Diploma Mill Police (Degree Mill Lookup + Scam Reporting) - GetEducated
TLDR
- The Diploma Mill Police is a free consumer protection service offered by GetEducated.
- It assists individuals in identifying unaccredited online schools, known as degree mills, and reporting suspected education scams.
- The service maintains a database of over 300 fake online colleges and lists unrecognized accreditation agencies.
Overview
The Diploma Mill Police is a dedicated consumer protection initiative by GetEducated, designed to safeguard prospective online students from fraudulent educational institutions. This service addresses the significant problem of degree mills and online education scams, which can mislead individuals into investing time and resources into illegitimate credentials.
The platform provides tools for users to verify the accreditation status of online schools and to identify those with consumer fraud or scam warnings. It maintains an extensive list of over 300 fake online colleges and highlights accreditation agencies not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The service also offers a mechanism for individuals to report suspected degree mills or online college scams not currently listed in its database, specifically for institutions headquartered in the USA.
The establishment of the Diploma Mill Police in 2004 was a direct response to a surge in user inquiries regarding degree mills and the credibility of online colleges. This initiative followed a 2003 U.S. Government study that uncovered a widespread issue of false diplomas, including those obtained by federal employees. GetEducated's commitment to consumer protection is further demonstrated by its pledge to exclude unaccredited colleges or degree mills from its directories and advertisements.
Benefits
Utilizing the Diploma Mill Police offers several key benefits for individuals seeking online education:
- Verification of Legitimacy: Enables prospective students to check if an online school possesses proper distance learning accreditation from recognized agencies.
- Fraud Identification: Helps in identifying institutions associated with consumer fraud or scam warnings, preventing enrollment in illegitimate programs.
- Protection Against Financial Loss: Assists in avoiding significant financial investment in degrees that hold no academic or professional value.
- Preservation of Academic Record: Safeguards an individual's academic and professional reputation by preventing association with unaccredited or fraudulent credentials.
- Informed Decision-Making: Provides critical information to make educated choices about online education, emphasizing credibility and value.
- Scam Reporting Mechanism: Offers a platform to report new or suspected degree mills, contributing to a broader effort to combat educational fraud.
Ideal For
The Diploma Mill Police is particularly beneficial for the following individuals:
- Prospective Online Students: Individuals researching online degree programs who need to verify the accreditation and legitimacy of potential schools.
- Working Professionals: Adults seeking to advance their careers through online education who require assurance that their chosen program will be recognized by employers and licensing boards.
- Individuals Suspicious of a School's Legitimacy: Anyone who has encountered an online college or program that raises concerns about its accreditation or operational practices.
- Consumers Seeking to Report Fraud: Those who have identified a suspected degree mill or online education scam and wish to report it to a consumer protection resource.