Online Degree Mills - How to Recognize and Avoid Them

Globalization and the rapid pace of technological advancements have made it increasingly necessary for thousands of working adults to return to school in order to gain new skills or to remain competitive within their present profession. Balancing work, family obligations, and daily activities in our fast paced society is often challenging enough, but more and more working adults are discovering that they must also find a way to squeeze in continuing education courses, professional certificate programs, and obtain a graduate degree in order to remain competitive.

It`s often impossible for working professionals to shuffle their work schedule and family obligations around in order to attend traditional campus based classes. Online education has become widely popular in recent years since it offers the perfect means for adult learners to continue their education without interrupting their work, family, or financial responsibilities. Online learners are eligible for the same federal financial aid programs that traditional students receive, and employers often offer generous tuition assistance benefits to help their employees take advantage of the opportunities available. Online degree programs offer flexible class times, accelerated courses and, theoretically, a degree from an accredited and respected university.

Ivy League Schools Want You - Degree Mills Do Too

Traditional colleges and universities are adding online degree and certificate programs at breakneck pace thus enabling adult learners to earn extremely respectable degrees from the comfort of home. Working adult learners can now achieve an Ivy League education regardless of where they live and do it while they work. Unfortunately the same accessibility that makes the internet a perfect medium for distance education also makes it a haven for scam artists offering worthless "degrees" from "schools" that in many cases don`t exist at all and at best offer fake accreditation. Phony degree granting mills bilk unsuspecting students out of millions of dollars each year and also pose a serious danger to public safety.

RNDegrees.net carefully screens each college and university featured on this site to ensure that they are accredited or in the process of becoming accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Additionally, nursing schools are accredited by two national organizations, the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) which accredits all types of nursing education programs, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which accredits programs that offer only master`s and baccalaureate level nursing degrees.

Attending an accredited nursing school allows you to take advantage of federal educational funding and also ensures that you will be qualified to attend other accredited nursing schools should you wish to pursue advanced nursing degrees such as a BSN to MSN program, or Nurse Practitioner program for example.

While we strive to ensure the schools we feature are fully accredited we also realize that you may visit other online education sites that do not screen the schools they deal with, and so your best protection from degree mills, diploma mills, and other fake degree scams is to know how to recognize and avoid them in the first place.

Spotting Degree Mills and Avoiding Fake Degree Scams

1. Degrees based upon "Life Experiences".
Legitimate colleges and universities sometimes offer some college credit for work experience. An example of one such legitimate program is Jacksonville University School of Nursing which offers nurses with an active RN license 30 credits towards their BSN degree for previous nursing experience.

2. Offers diploma for money.
If you`ve been online for any time at all I`m fairly sure that you`ve received more than your share of annoying e-mail spam offering everything from over-the-counter Viagra clones to the "get a real degree" in just two weeks for only $499.99 (or something similar) offers. As tempting as it might be to think about calling that number or clicking the link to buy a degree don`t do it! Obviously no legitimate college or university offers to sell degrees. Furthermore, using a phony degree to obtain employment or advancement endangers the public and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

3. If it seems legitimate is must be.
Pick up a copy of publications such as Newsweek, Forbes, Business Week, or USA Today for example and you might run across an ad or two offering something like "fully accredited university degrees in a matter of weeks". Fake degrees are a multi-million dollar criminal industry, so it pays to advertise. Advertisements in respected journals, newspapers, and magazines do not mean the school being advertised is legitimate. No legitimate college or university grants real degrees in a matter of weeks.

4. Website and contact details.
Most legitimate schools have .edu web site addresses, but not all, and some bogus schools managed to get .edu domains before they became more tightly regulated, so possession or lack of .edu domain extension is not proof about whether a school is legitimate or not. Check the contact information while at the school`s web site though and you`re likely to notice a stark contrast between the details readily available on sites belonging to legitimate schools and the lack of details available on the sites of phony schools. Legitimate colleges and universities want you to be able to contact them by a variety of methods and list their address, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and often provide names and contact information for different departments on their site. On the other hand, the last thing a diploma mill operator wants is for you or the authorities to be able to know their actual location, (which might be a drop box at mailboxes are us), so at most they will probably list a phone number or e-mail address as the sole means of contact on their web site. If the "school" tries to make it hard for you to get in touch do yourself a favor- don`t!

5. School name... Looking like a duck and quacking like a duck doesn`t mean it`s a duck...
Check the name of the school and its location carefully. Degree mill operators often give their phony schools names that are similar to legitimate schools, and in some cases have used a real university`s name but placed it in location that differed from school`s location. One prime example of the latter scenario was a phony degree mill operation calling its fake school "Ashford University (London) " - easy to confuse with the genuine Ashford University, a highly respected school in Iowa! Luckily the FTC nabbed that operator and confiscated their web sites.

