Open enrollment and the accessible online format that Penn LPS Online offers make getting started easy. Whether you already have an associate degree, some college or a high school diploma or GED, Penn LPS Online certificates and courses are available to you.* All Penn LPS Online courses are taught at the undergraduate level by Penn instructors.
Students planning to submit an application to the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree may apply up to, but no more than, four eligible Penn courses earned through enrollment in Penn non-degree programs toward BAAS degree requirements. Non-degree programs include (but are not limited to) Penn Summer Sessions, Penn LPS Online Gateway Program, and Penn LPS Online courses taken individually or as part of a certificate program.
Ready to enroll?
Complete and submit the enrollment form and non-refundable fee ($25), accessible through our online application system. See the chart below for application deadlines and links to the online application(s). While we do not require an official application for certificates and individual courses, you do need to use our application system to submit information about your educational background and contact details in order to enroll as a Penn LPS Online student. Certificate courses and individual non-degree courses are not eligible for financial aid. Learn more about course tuition.
To enroll, you must have a high school diploma or have passed the high school equivalency exam or General Educational Development (GED) test:
- For those who have taken the GED prior to 2014, you must have a minimum score of 450
- For those who have taken the GED anytime between 2014 and the present, you must score 165, the College Ready score, in each section. Those who do not score as College Ready are encouraged to pursue coursework at their local community college to bring them to the college level.
No additional documentation is required. You will receive an email from Penn LPS Online asking you to confirm your enrollment; once you've confirmed, you can register for courses as they are available.
The enrollment fee is automatically waived for any applicant who is on active military duty or a veteran of the United States armed forces.
Note that Penn LPS Online does not offer an admission deferral option; please be sure to apply to the term for which you plan to begin your studies.
Enrollment forms must be received by the following deadlines:
| Certificates and general course taking | |
|---|---|
| Term of Entry | Regular Deadline |
| Spring 1 | December 15 |
| Spring 2 | February 15 |
| Summer | May 5 |
| Fall 1 | August 15 |
| Fall 2 | October 1 |
Early enrollment form submission is encouraged for optimal course selection. For class start and end dates, and other key deadlines, please refer to the Penn LPS Online academic calendar.
Your completed application and application fee payment is due at 5 p.m. ET on the deadline date for the term to which you apply. We cannot guarantee that we will review information sent to the College of Liberal and Professional Studies admissions office after the deadline of the term in which you apply.
*Courses delivered through Penn LPS Online may count toward a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Penn LPS, but do not count toward a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Pennsylvania. Students planning to transfer Penn LPS Online credits to another institution should be aware that transfer credits are awarded at the discretion of the other institution.
System requirements
All applicants should confirm that their computer technology is up to date and meets system requirements. Review current system requirements for all Penn LPS Online students.
English proficiency requirements
A strong command of the English language is necessary for successful study at Penn. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Test System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores taken within the last two years to demonstrate English proficiency. The minimum TOEFL scores required for admissions consideration are 100 (iBT), 250 (CBT), or 600 (PBT). The TOEFL must be sent from ETS using the institutional code 2986. To locate a testing site near you or schedule an exam, visit the TOEFL website. The minimum IELTS score for consideration is 7. Applicants may upload a copy of their IELTS test report to the standardized test score section of the application. The minimum DET score for consideration is 130. Students submitting DET scores should request that their scores be sent to “The University of Pennsylvania, College of Liberal and Professional Studies.” Please note that the College of Liberal and Professional Studies is accepting at-home TOEFL test scores. Visit the specific standardized test website for exam options in your home country.
Penn alumni
The enrollment fee is automatically waived for Penn alumni (in the online application, choose "Penn Alumni Program" under Program Choice).
The deadline to enroll through the Penn Alumni Program for fall 1 and fall 2 courses is August 1. The deadline to enroll for spring 1 and spring 2 courses is December 15. The deadline to enroll for summer is May 1. For more information about important dates and deadlines, please visit our academic calendar.
If you are already enrolled in the Penn Alumni Program, you can register for Penn LPS Online courses now through Path@Penn—no additional enrollment form is necessary.
