Teen Guide to Accredited High School Diploma Online | Penn Foster

A Real Online High School Diploma That Can Help You Prepare for Your Future

Listen, we get it: high school can feel like a chore or out of your control. But it doesn’t have to! With Penn Foster High School and our online diploma program, you’ve got the opportunity to do high school your way and earn your diploma on your terms so you can focus on what’s important to you – whether that’s a job, hobbies, goals, or preparing for college. At PFHS:

You’re in charge

Of where you learn

Of how you learn

Of when you learn

But we’re here to help

With 24/7/365 online resources

With supportive teachers & staff

With education that works for you

In Demand

Pricing Options²

$1,099 or $55/month

Pay once or monthly—either way, no surprises.

Your Education. Your Way to Pay.

Just $55/month, Find out how you can start as low as $1.

Enroll Now Request Info

Offer ends on 7/14/2026

Pricing Options²

$1,099 or $55/month

Pay once or monthly—either way, no surprises.

What to Expect in Online High School

You can expect your standard high school classes – with room to customize your experience and make it your own!

Besides English, history, science, and math, you’ll have the opportunity to choose electives that fit the future path you have in mind, whether that leads to college, career school, or just taking the next step toward figuring out what's next!

View Full Curriculum

- 17 core courses
- 5 elective courses
You’ll need to complete 21 credits to graduate! 16 of these credits include your normal high school classes like:
- English 1: Introduction to Language Arts
- General Math 1
- Biology
- US History
And you can choose electives that work for you to round out your last 5 credits!
If you are interested in pursuing post-secondary education within your state, you should check with your state to understand the requirements. States may impose certain requirements. For example, an online High School diploma may not be recognized by some colleges and universities within your state to receive financial aid. We recommend you check with the institution for any specific restrictions. If you are under the age of 18 and reside in Tennessee, you may be assessed using a nationally standardized achievement test in ELA and mathematics. Additionally, if you reside in Tennessee, you will be required to complete 22 credits to graduate, with a minimum of four (4) credits each in ELA and mathematics and three (3) credits each in science and social studies.

View Full Curriculum

Gabrielle Graduated High School On Her Own Terms – Now it’s Your Turn!

“[Penn Foster] really helped me enjoy the rest of my teen years... I didn’t feel stressed out and worried about all these different things I had to do.”

Gabriella S.,
2024 Penn Foster High School Graduate

Create the High School Experience That Works for You

At Penn Foster, you’re in charge of your education. Check out how we’ve designed the program to work for real students like you, from flexibility to support.

On Your Terms
Flexible

You’re in control of your start date, your pace, and your schedule.
- Start anytime
- No exam due dates
- Self-paced
Built for You
Supportive

You’re not alone if you get stuck, need help, or have questions!
- Expert faculty
- Dedicated student support
- Robust learning resources
Designed Differently
Interactive

There’s more than just reading – you'll be able to get hands-on with some of your classes!
- Digital study guides
- Self-check quizzes
- Educational Videos
Made to Fit
Connected

You’ve got tools and resources available whenever you need them.
- 24/7 access to resources
- Learning Resource Center
- Dedicated Learner Center

How to Get Started

Ready to start online high school classes? Just follow the steps below!

If you've already completed some high school credits, you may be able to transfer those to Penn Foster. Just have your old school send us your official transcripts in a sealed envelope. When you log into your Learner Center, we’ll remind you how to get that done. If you want an idea of how many credits could potentially transfer in before sending the officials, we do pre-evaluations of unofficial transcripts. This is not an official evaluation and the amount of accepted credits may change once we evaluate the official transcripts.

Teen girl in library with raised hands as she looks at laptop.

How Does Online High School Actually Work?

Making the switch to an online school can feel like a big decision and you might have a lot of questions. Here’s a few of the things most students ask before getting started.

Learn More About Accreditation

Learn More About Accreditation

School That Works for You vs. Traditional School

	Local Public High School	Penn Foster High School
Accredited?
Asynchronous learning on your time?
Start and finish on your timeline?
Help and support?
Something you can be proud of?

Graduation Means More Than a Diploma

Haven't completed High School

$38,376/yr**

High School Graduate

$48,360/yr**

More Money

You can earn more.

The average high school grad can earn almost $10,000 more per year than someone who didn’t graduate.**
More Options

You’ve got options.

