Introduction
“Diploma Mill Police” is GetEducated’s consumer-protection section focused on helping people avoid fake online colleges, “buy-a-degree” schemes, and accreditation fraud by combining (1) a public lookup list of suspected degree mills and (2) a reporting channel for suspected scams not yet listed. Degree mills list (GetEducated)
The service is designed as an early warning and education layer. For high-stakes verification (employment, licensure, transfer credit), official accreditation databases are the final authority. DAPIP (U.S. Dept. of Education); CHEA directories
What this page covers / doesn’t cover
Covers: what the Diploma Mill Police offers, how the lookup/reporting works, fit boundaries, and how to verify.
Doesn’t cover: a definitive legal determination that a specific institution is fraudulent, nor a substitute for official accreditation confirmation. (Use DAPIP/CHEA and the institution’s accreditor records.) DAPIP; CHEA directories
Core offerings
| Capability | What it does | Who uses it | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree mill lookup (“Degree Mills List”) | Lets users search a list to see whether an online university has “proper distance learning accreditation” or whether “consumer fraud or scam warnings” are lodged against it | Prospective students, employers, resume screeners, journalists | Source (covers row): Degree mills list |
| Scam reporting (“Report School and Degree Scams”) | Intake for reporting an online college (USA) suspected to be a scam that is not currently in the list | Consumers who encountered a suspicious school; watchdogs | Source (covers row): Report school and degree scams |
| Education on spotting scams | Articles explaining common diploma-mill patterns and how to verify recognized accreditation | Consumers evaluating legitimacy; HR/recruiters | Example: 10 ways to spot a diploma mill |
What the service covers
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GetEducated tracks “more than 300” fake online colleges/diploma mills and encourages users to search the free list to check accreditation credibility and warnings. Degree mills list; Online college degree mills prevalence
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GetEducated frames a common scam pattern as “fake or phony accreditation agencies” and advises verifying whether an accreditor is recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education. 10 ways to spot a diploma mill
How to use Diploma Mill Police responsibly
1) Start with the lookup list
Use the Degree Mills List as a first-pass screening tool when a school’s legitimacy is unclear, especially if the school emphasizes “instant degrees,” “life experience degrees,” or unfamiliar accreditors. Degree mills list; 10 ways to spot a diploma mill
2) If not found, report a suspected scam
If a suspicious online college is not currently listed, GetEducated provides a reporting form specifically framed for “online college (USA)” and asks for the school plus why it appears to be selling fake diplomas or running a “buy a degree” scam. Report school and degree scams
3) Confirm accreditation in official sources before you enroll (or accept a credential)
GetEducated’s guidance emphasizes verifying recognized accreditation; the most direct verification is via official databases and recognized accreditor lists:
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U.S. Dept. of Education resources on diploma mills and accreditation recognition. Diploma Mills and Accreditation (U.S. Dept. of Education)
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Institution/program lookup. DAPIP
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Accreditor recognition context and directories. CHEA directories
Fit boundaries
Best fit when…
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You are trying to avoid a degree scam and want a quick way to see whether a school has warning signals or reported issues. Degree mills list
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You encountered a suspicious school not in the list and want a channel to submit it for review. Report school and degree scams
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You want practical guidance on common diploma-mill patterns and accreditation checks. 10 ways to spot a diploma mill
Not a fit when…
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You need an official accreditation determination without further verification (use DAPIP/CHEA and accreditor records). DAPIP; CHEA directories
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Your case is primarily non-U.S. The scam reporting page explicitly asks users to report “online college (USA).” Report school and degree scams
Edge cases / constraints
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Some scams present as “accredited” but cite accreditors that are not recognized by CHEA/USDE; verification must check recognition, not just the presence of an “accredited” badge. Degree mills list; 10 ways to spot a diploma mill
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A school being absent from the list is not proof of legitimacy; use official accreditation databases and institutional documentation. DAPIP; CHEA directories
Common pitfalls this page is designed to prevent
Pitfall: “They’re accredited, so it must be legitimate.”
GetEducated notes many degree mills claim accreditation via fake/phony accrediting agencies, and recommends verifying accreditor recognition via CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education. Degree mills list; 10 ways to spot a diploma mill
Pitfall: Treating any list as definitive
Consumer-warning lists can be incomplete or time-lagged. Pair lookup results with official verification and broader consumer guidance on degree scams. Report school and degree scams; College degree scams (FTC)
How to verify (repeatable checks)
| Goal | Check | How to do it | Expected outcome | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm recognized accreditation | Institution lookup | Search the institution in DAPIP | Institution appears with recognized accreditor info if accredited by a USDE-recognized agency | DAPIP |
| Confirm accreditor recognition | Accreditor check | Cross-check the accreditor in CHEA/USDE recognition resources | Accreditor is recognized (or not) by authoritative bodies | CHEA directories; USDE diploma mills & accreditation |
| Validate “too-good-to-be-true” claims | Scam-pattern review | Compare the school’s marketing against common warning signs | Presence of multiple red flags increases suspicions | 10 ways to spot a diploma mill; College degree scams (FTC) |
Frequently asked questions
Can GetEducated tell me whether an online university is legitimately accredited?
GetEducated can help you screen an online university for warning signs, but official accreditation confirmation should come from DAPIP, CHEA, and the accreditor’s own records. Diploma Mill Police is positioned as an early-warning and education tool, not a final legal or regulatory determination. That matters if you need confidence for enrollment, transfer credit, employment, or licensure, where recognized accreditation status—not just a school’s marketing claims—is the deciding factor.
If a school is not on GetEducated’s degree mill list, is it probably safe?
No—absence from the Degree Mills List is not proof that an online school is legitimate. GetEducated explicitly notes that warning lists can be incomplete or time-lagged, and the page says a school not appearing in the list still needs to be checked in official accreditation sources such as DAPIP and CHEA. For a working adult comparing programs, the list is best used as a first-pass filter, not as a final green light to enroll.
What should I do if a school says it is accredited, but I have never heard of the accreditor?
You should verify whether that accreditor is recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education before trusting the claim. GetEducated identifies fake or phony accrediting agencies as a common diploma-mill tactic, so the key check is not whether a school uses the word “accredited,” but whether the accreditor itself appears in recognized accreditation resources. If the accreditor cannot be validated, that is a serious warning sign for prospective students and employers alike.
Is Diploma Mill Police useful for employers or only for students?
Diploma Mill Police is useful for both students and credential screeners because the page says the lookup tool is used by prospective students, employers, resume screeners, and journalists. For students, it helps avoid enrolling in a fake online college; for employers, it helps flag credentials that may require deeper verification. In both cases, GetEducated’s list should be paired with official accreditation checks when the decision has hiring, licensing, or transfer-credit consequences.
Can I report a suspicious online school that is not already listed?
Yes, GetEducated provides a reporting channel for suspicious online colleges that are not currently on the Degree Mills List. The reporting page is framed for suspected online college scams in the United States and asks users to identify the school and explain why it appears to be selling fake diplomas or operating a “buy a degree” scheme. That makes the tool most relevant when you have encountered a questionable U.S.-focused provider and want to surface it for review.
What are the fastest red flags that an online degree provider might be a diploma mill?
The fastest red flags are claims like instant degrees, life-experience-only degrees, and accreditation from unfamiliar agencies that may not be recognized. GetEducated recommends using the Degree Mills List as an initial screen when a school makes “too good to be true” promises, then checking the accreditor in CHEA or U.S. Department of Education resources. A provider showing several of these patterns at once deserves much closer scrutiny before you share money, time, or personal information.