| The goal of an online education is more than | | | | |
| just a formal diploma or degree program. | | | | 3. To be admitted to a bogus program, you |
| There are courses for just about any purpose | | | | are only asked for your credit card. Your |
| that you can imagine including general | | | | academic records, GPA (grade point average), |
| interest. What advantages does an online | | | | and test scores are not requested. |
| education bring? Aside from working at your | | | | |
| own pace, students have flexibility over | | | | 4. A degree is offered based on your resume, |
| their working location. Also, the costs of | | | | granting class credit for "life experience." |
| an online education are generally less than | | | | Accredited colleges do offer some course |
| the costs of classes taken on a campus. | | | | credit (up to 30 credits) for career |
| However, if you are considering earning an | | | | experience, but no accredited college will |
| online degree, you need to take certain | | | | give a degree for life experience only. "If |
| precautions against degree mills! | | | | you encounter an online graduate school that |
| | | | advertises master's or doctorate degrees |
| A degree mill is a fake university that sells | | | | based solely on life experience, check |
| college degrees without requiring the | | | | accreditation carefully. You are almost |
| education to earn it. As you may already | | | | certainly dealing with an online degree mill. |
| know, bogus diplomas are a big online | | | | Fake colleges that print worthless paper |
| business. Vicky Phillips, CEO of LLC | | | | degrees are considered degree |
| states, "Prestigious unaccredited university? | | | | mills...students each year." (Source: |
| No such creature. Not | | | | "College Credit for Career Experience" by |
| online...Accreditation is the highest mark of | | | | Vicky Phillips, CEO, GetEducated.com, LLC) |
| academic quality. Without accreditation a | | | | There is one exception to this. Thomas |
| bogus online university can begin awarding | | | | Edison State College of New Jersey, USA |
| degrees overnight. More than thirty bogus | | | | awards degrees based upon corporate training, |
| universities currently sell online degrees in | | | | career experience, military service, and |
| the United States and Canada." How do you | | | | course challenge exams. To get a degree, all |
| know if an online degree program is genuine? | | | | your experience must be carefully documented |
| | | | and validated. |
| Online Degree Mills: 10 Warning Signs of a | | | | |
| Bogus Program | | | | 5. You are promised a degree (i.e.; a piece |
| | | | of paper) within thirty days of application |
| 1. The U.S. or Canadian online program is | | | | regardless of your background. Usually, you |
| not accredited. An accredited program will | | | | are not required to take any classes or |
| state it on the website. The website looks | | | | tests. |
| flashy, but doesn't mention accreditation. | | | | |
| | | | 6. You are promised a degree for a specific |
| 2. The online program claims to be | | | | cost, such as $2,000 for a bachelor's or |
| accredited, but not by an agency recognized | | | | $3,000 for a graduate degree. Accredited |
| by the Council on Higher Education | | | | colleges do not do this; they charge per |
| Accreditation ( Bogus degree mills will | | | | credit. |
| claim accreditation, but only CHEA has the | | | | |
| names of valid accreditors. The U.S. | | | | 7. The program you are considering has many |
| Department of Education Higher Learning | | | | complaints on the Better Business Bureau |
| Commission recognizes the following as | | | | website: |
| national accreditation agencies: | | | | |
| | | | 8. An employee of the college swears that |
| *Middle States' Association of Schools and | | | | online colleges can't be accredited by the |
| Colleges | | | | CHEA or any agency. |
| | | | |
| *New England Association of Schools and | | | | 9. The college has no faculty or lists |
| Colleges | | | | professors who have attended colleges that |
| | | | are not officially accredited by the CHEA. |
| *North Central Association of Schools and | | | | |
| Colleges | | | | 10. The college is located in a foreign |
| | | | country with no accreditation agencies, and |
| *Northwest Association of Schools and | | | | offers degrees to anyone. |
| Colleges | | | | |
| | | | If you are considering entering a U.S. online |
| *Southern Association of Schools and Colleges | | | | degree program, accreditation by the CHEA |
| | | | should be checked carefully to avoid |
| *Western Association of Schools and Colleges | | | | worthless, online degree mills! |