Does an online degree sound too good to be true? Is a school promising a full degree in a short amount of time for little effort from you?

Diploma mills are offering fake degrees online and can give unsuspecting graduates headaches rather than career stardom.

A diploma mill, otherwise known as a degree mill, is generally defined as an entity that offers, for a fee, a degree, diploma or certificate that an individual can use to claim they have education or training they have not received.

These mills have been around for decades, “but the growing demand for college degrees and the increasing popularity of distance learning have helped diploma mills thrive over the past few years,” according to the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Many degree mills will name claim to be accredited and name fake agencies in order to trick prospective students. Fake accrediting agencies can be very sophisticated in their deception and use names that may sound similar to the names of legitimate agencies. In some U.S. states it can be against the law to use a degree from an institution that is not recognized by a national accrediting agency, according to the Department of Education. Students should keep in mind that the Department of Education does not recognize any foreign accrediting agencies.

To spot a diploma mill, students should watch out for offers claiming that no studies, exams, class attendance, or waiting for a degree are required. The mills might advertise themselves in spam or pop-up ads and highlight the importance of ordering now. Degree mills typically charge a flat fee for enrollment, and they offer vague to no information about faculty.

Bottom line: A diploma mill cares more about taking money than about providing a legitimate education. Those interested in earning an online degree should find out as much as they can about the institution and program. It’s worth the time and energy!

Tips For Students on How to Spot and Avoid Diploma Mills:

• If the degree can be earned in less time than at an accredited postsecondary institution, it might be a fake, warns the Better Business Bureau. You can’t earn a bachelor’s degree in a few months.
• Check the Department of Education's List of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies to make sure the accrediting agency is legitimate or check the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or Department of Education to see if the school is listed. If you are still concerned, contact a Better Business Bureau or state attorney general's office.
• You need to do real academic work to earn a degree. Be suspicious if the program offers too much credit for lifetime or real world experience, be suspicious..
• Degree mills usually demand that the tuition be paid in full for the degree as opposed to by credit hours, course, or semester.
• Illegitimate schools tend to have names that are very similar to a well-respected college or university.
• Just because a Web address ends in .edu doesn’t mean the institution is legitimate.

For more information:
Diploma mill information from the U.S. Department of Education