Good morning, campers.  I wiped out my web site a long time ago, but still get requests for the document below - The NIFI Criteria.  So I've put it back up.  It's a bit out of date, but still useful.  Got any questions?  Go to the forum section of  http://www.degreediscussion.com and ask them there.  I'm no longer active in the field of nontraditional education, but the folks there can provide a myriad of perspectives on these issues.

I first wrote the NIFI Criteria in 1992 in my book Name It & Frame It: New Opportunities in Adult Learning and How to Avoid Being Ripped Off by "Christian" Degree Mills.  The criteria have gone through several additions and revisions, and I have adapted them here in a more generic manner for prospective students seeking distance degree programs.  The criteria contnued to be updated in subsequent editions of NIFI, through the 4th and final edition published in 1995, and they have since been updated into their current form.

There is no specific formula for applying the criteria.  (In fact, many legitimately accredited degree programs may fit a couple of them.)   Likewise, if a school fits one or two criteria, it does not necessarily mean that the school is a degree mill.  The criteria must be taken as a "package," and if they apply to a school in a significant combination, chances are that the school is a degree mill.  Applying them, however, is largely subjective, and depends largely on each individual's skills at analysis and critique.

The criteria were specifically developed to evaluate schools in the United States.  Because accreditation is unique to U.S. schools, I do not presume that all of the criteria are applicable to foreign schools.  (And quite frankly, I don't care - I'm actually quite provincial when you get down to it.)

So, is a school that you are considering legitimate, or is it a degree mill?  Open up their catalog, or pull up their web site, and start asking yourself the following questions . . .

        1. Does the school claim accreditation by an association that is not approved by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)? Unaccredited schools that are legitimate don't claim accreditation at all; but if a school claims an unrecognized accreditation, chances are that it's a degree mill. Schools claiming accreditation by the Accrediting Commission International for Schools, Colleges, and Theological Seminaries (ACI), the World Association of Universities and Colleges (WAUC), and the American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions (AAATI) are automatically degree mills, as the accreditors themselves are shams.

        2. Does the school claim to be accredited by an association that sounds like a legitimate agency but is slightly different in name? For example, watch out for schools that claim to be accredited by the Middle State Commission of Colleges and Schools rather than the legitimate Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, or by the American Association of Theological Schools rather than the legitimate Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.  So check it out yourself. For a full list of U.S. Department of Education-approved accreditors, click here.

        3. Does the school claim that it "intends to apply for," "has applied for," "is investigating," "has been in dialogue with," "is recognized by," or is "pursuing accreditation" with a legitimate agency? Schools that use such phrases are often, though not always, degree mills, since these statements give no true indication about the institution's chance for actually achieving accreditation.

        4. Does the school attempt to overtly justify not being accredited? One degree mill notes, "As long as we adhere to the literal-intended [sic] meaning of the Word given to this present dispensation of Grace, it will have God's approval; it will be accredited by Him." Another degree mill even claims to be accredited by "God Unlimited." Schools that actively downplay accreditation are usually degree mills.  Likewise, a school that spends pages of text  in its catalog or on its web site explaining the nature of accreditation is generally a degree mill.  A school is either legitimately accredited or it is not; if you have to read a magnum opus about accreditation, the school is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

        5. Does the school claim to avoid accreditation or purport to be accredited by an unrecognized agency based on "separation of church and state?" Or, is a school that purports to offer a secular curriculum sponsored by, owned by, or a division of a church? If so, it may be attempting to justify its operation under an individual state's exemption from licensure for religious institutions, and chances are that it's a degree mill.

        6. Does the school claim to be accredited by organizations that do not accredit institutions at all? Some degree mills claim to be accredited by the Internal Revenue Service, the Library of Congress, and the National Association of Evangelicals, none of which are in the business of accrediting institutions of higher learning.

        7. Does the school claim to be accredited by another college or university? Nonsense - in the United States, schools do not accredit other schools at all.