Accreditation isn`t always what it seems to be.
Diploma mills frequently emphasize terms like "legal", "licensed", or "accredited". Some of those terms are meaningless while others are intentionally misleading. Diploma mills use words such as legal or licensed to imply that their business license confers some sort of government approval to their "school. Other fake schools claim to be accredited but the accreditation comes from bogus "accreditation boards" they created themselves. Accreditation of U.S. colleges and universities is a voluntary peer review process conducted by independent accreditation agencies. The U.S. Department of Education evaluates these accrediting agencies determines which are to be considered reliable based upon such criteria as the quality of education or training offered by the institutions of higher education or higher education programs they accredit. Accrediting organizations that are "recognized" have been reviewed for quality by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDE). Protect the value of your degree by checking the accreditation of the college or university you are considering applying to against this list of U.S. Recognized Accrediting Organizations before you apply!

If a college or university is not accredited, its students will probably not be able to participate in employer tuition assistance plans, veteran`s education benefits, or government student aid programs. Additionally, a non-accredited degree might be worth less than the paper it`s printed on. Don`t become a victim of phony online degree scams!

The College Network

Online

Start your nursing career with The College Network. Earn your NLNAC/CCNE Accredited nursing degree online from one of our partner universities: Regis University, Indiana State University, Angelo State University and more at 1/2 the cost and time of traditional universities with no campus attendance, no wait list and local clinicals.

Programs:

• LPN/LVN to RN - AS in Nursing (Licensed LPN/LVNs only)
• LPN/LVN to RN - BS in Nursing - Indiana St. - (Licensed LPN/LVNs only)
• Paramedic to RN

Kaplan University

Campus

Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work.

Programs:

• MS in Nursing
• RN to MS in Nursing
• RN to BS in Nursing

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale

University of Phoenix

Campus

As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.

Programs:

• M.S. in Nursing
• MS in Nursing (RN Required)
• BS in Nursing (RN Required)

Campus Locations:

San Jose
San Francisco
Costa Mesa
Sacramento
Murrieta
Pasadena
Los Angeles
Rancho Cordova
Salida
Ontario
Lancaster
Online
Livermore
Gardena
Elk Grove
Woodland Hills
Roseville
Fairfield
Oakland
Bakersfield
Fresno
Lathrop
Diamond Bar
Palm Desert

Walden University

Online

Balance your personal and professional commitments while earning a respected Ph.D., master's degree, or bachelor's degree online at Walden University. Programs offered in management, education, psychology and health and human services.

Programs:

• B.S. in Nursing (BSN)
• Post-Masters Certificates in Nursing - Nursing Education
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) - General

University of St. Mary

Online

Give your career a boost with University of Saint Mary. We offer online degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to help make your educational and professional goals a reality.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Kaplan College - KHE

Campus

Don't wait another day to take the next step forward in your career. Kaplan College can give you the real-world knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field.

Programs:

• Diploma: Vocational Nursing
• Diploma: Nurse Assistant Training Program
• Diploma: Patient Care Assistant/Technician

Campus Locations:

Vista
San Diego
Chula Vista
Bakersfield
Riverside
Stockton

American Career College

Campus

American Career College (ACC) offers hands-on training that will prepare students for careers in the healthcare industry at three campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County, California. ACC's programs combine classroom lectures and hands-on training to prepare students for a Diploma or Associate of Occupational Science degree.

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing
• Medical Assistant
• Associate of Occupational Science in Respiratory Therapy

Campus Locations:

Anaheim
Ontario
Los Angeles

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Campus

Take the first step toward advancing your nursing career. Chamberlain College of Nursing offers a highly respected degree coupled with clinical learning experience in your local area.

Programs:

• Master of Science in Nursing
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

Campus Locations:

Addison

Independence University

Campus

You can advance your career 24/7 with online education at Independence University, your proven partner with over 30 years of experience in delivering quality distance education right to our students. Our programs are designed to allow you to continue working and earning as you pursue your online degree.

Programs:

• BS - Nursing
• MS - Nursing Administration
• AS - Occupational Studies in Medical Specialties

Campus Locations:

Salt Lake City

California College San Diego

Campus

California College San Diego (CCSD) offers degree programs in Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, and Computer Science. Online programs are offered by our affiliated college, Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
• Master of Science in Nursing Education (Online)
• Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration

Campus Locations:

San Marcos
National City
San Diego

West Coast University

Campus

Achieve your educational and professional goals with help from West Coast University. We offer accelerated Health Care Administration degrees designed for working adults like you.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• LVN to BSN
• RN to BSN

Campus Locations:

Ontario
Anaheim

Carrington College California

Campus

Carrington College California offers the programs you need to begin a career in healthcare. Choose from Healthcare, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, or Veterinary Services.

