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