Diploma Mills: Degrees of Deception
Are you ever tempted by an email or an ad claiming you can "earn a
college degree based...on life experience"? Don’t be. Chances are good that the ad is for a "diploma mill," a
company that offers "degrees" or certificates for a flat fee, requires little course work, if any, and awards
degrees based solely on life experience. Most employers and educational institutions consider it lying if you
claim academic credentials that you didn't earn through actual course work. Federal officials say it’s risky
behavior: If you use a so-called "degree" from a diploma mill to apply for a job or promotion, you risk not getting
hired, getting fired, and in some cases, prosecution.
Read
