Diploma mills are schools that issue diplomas without proper credentials. Meaning, even though you paid for your education, your diploma has little value because employers and institutions of higher education don’t recognize it as legitimate. Penn Foster is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, meaning we have met rigorous standards of education set forth by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This recognition means your diploma should be accepted by employers and most colleges and universities.