How Colleges View Online High School: A Guide for Guidance Counselors

Posted by Des Sinkevich on December 5, 2024

As more students seek flexibility in their high school education, online high school programs are becoming increasingly popular. With the rise of virtual learning environments, it's essential for high school guidance counselors to be informed about how colleges perceive online diplomas. Understanding this dynamic can help you provide better advice and support to students considering online high school options and preparing for college applications.

guidance counselor listening to student in office.

The growing popularity of online high school solutions

Online high schools have been around for a while, but their popularity has surged in recent years. Students may choose online schooling for various reasons, including flexibility, a need for a non-traditional learning environment, or unique personal circumstances such as health challenges or family relocation. Additionally, some students may feel that online education offers a more self-paced and personalized learning experience.

In a survey of high school leads*, online high school provider Penn Foster found that students often identify an online high school diploma as a potential path forward because they're looking for greater flexibility, have concerns such as school safety or bullying, or need to study around obligations such as work and childcare.

As the demand for online education increases, it's important to understand how these diplomas are viewed by colleges, as perceptions can vary significantly depending on the institution and the quality of the online program.

What colleges think of online high school

Education expert Dr. Andrew Shean notes, “since the pandemic, we've seen a widespread change in acceptance of online diplomas and a growing understanding of their rigor. Colleges and universities are considering things like accreditation and program reputation, and seeing online diplomas as real opportunities for students.”

Generally speaking, many colleges and universities view online high school diplomas in the same way as traditional high school diplomas. The key factor is whether the online program is accredited by a recognized agency. Accreditation ensures that the online high school meets established educational standards, and it is crucial for students who want to attend college.

That said, how an online diploma is perceived can depend on several factors:

1. Accreditation is key

Accreditation plays a significant role in how a college views an online high school diploma. Most reputable colleges require applicants to have graduated from an accredited high school, whether it’s online or traditional. Colleges are much more likely to accept students with diplomas from accredited online schools, as accreditation guarantees that the educational program meets specific standards of quality.

There are two main types of accreditation: regional and national. Regional accreditation is generally considered more prestigious and widely accepted, particularly in the United States. Online high schools with regional accreditation are usually viewed more favorably by colleges compared to those with only national accreditation, which may not be recognized by all universities.

As a counselor, it’s important to help students and their families ensure that the online program they choose is accredited by a reputable agency. The most recognized regional accrediting bodies include:

2. Reputation of the online program

While accreditation is critical, the reputation of the specific online school can also influence how a college views an applicant. Some highly reputable online high schools may have a strong track record with college admissions offices.

Colleges are likely to look at the consistency and quality of an applicant’s high school education, which includes factors such as course rigor, grade point average (GPA), extracurricular involvement, and standardized test scores (if applicable).

3. Course rigor and academic performance

One of the main concerns colleges have about online diplomas is the rigor of the curriculum. Since online programs can vary widely in terms of course offerings and difficulty, colleges may scrutinize the course content and overall academic performance of students from online schools. They want to ensure that students are prepared for the academic demands of higher education.

To counter this concern, students should be encouraged to take challenging courses and courses that can help prepare them for college-level work. Colleges want to see that students are pushing themselves academically, regardless of the delivery method.

Additionally, providing documentation that outlines the course curriculum, academic standards, and graduation requirements of the online high school can help colleges understand the rigor of the program.

4. Social and extracurricular engagement

Another aspect colleges may evaluate is a student’s extracurricular involvement. Online learning can sometimes isolate students from traditional school experiences, and some admissions officers may be concerned about a lack of social engagement or extracurricular activities that help develop leadership and teamwork skills.

Students attending online high school should be encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, either virtually or in their communities. This could include sports, volunteer work, internships, creative pursuits, or leadership roles in clubs or organizations. Documenting these activities on college applications can help demonstrate to admissions officers that the student is well-rounded and actively engaged outside of their academic studies.

One benefit of an asynchronous online education can be that students are able to pursue goals and dreams outside of a traditional extracurricular – which could mean obtaining a job, completing internships, or focusing on creative pursuits.

Identifying students who would benefit from online high school programs

Before helping students switch to an online high school or plan for college, it’s important to be able to identify which students will most benefit from online school. Students who may get the most out of self-paced, online education options include

Those who struggle with chronic illness
Those who need to help more at home than the average student
Those who have different learning needs that aren’t thriving in in-person school
Those who’ve fallen behind and won’t be able to catch up on a traditional timeline

While not an exhaustive list – there are many different students with varying needs – students who struggle with the rigorous schedule of traditional school for whatever reason can often benefit from self-paced coursework that can be completed on the timeline that works best for them.

Some students may not need to fully transfer to an online high school and it’s important to be aware of the solutions that are available in that case. Cathy Breymeier works closely with high schools across the country to help them identify credit recovery options for their students. She explains, "there are a lot of different reasons why a student would need credit recovery. They could be transferring from another school and be lacking credits. They might be failing out of a of a certain subject and need to make that credit up so that they can either pass to the next grade level or graduate. They might need to take the credit over the summer, which would be like a summer school situation, but basically it's just a student that's deficient in credits. Some students take a year off from high school because of an illness or a bullying situation, and credit recovery means when they return back to school, they're at the proper grade."

For these individuals, options like online credit recovery can be a great solution that allows your students to earn the credits they need to keep moving forward.

How to support students who need alternative high school options

As a counselor, your role is vital in guiding students through the process of choosing the path toward graduation that works best for them.

Here are some practical tips for supporting students who are considering online diplomas:

1. Research accreditation and program quality: Encourage students and their families to thoroughly research online programs to ensure that the school is accredited by a reputable agency. Help them understand the difference between regional and national accreditation and how it affects college admissions.

2. Help students build a strong academic profile: Advise students to take the most rigorous courses available to them through the online program. If possible, students should also strive to maintain high grades and focus on mastering the content, as this will help their college applications stand out.

3. Encourage extracurricular participation: Help students identify extracurricular activities that align with their interests and passions. Online students may need to seek out opportunities in their local communities or participate in virtual clubs and organizations to maintain a balanced profile.

4. Be transparent about potential challenges: It’s important to help students understand that while an online high school diploma can open many doors, some colleges may still have reservations about the non-traditional route. Encourage students to reach out to college admissions offices if they have questions or concerns about how their online education will be perceived.

Helping students plan for the future with Penn Foster

As a guidance counselor, your expertise in helping students choose the right online program, build a strong academic record, and present a well-rounded college application is crucial. With a trusted online high school program like Penn Foster, you can help your students find the path toward graduation that best fits their needs. Whether they need to transfer and fully complete their education online or take advantage of credit recovery options to catch up, Penn Foster’s regionally and nationally accredited high school courses can help them take control of their education and reach their goals.

Learn more about our online high school solutions or connect with our experts today to get started.

*Data compiled from a 2023 survey of Penn Foster High School leads.