Interested in an online degree program? Before you scour the web, we’ve composed ten tips to help you detect fraudulent online programs and universities. Stay tuned for part two of our article!
According to US News, here’s how to spot a fake online school.
Questionable Accreditation
Both traditional and online universities need to be nationally or regionally accredited. Accreditation means the university and its programs meet certain standards of quality. Always check to see if a university is accredited before investing time and money.
Too Easy
Many online universities proudly boast of how simple their programs are, but a university that takes this too far is a red flag. If an online university states that students can earn degrees quickly and without much effort, be suspicious. Earning a degree always involves effort.
Copycat
Fake degree programs will often attempt to use a name that resembles a famous university. If you run into a name like ASU Cosmetology, further research will show you ASU offers no such program.
Unable to Find Information
You should be able to find information about the university apart from its website. If you can’t find a campus or business address for instance, that’s a bad sign. Even online universities shouldn’t just have email addresses and P.O. boxes.
Grammatical Errors
Anyone can build a website. An established university, however, will have experts that look over their website with a fine-toothed comb, ensuring the site is free of grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and facts/stats that are no longer current. A misspelling on an online university website isn’t just unprofessional; it’s a sign of a scam.
What You Can Do
With so much fraudulence on the net, prospective students may be wary of enrolling into an online college. DegreeSearch Online is dedicated to helping students find accredited online degree programs without any cost. Use our free search engine today.