Whether that’s a 2-year or 4-year degree or technical school, having your diploma in hand can open more doors!
More Opportunities

You've got opportunities.

Want a better shot at the job you want? A diploma makes a big difference—today, many jobs prefer people with a diploma or GED.

Real Grads, Real Diplomas, Real Journeys

We’re not a one-size-fits-all school – whether you want complete independence or need regular support, the path to graduation is different for everyone! See how these real grads took different journeys to earn their diploma and reach their goals. Get inspired by scrolling through and tapping play!

Online High School Diploma Tuition

Tuition for PFHS is meant to be affordable. We’ve got three ways to pay, so you and your family can pick the option that works best for you!

Tuition & Payment Options

Option 1: Pay in full

Cost of Program²

$1,099

$1,639 Save $540

Best price. Best value.
Pay the full cost today
No monthly payments

Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program²

$1,539

$1,639 Save $100

Pay $55 per month
Start for $20 down
All major credit and debit cards accepted

Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program²

$1,639

Pay $55 per month
Start for $39 down
Mail your payments

Enroll Now

Students Like You Found Success on Their Terms

Find out why students like you chose PFHS, how they navigated online school, and what advice they have for other future grads!

Penn Foster High School grad, Cassidy Ashely, at 2025 graduation.

Cassidy A.
2025 PFHS Grad

Thrived in online high school while juggling family, life, and her dreams.

PFHS graduate, Arieonna McNeill, posing outside before graduation.

Arieonna M.
2025 PFHS Grad

Turned challenges into wins with the flexibility of online high school.

See More Stories

Not Sure Yet? Check Out These Guides

two women smiling and working on laptop.

Talking to Your Parents about Transferring to Online School

girl using silver laptop on orange background.

What Is Virtual High School, And Is It Right for Me?

Girl in black cap and gown with yellow tassel smiling on orange background.

How to Stay Motivated and Graduate High School Online

Penn Foster High School FAQs

Have a few more questions? No worries – we're here to help! Check out the answers to some common questions we get asked about Penn Foster and online high school.

Still have questions?

t’s possible to graduate early depending on your learning style and how much time you dedicate to studying. Our self-paced classes allow you to decide how much studying you do and the time it takes to complete your diploma. If you have transfer credits from a previous school, that can also impact how long it takes to complete your courses! However, it’s important to remember that we want to make sure students absorb and understand what they’re learning, so there are some limits to how many classes and exams you can complete per week.³
Yes, there's help available! Even though Penn Foster is meant to allow you to learn on your terms, you’re not alone. You can get help in a few different ways. If you’re pretty independent and think you can figure it out on your own, you can start by checking out our Learning Resource Center 24/7. But if you want support from a human, your teachers are here to help! You can access academic support by submitting a case through your Learner Center when you’re enrolled or by making an appointment to speak with an instructor one on one.
Yes, though it’s important to note that all colleges have different admissions requirements, so admission isn’t guaranteed . Before enrolling, it’s important to check with colleges and universities you may be interested in to see if they accept Penn Foster.

You can view the schools alumni have told us they’ve been accepted to after graduation to get a better idea of what kind of colleges have accepted our students in the past.

Still have questions?

Are you a Spanish speaker who needs to earn their high school diploma?

Learn more about our High School Diploma + English Language Training

Disclaimers:

¹ The Penn Foster High School Diploma is a proprietary program. You are solely responsible for ensuring that the program and program award satisfy the education requirements of potential employers, desired postsecondary institutions, and all other relevant agencies. Neither job placement nor postsecondary admission are guaranteed to graduates upon program completion. If you are under the age of 18 and reside in Tennessee, you may be assessed using a nationally standardized achievement test in ELA and mathematics. Additionally, if you reside in Tennessee, you will be required to complete 22 credits to graduate, with a minimum of four (4) credits each in ELA and mathematics and three (3) credits each in science and social studies.

² Depending on where you live, you may be charged taxes in addition to the total cost of your program.

³ To ensure students gain the most from their online education with Penn Foster High School, there are some limits to how many tests and courses can be completed within a week. If you reach the weekly limit, a temporary hold will be placed, and you won’t be able to take more exams until the start of the next calendar week.

Sources:

*Based on data from a 2025 Penn Foster Group End of Program survey of all programs.

**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. "Education Pays" Career Outlook Handbook. Accessed March 10, 2026.

***The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from November 2019 - October 2020, excluding withdrawals.

Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.