Correspondence High School: Earn an Accredited Diploma at Home

American School has taught students by correspondence since 1897. It was the first correspondence school to become regionally accredited, and it has helped more than three million students earn their high school diplomas. Today you can study the traditional way with print courses by mail, take your courses online, or combine the two.

What is a correspondence high school?

A correspondence high school is a distance education school: you study at home instead of in a classroom, on your own schedule. In American School’s print courses, you receive a textbook and a study guide or examination booklet by mail. You work through each unit at your own pace and send your unit examinations to the School for grading. Online courses are taken through the Online Student Center; see Online Learning for how they work.

Is American School accredited?

Yes. American School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), Accreditation International (Ai) and the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA). It is also recognized as a non-public secondary school by the Illinois State Board of Education. See our accreditation page for details.

Two accredited high school diploma programs

Choose the program that fits your plans after graduation:

General High School Program: for students who plan to enroll in a two-year college or join the workforce after graduating.
College Preparatory Program: for students who plan to attend a four-year college or university.

Both programs require 20 units of credit, and at least 5 of them must be American School courses. Graduation requirements are established by the Illinois State Board of Education. Full requirements are on our high school page.

A correspondence diploma for teens and adults

There is no minimum or maximum age to enroll, so adults can earn their high school diploma at home too. American School accepts most credits from other accredited schools (except religion, physical education, band, choir, driver’s education and ROTC). To start a transcript evaluation, have an official transcript sent to our Registrar’s Office; the $25 evaluation fee counts toward your tuition if you enroll. Students who were homeschooled or attended a non-accredited school may be able to establish up to 5 units of credit through comprehensive examinations.

High school correspondence courses, one at a time

You don’t have to enroll in a full program. Students who attend a public or private high school can take individual courses through our Independent Study Program, with their counselor’s approval, for credit recovery, scheduling conflicts or in place of summer school. Courses can also be taken for enrichment or to round out a homeschool program. Most individual courses cost $275 to $525, and you have one year to finish a full-unit course and six months for a half-unit course.

What does it cost?

As a not-for-profit school, American School keeps tuition low. A full year of high school is 5 units of credit for $1,200, with all textbooks and study materials included, and monthly payment plans are available. See our cost page for details.

How long does it take?

Diploma students have up to 4 years to complete their 20-unit program, and many finish sooner because they work at their own pace. You can enroll anytime. Applications usually take 2 to 3 business days to process, and course materials arrive within about a week. Graduates can receive their diplomas at any time of year once they complete all requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go to college with a correspondence high school diploma?

Many American School graduates go on to college after completing the College Preparatory Program. They are usually admitted, like students from any high school, based on SAT or ACT scores and their American School grades. Some public universities, such as those in New York, do not accept a distance education diploma and ask for a high school equivalency exam instead, so check admissions standards with your college before you enroll.

Does American School offer GED courses?

No. American School awards its own accredited high school diploma.

Can American School courses count for NCAA eligibility?

Not at this time. American School courses may not be used to meet NCAA core course requirements for Division I or Division II, or for NJCAA and NAIA purposes.