Penn Foster Admissions

At Penn Foster, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to receive a quality, affordable education. That’s why we created an open admissions policy that allows students to enroll in our online college, career school, or online high school at any time, from anywhere, and begin their lessons immediately. We have minimal admissions requirements, so there’s no waiting and no anxiety. Enrolling in a Penn Foster program is fast and easy. Get started on building a better future today. Call an Admissions Specialist today. 1-800-275-4410 or enroll online.

Who is Penn Foster?

How to Apply

Choose your program
Check enrollment requirements
Enroll online or with Admissions
Start learning

Get Started Today

Check Admissions Requirements

To enroll in Penn Foster High School, students need to be at least 13 years old – though there is no age limit for adults – and have completed at least the 8th grade. Before enrolling, students should also have access to a laptop, tablet, desktop computer, or smart phone, an internet connection, and a valid email address.

If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must help you enroll, either online or by contacting our Admissions Department.
Penn Foster College students are required to have a High School Diploma or GED Equivalency Certificate to enroll in a Bachelor’s Degree, Associate Degree, or Undergraduate Certificate. Some of our career diploma programs also require that students have a High School Diploma before they can enroll. Click here for program specific age and education requirements for Career Diploma programs.
Penn Foster programs require that students have access to high-speed Internet, a Microsoft^® Windows^® based computer running Windows^® 10 or later or an Apple^® Mac^® computer running macOS^® or later, and an email account. There are exceptions to these technology requirements. Click here for program specific technology requirements.

While many programs and courses can be completed on a smartphone, there may be some that require use of a laptop or desktop computer to access applications or complete projects.

No Deadlines, Enroll in Minutes

Enroll Online: The quickest and easiest way to enroll is online. Simply click the “Enroll Now” button from any page on our website and complete the enrollment form. After you submit the form, you will receive a welcome email with your student ID#. You can use this ID# to create a username and password for your Learner Center, and you’re ready to begin your lessons.
Enroll by Phone: If you would like to speak with a Penn Foster representative, you can call an Admissions Specialist toll free at 1-800-275-4410. Our specialists can answer any questions that you have and will be able to walk you through the enrollment process.
Enroll by Mail: By clicking the “Request Info!” button on our website, you can request further information on our programs. You will receive information via email and/or mail. The mailing will include an enrollment form to complete and return in the reply envelope.

Enroll Online Now

“Whether it’s in a classroom in St. Louis or in an online environment, the idea is the same: give people a path, give them the tools, and meet them where they are. That’s what education should do—it should be a bridge, not a barrier. And that’s why I feel so aligned with what we’re building here.”

Kermit Cook

Penn Foster Group CEO
“Our vision for great learning at Penn Foster is a program that has an explicit career outcome – explicit skills and curriculum and assessments that align to the duties of the actual job. And then creating experiences for the students in which they develop mastery and then apply, in either simulated or real life situations so that when they graduate, they’re ready day one to be successful in the job.”

Andy Shean

Penn Foster Group CLO

Military Admissions Details

If you're currently serving in the military or have in the past, online, self-paced education could be a good fit.

Military Details

Penn Foster Tuition

Want to know more about Penn Foster’s tuition prices and policies?

Tuition Details

Penn Foster Policies

Want to know more about our transfer, cancellation, and refund policies?

Policy Details

Student Records

Need a copy of your transcript? You can find and order student records online.

Find My Student Records

Penn Foster Admissions FAQs

Does Penn Foster have an enrollment or application deadline?

No, there are no deadlines to enroll and no applications to fill out! You can become a Penn Foster student whenever you’re ready, no waiting! Just fill out the enrollment form to get started today.

Are there scheduled classes or lectures?

Nope! Penn Foster is completely self-paced and 100% online, which means that you set your own study schedule.

Do I have to make a payment to enroll?

Yes, to become an official student, you must make an initial payment toward tuition to get started. Depending on the program you want to enroll in, that initial payment could be as low as $20. Once you’ve completed the form and made your payment, you’ll receive a welcome email with information to help you login and get started with your education.

How do I apply to Penn Foster?

Since we have no applications and you don’t have to wait to be accepted, you can enroll and get started anytime! To enroll, you want to make sure you know what program you want to take, check the program requirements, choose a payment plan, and get started!

What GPA do I need to enroll in Penn Foster College?

There is no specific GPA requirement to enroll into a Penn Foster College degree or certificate program. You must have simply graduated from high school or earned your GED (or equivalent) to qualify for enrollment. There may be other requirements, such as age, depending on which program you choose.

How do I transfer to Penn Foster High School?

If you’re a current high school student and want to transfer to Penn Foster, your parent or guardian should first work with your current school to ensure that transferring is a smooth process! Then, they’ll help you enroll in our program. Once you’re enrolled, you’ll want to make sure your former school sends us an official, sealed copy of transcripts so we can evaluate the credits you’ve already completed.

How do I transfer to Penn Foster College?

If you’re currently enrolled in another college or have completed some semesters of college classes elsewhere, when you enroll with Penn Foster, you can ask your previous school to send us an official copy of your transcripts for evaluation. They can do this either through the mail or digitally through a service like Parchment.

I do not live in the United States. Can I still enroll in Penn Foster?

It depends! Some programs cannot be completed internationally, while others may have certain restrictions or additional expenses based on your location. Check the details of the program you’re interested in on our website to make sure it will work for you or contact our Admissions Department for help!

How much does Penn Foster cost?

The total cost of your tuition can vary based on the program you enroll in and which payment plan you choose. However, most programs offer affordable monthly payment plans and down payments can be as low as $20.

Do I need to buy textbooks for my Penn Foster program?

In general, your program will include your online study guides and ebooks. No additional textbooks need to be purchased.

More Penn Foster FAQs

*Start for $20 offer applies to select programs.