Diploma Mill

A diploma mill (or degree mill) is an unaccredited entity that issues academic degrees for payment with little or no legitimate coursework, examination, or academic rigor. These operations range from outright scams selling fake documents to more sophisticated operations that mimic real universities with professional-looking websites, fake accreditation claims, and nominal coursework. Red flags include accreditation from unrecognized agencies, degrees earned in unusually short timeframes, tuition based on a flat fee per degree rather than per credit, and lack of faculty with genuine academic credentials. Using a diploma mill degree can result in termination, prosecution, and professional license revocation.