Penn Foster High School review

Penn Foster High School suits a learner who mainly wants to finish a diploma cheaply and on their own schedule, including adults returning to school. The program is priced as one fee rather than per year: $1,149 if you pay in full during the offer that ends November 30, 2026, or $1,639 on a monthly plan at $55 a month with $20 down. Each high school course you transfer in takes $20 off. Tuition covers digital textbooks, goal setting and progress tracking tools, unlimited student support and career services, and students can choose career-focused electives such as the HVAC and healthcare pathways. Penn Foster is nationally accredited by the DEAC and Cognia. Its own disclaimer says the diploma is a proprietary program and that acceptance by colleges and employers is up to each institution, so a college-bound teen should check with target schools first. It is a self-study program, not a school with scheduled classes.

Who it is for

adults and teens finishing a diploma on a budget

Price

$1,149 for the full diploma program when paid in full (offer ends 11/30/2026), otherwise $1,639 at $55 per month.

$1,149 or $55/month Pay once or monthly—either way, no surprises.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Nationally accredited by the DEAC and Cognia
• Self-paced, fully online coursework with 24/7 login
• Digital textbooks, progress tracking tools and unlimited student support included
• Career-focused electives, including HVAC and healthcare pathways
• Tuition drops $20 for each transferred course

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The whole diploma costs $1,149 paid in full during the current offer
• Strength: Monthly plans start for $20 down at $55 per month
• Strength: Transferred credits reduce the price
• Weakness: The diploma is a proprietary program, and college acceptance is up to each institution
• Weakness: The monthly plan totals $1,639, $490 more than paying in full
• Weakness: No live classes or certified-teacher classrooms are described

Key facts

• Pay in full: $1,149 (offer ends 11/30/2026)
• Monthly plan: $1,639 total at $55 per month
• Accreditation: DEAC and Cognia
• Transfer credit: $20 off per course

Where it ranks

Penn Foster High School is No. 6 in our Best Online High Schools verdict.