{{Short description|American online education organization}}
{{Infobox organization | name = Penn Foster | established = {{Start date and age|1890}} | logo = Penn-foster-stacked-logo.png | former_name = International Correspondence Schools (ICS) | founder = Thomas J. Foster | founding_location = Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States | type = Private for-profit educational institution and distance education provider | leader_title = CEO | leader_name = Kermit Cook | parent_organization = Penn Foster Group | website = {{URL|https://www.pennfoster.edu}} }}
'''Penn Foster''' is a private online education provider based in the United States, offering high school, career training, and college-level programs. The organization originated as the International Correspondence Schools (ICS), founded in 1890 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.<ref name=":3">Stroup, J. S. (2022). American Correspondence Schools in Context. ''The Independent Review'', ''27''(1), 37–52. <nowiki>https://www.jstor.org/stable/48736363</nowiki></ref>
== History ==
=== 19th century === The institution was founded by Thomas J. Foster, a Civil War veteran<ref name=":3" /> and newspaper editor.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1990 |title=Press Release: Thomas Foster's Quest for Mining Safety Becomes the Largest Home-Study School in the World |url=https://digitalservices.scranton.edu/digital/collection/ics/id/0/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=digitalservices.scranton.edu |publisher=International Correspondence Schools |language=en}}</ref> He used his newspaper, ''The Shenandoah Herald'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Humanities |first=National Endowment for the |title=Shenandoah herald. [volume] |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85026941/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |issn=2333-7788}}</ref> (later renamed ''The Colliery Engineer''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Shomaker |first=Mrs Elizabeth |date=2015-09-04 |title=Library Exhibit: 125th Anniversary of the International Correspondence Schools (ICS) |url=https://sites.scranton.edu/library/2015/09/04/library-exhibit-125th-anniversary-of-the-international-correspondence-schools-ics/#:~:text=ICS%20continued%20to%20thrive%20after,(570)%20941-6341 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=UofSLibrary News |language=en-US}}</ref>), to help prepare mine foremen and inspectors to meet new state certification requirements.<ref name=":1">Watkinson, J. D. (1996). “Education for Success”: The International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, Pennsylvania. ''The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography'', ''120''(4), 343–369. <nowiki>http://www.jstor.org/stable/20093071</nowiki></ref> In 1888, Foster began publishing instructional materials, which eventually evolved into a formal correspondence education system.<ref name=":1" />thumb|Thomas J. Foster, Founder of Penn Foster, 1905 thumb|International Correspondence Schools Printery, Scranton, PA, circa 1915 The first official student, Thomas Coates<ref name=":4">Lewis, A. J. (1983, July). America’s enduring tradition. ''The American Legion'', 115(1), 19. <nowiki>https://archive.legion.org/_flysystem/fedora/2022-04/americanlegionvo1151amer.pdf</nowiki></ref> of Peckville, Pennsylvania, enrolled on October 16, 1891, at a cost of $25.00.<ref name=":2" /> ICS was formally incorporated in late 1894 under the name ''International Textbook Company'', and by early 1895, the school operated under the name International Correspondence Schools of Scranton, Pennsylvania or ICS for short.<ref name=":0" /> ICS sent printed lessons by mail, which students completed and returned for grading, a model that became an early example of distance education in the United States.<ref name=":1" /> thumb|Printed promotional material for architecture courses published by ICS in 1899. thumb|A 1898 promotional publication from the International Correspondence Schools.
