What is meant by the term "diploma mill"?

Question

I've heard this a lot on this site, but I've yet to hear of a good definition. I know it refers to a generally unreputable college or university that hands out diplomas to students who didn't really earn them, but how do I know a school is a diploma mill? And does the term refer exclusively to private colleges, or are some state universities considered diploma mills?

Thanks.

Answer 1

There are many types of diploma mills. Some will try and sell you a degree that appears to have come from a legitimate school. Others will offer to grant you a degree in a very short period of time like five days. Still others will offer to grant a degree based solely on life experience. The end result is a degree that the recipient did little or nothing to obtain.

You can spot diploma mills fairly easily if you know what to look for. Many diploma mills will not have a ".edu" address. Instead, they will have a ".org" or ".com" address. For example, www.caluniversity.com is a diploma mill. Also, diploma mills will sometimes not have a physical address or the physical address will be hard to find on their website.

You should always check accreditation of any school in the U.S. at the U.S. Department of Education website at http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp You can learn more about accreditation at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html

Good luck

Answer 2

Sounds like you know the answer to the question already.
Diploma Mill's can be spotted by asking some of the student show they feel about the campus.

Answer 3

It's people that churn out cheap diplomas that pretty much do nothing. It could mean fake diplomas. Or schools that take your money for a couple a classes and a "diploma" that will get you no where.

Answer 4

if a school will give you a degree with no work required just so long as you have a credit card with what they consider big enough available limits on it, then you're dealing with a diploma mill

Answer 5

Check out the school's accreditation.

Answer 6

It applies to unaccredited schools. All state universities are accredited.

Answer 7

Check out this site for more information about the meaning ""diploma mill"":

http://www.degreebuzz.com/diploma_mill

Best Regards and good luck with your research on this!

Henry