How can I avoid mistaking a diploma mill for a reputable online school?
There are a number of red flags that may indicate that a supposed school is really a diploma mill. For example, they offer a college degree for a set fee, rather than by the number of units taken. There is no school term, like a semester or quarter. The payment for the diploma offers the option to pick your own grade point average. You can purchase your bachelor’s and master’s at the same time (for an additional fee, of course). There is no physical address, just a post office box. But another way to double-check an online school is to check with the Department of Education to see if it is on their approved list. Other places to check out the school include the Distance Education and Training Council and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
