I mentioned yesterday that Penn Foster College is increasing its tuition by some 39 percent over what I am currently paying, and I also suggested that someone at Penn Foster offer an explanation for such a jump in tuition. It turns out I didn't have to wait long for a response:
Terry,
I know you've been a long time fan of Penn Foster College but this time you got some of your information wrong. It is true that PFC is taking a price increase but for new students the increase averages $15 per credit or roughly $200 a semester. For students moving into the second through fourth semesters, the increase is $10 per credit. If you add it all up, Penn Foster College will cost $65 per credit for the first semester and $90 per credit each semester thereafter. Still a bargain compared to the average $121 per credit charged by community colleges. And at PFC your books and study materials are all included at no extra charge.
As for Bachelor Degrees, you are correct. Starting in October, Penn Foster College will be launching two BA programs (Business Management and Criminal Justice) with more programs to come next year.
Why the price increase? Well, the increase cost of printing, mailing books and supplies, and purchasing textbooks leaves us no choice. Nonetheless we increased our tuition as little as possible.
Hope you find this explanation useful.
I appreciate the quick response from Penn Foster College about the recent announcement that they will be increasing tuition to $90 per credit hour, beginning October 1st. But, let's take a closer look at these comments.
It is true that PFC is taking a price increase but for new students the increase averages $15 per credit or roughly $200 a semester.
I was talking about my own personal situation. I have been a student of Penn Foster College (formerly Education Direct) since (gulp!) 2005. It is true that I have always been, and still am, a big fan of the school. Not to pat myself on the back, but I have probably been the biggest cheerleader for PFC who doesn't actually work for the school. I am currently in the second semester of my program. My current semester costs $808. This semester I am taking 15 credits. This averages out to $53.86 per credit hour for me. With tuition increasing to $90 per credit hour, that is a difference of $36.14 per credit hour, or $108.42 per course, or $542.10 per semester. That is a far cry from $15 per credit, or $200 per semester.
Tuition for the associate degree in Marketing is currently listed at $920 per semester on Penn Foster College's web site, if a student uses the automatic payment plan. Assuming a student takes 15 credits for the semester, that averages out to $61.33 per credit. When tuition increases to $90 per credit hour, that is a difference of $28.67 per credit hour, or $86.01 per 3-credit course, or $430.05 per semester (assuming 5, 3-credit courses per semester).
Still a bargain compared to the average $121 per credit charged by community colleges.
The average? Where? Nationally? Certainly not in my state. Our community college tuition is nowhere near $121 per credit hour. I think our most expensive community college in the state is $80-$85 per credit hour.
Starting in October, Penn Foster College will be launching two BA programs (Business Management and Criminal Justice) with more programs to come next year.
Congratulations! Personally, I think this is fantastic news, and I would be interested in seeing which other programs you add to the list of BA programs. Frankly, I wish more schools would offer communications, public relations or journalism programs.
Why the price increase? Well, the increase cost of printing, mailing books and supplies, and purchasing textbooks leaves us no choice. Nonetheless we increased our tuition as little as possible.
OK, now THAT'S an explanation ... and it's certainly one I can live with. PFC does include books in the cost of the tuition. I will be starting a new program at Andrew Jackson University on September 29th, and books are NOT included in the tuition or fees. I have to pay for them. Of course, I don't buy them new, but if I did the cost would be prohibitive. There aren't many schools (with the exception of Ashworth University) where you can pay $90 per credit hour, receive books with the courses AND earn a BA degree. Put in this context, yes ... that is a bargain. Perhaps Penn Foster will offer graduate degrees in the future?
I believe a better PR move for Penn Foster College would have been to come right out and say "hey look, with the increasing price of books and the state of today's economy, we reluctantly must increase our tuition to cover our costs." What students received instead was a two or three line blurb in their message box which essentially said "Starting October 1st tuition at Penn Foster College will increase to $90 per credit hour." The same message ... but I have a feeling the previous option would have been more palatable for students.
I appreciate the quick response from Penn Foster, and I am still a fan of the school. While I am studying with AJU in the near future, it is because they have the program I want at a price I cannot refuse. It does not mean I would not continue to recommend Penn Foster College to other students, especially if Penn Foster continues its monthly payment plan.