Ashworth college
Ashworth College is a private, DEAC-accredited online education institution serving adult learners, military personnel, high-school students, and underserved populations with self-paced career diplomas, certificates, and associate and bachelor's degrees delivered via an online LMS; founded in 1987, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, and acquired by Penn Foster in 2019.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersNorcross, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ashworth college does
Ashworth College is a private, DEAC-accredited online education institution headquartered in Norcross, Georgia (operating as PF Carrus Careers, LLC), serving working adults, career-changers, military personnel and spouses, high-school students, and underserved learners. It has been educating students since 1987 and was acquired by Penn Foster in February 2019, becoming part of a middle-skill learning continuum that spans Penn Foster High School, Penn Foster Career School, Penn Foster College, ICS Canada, and James Madison High School.
The institution delivers its curriculum through an online learning management system accessible 24/7 via a student portal, supported by a digital library (LRC) providing journals, publications, and eBooks, and an Online Writing Lab offering citation guides, style guides, and plagiarism resources. Programs are self-paced and cover career diplomas and certificates, associate and bachelor's degrees, undergraduate certificates, and online high school diplomas — spanning business, healthcare, trades, technology, education, legal studies, and creative services across more than 115 program offerings.
Revenue is generated through tuition paid by individual learners (B2C/DTC) on subscription-style monthly payment plans or one-time payments, with programs priced from approximately $400 for certificates to $10,000+ for bachelor's degrees. Distribution combines self-serve online enrollment with phone-based inside sales through admissions specialists, including a dedicated military admissions line, and is supplemented by channel partnerships (U.S. Speedskating, Job Corps) plus the Gary Keisling ACCESS Scholarship program (up to $25,000 annually). Marketing relies on content (blog, news, student success stories), an online community exceeding 125,000 members, and annual competitions such as Graduate of the Year.
Ashworth college firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ashworth college
- Legal name
- PF Carrus Careers, LLC
- Website
- https://ashworthcollege.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Ashworth College is a private, DEAC-accredited online education institution serving adult learners, military personnel, high-school students, and underserved populations with self-paced career diplomas, certificates, and associate and bachelor's degrees delivered via an online LMS; founded in 1987, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, and acquired by Penn Foster in 2019.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ashworth college industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Online Credit Recovery & Alternative Pathways (Virtual) (EDAJADAF), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)
Keywords
Where Ashworth college is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Norcross
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ashworth college business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Career Diploma Programs: Affordable diploma programs covering career-focused fields such as healthcare, business, trades, and technology. Programs are self-paced and completed online.
- College Degree Programs: Associate and bachelor's degree programs in various fields including accounting, business administration, criminal justice, early childhood education, healthcare administration, marketing, psychology, veterinary technician, and more. Programs are nationally accredited.
- Career Certificate Programs: Certificate programs in specialized areas such as medical billing, medical terminology, CDA credential preparation, and other professional certifications.
- High School Diploma Programs (James Madison High School): Online high school diploma programs for traditional students, adult learners, homeschoolers, and those seeking credit recovery or summer school options.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Certificate Programs - Starting at $400 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Career Diploma Programs - Variable pricing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Associate Degree Programs - Variable pricing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Bachelor's Degree Programs - Up to $10,000 or more |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Scholarships - ACCESS Scholarship up to $25,000 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ashworth college product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ashworth College is an accredited online education institution offering self-paced diploma, certificate, associate degree, bachelor's degree, and high school diploma programs. The institution delivers fully online coursework through a student portal accessible 24/7, with digital study materials included in tuition and no-interest monthly payment plans. Programs span healthcare, business, trades, technology, criminal justice, early childhood education, creative services, and legal studies, targeting working adults and career-focused learners.
Product overview
Ashworth College is an affordable online education platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs across three main categories: Career School (career diplomas and certificates), College (associate and bachelor's degrees, undergraduate certificates), and High School (James Madison High School online diplomas). The platform is built around a Student Portal learning management system providing 24/7 access to course materials, supported by the LRC Library and Writing Lab. Programs span diverse fields including healthcare, business, trades, technology, criminal justice, early childhood education, and creative services. The institution is part of Penn Foster Group and partners with organizations like U.S. Speedskating for athlete education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Career Diplomas
Quantifiable outcome
- 88% of students achieved their goals
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ashworth college
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Ashworth college technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Ashworth college partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Penn FostercorePenn Foster acquired Ashworth College in February 2019. Penn Foster partners with leading employers to attract, develop, and retain talent for middle-skill jobs. The acquisition created a continuum for middle-skill learning extending from high school to the world of work. Penn Foster Group includes Penn Foster High School, Penn Foster Career School, Penn Foster College, ICS Canada, and James Madison High School (part of Ashworth family).
- Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb CountyminorAshworth College partnered with Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County for five consecutive years (at least through 2013) for community service activities during Graduation Week. Employee and student volunteers participated in home renovation projects including repair, cosmetic, and landscaping work in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Ashworth was the first online school to sponsor a student campus chapter with Habitat for Humanity.
