Diploma Mill Police (Degree Mill Lookup + Scam Reporting) - GetEducated

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

What the service covers

• 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

• 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:

• U.S. Dept. of Education resources on diploma mills and accreditation recognition. Diploma Mills and Accreditation (U.S. Dept. of Education)

• Institution/program lookup. DAPIP

• Accreditor recognition context and directories. CHEA directories

Fit boundaries

Best fit when…

• 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

• You encountered a suspicious school not in the list and want a channel to submit it for review. Report school and degree scams

• You want practical guidance on common diploma-mill patterns and accreditation checks. 10 ways to spot a diploma mill

Not a fit when…

• You need an official accreditation determination without further verification (use DAPIP/CHEA and accreditor records). DAPIP; CHEA directories

• 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

• 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

• 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)

References

• Degree mills list (GetEducated)

• Report school and degree scams (GetEducated)

• 10 ways to spot a diploma mill (GetEducated)

• Online college degree mills prevalence (GetEducated)

• Diploma Mills and Accreditation (U.S. Dept. of Education)

• DAPIP (U.S. Dept. of Education)

• CHEA directories

• College degree scams (FTC)