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Distance learning is in constant flux. The only thing that remains constant is its increasing acceptance.

Diploma mills are spreading across the Internet like a wildfire across the prairie.

In many states a shady character with a $500 computer, a printer, and a picture of a university can set up his own "university web site" and start printing up diplomas on demand in his basement. These "schools" promise a fast and easy road to a degreed job but they can destroy your personal and professional reputation for life.

Modern communications technology has opened new vistas in distance education; it also has opened the back door to scamsters and flimflam artists who get a $300 computer and an internet account, then set up shop as a "virtual university" whose only education related activity is the printing of diplomas and degrees. There is a lot of controversy around the definition and use of the term "diploma mill" because, as new university models evolve in the wake of innovations in educational technology, it is hard to come up with a definition of a diploma mill that doesn't include at least one perfectly legitimate unconventional school.

Keep in mind that, when I talk about "diploma mills" here, I mean:

Any institution offering a postsecondary degree, diploma, or certificate while claiming accreditation which does not exist or which has been granted by an accrediting agency not recognized by either the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as a legitimate accreditor. I would also include schools which do not claim accreditation but misrepresent how widely their degrees are accepted by other educational institutions, licensing and credentialing agencies, and employers in the public and private sectors.

There is no legitimate reason to claim accreditation that doesn't exist. Although there might be a case for claiming accreditation from an earnest accrediting agency which has not yet received recognition from the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, there is no honest reason not to tell people about the status of the accreditor. There are a lot of fly-by-night "distance learning universities" out there that fit this description. They are operated by unscrupulous people who take advantage of the fact that distance learning is new to most people. Some of these outfits must be pretty successful (financially) because they have been running high-priced ads for years.

I will not name them because the wealthier diploma mills like to sue people who expose them. Suing gives them publicity and an air of legitimacy. And, if they have deep pockets, they can run their adversaries into bankruptcy, making it appear as though they have won their case. For this reason, when my clients ask about a particular school, I will not come right out and say "This is a diploma mill." Instead, I will say: "Here is a list of concerns that would make me very hesitant to enroll with this school."

One way to avoid diploma mills, of course, is to hire someone like myself whose specialty is knowing what to look for and what to avoid in distance education. I have to admit, I got interested in this field the hard way -- by being burned myself.

There are literally thousands of distance degree programs out there. Some are excellent, some good-to-fair. Some are so dreadful that listing them on your resume might land you in prison. Amazingly, price isn't always the best indicator. Finding just the right distance education program can be overwhelming. That's why I started DegreeFinders.com SM Counseling Service.

Take a look at our Counseling Questionnaire. Whether or not you use our service, the questionnaire will give you an idea of the many factors you need to keep in mind when selecting a distance degree program.