- U.S. SpeedskatingminorAshworth College partnered with U.S. Speedskating to offer discounted online degree programs to athletes. Many team members use their off-season to continue their education through Ashworth's accredited online programs. Athletes like Emily Scott and Alyson Dudek have utilized these flexible programs. The partnership allows athletes to complete lessons around the demands of practice, meets, and travel without choosing between athletic careers and education.
- James Madison High SchoolcoreJames Madison High School is part of the Ashworth College family of online schools. It offers online high school diploma programs including General Diploma Track and College Prep Diploma Track, single high school courses, credit recovery, and summer school programs.
- Gary Keisling ACCESS Scholarship ProgramcoreThe ACCESS (Ashworth College Continuing Education for Student Success) Scholarship program was developed in 2011 and awards up to $25,000 combined annually to recently enrolled and prospective diploma and degree students. Honors legacy of late Chairman Gary Keisling's mission to offer affordable education to underserved populations. Recipients include students from Jamaica, Florida, Georgia, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and other locations.
- Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)coreAshworth College is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Also licensed by Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC) and authorized under SARA for National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NCSARA).
- Job CorpsminorAshworth offers scholarships for career diplomas and undergraduate certificates to graduates of James Madison High School and select Job Corps Centers, creating pathways for underserved populations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ashworth college competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Penn Foster: Penn Foster is Ashworth's parent company since Feb 2019 and direct sibling offering online high school (Penn Foster HS), career diplomas (Penn Foster Career School), and college degrees (Penn Foster College). Same self-paced accredited model, same adult-learner target, same DEAC accreditation framework — making it the closest comparable.
- Southern New Hampshire University: Large accredited online university serving primarily adult learners with career-focused associate, bachelor's, and certificate programs at competitive tuition. Comparable on self-paced online delivery, adult-learner focus, and degree/certificate portfolio breadth.
- Western Governors University: Nonprofit, fully online, competency-based university offering affordable undergraduate and graduate degrees to working adults. Competes head-to-head with Ashworth on affordable online degrees for career advancement with similar self-paced structure.
- University of Phoenix: Long-standing for-profit online university offering associate, bachelor's, master's, and certificate programs to working adults. Most direct for-profit comparison on model, target audience, and admissions-driven GTM motion.
- Purdue University Global: Online for-profit university (formerly Kaplan University) offering career-focused associate, bachelor's, and graduate degrees with strong emphasis on working adults and military populations — overlapping heavily with Ashworth's persona segments.
- Grand Canyon University: For-profit university with large online division offering degrees in business, healthcare, education, and criminal justice to adult learners. Comparable on program mix, online delivery, and career-focused positioning.
- Liberty University Online: Large accredited online program serving primarily adult learners with associate through doctoral degrees, including strong military and veteran enrollment. Competes directly on online flexibility, accreditation, and degree breadth.
- DeVry University: For-profit career-focused higher education institution offering online certificates, associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in business, technology, and healthcare. Comparable on the career-readiness value proposition and adult-learner GTM.
- ECPI University: For-profit career college offering accelerated online and hybrid programs in technology, healthcare, and skilled trades. Comparable on accelerated self-paced model, affordability, and career-diploma to degree pathways serving similar adult-learner segments.
Emerging players
- StraighterLine: Subscription-based online provider of low-cost general-education and career courses that articulate to partner colleges. Competes at the credit-recognition and affordability layer that Ashworth itself occupies, particularly for adult learners testing the waters before committing to a full degree.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ashworth college social profiles
Digital presenceAshworth college compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Ashworth college financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ashworth college leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Ashworth college funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ashworth college M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ashworth college
What does Ashworth college do?
Ashworth College is an accredited online education institution offering self-paced diploma, certificate, associate degree, bachelor's degree, and high school diploma programs. The institution delivers fully online coursework through a student portal accessible 24/7, with digital study materials included in tuition and no-interest monthly payment plans. Programs span healthcare, business, trades, technology, criminal justice, early childhood education, creative services, and legal studies, targeting working adults and career-focused learners.
Is Ashworth college a public or private company?
Ashworth college is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ashworth college founded?
Ashworth college was founded in 1987. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Ashworth college based?
Ashworth college is headquartered in Norcross, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ashworth college make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Career Diploma Programs are the primary driver. The others are college Degree Programs, career Certificate Programs and high School Diploma Programs (James Madison High School).
Who are Ashworth college's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Penn Foster, Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, University of Phoenix, Purdue University Global, Grand Canyon University, Liberty University Online, DeVry University and ECPI University. StraighterLine is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ashworth college have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ashworth college.
What industry is Ashworth college in?
Ashworth college's product category is Online Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHALAK, Online Nonprofit Universities, with a secondary code of EDAJADAF, Online Credit Recovery & Alternative Pathways (Virtual). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.