Penn Foster (www.pennfoster.edu) has a 4.1 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 61 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Education & Training and its reputation is good. 77% of reviews are 4 stars or higher and 16% are 1 star; The business has replied to 90% of negative reviews. Last updated 2026-08-10.
Its nice and convenient, I got my diploma in a year and its my first year of high school ever, it saves a lot of time and stress and its on your own pace so you can work slow, i'll recommend doing a test a day for 5 days a week and you'll already be doing steady work, remember you can always take breaks too which is awesome.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-17
We are so glad you found your studies convenient for your very first year of high school. Your study schedule is an excellent example for other students looking to make steady progress at their own pace. Congratulations on your diploma!
We are thrilled to hear you had a great experience, Leasa, and we thank you for taking a moment to leave us a rating!
I
Ivan · 1 review · Verified · Experienced 2026-07-15 ·
★★★★★
I liked the thorough explanations in…
I liked the thorough explanations in the lessons, but I think it would’ve been better if the images of the parts and mechanisms were in color. It would’ve been easier to see. Also, helpful links on videos available explaining the topics.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-17
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We've shared your valuable feedback directly with our course development team. Thank you for helping us make our programs even better; we appreciate you taking a moment to leave us your suggestions.
It takes dedication and focus to achieve your certificate.
They work with you to achieve your goals,and education, you can call upon them any time if you cannot understand your subject.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-17
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Clayton! We are always here to help clarify tough subjects and support you on your educational journey. Keep up the great work you are doing!
A
Andrea · 1 review · Verified · Experienced 2026-07-15 ·
★★★★★
I love the flexibility and the fact…
I love the flexibility and the fact help is on hand. Im about to go at my own pace its been a great experience
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-17
Thank you for sharing! We are thrilled that our program design and student support are making your educational journey so rewarding. We appreciate your rating!
While I just started not too long ago, my experience has been amazing so far!
Everything is very clear and easy to follow.
If you have any questions/concerns staff is quick to reply.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-15
Welcome to the Penn Foster! We are absolutely thrilled to hear you’re having such a smooth start, and we’re always here to support you whenever you need us. We thank you for taking a moment to leave us a rating, and we wish you the best of luck on your journey!
It defines everything in a way that you understand it and then it gives you quizzes to let you know what you need additional work on. You learn at your on pace and it's an interesting course.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-15
Thank you for sharing your experience! We designed our courses to be both engaging and clear, and we're thrilled to hear the quizzes are helping you track your progress so effectively. Best of luck with your studies
"Great for Nontraditional Students Balancing Work and School "
The self-paced structure allows me to study n my own schedule without the pressure of ridgid, traditional classroom. Being able to move quickly through subjects you already know and slow down on harder topics give sense of personal accomplishment.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-17
This is exactly why we love the self-paced structure; it puts our learners in the driver's seat of their own education. We are so proud to support your journey and celebrate your personal success, Jermono. Thank you for your review!
God forbid life starts lifing and you’re unable to complete your studies at the moment and however you’re paid in full, but they canceled your program and makes you start a new one and therefore you then owe more money. I think it’s unfair. I think those rules should change if you’re taking it at your own pace then it should be at that but there’s a time limit and everyone should be aware of it.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-17
We appreciate your sharing your experience. The timeframe limits are outlined in the Student Enrollment agreement and ensure students graduate with the most current curriculum. Transparency regarding program time limits is important to us, so we do appreciate your feedback.
Do not take the medical billing and coding certificate. You only get a certificate from the NHA not AAPC or AHIMA. The certificate is not recognized or useful when looking for a job as most if not all employers want a certificate from AAPC or AHIMA. The test from NHA is a joke. It does not align with AAPC or AHIMA. Outdated books given to me. You don’t even use the books for the test. So why are other companies not accepting NHA?
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-10
Hi Anastasia! Thank you for sharing your feedback. We appreciate hearing about our students' experiences and perspective on the job market. We always want to make sure our learners are in the program that aligns perfectly with their specific career goals. We agree that certification choice is a consideration when preparing for a career. To help provide some clarity, we want to share that our program aligns with the NHA’s CBCS credential, which is fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). This is the exact same governing body that sets the standard for AAPC and other top-tier medical certifications to ensure exams are valid. That said, our program is an excellent gateway for front-end medical billing and revenue cycle roles. Thank you again for providing your feedback.
