How to Avoid Diploma Mills

When beginning the search for a respected online or distance learning degree program, it is important to remember that not all degree programs are the same; they are not even all real degree programs. The problem of "diploma mills" is a steadily growing, very serious problem, that can effect anyone trying to earn a worthwhile degree online. It is very important that you follow certain basic safety procedures when deciding on a school or program to ensure that you are not being taken in by one of these misleading programs.

One of the first red flags when researching a distance learning school or university is the inability to easily find information about the school. It is a good idea to do a Google search for the university by name. You will see results that range from advertisements to negative comments about the school. If you cannot easily search and find information about the school's history and mission, you should be suspicious. This is usually an indication that the school is not what they seem.

If the college or school is not accredited so that the credits you earn for classes can be used to further your education, you should also be concerned. This would mean that if you took, lets say an associates degree program, and then later decided to continue and take your education to the master's degree level, you would not be able to transfer your credits. The classes and degree that you had previously earned would be useless. It is very important that the school you decide to take a degree program from be accredited through either the Council on Higher Education Accreditation or the U.S. Department of Education.

If, while searching for a degree program to meet your needs, you come across a site that indicates you will be able to receive a degree for a certain dollar amount - without having to take any classes or do any work - run the other way. This is most certainly a diploma mill, and they are selling illegal degrees to anyone with enough money to buy them. This is not morally or ethically correct. These degrees are also useless in the business world. You would not be able to use this type of degree to get a job in your chosen field, and you could also be legally liable for purchasing a fake diploma.

It is also a red flag against the school or university if they promise you will be able to earn a degree in a very short amount of time. Most of these colleges and schools are diploma mills. It should take you 2 years to earn an Associates Degree, at least 4 years for a Master's, etc. If they promise you will earn the degree in considerably less time than it should take, be very wary of this school. The same can be said for any school that has few requirements for graduation. That would again indicate that they are not actually giving all the classes necessary to earn a real degree in any given subject. This is not a chance for you to earn an easy degree, it is a reason to avoid any classes or programs offered by that school.

It is also important to remember that in order to earn a true diploma certain minimum classroom hours must be met. If the school has no requirements for attendance (minimum or otherwise) it would be wise to avoid them. It is also important to ensure that the school or university is actually legally licensed to operate. If not, you should stay away from the school.

If you are careful, and pay attention to anything that sounds too good to be true, you should be able to find a good distance learning college or school that also has a good reputation and offers quality classes and degrees. Just remember that you must research your chosen school thoroughly before signing up for any degree program. Use caution when choosing your school and program, and you should be able to earn a beneficial and very advantageous degree to further your career and education.