5 Signs that an Online Degree is a Scam


Wednesday, 29 September 2021

If you want to make sure you choose a fully accredited online degree, take these signs into account to rule all possible scams out.



When it comes to choosing a degree, there are many aspects you need to consider. From the career opportunities it leads to and its earning potential, to whether you want to study on-campus or online, your interests, passions and what you are good at, this decision entails so many different aspects that it can be overwhelming and extremely difficult.

If you want to study online, you need to make sure you choose a degree that is fully accredited. Otherwise, you will learn a lot but you will end up with a useless degree, which would be a waste of time, money and effort.

You might be wondering “How do I make sure that an online degree is accredited?” 
Online learning has grown at staggering rates in recent years, which has led to more opportunities for legitimacy and transparency. However, there are still some online programs that are fraudulent.

The following are some signs that an online degree is a scam:

Accreditation status is suspicious


If potential students suspect a college is falsely claiming accreditation, they should start by digging deeper into the university they are interested in, and making sure that it is accredited by the Department of Education and any other accrediting agency. 

The name is somehow familiar but not completely


Stealing renowned names and modifying it a little is not completely uncommon even though it may be completely wrong. In this case, students should do extensive research to make sure the online program is legitimate. 

It seems easy and fast to earn the online degree


If prospective students find an online learning degree that is promising they can get the degree with not much time and effort, this is a major red flag. 

Any degree, whether it is online or on-campus, requires effort and time. Otherwise, students won’t be getting a quality education that allows them to acquire the skills and knowledge to compete in the workforce. 

The address seems murky


Prospective students must check not only the physical, but also the web address of the online institution. Typically, universities and other higher education institutions’ URLs end in .edu, which means that if the online institution has another URL, it might be a warning sign. 

They are pressuring or giving you incentives to get you to enroll


Potential students should pay attention to this red flag: If the counselor sounds more like a salesperson than an advisor and you feel they are pressuring you to enroll, this is a major warning sign. 

If you want to make sure you choose a fully accredited online degree, these are some of the signs you need to take into consideration.

Luckily, at topuniversities.co.za we want to make sure that students get the best education possible, which is why we are committed to giving students all the information they need about the programs that appear on our website. Click here to find the best online programs available.




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