C
Christopher · 9 reviews · Experienced 2026-04-01 ·
★★★★★
scammed me out of VA benefits
I used my veterans benefits to pay the tuition for the Vet Tech program. They ended up submitting wrong information, overcharged VA further tuition.screwed me out of the remaining educational benefits by puttingme in the wrong gi bill group which caused me to forfeit the remaining post 911 benefits. I finished the semester...then received a bill from Penn Foster saying I owed the entire tuition for the semester before I could advance. I dropped them, VA investigated and found they submitted paperwork that was not signed by myself but by their staff with notes "student approved electronically" which I hadn't. These people even got a call from my employer to verify I was enrolled in the program, they went on to tell my supervisor my grades on each exam, how long I was taking to complete each course, how much I was paying, etc. Like what the actual F. My boss told me they couldn't get off the phone and finally hung up on Penn Foster feeling my privacy was violated. My employer simply needed to verify I was in school and even said so. By law, students are able to perform certain tasks that only licensed techs or active students are allowed to do. They didn't need to know all my personal information. I had all As in my classes so I wasn't hiding anything, but you imagine someone with C orD grades, they still get the same diploma but the employer likely has little confidence in the employee after that. What a joke!?!?
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-10
Hi Christoper. Thank you for sharing your experience. We take comments regarding student privacy, VA benefit processing, and documentation accuracy very seriously. Because your review mentions specific concerns regarding your educational benefits and account privacy, we want to investigate this matter. Please reach out to our dedicated team by writing to [email protected] Once we have more information we will escalate your concerns to our team for review. Thank you!
K
Khloe · 1 review · Experienced 2026-07-01 ·
★★★★★
slow
slow, I have experience several technical difficulties while using the site, and they use AI slop is used for nearly every image in the curriculum. That's my main concern - I as a student am not allowed to use AI in my work but the creators of Penn Foster are allowed to use false illustrations in theirs? And if every illustration is AI who is to say the rest of the material isn't as well?
Reply from Penn Foster2026-07-10
Hi Khloe! Thank you for your honest feedback. You raise a very fair point about the role of technology in education today. While our students are held to strict standards regarding original work to ensure they are truly mastering the material, Penn Foster utilizes technology, including AI for many processes including creative. However, please be assured that this tech does not replace our educators. Our curriculum is entirely designed by human subject-matter experts, and our faculty remains actively involved in overseeing student progress and supporting your learning journey. We hear your frustrations regarding the recent technical difficulties you've experienced. Please reach out to us at [email protected] with your student ID so we can get those platform glitches sorted out and ensure your portal is running smoothy. Thank you!
I can study anytime I want Penn foster is the best choice for me. English is not my first language but with Penn foster I make progress with my English.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-06-29
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that Penn Foster’s flexibility allows you to study on your own schedule. It is also wonderful to hear about the fantastic progress you are making with your English skills. We appreciate your review!
The program is super easy to navigate and track your progress as you complete your classes. Its available everywhere, which is convenient for me as I learn from home. You can work any time of the day, which is convenient as well because I work and have other activities throughout the day.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-06-24
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad our easy-to-navigate platform and flexible, 24/7 access make learning from home convenient for you. Best of luck as you continue to progress through your classes and reach your goals!
They help me prepare and learn, how and what I need in order to start a small business.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-06-24
Thank you so much for the feedback! We are thrilled to hear that our courses and resources are helping you prepare and learn effectively.
L
Lisa · 1 review · Verified · Experienced 2026-06-21 ·
★★★★★
The High School course take too long to finish and the work seems to be college based more so than high school learning
I dislike how long it takes to complete pennfoster high school. Students should be given more than three years to finish. the school work seems to be college based over high school learning. The monthly payment of $55 a month just to pay off the tuition cost is expensive. Im barely making it financially as it is. I think the monthly payments should be lowered to $39. And pennfoster eliminated three deferred payments once a year. I think that pennfoster should bring back the three deffered payments once a year. In my opinion pennfoster became a very greedy company and im very dissapointed.
Reply from Penn Foster2026-06-24
Thank you for your feedback and suggestions. We constantly work to ensure our programs and payment options remain affordable, and your input helps us improve the student experience. Please feel free to reach out to our support team at 1-888-427-1500 if you require assistance.
Jennifer · 1 review · Verified · Experienced 2026-06-20 ·
★★★★★
I love my medical administrative…
I love my medical administrative assistant course. The program helps me with my career choice, and I'm really excited to start my next module, medical terminology.
JP
Reply from Penn Foster2026-06-24
We love hearing this! Congratulations on completing your current module. We wish you continued success as you move through your program!
