How to Avoid Diploma Mills

The Internet boasts thousands of institutions of higher learning. The Web has also increased the opportunity for more college degree scams then ever. You might not just lose money when getting degrees from diploma mills. Several states have laws making it a misdemeanor to present degrees from unaccredited institutions on applications for employment. Here's how to avoid getting burned.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Research the universities you've chosen against the list of post-secondary schools recognized by the Secretary of Education. If the college is missing from the Secretary of Education's list, you should definitely investigate further.
   

2. Check the remaining schools against the lists of known unaccredited institutions. The state of Michigan, as well as several other state agencies maintain a list of unaccredited schools as well as known diploma mills.

3. Contact the school and ask if you can arrange a tour (regardless of whether you can actually travel there.) Diploma mills are notorious for only having one phone number or, lacking that, just a fax number (to send your order). If possible, talk to a live person and get as much contact information as you can. Universities require a large staff, however it takes very few people to produce fake diplomas. A staff and faculty list should not only be present on the website, it should also be lengthy.

4. Check with the Better Business Bureau in the university's area to see if there have been complaints of fake diplomas or internet fraud.

5. Search for references from the college's alumni. Most universities are more than happy to provide references from former students. Former customers of diploma mills would hardly end up on the college's list of references.

6. Research the accrediting agency since there are "accreditation mills" as well as diploma mills. The accrediting agency should be recognized by either or both the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

7. Report a scam if it happens to you. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) maintains a complaint center as does the FBI, through the Internet Fraud Complaint Center. Contact the Better Business Bureau as well. Then spread the word if you feel so inclined. The more people that know, the harder it is for a diploma mill to stay in business selling fake degrees.

Tips & Warnings

• Schools that focus on life or work experience for degree credit, yet only ask for a resume, are highly questionable. Some legitimate schools do give a limited amount of credit based on work experience and a very lengthy professional and "prior learning" portfolio. The terms are usually very restrictive.
• Avoid institutions that spend more time talking about how fast you can get your degree rather than the course you'll need to complete. Also, beware of a school that requires payment based on the degree or diploma being offered, not per class or semester.
• Any school that offers a money back guarantee for the diploma you "earn" should send up a red warning flag.
• Stay away from any school whose only contact information is a fax number, or single phone number, with no physical address. If there is no person you can actually talk to, hold on to your wallet!
• If all you need to be "admitted" to the university is a credit card then the college or university is probably a diploma mill.