=== 20th century === ICS experienced significant growth in the early 20th century. The first class had 500 miners, by 1900, enrollment reached 190,000, and by 1910, more than 1 million students had enrolled.<ref name=":0" /> The school expanded internationally to the United Kingdom in 1904, where it continues to operate as ICS Learn.<ref name=":1" /> During World War II, the U.S. War Department commissioned ICS to develop training materials.<ref name=":0" />
In 1916, ICS founded the Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences in Scranton, which provided training in domestic fields such as dressmaking and cooking.<ref name=":0" />
Despite early success, ICS and similar institutions faced declining enrollment by the mid-20th century. Factors contributing to this included the expansion of public high schools, the rise of community colleges, and the availability of federal education benefits through the G.I. Bill.<ref name=":1" />
The ICS parent company, Intext, was acquired by National Education in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/08/archives/company-news-occidental-to-sell-refinery-in-belgium-tender-offer.html|title=Company News|newspaper=The New York Times|date=8 August 1979}}</ref> In the 1980s and 1990s, ICS gained visibility through direct-to-consumer advertising, including television commercials featuring Sally Struthers, a popular spokesperson at the time. Harcourt General acquired National Education in 1997.<ref>{{Cite news|issn=0362-4331|last=Carvajal|first=Doreen|title=Harcourt General, Not Sylvan, To Acquire National Education|work=The New York Times|accessdate=2019-10-14|date=1997-05-14|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/14/business/harcourt-general-not-sylvan-to-acquire-national-education.html}}</ref> thumb|Undated ICS publication highlighting its Railway School and affiliated railroad companies.
=== 21st century === Reed Elsevier acquired Harcourt in 2001 and divested its higher education unit to Thomson Corporation.<ref>{{Cite news|pages=1|title=The Thomson Corporation to Acquire Select Harcourt Business Units From Reed Elsevier|work=Business Wire|location=New York, United States|date=October 27, 2000|id={{ProQuest|445856898}}}}</ref> In 2005, ICS was renamed Penn Foster.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2025-01-27 |title=Mission and History - Penn Foster |url=https://www.pennfoster.edu/about |access-date=2025-02-03 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2007, the Wicks Group, a private equity firm, bought the school from Thomson Corporation. In 2009, Penn Foster was resold to test preparation and educational support company, The Princeton Review. In 2012, the Princeton Review brand name and operations were bought for $33 million by Charlesbank Capital Partners, a private-equity firm. The parent company was renamed Education Holdings 1, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2012 |title=Princeton Review to sell test prep business name |url=https://news.yahoo.com/princeton-review-sell-test-prep-business-name-162248975.html |access-date=17 October 2013}}</ref>
In 2013, Education Holdings 1 filed for bankruptcy; it exited two months later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-Princeton Review Owner Wins OK For Ch. 11 Exit Plan - Law360 |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/422003/ex-princeton-review-owner-wins-ok-for-ch-11-exit-plan |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=www.law360.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2014 Vistria Group, led by Martin Nesbitt, acquired Penn Foster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Vistria Group Acquires Penn Foster Education Group |url=https://mergr.com/the-vistria-group-acquires-penn-foster-education-group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316225012/https://mergr.com/the-vistria-group-acquires-penn-foster-education-group |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |access-date=7 April 2021 |website=/mergr.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=THE VISTRIA GROUP: A NEW APPROACH TO DOING WELL BY DOING GOOD |url=https://2rp8zq2kdoxy38kvwx23zbuc-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VistriaGroup-DoingWellByDoingGood.pdf |access-date=7 April 2021 |publisher=Vistria Group}}</ref> In December 2015, Penn Foster acquired a competency-based learning platform built by UniversityNow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-07-09-nonprofit-university-buys-for-profit-college-for-its-tech-platform|title=Nonprofit University Buys For-Profit College's Tech Platform - EdSurge News|date=9 July 2018}}</ref> In 2018, Bain Capital acquired Penn Foster from Vistria Group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-02 |title=Bain Capital to Buy Penn Foster, a Workforce-Skills Provider That Dates Back to Late 1800s - EdSurge News |url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-05-02-bain-capital-to-buy-penn-foster-a-workforce-skills-provider-that-dates-back-to-late-1800s |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=EdSurge |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2018 |title=Bain Capital to Buy Penn Foster, a Workforce-Skills Provider That Dates Back to Late 1800s |url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-05-02-bain-capital-to-buy-penn-foster-a-workforce-skills-provider-that-dates-back-to-late-1800s |access-date=29 March 2021 |website=www.edsurge.com |publisher=Ed Surge}}</ref>
In 2023, the organization restructured under the name Penn Foster Group, which includes various educational entities such as Penn Foster Career School, Penn Foster College, and Penn Foster High School.
