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What Is A Degree Or Diploma Mill?
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Why Are Diploma Mills Problematic?
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How Can I Tell Whether An Institution Is A
Diploma Mill?
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Does The Clearinghouse Work With
Diploma Mills?
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What Is A Title IV Accredited Institution?
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Where Can I Find More Information On Diploma Mills?
1. What Is A Degree Or Diploma Mill?
A degree or diploma mill is an entity that sells fraudulent educational
credentials, such as diplomas and/or transcripts, without requiring any or
an appropriate amount of the work typically required for such academic
achievement.
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2. Why Are Diploma Mills Problematic?
Diploma mills are a form of academic fraud. Academic fraud devalues college
degrees by making them available for purchase without academic work and robs
honest graduates of jobs. Organizations that unknowingly hire employees with
fraudulent degrees can face serious consequences from lost revenue to public
embarrassment and even lawsuits. Furthermore, academic fraud can damage the
hard-earned reputations of legitimate institutions.
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3. How Can I Tell Whether An Institution Is A Diploma Mill?
Carefully research schools you are interested in. Check their accreditation
with the U.S.
Department of Education or the Council
for Higher Education Accreditation. Be suspicious of schools that:
- Offer degrees that can be earned in an unusually short time (e.g., a
bachelor's degree in a few months)
- List accreditations not recognized by reputable organizations
- Place an unusually strong emphasis on earning credit for life or real
world experience
- Charge tuition on a per degree basis as opposed to by credit hour,
course or semester
- Offer discounts for enrolling in multiple programs
- Require little or no admission criteria (such as academic record)
other than a valid credit card
- Use names deceptively similar to legitimate, and often prestigious,
educational institutions
- Use box numbers or suite addresses instead of physical addresses
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4. Does The Clearinghouse Work With Diploma Mills?
No. The Clearinghouse only works with Title IV accredited institutions.
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5. What Is A Title IV Accredited Institution?
"Title IV" refers to a section of the U.S. Higher
Education Act of 1965, which outlines the eligibility requirements for
participation in federal student financial aid programs.
A Title IV institution has been accredited by a recognized accrediting
agency. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) recognizes select accrediting
agencies as reliable authorities based on the quality of education or
training offered by the institutions or programs they accredit.
You can search ED's
database of Title IV accredited institutions to view a school's list of
accreditations and their school code, as assigned by the department.
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6. Where Can I Find More Information On Diploma Mills?
For more information on diploma mills, please visit the following pages:
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