Programs:

• AS in Vocational Nursing
• Certificate in Vocational Nursing
• AS in Registered Nursing

Campus Locations:

San Jose
San Leandro
Sacramento
Antioch
Emeryville
Pleasant Hill
Citrus Heights
Pomona
Stockton

Career Colleges of America

Campus

Get your career started with Career Colleges of America. We have four campuses in the Los Angeles area offering a wide variety of allied health training programs.

Programs:

• Vocational Nurse
• Nurse Assistant
• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Los Angeles
Gardena
San Bernardino
South Gate

Concorde

Campus

We believe hands-on experience is the best way to learn. And at Concorde, you’ll find that a “learn by doing” approach to healthcare training will get you the skills you need to succeed-- and get you into the workforce quickly.

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing
• Vocational Nurse
• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

North Hollywood
San Diego
San Bernardino
Garden Grove

Santa Barbara Business College

Campus

California is home to beautiful landscapes, a diverse population and countless things to do. Santa Barbara Business College is a California technical school that helps people just like you learn skills for their career. After all, without a good career, it can be difficult to enjoy all the wonderful things California has to offer.

SBBCollege is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. For information on graduation rates, median debt of graduates who completed these programs and other important information, visit http://www.sbbcollege.edu/consumerinformation/disclosures.php. SBBCollege offers financial aid to those who qualify.

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing
• Medical Assisting Diploma
• Medical Assisting Associate

Campus Locations:

Rancho Mirage
Santa Maria
Ventura
Santa Barbara

Intercoast Colleges

Campus

Get your career started with Intercoast Colleges. We offer a number of certificate programs in a variety of fields, including medical, allied health, massage therapy, nursing, and electrical training.

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing
• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Fairfield
Elk Grove
Orange
Carson
West Covina

Institute of Technology

Campus

You can get started on a new career with Institute of Technology. We offer diploma and associate degree programs for careers in the culinary, technical, medical, business, and legal fields.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.it-colleges.edu/disclosure

Programs:

• Vocational Nursing-Diploma
• Medical Billing/Coding Specialist
• Professional Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Redding
Modesto
Clovis
Stockton
Citrus Heights

Roseman University

Online

The USN accelerated online program offers accelerated nursing education that allows you to earn a BSN in just 14 months. This new program blends the personal convenience of online course study with enriching clinical learning in Henderson, Nevada.

Programs:

• Accelerated BSN

Summit College

Campus

Get your career started with an education from Summit College. We offer programs in legal office assisting, licensed vocational nursing, office administration, administrative and clinical medical assisting, medical billing and coding, dental assisting, and accounting assisting.

Programs:

• Licensed Vocational Nurse
• Medical Assistant - Administrative & Clinical

Campus Locations:

Anaheim
Colton

Grand Canyon University

Campus

Earn your degree online with Grand Canyon University. We offer approximately 100 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs that can be completed 100% online. Degree programs are available in the fields of education, nursing and health sciences, business, fine arts and production, and liberal arts.

Programs:

• M.S. in Nursing: Health Care Informatics (Bridge)
• M.S. in Nursing: Health Care Informatics
• M.S. in Nursing: Public Health (Bridge)

Campus Locations:

Phoenix

Bellevue University

Campus

Bellevue University makes it possible for motivated adult learners to earn a high-quality college degree.

Programs:

• BS in Nursing
• BA in Health Science
• MHA Healthcare Administration

Campus Locations:

Bellevue

Keiser University Graduate School

Campus

Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.

Programs:

• Nursing, MS (Online)
• Health Services Management, Graduate Business Certificate

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale

Keiser University

Campus

Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.

Programs:

• Nursing, MS
• Medical Assisting, AS
• Health Services Administration, AA (Online)

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale

Stratford Career Institute

Online

Stratford Career Institute can help you earn your diploma from home in as little as six months, thanks to their proven study methods.

Programs:

• Health Care Aide
• Medical Office Assistant

CBD College

Campus

Get career training with CBD College. We offer an associate degree in vocational nursing, plus diploma programs for careers in the fields of medical massage therapy/physical therapy, pharmacy tech, surgical technology, and vocational nursing.

Programs:

• Associate of Applied Sciences in Vocational Nursing
• Vocational Nursing

Campus Locations:

Los Angeles

Allied Health Institute

Online

Allied Health Institute is a post-secondary vocational school offering a variety of Diploma and Associate Degree programs in the field of Allied Health. By utilizing online learning, students have the flexibility to continue their education from the convenience of their own home. Our virtual classrooms will enable students to attend classes and communicate with instructors and classmates. Students can complete some programs without leaving their current employment or sacrificing family time.