In 2024, Penn Foster closed its Scranton service center, ending its physical presence in the city where it was founded.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-11 |title=Penn Foster closing Scranton service center |url=https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/2024/01/11/penn-foster-closing-scranton-service-center/ |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Scranton Times-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> The closure impacted approximately 135 employees and was part of the organization's transition to remote operations.<ref name=":9" />thumb|50th anniversary seal of the International Correspondence Schools, 1941.
== Educational divisions ==
=== Penn Foster High School ===
==== Academics ==== Penn Foster High School is an open enrollment program. As an online school, students work with the support of certified teachers. Students complete core subjects and elective courses, with some electives aligned to career areas such as healthcare, information technology, and veterinary assistant.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Private and Non-Public Schools Enrollment Reports |url=https://www.education.pa.gov/DataAndReporting/Enrollment/Pages/PrivateNPEnrRpts.aspx |access-date=5 April 2021 |website=www.education.pa.gov |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Education}}</ref>
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Penn Foster High School has 11.5 FTE (full-time equivalent teachers) for about 13,000 students.<ref name=":10" />
==== Partnerships ==== Penn Foster High School partners with Chicago CRED, to provide high school diploma options for young adults.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-21|title=Chicago CRED violence prevention program participants earn high school diplomas - CBS Chicago|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-cred-violence-prevention-program-high-school-diplomas/|access-date=2025-11-14|website=www.cbsnews.com|language=en-US}}</ref> It also provides diploma programs through the U.S. Department of Labor's Job Corps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kropf|first=Ginny|date=2023-05-02|title=Job Corps student gets wish: cap and gown for graduation|url=https://orleanshub.com/job-corps-student-gets-wish-cap-and-gown-for-graduation/|access-date=2025-11-14|website=Orleans Hub|language=en-US}}</ref>
==== Student outcomes ==== According to data published by Penn Foster High School in 2025, the school reported a 65% completion rate for students who enrolled between January 1 and December 31, 2020.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web |title=Accreditation & Licensing {{!}} Penn Foster|url=https://www.pennfoster.edu/about/accreditation|access-date=2025-11-14|website=www.pennfoster.edu}}</ref> This rate reflects graduations within 150% of the expected program time and excludes students who canceled within six days, did not start the program, were dismissed, or transferred to another program. A total of 24,767 students in the cohort graduated from the high school program.
=== Penn Foster College ===
==== Academics ==== Penn Foster College offers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and certificates. Each program is fully online includes structured curriculum.
=== Penn Foster Career School ===
==== Academics ==== Penn Foster Career School focuses on career-oriented training through diplomas and certificates. Coursework is delivered online in a self-paced format. Many programs at Penn Foster Career School are typically shorter in duration than degree programs.
== Programs and offerings == Penn Foster provides asynchronous, self-paced online courses in fields such as veterinary studies, healthcare, skilled trades, and business, across high school, career training, and degree-level programs. As of 2025, the institution reported over 13 million students since its establishment.<ref name=":5" />
== Accreditation == As of May 2026, Penn Foster Career School, Penn Foster High School, and Penn Foster College hold a combination of national and regional accreditations.
Penn Foster Career School, Penn Foster High School, and Penn Foster College are nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Directory of Accredited Institutions |url=https://www.deac.org/student-center/directory-of-accredited-institutions/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=DEAC |date=4 October 2023 }}</ref>
Penn Foster Career School is regionally accredited for non-degree postsecondary programs and Penn Foster High School is regionally accredited for grades 9 through adult, by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA-CESS).<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSA Membership Directory |url=https://msa-cess.org/msa-membership-directory/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Middle States Association}}</ref> Penn Foster High School is accredited by Cognia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accreditation Registry |url=https://home.cognia.org/registry |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Cognia}}</ref> Additionally, the high school is an approved Category III non-public accredited online school by the Tennessee State Board of Education,<ref name=":33">{{Cite web |title=Accreditation & Licensing {{!}} Penn Foster|url=https://www.pennfoster.edu/about/accreditation|access-date=2025-11-14|website=www.pennfoster.edu}}</ref> but is not licensed by the Pennsylvania Department Of Education.<ref>[https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Private%20Schools/Pages/Listing-of-Schools.aspx PA Dept of Education Institution Program Search]</ref>
Penn Foster High School is cleared by the NCAA Eligibility Center,<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCAA Eligibility Center - High School Portal|url=https://web3.ncaa.org/hsportal/exec/homeAction/|access-date=2025-11-14|website=web3.ncaa.org|language=en}}</ref> allowing its approved courses and diplomas to be used for student-athlete eligibility. However, not all courses may meet NCAA core standards, so students should check course-specific approval.
