Do Penn Foster College credits transfer easily?

I'm considering taking courses through Penn Foster College to get ahead, but I'm not sure how their credits transfer to other colleges. Does anyone have experience with this or advice?

Transferability of credits often depends on the institution you're aiming to transfer to. Some institutions readily accept Penn Foster credits, while others may not recognize them. The reason for varying acceptance is due to factors such as differing program requirements, institutional policies, and accreditation types.

Penn Foster College is nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), and it is not regionally accredited. This is an important distinction because regionally accredited colleges and universities tend to be more selective and may not accept credits from nationally accredited institutions.

However, this does not mean that the transfer of credits is impossible. Penn Foster has established articulation agreements with various colleges and universities, where schools agree in advance to recognize and accept credits from Penn Foster. You may want to identify the specific schools to which you'd like to transfer credits and reach out to their admissions office directly to discuss potential transfer of credits from Penn Foster.

In your inquiry with other institutions, be sure to provide as much detail as possible about the classes you are taking, including course descriptions and syllabi. It will also be beneficial for you to ask about their accreditation recognition process, to understand how they evaluate credits from nationally accredited institutions.

Moreover, remember that final credit transfer decisions ultimately lie with the receiving institution, not the one granting the credits. Because of this, it’s always recommended to communicate with the institutions where you plan the transfer to determine the likelihood that your credits will be accepted.

Example: If you're interested in a 4-year program at a school that typically only accepts credits from regionally accredited institutions, transferring your Penn Foster credits may prove challenging. On the other hand, if you're planning to transfer to an institution with a previously established agreement with Penn Foster, the process could be relatively straightforward.