Programs:

• Medical Assistant
• Medical Office Assistant

Everest College

Campus

Develop the skills to succeed in today's highly competitive business environment. Everest College can prepare you for a rewarding career in some of today's hottest fields.

Programs:

• Diploma - Medical Assistant
• Medical General
• Diploma - Medical Administrative Assistant

Campus Locations:

Los Angeles
San Jose
Alhambra
Reseda
Ontario
LA Puente
Gardena
Hayward
Anaheim
San Bernardino
Santa Ana
Torrance
San Francisco

Platt College

Campus

Turn your talents into a career. Nationally recognized and accredited Platt College offers degree programs in Graphic Design, Multimedia, IT Networking and Paralegal.

Programs:

• Medical Assisting
• Medical Administrative Specialist
• Respiratory Therapy Associate of Science

Campus Locations:

Alhambra
Riverside
Ontario

Saint Peter's College

Online

Saint Peter's College has prepared its students for academic excellence and professional success for over one hundred years. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to providing each student with the opportunity for educational and spiritual enrichment. That same commitment to individual support is now available to learners everywhere via the new online degree programs offered by the College.

Programs:

• RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Heald College

Campus

Heald College offers 18-month associate degree programs that will prepare you for a career in Business, Technology, or Healthcare. Small class sizes, hands-on instruction.

Programs:

• Medical Assisting
• Medical Office Administration

Campus Locations:

Salida
Fresno
Salinas
San Francisco
Milpitas
Rancho Cordova
Stockton
Hayward
Concord
Roseville

UEI College

Campus

UEI College can give you the real world medical, business, and technology skills you need to start a rewarding career. Let us know how we can assist you with your personal growth by helping you train for your perfect career.

Programs:

• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Bakersfield
Fresno
Riverside
Gardena
Stockton

Milan Institute

Campus

Successful careers begin at the Milan Institute. We offer quality hands-on training, experienced faculty and a staff committed to helping you realize your goals.

Programs:

• Medical Assisting
• Administrative Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Visalia
Clovis
Bakersfield
Indio

Western Governors University

Campus

At Western Governors University, your competence - the knowledge and skills you possess - is the ultimate focus of every degree program.

Programs:

• B.S. in Nursing
• M.S. in Nursing - Leadership and Management (RN to MSN Option)
• M.S. in Nursing - Education (RN to MSN Option)

Campus Locations:

San Francisco

Empire College

Campus

Empire College, located in Santa Rosa, California, can give you the career training you need to launch or advance your career in the Business, Law, Technology, or Medical fields.

Programs:

• Medical Assisting

Campus Locations:

Santa Rosa

Saint Xavier University

Campus

“Success with Purpose” is the hallmark of a Saint Xavier University education that is grounded in the tradition of liberal arts. SXU offers graduate and post-graduate programs that are recognized and respected by employers and delivered by professional faculty who are experts in their fields. Founded in 1846 by the Sisters of Mercy, SXU is Chicago's oldest Catholic University, and it is recognized as one of the top 40 comprehensive master's universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges 2010.

Programs:

• MSN in Clinical Leadership
• MSN in Executive Leadership
• Nurse Educator Certificate

Campus Locations:

Chicago

Newbridge College

Campus

Start your career with an education from Newbridge College. We provide high-quality, career-specific training in the health care field with an emphasis on the practical skills required by today's employers.

Programs:

• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Long Beach

Pinnacle Career Institute

Online

Help get your career started with an education from Pinnacle Career Institute. We offer certificate and associate degree programs for careers in the fields of business, alternative energy, health care, fitness, technology, HVAC, and electronics.

Programs:

• Medical Assistant - Online

WyoTech

Campus

The career-focused programs at WyoTech can give you the hands-on training you need to succeed. Program areas includemechanics, technician training, and technology.

Programs:

• Medical Assistant
• Medical General

Campus Locations:

Long Beach

Mayfield College

Campus

Give your career a boost with an education from Mayfield College. Our academic programs include medical front office, computer support technician, and general office management.

What's another reason that makes Mayfield College the right choice? Students receive a new computer when they graduate.

Programs:

• Medical Assistant

Campus Locations:

Cathedral City

South University Online

Campus

Designed with the needs of working adult students in mind, South University, Online Programs is built on the same curriculum offered at South University's campus locations. As a student at South University, Online Programs you will receive the same degree, quality instruction, variety of learning options and level of service found at the campus locations.

Programs:

• Nursing Specialization in Nursing Informatics (RN-MSN)
• Nursing Specialization in Nursing Informatics (MSN)
• Nursing (BSN)

Campus Locations:

Savannah