Online degrees are getting more and more popular, and why not? Online degree programs provide a great opportunity and flexibility to people who can’t travel to some distant college or university, for any given reason, to acquire the degree (and of course the education). However, as it is the case with everything with a lot of demand on internet, online degree programs are subjected to many different kinds of scams or frauds.
So, if you are looking to go for an online degree, you must exercise due diligence and make sure that you are enrolling into a program which is valid and well reputed. Remember that a degree not authorized or recognized by the concerned authorities is nothing but a piece of paper no matter how sincerely you’ve studied the courses.
Here’s how to validate a degree before going for it.
Physical Address:
In spite of the fact that they are offering online degrees, the university has got to have a physical address and contact details. If the website doesn’t have a physical address, it is most likely a con job. And if the address or phone number is given, try visiting their office if possible, or you can ask some of your contact living in the same region to visit the site and confirm.
Authorization:
All universities need some kind of authorization from higher education authorities, before they can start to issue degrees. So, you must get in touch with the higher education commission and confirm the legitimacy of the university. Also, some online degree programs will cite some sort of an affiliation with an authorized college or university. In that case you’ve got to contact the said college and confirm the affiliation.
Domain Look up:
The university domain has got to have the TLD specific for education websites (i.e. .edu) but remember that it doesn’t guarantee the validity of the degree itself (similarly, there are exceptions with some authorized institutes not going for the .edu TLD). Apart from the TLD, do a domain look-up and see if the website has been changing owners as of late, also take a look at the web archives to confirm that the website is there for at least some time.
Too easy to be true:
Online degree programs are not supposed to be a walk in the park. You have got to study the material provided by the university, take lectures, complete assignments, and pass exams, in order to obtain a degree. If the so called university seem to be handing out degrees like free give away, While the only requisite seems to be some experience, and of course( *cough, cough) the fees, the degree program is quite unreal.
Search & Reviews:
Any online degree program worth your money (and of course time) should be having some mentions at credible websites, link backs, or reviews posted on independent websites. If the university name is nowhere to be found on the net, and the only positive reviews about the program are found in the testimonial section of the website, it is almost certainly a bogus degree program.
Natasha is an internet marketing expert by profession. When she’s not working, she likes to work out, read, and even draw (though she shares her paintings with very few people who are good at containing their laughter). Currently, she’s working for White Painted Furniture that provides the best services for White bedroom furniture .