        8. Does a school which is not accredited by a regional association claim that regionally accredited colleges accept their courses for transfer credit? If so, ask the school which regionally accredited colleges accept their courses. If the school hesitates in providing this information, it's a degree mill. If the school does name one or more regionally accredited institutions that allegedly accept their courses, call the registrar's office at those schools to verify the claims. There are always exceptions to the rule, and the occasional recognition of credit for an unaccredited course does not indicate that a regionally accredited college has a general policy of accepting such coursework. The key question: can you transfer credit for the courses you take to any school of your choice? The only way you can guarantee this is to take the courses themselves through legitimately accredited schools.

        9. Does the school have an online catalog but no regular, printed catalog? It's a degree mill. Schools may publish their catalog or viewbook online, but legitimate schools always have a printed catalog available.

        10. Does the school advertise as an "Internet university?" Ditto. I can create an Internet university in less than an hour that will look as impressive as any traditional college or university. If the school does not have a real physical facility, it's more than a degree mill, it's a scam.

        11. Does a school's web site give the school's physical address and phone number? If either of these are missing, it's a degree mill.

        12. Speaking of web sites, does the URL for the school's web site have an .edu extension?  The URL for all major colleges and universities in the United States ends with .edu, not with .com or .org.  Thus, the URL for, say, John Doe University will be something like www.doe.edu. If it is www.johndoeuniversity.com or www.johndoeuniversity.org, chances are that it is a degree mill that did not qualify for assignment of an .edu suffix.  (Any individual or business can get a .com suffix, and anyone with a little imagination can get an .org, but the standards for .edu are much more strict.  On the other hand, because a school has an .edu suffix does not rule out the possibility that it is a degree mill.  If the person approving domain names on a particular day is not familiar with the criteris for legitimate schools, even a degree mill can be assigned an .edu domain.  Nonetheless, any institution that purports to grant degrees and has a .com or .org domain in their web address raises a red flag.)

        13. Is the school listed in a standard directory of colleges such as Lovejoy's or Peterson's guides? These directories are available in any library as well as many bookstores, and include profiles of legitimately accredited Bible colleges as well as secular schools. The lack of a school's listing in a general college or graduate school directory isn't a final indication that it's a degree mill, but it should raise a red flag.  (Incidentally, Peterson's is a legitimate publisher with a long history, but they do not reveal that many schools pay for advertising in their guides; read them with discernment.)

        14. Does the school's catalog have a complete list of their own faculty, and does the list include where they received their degrees? (If not, they may have something to hide.) If they are listed, are a large number of the faculty's degrees also from unaccredited institutions? That, too, is a sign of a degree mill.

        15. Do an inordinate number of faculty members have one or more of their own degrees from the school itself? That spells a home-grown organization, and is often (though not always) an indication of a degree mill.

        16. Does the school list well-known persons as adjunct faculty members based on the use of audio or video courses? For example, a school may use course tapes featuring Billy Graham, then claim that Graham is on their adjunct faculty. It's a common degree mill tactic, and should raise questions about the integrity of the school's program. Also be careful about schools using the terms invited instructor or visiting lecturer. Just because a school invites someone to lecture doesn't mean that person is going to accept. The term visiting lecturer can mean someone who actually teaches an occasional full-length course or a person who shows up to give a one-hour lecture once a year. Be discerning.

        17. Does the school list prominent persons on its board of advisors? Listen up, campers: there's a major difference between terms like board of advisors, board of directors, and board of trustees. Directors or trustees are normally involved in making significant policy decisions that affect an institution. However, advisors merely advise, and their participation in an institution is usually minimal. Let's say that I start a degree mill, then call Billy Graham and ask him to sit on my board of advisors. If he says yes, I get to use his name to give my institution credibility. However, he will neither teach at my school nor have any authority in policy-making decisions. All I have to do is call him one or twice a year and ask for his advice. (That's what makes him an advisor.) Don't be misled by an impressive board of advisors list; they mean nothing.  Also be careful about the term board of trustees if the school is a proprietary (profit-making) institution.  Generally, only non-profit schools has trustees; if a profit-making school claims to have them, it may be a meaningless term.

        18. Does the school list persons to whom they have granted an honorary degree? While some schools list persons who have spoken at special functions or convocations, a school that prominently features the names of persons who have allegedly been granted honorary degrees is often a degree mill. The caliber of a school's graduates (those who have earned, not honorary, degrees from the institution) may, though not always, be an indicator of their quality; a list of persons who have been granted honorary degrees by the school is generally irrelevant. The more prominently a school features such a list, the greater the chance is that it's a degree mill.

