engineering degree online : How to know if a program is just a run of the “mill”

Posted by bposton on October 27th, 2006 — Posted in engineering degree online

I got this note on my online dorm room door:

What questions should I ask to determine whether a degree provider is a “mill”?
(meaning a diploma mill that you should avoid like the plague)

OK, so here’s a short list of questions to ask.

If the answers to many of the following questions are “yes,” the organization offering the degree just might be a diploma mill:

1. Can degrees be purchased?

2. Do they claim to have accreditation but there is no evidence of this?

3. Do they claim to have accreditation but the accrediting organization is questionable?

4. Do they lack a state or federal licensure or any authority to operate?

5. Is very little attendance required, either online or in class?

6. Is there only one or just a few assignments required for students to earn credits?

7. Is the time to required to earn the degree seem very short?

8. Will they aware a degree based solely on experience or resume review?

9. Are there just a few requirements for graduation?

10. Do they fail to give out any information about a campus or business location (or only provide a post office box)?

11. Does they fail to show a list of its faculty and their qualifications?

12. Do they have a name that’s very similar to other well-known colleges and universities?

That’s the “diploma mill dirty dozen” :-)
 
Now, to be fair, there certainly are some colleges or universities that may not be accredited but are not degree mills.

For example, they may be seeking accreditation, but not yet completed the process.
Or for some reason they may have choose not to be accredited.

So ask the dirty dozen questions and you’ll soon learn if they’re legit or not.

Ben

 

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