out to an instructor. It’s difficult to reach someone even though they have chat and call available to you. It would be nice if when you email a question or needed help with something through email, if you got a response in a more timely manner.” - Self-motivation required may be challenging for some students
- Accreditation concerns and limited transferability of credits
“I did the accelerated high school program since I already had some high school done and did my GED. They wouldn’t accept my transcript and I finished in a couple months due to already doing most of the classes. I was told I still needed to pay the full amount, then why offer and accelerated option if you still have to pay full price???Response from the owner:
“Our program provides the option for student to apply credit transfer from GED testing scores and/or full credits earned through an accredited High School. Please keep in mind that the the tuition cost may be reduced by credit transfer only. We appreciate your feedback and would welcome the opportunity to review your account.” - Technical difficulties with the online platform or resources
“I like Penn Foster and the fact that I can work completely at my own pace and they’re pretty affordable, especially their payment plans. However, I do not like how they have changed to almost all online materials(not downloadable completely), because by doing so, if you choose to “switch” programs, you no longer have access to the previous program. Which means you no longer have your materials which you paid for. I believe this is their way of kind of screwing people over to be honest. I just happened to switch over to a program that had the same classes and was able to transfer my credits/classes but I had to go through the most awful mess with them to get them to open those classes back to me and give me my class materials I paid for! I find that absolutely ridiculous. That entire problem would never had happened if my class materials had been sent to me PDF file or even mail like they use to.” - Difficulty getting questions answered or issues resolved by support staff
“I’m a graphic design student and I do feel like I am learning a lot through this program. My frustration with this program is how inaccessible it is when you need to reach out to an instructor. It’s difficult to reach someone even though they have chat and call available to you. It would be nice if when you email a question or needed help with something through email, if you got a response in a more timely manner. Grading takes a while however, I think it would be a similar situation for these kinds of projects at a more traditional version of college.”