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
- Floral Design
- Interior 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
- Medical Transcription
- 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
100% Online
Corporate Office 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 local Google reviews, Penn Foster College presents a highly polarized experience. While praised for its flexibility and affordability, it faces severe, consistent criticism regarding its administration, unexpected fees, and the practical demands of its programs, particularly the Veterinary Technician offering.
Overall Score: 4.3/5 Stars
Common Praises
Exceptional Flexibility and Affordability: The program is ideal for self-starters, offering “extremely affordable” pricing and flexible payment plans that allow students to easily manage their education while working full-time.
Supportive Instruction and Resources: Staff and instructors are generally described as “nice,” “available anytime to help with questions,” and knowledgeable. Leadership in specific programs is praised for being “amazing and inspiring,” active in student communities, and highly accessible.
Effective Program Structure: The curriculum is considered “tough, but fair,” effectively enabling students to be knowledgeable in their field and prepared for national certification exams.
Common Criticisms
Deceptive Financial Practices and Contract Issues: Highly negative reviews allege “money hungry” and “dishonest” behavior, including forcing students to pay high cancellation fees, changing signed contract terms (price and deadlines) without consent, and administrative representatives claiming to have no record of lump-sum payments or approved breaks.
Unrealistic Externship Demands and Stalled Progress: The practical requirements, especially in the Veterinary Technician externships, are described as “impossible.” Students are required to rely heavily on busy external professionals for video submissions and instruction, leading to “exhausting” dependency that severely stalls graduation.
Poor Instructor Engagement and Curriculum Flaws: Students complain of rude instructors who take forever to grade work (up to a week and a half) and return projects without proper explanation. Furthermore, some former students cited unrealistic study expectations, such as memorizing hundreds of pages for an exam without a study guide, suggesting a fundamental flaw in the curriculum design.
Momentum
The most recent reviews (within the last few months) are a mix of high praise and extreme frustration, indicating the polarization of the student experience is ongoing. Recent 5-star reviews celebrate the affordability and flexibility, while a detailed negative review from a current student slams the program for slow grading, poor teacher communication, and the “ridiculous” difficulty of the externship requirements. This suggests that while the enrollment process remains easy, the administrative and practical completion issues persist.