In the past few decades there has been a mushroom growth of academic institutions all over the world. The induction of computer sciences into academics has given rise to the concept of online distance learning, which is the most popular system of education these days and getting momentum day by day. But with this progress, some problems of authenticity of the educational institutions have also come to the fore and the fake or the fraudulent institutions is one of them. Such institutions are called the degree or diploma mills. Now there are many state-run institutions, which help spot these deceitful organizations. For example in the United States of America, Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is responsible for highlighting the common features of non-accredited institutions or degree mills. One should resort to the websites of such state-run offices for guidance prior to apply for admission in any institution.


Degree mills pose to be academic institutions but in fact work for their monetary benefits by deceiving people in the name of education. Such institutions may deceive people by showing them the lists of their academic programmes and get their money as fees and never provide the students their degrees. The other degree mills offer degrees and diplomas just against money without going through any academic courses. Degree mills also award degrees and diplomas against one’s experience in some particular field. In such cases, degree mills never bother about the stipulated qualifications for these degrees. The degrees and diplomas obtained by degree mills have no practical value and are just worthless pieces of paper. One should remember that submission of fake documents for one’s eligibility is a serious crime and may convict one for years or permanent disqualification for any post whatsoever. As the main purpose of the degree mills is to sell degrees, they never add anything to your life experience. Furthermore their contribution to your learning is zero.


Degree mills design their websites usually with high-sounding phrases but the course material is just the copy of some well-known academic institutions. Usually the details of the course material of the different disciplines are the same, which discloses the reality of a degree mill and help the students to stay away from them. In order to deceive the students, almost all the degree mills intentionally misrepresent themselves by creating similarities in their names, URL and website layout with those of the reputed and accredited institutions of the world.

Practically there is no academic study in degree mills. The degrees or diplomas are awarded to the so-called students against money. As the main purpose is to sell a degree, hence, all rules as well as standards of education are violated. These degree or diploma mills also boast of having accreditation of their degrees by the official accrediting bodies but usually the names quoted by them are fake or unapproved. Therefore before taking admission to any institute, it is advisable to check the authenticity of that institution and its academic programmes. Such vigilance is quite worthwhile and saves one from the loss of time and money.