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Penn Foster
Penn Foster is an online education provider based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It offers programs in high school diplomas, career diplomas, and degree programs.
Penn Foster
Penn Foster is an online education provider based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It offers programs in high school diplomas, career diplomas, and degree programs.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1890
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Scranton
Corporate office
Scranton, PA, United States
Principals
Frank Britt
CEO (former)
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Penn Foster now?
Penn Foster is owned by American Public Education, Inc. (APEI), a publicly traded company listed on Nasdaq. APEI acquired Penn Foster in September 2019 for $175 million (per SEC filing).
Is Penn Foster a nonprofit or for-profit institution?
Penn Foster is a for-profit institution. It is operated as a subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc., which also owns the nonprofit American Public University System and other for-profit educational entities.
Does Penn Foster offer accredited degrees?
Yes, Penn Foster is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It offers associate degrees in fields such as business, criminal justice, and early childhood education, as well as career diplomas and certificates.
What investment stages does Penn Foster's parent company target?
American Public Education, Inc. targets acquisitions of career-focused online education providers, typically at the growth or mature stage. The Penn Foster acquisition was a $175M cash-and-stock deal, reflecting a buy-and-build strategy in the for-profit education space.
How many students has Penn Foster served?
Penn Foster claims to have enrolled over 13 million students since its founding in 1890 (per the company, 2020). This figure includes both diploma and degree students across its vocational and academic programs.
Does Penn Foster maintain philanthropic structures?
No public philanthropic foundation is separately identified for Penn Foster. The Penn Foster Education Fund, a nonprofit established in 1910, was dissolved in 2002. Current charitable activity appears to be conducted through American Public Education's corporate giving.
What is Penn Foster's regulatory posture regarding federal financial aid?
Penn Foster is authorized to participate in Title IV federal student aid programs because it holds accreditation from the DEAC. This allows eligible students to access federal Pell Grants and loans, a structural advantage over many unaccredited online education providers.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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