The Veterinary Technician is accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distance education programs in veterinary technology accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) |url=https://www.avma.org/education/center-for-veterinary-accreditation/distance-education-programs-veterinary-technology-accredited-avma-committee-veterinary-technician |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=American Veterinary Medical Association}}</ref> [[File:Souvenir information guide and directory- A.Y.P. Exposition memorandum and daily calendar, 1909 - DPLA - 1a722ffc216eebe13dea7b4d605662ea (page 127).jpg|left|thumb|268x268px|Advertisement for International Correspondence Schools in the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition guidebook.]]
== Reception and controversies == Throughout its history, Penn Foster and its predecessor, the International Correspondence Schools (ICS), have received both recognition and criticism. While ICS played a significant role in expanding access to education through distance learning in the early 20th century, historians have noted that its correspondence-based curriculum may not have matched the rigor of traditional educational institutions.<ref name=":1" /> Some questioned its effectiveness for subjects requiring hands-on or instructor-led instruction.<ref name=":3" />
In 2013, Education Holdings 1, Inc., the parent company of Penn Foster, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Falchek |first=David |date=2013-02-11 |title=Penn Foster parent seeks bankruptcy protection |url=https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/2013/02/11/penn-foster-parent-seeks-bankruptcy-protection/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=The Times-Tribune}}</ref> The bankruptcy followed a federal investigation into fraudulent billing practices by The Princeton Review Inc. (the affiliated with Education Holdings 1). Although Penn Foster itself was not implicated, the settlement included the sale of Penn Foster to help fund more than $10 million in penalties.<ref name=":6" />
In 2015, the Oregon Department of Justice and the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission reached a settlement with Penn Foster College following an investigation into its marketing and enrollment practices.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Betsy |date=2015-05-04 |title=Penn Foster College must pay more than $73,000 after PCC refused Portland man's credits |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2015/05/penn_foster_college_must_pay_m.html |access-date=2025-10-27 |website=OregonLive |language=en}}</ref> The inquiry began after a student complaint and found that Penn Foster College had enrolled Oregon residents without required state authorization and had represented itself as regionally accredited, although it held national rather than regional accreditation. <ref name=":8" /> Under the settlement, Penn Foster was required to refund $1,900 in tuition to the complainant, pay $22,000 to cover investigative costs, and donate up to $50,000 to nonprofit or government organizations supporting educational access for disadvantaged Oregonians.<ref name=":8" />
Accreditation remains a topic of public interest concerning Penn Foster. The institution holds national accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC),<ref name=":7" /> and some of its programs also hold specialized or regional accreditation. However, credits earned at nationally accredited institutions are not always transferable to regionally accredited colleges and universities, which may limit academic mobility for some students. Some have also expressed concern over the role of private equity and investor influence during Penn Foster's acquisition by The Princeton Review and subsequent restructuring.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaschik |first=Scott |title=Princeton Review Sells Its Test-Prep Business |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2012/03/28/princeton-review-sells-its-test-prep-business |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Inside Higher Ed |language=en}}</ref>
== Alumni == Notable individuals who have reportedly studied with ICS or Penn Foster include Walter P. Chrysler (1875 –1940), founder of the Chrysler Corporation; Eddie Rickenbacker (1890–1973), World War I flying ace; and Abelardo Rodriguez (1889–1967), President of Mexico from 1932 to 1934.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> The specific nature of their studies and the impact of training on their careers is not always detailed in public sources.
== See also == * {{annotated link|ICS Learn}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * https://www.pennfoster.edu/ * https://www.pennfoster.edu/high-school * https://www.pennfoster.edu/training-institute
Category:American companies established in 1890 Category:1890 establishments in Pennsylvania Category:Distance education institutions based in the United States Category:Distance Education Accrediting Commission Category:Bain Capital companies