| Penn Foster College | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 14300 N. Northsight Blvd.
Suite 111 |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Private college, Distance education |
| Established | 1977 |
| Status | Open |
| President | Dr. Richard W. Ferrin |
| Grades | College |
| Enrollment | Approx. 24,000 |
| Accreditation(s) | Distance Education and Training Council |
| Website | Official Site |
Penn Foster College is a U.S. for-profit institution offering higher education via distance education. Penn Foster, originally International Correspondence Schools or ICS, was founded in 1890 by Thomas J. Foster, a Pennsylvania newspaper editor.[1] The college was established in 1977 by ICS and was known as "The Center for Degree Studies", which was located in and operated from Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 2006, it was renamed Penn Foster College and moved to its new headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona.[2]
In December 2009, Penn Foster College was purchased by test preparation and educational support company The Princeton Review from its previous owner, the Wicks Group, a private equity firm[3][4] that had bought the college from Thomson Corporation in 2007.[5]
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Penn Foster College is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).[6] Penn Foster College is licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education and is authorized to grant Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science Degrees. In addition, the Penn Foster Veterinary Technician Associate Degree program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Also accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.[7] Because Penn Foster College has a national rather than regional accreditation, schools with regional accreditation may or may not recognize credits, though this policy varies among regionally accredited institutions.[8][9]
Penn Foster College is licensed by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education.[10] Penn Foster College is authorized to grant Associate of Science degrees and Bachelor of Science degrees.
The college focuses on associate of science degrees in the fields of business, criminal justice, early childhood education, engineering and computer science, technology, health care, and the legal profession. Students can study online, in print, or in combination.[11] In 2008, the college started offering bachelor degrees for the first time, with Bachelor of Science Degrees in criminal justice and business management.[12]