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Online Degrees: Avoid Being Scammed by Diploma Mills

Education has evolved tremendously in the last few decades with the onset of online degrees. Now you can open the door to opportunities such as a new career, a job you love, and a stable salary without having to relocate, leave your job, or shirk personal responsibilities like raising a family.

The dark cloud in this otherwise favorable scenario is fake colleges and universities. Also known as “diploma mills,” these false establishments prey on hardworking people looking to further their education. To avoid falling victim to these organizations, here are some ways to spot a diploma mill.

Avoid Being Scammed by Diploma Mills

Is the online school accredited?

As you consider different online degrees, make sure the school is accredited because if it isn’t, your diploma won’t be worth anything. Be aware that some schools who say they’re accredited, aren’t. Exercise your due diligence and check with the organizations they claim to be accredited by to make sure they actually are. Since there are fake accrediting agencies, double check their validity on the US Department of Education’s site for the list of accepted accrediting agencies.

Does the online school offer a degree for your life experience?

A good rule of thumb is this: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Any school offering a degree for your life experience should be avoided. Chances are if the school is advertising the possibility to earn a degree in an accelerated time period like weeks or months, rather than years, it’s a diploma mill. A degree is earned with time, effort, and hard work and any other easy way out is likely a scam.

 

How is the online school asking you to pay?

Typically colleges charge by credit hour, course, or semester. If an online school has asked you to front the bill for your entire degree, chances are they are a diploma mill and shouldn’t be trusted. If the school is willing to negotiate on the price of tuition, it’s probably a scam. While scholarships and financial aid may be available through online schools, tuition should be non-negotiable. (Photo at right: This fake degree was purchased by Degrees-R-Us. Photo c/o Tim Dillon, USA Today.)

How much do you interact with your professors?

Like traditional schools, respectable online organizations will provide teachers and faculty to guide you through your degree and answer any questions you may have through email, chat, or online forums. If the school has limited interaction with professors, walk the other way.

Online degrees have revolutionized the way we learn, progress, and graduate, allowing people all over the world to earn advanced degrees. As you determine which school to attend for an online degree, make sure you avoid being scammed by diploma mills so you can make your degree worth your while.

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