Are Online High School Diplomas Legitimate?
Are online high school diplomas legit? Will they help you reach your goals, like get hired for a job or earn a promotion that requires a high school diploma? Here's your guide to legitimate online high school diplomas.
Earning a high school diploma is not only a major milestone, but it’s also a requirement for many employers when they’re looking to hire. Whether you’re an adult who couldn’t attend a traditional high school and now needs to finish your diploma for a job or promotion, or a traditional student who doesn’t feel a regular schedule at a public school is right for you, there are so many options online to earn a high school diploma. Here’s everything you need to know about online high school diplomas, their legitimacy, and what’s backing your online diploma.
Read more: What Is Virtual High School, And Is It Right for Me?
How to know if your online high school diploma is legitimate
Online courses are often the best fit for teens, busy adults, or those who need flexibility. The biggest worry that students often have, though, is whether or not the money and effort they put into online school will pay off.
Before enrolling in an online high school program, you want to find out if the school you’re interested in is accredited and licensed.
Accreditation and licensing are two of the most important things a school should have to make them legitimate. Accreditation is the recognition from specific agencies and organizations that a school meets or exceeds the educational standards decided by the group. Licensing ensures that the school you’re attending is approved by the licensing body or board to provide classes and diplomas or degrees to graduates.
Penn Foster, for example, is licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools.
Read more: Online High School vs. In-Person High School: What Should Parents Know?
Video Transcript
At Penn Foster, we want to make sure you have the tools you need to be successful in your online program. But, before you get started, let’s explore how Penn Foster can open the door to learning and career success. We’re here to answer your questions, so you can hit the ground running on achieving your goals.
How do I pay for my program? We aim to provide affordable and accessible learning for everyone. We have flexible payment plans to fit any budget. You can choose low monthly payments or pay in full which offers the best savings. We’ll work with you to determine the option that best fits your needs.
Am I able to control my own schedule? Absolutely. Our programs are self-paced which means not set start dates, no exam due dates, and the flexibility to work around your schedule. With our online courses, you’ll have 24/7 access to your student portal and can study at home or on the go from your mobile device.
What makes Penn Foster different? Penn Foster offers affordable online training for today’s in-demand jobs. Prepare for the job you want by building the skills you need. Our employer-recognized programs include interactive exercises, practice exams, and support from expert instructors with real-world experience. Our learning platform is tailored to your program to provide you with the tools and support you need to be successful. In your student portal we offer progress tracking tools to help keep you on track and helpful resources for when you need guidance. When you graduate, you’ll have the skills you need to help achieve your goals.
What resources do I have available to me as a student? At Penn Foster, we’re here to support you. Our expert instructors can give you guidance via email and over the phone if you have questions about your lessons. You’ll also be introduced to an engaging student community where you can receive support from other students and alumni. Lastly, our learning resource center offers a variety of resources to help you succeed including study tips, course-specific guides to help you excel, and even a section dedicated to job readiness and resume writing tips.
Have more questions about getting started as a Penn Foster student? Visit our website or contact us today. See you in the portal.
Is Penn Foster High School accredited?
There are two types of accreditation that a school can earn: regional and national. Regional accreditation is awarded through one of seven regional accrediting bodies in the United States. National accreditation is awarded by independent accrediting bodies that often focus on career-specific education or vocational schools, as well as online schools and colleges.
Penn Foster High School is both regionally and nationally accredited, ensuring that the diploma you earn online is legitimate. We’re regionally accredited through the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. The high school program also has national accreditation through Cognia. Cognia is the world leader in providing improvement and accreditation services to schools and emphasizes constantly working to improve the student experience.
Accreditation is renewed on a regular basis and involves reviewing a school’s courses and materials to make sure students receive the best education possible.
Read more: How to Decide if a Diploma or a GED is Right for You
How does online high school work?
Online high school is almost like a regular school — without the set schedule deadlines, or due dates,. The flexibility allows you to learn at the pace that works for you, wherever you’re comfortable. Online classes can work for a variety of personalities and grade levels. You can expect to study independently, though you will have faculty, student support, and more if you need help. Penn Foster High School graduate Sydney Zaremba Woodward shares her experience working online: "I loved it because I never really liked a regular classroom because I was always someone that would be in a classroom and then come home and be like, yeah I don't really like the way they're teaching it. I learn a different way and stuff. So through Penn Foster, they're like, she can learn at her own pace a different way and it's so much easier for me."