        19. If the school lists the number of students currently enrolled as well as the members of the faculty, is the student-to-faculty ratio realistic? A school that claims to have 5,000 students enrolled but lists only ten faculty members, for example, would have a 500:1 student-to-faculty ratio. That signifies a poor program. The average student-to-faculty ratio in a credible school should be 30:1 maximum.

        20. Does the school offer multiple degree titles within each level of education? For example, one religious degree mill offers degree titles at the graduate level alone that include Master of Arts, Master of Church Business Administration, Master of Biblical Studies, Master of Christian Studies, Master of Religious Studies, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Ministry, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, Master of Christian Counseling, Master of Biblical Counseling, Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Divinity, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Christian Counseling, Doctor of Biblical Counseling, ad infinitum, ad nauseam. Legitimately accredited schools generally offer only one or two three degree titles at each academic level, for example: Master of Arts or Master of Science. Any school that offers more degree titles than sound reasonable is very likely a sham.

        21. Does an American school offer degrees with British (rather than American) titles, or do they award degree titles other than those normally offered by legitimately accredited schools? The most common academic degrees awarded in the United States include the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts or Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. If you find an American school offering titles such as the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), Doctor of Philosophy (abbreviated D.Phil. rather than Ph.D.), chances are that they haven't met the licensing standards in their state that would allow them to offer the more accepted degrees. Let me make it clear: there is no legitimate reason for an American college or university to offer degrees with a British title. Also, be careful of schools offering "oddball" degree titles such as Doctor of Apologetics (D.Apol.), Doctor of Christian Education (D.C.E., rather than the more accepted Doctor of Education, or Ed.D.).

        22. Does the school offer graduate degrees without requiring an undergraduate credential (for example, admitting students to a master's or doctoral program without a previously earned bachelor's degree)? With few exceptions, chances are that it's a degree mill.

        23. Does the school offer professional post-graduate degrees such as the Master of Law (LL.M.) or Master of Theology (Th.M.) without requiring a prerequisite degree (such as the J.D. or M.Div.)? It's a degree mill.

        24. Does the school sound too small to be credible? One unaccredited Bible college noted in their newsletter that in one semester they had enrolled "9 students in the dormitory. In addition we have 3 commuting full-time students, 8 part-time undergraduate students, and 3 master's level students. This gives us a total of 23 on-campus students." A school of that size is hardly large enough to have a solid faculty, credible library, or adequate resources to meet the needs of students in a higher education program, let alone to grant degrees. By the way, if a school refuses to tell you how many students they have enrolled, avoid it like the plague.

        25. Are the school's degree requirements comparable to those of legitimately accredited institutions? Schools that require only four courses for a master's degree or a ten-page dissertation for a doctorate degree are more than degree mills - they're outright jokes.

        26. Does the school have more than one administrator or board member in the same family? That, too, signifies a home-grown character. Watch out for any school in which John Doe, Sr. is the chancellor, John Doe, Jr. is the president, and Mary Doe is the vice-president, etc.

        27. Do administration or faculty members have more than one doctoral degree, and are those degrees earned or honorary? If you see a person listed who holds, for example, the "D.D., D.R.E., Lit.D., Th.D., and Ph.D.," there's either something fishy about his credentials or he's been in school longer than you and I have been alive.

        28. Does the school's catalog make inordinate use of personal testimonies? This may be fine if you're shopping for a diet plan, but it won't tell you anything about the quality of an educational program. Remember that people who offer testimonials may truly believe that they have legitimate degrees, but that's not necessarily an indication of reality.

        29. Does the school offer credit for life experience at the graduate level? Generally, experiential credits documented through a learning portfolio are an accepted part of regionally accredited non-traditional undergraduate programs. As a general rule, however, legitimately accredited graduate programs require that students pursue new learning and do not offer credit for life experience at the master's or doctorate degree level.

        30. Does the school administer unproctored examinations for correspondence courses? All legitimately accredited schools that offer correspondence courses for credit require that examinations be taken under proctored conditions, meaning that the exam is supervised by a test proctor approved by the institution in a controlled environment to ensure that the student doesn't cheat or use an open textbook if it's not permitted. Final examinations are generally sent directly to the test proctor, who gives it to you to take, then mails the completed exam back to the school. Any school that says they will send you a final examination (as opposed to a quiz or assignment, neither of which requires a proctor) and allows you to take it at home without academic supervision is a degree mill.

