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Diploma Mills Part II: Beware of Fake Degrees

Information about Diploma Mills

Don't Get Caught in a Degree Mill: How To Make Sure Your School is Certified

Earning your degree is an investment of both money and time—whether you're a student in an online school, or in a traditional classroom setting. It's worth being familiar with these degree mills and diploma mills so that you can avoid being taken in by their scams. Having the right facts will protect you especially if you are current reviewing various online colleges, or deciding on which degree program is suitable for your career. Degree mills and diploma mills are, at best, institutions with easy courses and loose requirements. They do not provide students with a meaningful learning experience, and sometimes, are considered fraudulent by the law.

If you have the facts about fraudulent universities, you'll ensure you make the right choices for your education—and not only that, but you'll make sure you don't throw away your time (and a lot of money!)

Online learning is fast.

But not that fast.

Many online schools offer students the ability to earn their degree at an accelerated rate—earning your MBA in as little as 10 months, for instance, is not an uncommon feature of online business colleges. But this does not mean less work: rather, it means the online format allows you to participate in online classes, lectures, and projects as quickly as you can properly complete the required work.

If you see a school offering you an "instant degree" or anything similar, you're looking at a scam. These types of schools are out to profit on potential students by taking their money and issuing a fake degree that has no legitimacy or accreditation associated with it. These degrees are easily revealed as fake. Colleges, universities, and employers see fraudulent degrees for what they are, and so want nothing to do with anyone who has one.

Accreditation is essential.

Why? Because proper accreditation indicates that an independent agency has inspected and vouched for the courses and degrees offered by a given school.

Accreditation is a simple means of verifying the legitimacy of a college.

Literally, it's that simple: if a school has current accreditation from one or more well-known education accrediting agencies, as a prospective student, you're in good shape.

If you are reviewing a school and thinking about enrolling as a student, you must ensure that the school has easily recognizable, respected accreditation. If a college or university claims to be accredited, conduct simple, quick research yourself. Please take note of a few important details that are worth noting.

Legitimate accrediting agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation. These agencies are either national or regional accrediting bodies.

If you are reviewing a college that is primarily accredited by a regional organization, it may suggest that this is a less rigorous accrediting agency. It is counter-intuitive, and in fact, the opposite is true. The nitty-gritty, really detailed accreditation is completed by regional organizations. It is these accrediting bodies that are certified by the larger federal organizations and departments.

If you have doubts about a school's accreditation, search its website, and if necessary, use a web search engine with the school's name and the word "accreditation" or "accredited".

Trust your instincts.

If you have any persisting doubts, move on: there are a lot of schools out there. Thousands of legitimate, rigorous, well-known schools are searching for an individual like you to become their next student!

The online colleges and online universities listed on our site are, without exception, well-respected and well-known. We have established, active relationships with all of them.

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