Both U.S. Career Institute and Penn Foster are included into top 10 online career schools and trade schools 2021, it’s just a different ranking. According to onlineassociatedegrees.net, Penn Foster ranked above the U.S. Career Institute where Penn Foster ranks 2nd, while U.S. Career Institute is ranked 5th.
Well, if you have a plan to enroll in career schools and have a choice in both schools, you may need to compare between Penn Foster and U.S. Career institute. Aside from that, you also need to look for information about the program offered by each, whether the program you want is available or not.
So, let’s see the comparison between Penn Foster vs U.S. Career institute in our post!
OVERVIEW
Both Penn Foster and the U.S. Career Institute offer online schools where the courses can be done entirely online. Of course, you can take online school and complete the courses from home.
Talking about Penn Foster, this career school provides 59 career diploma programs, making it a great option for you who want to complete a career program. The programs offered by Penn Foster are self-paced with strong instructor support.
It is known that all Penn Foster programs including high school, college and career diploma are licensed and accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) that aims to teach current marketplace skills and also prepare students for immediate employment.
Talking about the U.S. Career Institute, this career school also provides 25 self-paced career programs that are designed by career industry experts and offer extensive career support. You can really train to start a new career at home with the U.S. Career Institute.
It is known that the U.S. Career Institute has spent more than 40 years perfecting their step-by-step study method. Of course, you can benefit from career training at your own pace. Just like Penn Foster, U.S. Career institute is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and is also approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board.
The point is, both Penn Foster and U.S. Career Institute have been accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The differences are from the number of programs provided each. If we look at the number of programs, Penn Foster has a larger career program than the U.S. Career Institute.
PROGRAMS
Both Penn Foster and U.S. Career Institute provide a wide range of online diploma and degree programs. If Penn Foster provides a high school diploma program, career diploma and college degrees, the U.S. Career Institute also provides certificate programs, college courses and also high school diplomas.
Penn Foster Programs
With more than 100+ degrees from Penn Foster programs, you can really find one which really fits your interest. If you choose Penn Foster, you will be assured of receiving up-to-date career training which will help you start a new career, earn a promotion, earn more money and prepare you for the jobs today and tomorrow.
Here’s a list of Penn Foster programs:
1) College degrees programs
Art & Design Programs
- Graphic Design
- Interior Design
Business Program
- Accounting
- Business Management
- Business Management
- Health Care Management
- Human Resources Management
Education Programs
- Early Childhood Education
Engineering Programs
- Construction Technology
- Engineering Technology
- Industrial Electronics & Electrical Maintenance Technology
Healthcare Programs
- Health Care Management
- Medical Assistant
Legal/ Law Programs
- Criminal Justice
- Criminal Justice
- Paralegal Studies
Technology Programs
- Computer Information Systems
- Construction Technology
- Engineering Technology
- Industrial Electronics & Electrical Maintenance Technology
- PC Maintenance Technology
Veterinary Programs
- Veterinary Technician
2) Career School
Penn Foster career school is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), and is also recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
You can really start your new career with Penn Foster career school by choosing the following programs:
Art & Design
- ABC Certified Wedding Planner Career Diploma
- Caterer Career Diploma
- Computer Graphic Artist Career Diploma
- Desktop Publishing Career Diploma
- Etc.
Automotive
- Auto Repair Technician Career Diploma
- Diesel Mechanics Career Diploma
- Motorcycle Repair Technician Career Diploma
- Small Engine Repair Career Diploma
Business
- Administrative Assistant Career Diploma
- Bookkeeping Career Diploma
- Event Planning Career Diploma
- Etc.
Drafting
- Drafting with AutoCAD Career Diploma
Education
- Child Care Professional Career Diploma
Healthcare
- Dental Assistant Career Diploma
- Home Health Care Aide Diploma
- Medical Administrative Assistant Career Diploma
- Medical Coding and Billing Career Diploma
- Etc.
Legal
- Legal Secretary Career Diploma
- Paralegal Career Diploma
- Private Investigator Career Diploma
Technology
- Computer Graphic Artist Career Diploma
- Desktop Publishing and Design Career Diploma
- Electronics Technician Career Diploma
- IT Support Specialist – Career Diploma
Trade School Program
- Appliance Repair Career Diploma
- Construction Trades Career Diploma
- Dog Obedience Trainer/ Instructor Career Diploma
- Furniture and Cabinet Maker Career Diploma
- Etc.
Veterinary Program
- Dog Obedience Trainer/ Instructor Career Diploma
3) High School Program
With Penn Foster high school diploma program, you can start to explore pathways toward a career which interests you, while earning your high school diploma online. Here are high school diploma career pathways available at Penn Foster High School Diploma:
- Automotive
- Carpentry
- Child Care Professional
- Culinary Arts
- Early College
- Electrical
- Health Care
- Information Technology
- Pharmacy Technician
- Plumbing
To explore all the programs available at Penn Foster, you can visit its official website at pennfoster.edu.
U.S. Career Institute Programs
Here’s a list of the U.S. Career Institute Programs!
1) Certificate Online Programs
Healthcare Careers
- Dental Assistant
- Electronic Medical Records Specialist
- Healthcare Office Manager
- Intro to CNA
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Billing Specialist
- Medical Coding Specialist
- Medical Coding & Billing Specialist
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Patient Care Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- Phlebotomy
- Physical Therapy Aide
- Sterile Processing Technician
Business Careers
- Accounting Services Specialist
- Bookkeeping Specialist
- Computer Essentials
- Insurance Claims Adjuster
- Office Administrator
Service Careers
- Child Day Care Specialist
- Home Inspector
- HVAC
- Caregiver
- Veterinary Assistant
- Wedding Consultant/Event Planner
Legal Careers
- Criminal Justice Specialist
- Paralegal
Wellness Careers
- Certified Personal Fitness Trainer
- Massage Therapist
2) Online College Courses
- Accounting
- Business Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Health Information Technology
- Human Resources
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Specialties
- Social Work
3) High School Diploma
U.S. Career institute high school diploma programs offer a general diploma accredited by Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), so you can select the option which best fits your needs.
The U.S. Career Institute also provides 5 career pathways in healthcare, fitness, business, paralegal or veterinary. This high school program really allows the students to take introductory classes as your elective courses. Of course, you can decide if you really want to pursue the career after graduation.
TUITION COST
It is known that Penn Foster does not accept any federal financial aid, any student loan or any grant offered by the federal government or others like the Pell Grant that is available through FAFSA. Instead, Penn Foster always offers the tuition fees at a very affordable price with 0% interest. Additionally, Penn Foster also offers student discounts up to 35% if they choose your pay-in-full option.
Talking about the U.S. Career Institute tuition cost, they also offer affordable and flexible tuition costs which fit your life. They also provide monthly payment options for every student and also provide a high-quality education. Tuition actually differs by programs and each of them is all-inclusive.
The U.S. Career Institute also offers an iron clan money-back commitment to its students. You will have a full 5 days to evaluate your material for the first lesson. After that, you can also send the materials back and get a full refund for the amount paid.
U.S. Career Institute vs Penn Foster, Which Is Better?
Better or not will depend on your needs as well. After you know all the programs available on each online school, we think you will be able to decide which online school you can choose, either the U.S. Career Institute or Penn Foster. Make sure to always take into consideration everything such as the location, the tuition cost, the flexibility and the availability of programs.
Visit the official U.S. Career Institute website here.
Visit the official Penn Foster website here.