In Penn Foster’s online high school, you’ll have access to lessons from 9th to 12th grade — and if you’ve completed classes at a previous school, you can see if you’re able to transfer those credits and pick up where you left off. For students feeling apprehensive or academically anxious, Brian Brown, Penn Foster High School’s academic manager, says, “Students often feel judged, especially those who have been judged all their lives. I try to make them feel comfortable enough to reach out for help because we are here to support them.”
Read more: Penn Foster Exams and Grading Explained
Video Transcript
Do colleges accept online high school diplomas?
Colleges have a variety of admissions requirements, and can decide what they do or do not accept from prospective students. However, in general, most schools do recognize regionally accredited high school diplomas whether they’re earned online or at a traditional school.
Like with any high school graduate, colleges will also make admissions decisions based on your grades, your extracurricular activities, or any additional application requirements like essays. While we recommend confirming that an online high school diploma from Penn Foster meets a school’s requirements before enrolling, you can also review a list of schools our alumni have said they’ve been accepted to.
In fact, many of our graduates have been able to go on to college after completing their high school diploma with us. For example, Demetria Pruitt opted to get her high school diploma online, motivated by the desire to make a better life for her family. After earning her diploma, she found a job and began to study for a bachelor’s degree in psychology. “Everything just seemed to fall in life after I got my diploma,” she says.
Another great example is graduate Jailey Hall, who explains how the online program helped her reach her goals: "I wanted to start college this fall in August so I had to make sure that I finished before the deadline started to enroll, and I figured I would be at school all day anyway if I was in person. So I didn't have any issues with just spending all day on Penn Foster."
Read more: 15 Tips for Online Learning (Your Guide to Taking Online Classes)
Do employers accept Penn Foster High School diplomas?
Since Penn Foster High School is regionally and nationally accredited, it should be accepted by most employers! It is, however, still up to the employer’s discretion. Unlike colleges, which may have varying requirements regarding accepted diplomas, most employers just want to see that you graduated from a legitimate high school. Since Penn Foster is legitimate – it's regionally and nationally accredited, and licensed – you likely will not have any issues when you use your diploma on your job applications!
Penn Foster High School Vice President Alex Thome explains the benefits of our diploma program. “Having a high school diploma can help you earn more, but what it really does is help remove major obstacles that might keep you from going to college, being more respected by your employer, or getting more career training. I think of our high school as a driver of hope and economic mobility – that's what our graduates and learners tell us.”
Penn Foster High School graduate Kimberly Quinonez’s story showcases just how beneficial an online high school diploma can be when looking to advance your career. She volunteered at a sheriff’s office, unable to get on the payroll without her diploma. Through her online program she was able to earn her diploma and get on the books as a full-time employee. She has even been promoted and went on to enroll in an associate degree program!
What does a Penn Foster High School diploma look like?
A lot of high school diplomas look pretty similar! Your Penn Foster High School diploma will look just like one you’d receive from a public school. It will include the name of the school, your name, and when you graduated! You will also receive a digital copy of your diploma that you can share on social media sites like LinkedIn to show off your accomplishment to prospective employers. Take a look at the diplomas some of our graduates have shared in our 2023-2024 Penn Foster Digital Yearbook!
Is Penn Foster High School worth it?
Yes! Earning your high school diploma is always worth it. Besides having the opportunity to qualify for more jobs as a high school graduate, you’ll also be able to further your education if that’s your goal. And, even better, earning your diploma can allow you to earn more money, which can make a big difference. On average, someone with a high school diploma can earn almost $10,000 more per year than someone who hasn’t graduated.
With affordable tuition, self-paced classes, and the support of your peers and instructors, Penn Foster High School can be a great option to help you take the next steps toward success!
Alex Thome, Penn Foster High School Vice President, shares one his of favorite things about our program: “The most magical thing that happens for our high school graduates, beyond the things they learn in class or achieve after, is the confidence they achieve. They start out doubting themselves, but then they realize at some point they can do it. This confidence transforms the way they see themselves and the way people around them and their families and kids see them. It’s powerful.”
Read more: Does Education Make a Difference in Salary? (How Learning More May Help You Earn More)
Check out what graduates have to say about Penn Foster
If you’re not sure what the online student experience is like and want to make sure that Penn Foster is right for you, don’t take it from us – hear from real Penn Foster students and graduates instead!
Whatever your story, you can find inspiration and learn more about whether or not Penn Foster High School is right for you. If you’re a traditional aged student escaping bullying or an adult learner wondering if you really need a high school diploma to achieve success, this program can work for you. Once you’re ready, you can request more information or reach out to our expert Admissions Specialists at 1-888-427-6500 to get started.
