Buyer Beware - Most of Those Online Degrees Are Not Worth The Electronic Paper They are Printed On

You fears about Online Degrees can very well come true.

A lot of online degrees are from universities that are unaccredited. These places are just businesses that collect your money and in return issue a diploma that is recognized by no one. In return, you pay your hard earned cash for nothing!

Accreditation is the key that makes a degree worth it's while. It means the organization issuing the degree has been reviewed by a board, and has met the required academic credentials.

There are at least 30 online unaccredited universities that are selling online degrees in the United states.  These businesses are nothing more that printing shops that are charging top dollar for bogus online degrees. No one recognizes these so-called universities, and the students have basically just wasted their money.

Real Online Degrees Do Exist

All hope is not lost though, because there are plenty of accredited universities that do allow you to earn a degree online.

Universities like CSU, the University of Illinois, Standford, University of Maryland, and many more.

Since, a college degree is one of the two most costly purchases that you will make in your life, make sure you don't waste your cash on a bogus degree.

Look for these signs to determine if your online degree will be worth while or not.

1. Make sure the so-called university is accredited by the Council of Higher Accreditation. They have a website at http://www.chea.org Make sure any university that you are considering is listed with them. If they aren't listed, then run away as fast as you can.

2. Be leary of any university that offers you credit for your life experience. Yes, I know there are some colleges that give life experience credits, but as a whole, those degrees do not hold up either. Colleges are accredited because they can stand bend the academic programs that they provide for you. They can only give you credit for what they have actually taught you.

3. They promise you a diploma in a month's time. Now really, how can you earn a degree in 30 days.  Even if you went to class every day for 12 hours a day, you cannot complete a whole academic program. Learning takes time, and it just simply cannot be rushed. Expect to commit at least 2 to 3 years to obtaining a degree.  There just aren't any short cuts.

4. Beware any universities that are located in a foreign country. While it's true that their are some great universities over seas, it's also true that there are tons of bogus universities over seas as well.  They are nothing more than an office which collects money and sends paper out. Worthless paper with the words Degree written on it.

5. Don't be fooled by fancy websites. Anybody can pay a web designer to create a website for them. Do your research and don't be fooled by the flash of a professional looking website.

There are just no short cuts to earning an online degree. Just because you're taking the courses over the Internet does not mean that you don't have to work just as hard as if you were in a regular class room.

Put your time in and do your research, and you'll find the right online degree program for you.  Then roll up your sleeves and get to work.

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