A diploma mill, also known as a degree mill, is a phony university that sells college diplomas and transcripts—the actual pieces of paper—rather than the educational experience. Diploma mills are scam colleges that literally crank out fake diplomas to anyone who pays the requested "tuition." Diploma mills often promise a fast college degree based on "life experience ." The Get Educated online education team has prepared these Top 10 Signs of an Online College Degree Mill to help students protect themselves from this popular online scam. Don’t be fooled by degree mills. Many maintain impressive-looking websites, and all of them advertise heavily online under the attractive terms "fast degree," "life experience degrees," "fast online degree" and "work experience degree ." To protect yourself, look behind the curtain. Flip past the flashy graphics on the website and the promises of an instant degree for the name of the school’s accreditation agency. Then, take the time to verify that the agency is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education . If you remain suspicious, consult the Diploma Mill Police for a free accreditation report and to evaluate if your chosen college might possibly be a degree mill.
