| You want to earn a online undergraduate degree that | | | | work experiences (project management programs, for |
| is legitimate, but you're skeptical. That's understandable | | | | instance), programs that award full degrees based on |
| and you should be. With the sketchy history of | | | | life experience are scams. |
| distance learning and all of the scam colleges | | | | Steer clear of any schools that promise you can earn |
| aggressively marketing to you online you'd be crazy | | | | your degree in days or weeks. Besides wasting your |
| not to be skeptical. And who wants to spend your | | | | money, in buying one of these fake degrees, you may |
| hard-earned, or borrowed, money and sacrifice your | | | | actually be participating in criminal activity in some |
| time and effort for an education that might be | | | | states. |
| worthless to potential employers? The purpose of this | | | | What are diploma mills? |
| article is to answer your skeptical questions about | | | | Diploma mills are a scam where you "buy a degree" |
| earning your undergrad degree online. | | | | without putting forth any effort, such as homework, |
| Does accredited distance learning actually exist? | | | | assignments, tests, etc.. A college is probably a diploma |
| Yes. There are legitimate schools and online | | | | mill scam if the only requirement to be accepted is a |
| undergraduate degree programs. The quality and | | | | valid credit card, they charge a flat fee for a degree |
| legitimacy of internet degrees and online education has | | | | rather than per course or credit hour. |
| come a long way in recent years and continues to | | | | Is an online undergraduate degree as good as a |
| improve. A little time spent on research will go a long | | | | traditional degree? |
| way to insuring you make a smart decision about your | | | | Now that we've established that an accredited online |
| education. If a school claims to be accredited, research | | | | undergraduate degree exists you may be wondering |
| the accrediting agency, and check the databases at | | | | about the actual quality/value of those degrees.Most |
| the U.S. Department of Education or Council for Higher | | | | research has shown that online undergraduate degree |
| Education Accreditation. | | | | programs can be as effective as a traditional, |
| What about "life experience" degrees? | | | | face-to-face college education. Course content may |
| If you've done much research yet, you've probably | | | | be similar, if not identical, for both versions of a |
| found colleges offering college credits or even entire | | | | particular course. |
| degrees for life and work experience. If you've been | | | | Whether an online undergraduate degree is as good |
| hoping these are legitimate degrees, sorry to tell you | | | | as the traditional on-campus version often comes |
| they aren't. While there are some legitimate degree | | | | down to you and your specific situation. |
| and certification programs that allow some credit for | | | | |