Penn Foster Career School Information

Accreditation

Penn Foster Career School is accredited for non-degree granting postsecondary programs by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA (215-662-5603 www.msa-cess.org). Penn Foster Career School is also accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is also a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

State Approval

Penn Foster Career School is licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools.

Consumer Contact Information

Click here to view the list of consumer contact information for state agencies.

State Licensing Information

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in certain fields are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your Program. Please click here for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.

Institution Mission Statement

The mission of Penn Foster is to enhance the lives of our students and clients through the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and credentials that can help them work toward their goals of advancing in their chosen field, starting a new career, or pursuing lifelong learning.

These Are Our Institutional Goals

• Provide educational programs that enable self-motivated, independent learners to acquire core competencies in their chosen technical and professional fields.
• Employ contemporary learning strategies based on academic standards of good practice in distance education.
• Develop and maintain systems that optimize student opportunities for broadly participative, interactive learning.
• Establish and communicate high standards of academic performance for students and the institution.
• Assess student learning and institutional effectiveness systematically in order to improve student performance.
• Provide an extensive suite of student support services based on student needs and interests.
• Conduct fiscally responsible planning that balances the institution's commitment to academic excellence with its concern for profitable financial performance.

Our mission is supported by an admissions policy that allows students with appropriate prior education to enroll in programs without regard to race, religion, gender, age, color, national origin, or physical disability.

We regularly assess fulfillment of our mission and achievement of our institutional goals through ongoing studies of student learning, measurement of student satisfaction, and evaluation of career outcomes of graduates.

The school strives to fulfill this mission by providing breadth and depth of courseware, applicable technology, and a wide array of flexible services aimed at the needs of adult learners. Programs teach current marketplace skills, which can help students prepare for a wide variety of entry-level vocational positions.

The mission is supported by an admissions policy that allows students with appropriate prior education to enroll in programs without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. The school assesses fulfillment of its mission and achievement of institutional effectiveness through ongoing studies of student learning, measurement of student satisfaction, and evaluation of the career outcomes of graduates.

Areas of Special Focus

Allied Health, Trade, Automotive, Veterinary Studies, Business, Technology, and Education.

Description of Institution

Penn Foster Career School is one of the oldest and largest distance learning institutions in the world. The school provides programs and services that are designed to meet the unique learning needs of the adult learner. Programs of study lead to career-specific diplomas.

Student Demographic Profile:

• 56% Female
• Average Age: 31

Courses/Programs: See here.

Average Program Tuition:

• Average Career Diploma Program is less than $1,000
• Average Career Certificate Program is less than $500

Success Indicators

Percentage of Students surveyed¹ who responded that they —

• Achieved their learning goals: 92.5%.
• Would recommend the institution to a friend: 93.3%.
• Were satisfied with their studies: 96.2%.

¹ Based on 2,485 surveys received in March 1, 2023 - February 29, 2024