*Start for $20 offer applies to select programs.
Penn Foster Academics
Penn Foster provides our students with the tools and support to help acquire knowledge and skills that can help them achieve their education goals, advance in their careers and create better lives for themselves and their families.
Academic Catalog
Learn more about program requirements, courses, and academic policies in our student catalogs.
Penn Foster Grading System
Learn more about how grading works for different Penn Foster programs. We use a number-letter system, with number grades being assigned to examinations and letter grades to completed courses.
Penn Foster Student Records
As a student or graduate, you can request a copy of your student records at any time. You can also have transcripts sent directly to Penn Foster from other schools.
Find Your Instructors
At Penn Foster, your dedicated instructors are here to help you thrive and succeed in online learning!
Our Top Programs
We offer 100+ online diploma, degree, and certificate programs that are designed to help you prepare to take the next steps toward a new career, a promotion, or higher education.
Our Programs & Degrees
Whether you want to earn your high school diploma or take online college classes, we have a variety of programs to fit your needs.
- High School Diploma - Earn an accredited, online high school diploma.
- Career Diplomas & Certificates - Gain job-ready skills to start a new career.
- Associates & Bachelor’s Degrees - Further your education with a self-paced degree.
- Individual Courses - Take single courses to build new skills.
Overview of Academics
At Penn Foster, we believe education should be accessible to everyone. For over 130 years, we’ve been helping people like you launch, grow, and succeed in their careers. With more than 100 flexible, self-paced programs through our College, Career School, and High School, we make it easier to fit learning into your life—no matter how busy you are.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step, our programs are designed to meet you where you are. You can study anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace. Plus, with a strong focus on practical skills and career prep, you’ll be working toward a credential that helps you feel confident and ready for the job you want.
How Online Learning Works
1. Find the program that’s right for you. With 100+ career, college, and high school programs, there’s a path here for you. Explore your options and chat with our Admissions Specialists to find the right fit and start with confidence.
2. Enroll. You can enroll anytime online – no application deadlines. Or, if you want help getting started, you can give us a call and our Admissions Specialists will walk you through the process.
3. Login. Once you’re enrolled, you can start your first class whenever you’re ready. Login and explore your Learner Center, which is where you can access courses, take exams, and get help from instructors.
4. Learn. You can learn the way that works best for you – whether you’re hoping to fly through your studies or take your time.
5. Graduate. Once you’ve completed your coursework successfully and met all requirements, you’re an official Penn Foster graduate! Share your success and connect with other alumni online.
Penn Foster was named to Newsweek’s List of America’s Top Online Learning Providers
In collaboration with global data firm Statista, Newsweek surveyed more than 10,000 learners to uncover the top 100 trailblazers in education—those leading the way in quality learning, innovative technology, and student success.
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![Kermit Cook Chief Executive Officer at Penn Foster.]()
“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
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![Dr. Andy Shean Chief Learning Officer at Penn Foster.]()
“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
It’s Never Too Late to Graduate
“Penn Foster helped me achieve my goals by giving me a second chance. I should have been able to get my diploma 10 years ago, but now here we are and I was able to get it. It can be kind of scary coming back to something especially when a lot of the info has changed from when we were first in school but as long as you have the support and the confidence in yourself, you should be able to get through anything you want!”
- Adrian P., 2024 Penn Foster Graduate
Adrian Pineda Munoz
My name is Adrian Pineda Munoz. I am 25 and I am graduating from Penn Foster High School. I felt like the support I got from all the instructors was amazing. You they were always there if I had a question or if I was stuck. The most exciting thing for me as I was going through the program was just getting like the little progress reminders of how close I was getting to my diploma. Penn Foster helped me achieve these future goals by giving me a second chance. You know, I should have been able to get my diploma 10 years ago, but now here we are with them and now was able to get it. You know, it can be kind of scary at first coming back to something, especially when a lot of the information has changed from when we first were in school. But I feel like as long as you have the support and the confidence in yourself, you should be able to get through anything that you want. If you have something in life that you want to do, don’t wait. We don’t have a lot of time and you should use what you have. So just go and do it.
