# Penn Foster

Penn Foster is an other based in Scranton, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** other
- **Headquarters:** Scranton, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Scranton, PA, United States
- **Founded:** 1890
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** pennfoster.edu

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Penn Foster is an online education provider based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It offers programs in high school diplomas, career diplomas, and degree programs.

## Sectors

- Education
- Education Technology

## People

- Frank Britt — CEO (former)

## 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.

### 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.

### 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.

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- [Global Reserve Group](https://altss.com/profile/global-reserve-group)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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