        31. Does the school grant a master's or doctorate degree without any residency whatsoever? This criterion is subjective on my part, but I'll go for it anyway. I believe that graduate-level degrees, especially in human services fields, should have at least some degree of residency, even though the bulk of the program might be non-residential, to ensure that the student is learning how to competently apply skills that will have a significant impact on other people. Any school that purports to grant graduate degrees that are totally non-residential in a human services field such as counseling, medicine, ministry, psychology, or social work is a degree mill.

        32. Does the school claim to use correspondence courses, tests, or portfolio evaluation methods that have been developed by legitimately accredited schools? Several degree mills have purported to use materials developed by Columbia Bible College & Seminary, the Institute for Theological Studies, Thomas Edison State College, and other legitimate institutions, often without the permission or authorization of those institutions. If a degree mill claims to use the resources of accredited schools, you may as well go directly to those accredited schools so your studies will have legitimate value.

        33. Does the school's catalog or marketing literature quote the Sosdian-Sharp Study, a 1978 government survey indicating that there is a high satisfaction level with non-traditionally earned degrees? Virtually every school that refers to this survey, some of which print adapted versions in their catalogs, is a degree mill that misrepresents the survey's findings. The study, which surveyed non-traditional program graduates about their success in job promotions and graduate school admissions, dealt solely with legitimately accredited institutions. Not surprisingly, the degree mills don't mention that.

        34. Does the school's catalog or brochure contain a statement denying that the school is a degree or diploma mill? Listen up, campers: any school that denies that it's a degree mill most likely is a degree mill. Legitimate schools don't have to make such an inane disclaimer.

        35. Does a school or organization purport to certify you in a particular profession, and if so, is it a legitimate certification? Degree mills offer certifications that have no professional validity at all. Hell, I can grant you status as a Certified Non-Traditional Education Specialist. With that and fifty cents, you'll be able to afford half a cup of coffee - but not much more.

        36. Does an organization or association offer to certify you in a professional field (such as counseling) without your having to take a board examination, or will they certify you without requesting your academic transcripts? No legitimate association would certify you without validating any credentials you claim to have.

        37. Does a school or organization purport to offer you professional licensure? Don't buy into that one at all. Licensure is granted by state licensing boards, not by schools, organizations, or professional associations. Chances are that any school or professional association that offers licensure is a sham.

        38. Is a school, church, seminary, denomination, or ministerial association willing to ordain or license you as a minister without meeting you? Most legitimate denominations and churches require a biblical or theological education, supervised practicum, and proof of your calling before granting you ministerial credentials. Mail-order ministerial credentials may be legal, but they're worth nothing in terms of legitimate ministry and will end up doing more harm than good in terms of your reputation.

        39. Does a school or professional association place an undue emphasis on the final product, such as an "attractive wall certificate," or "beautiful diploma, suitable for framing?" Generally, not only is such an organization a degree or credential mill, you may be able to buy the diploma or certificate outright.

        40. Does the school's catalog or brochure include a picture of a sample degree or diploma? If so, does it look like an actual university diploma? (If you've never seen a real diploma, check with a local accredited college or university.) Many schools print their "beautiful diplomas" on corporate stock certificates, the paper for which is available from any legal supply store or printing house. Beware: many of the sample diplomas that appear in degree mill catalogs look totally bogus to the experienced eye. If your own eye isn't experienced, be discerning.

        41. If you have seen a copy of the school's diploma, how is it signed? If the president of a school uses a title in his or her signature on a diploma, chances are that the school is a degree mill. Standard protocol for diploma signatures is the use of name only, not name and title.

        42. Does the catalog emphasize the availability of school paraphernalia such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, rings, or other accoutrements? That legitimate schools will have these items available in their bookstores is a given; when their availability is stressed in a catalog, it's a sign that you're dealing with a degree mill so thorough that they have manufactured the "signs and wonders" to go along with the image. (And why not? After all, the paraphernalia is another source of profit for the school itself.)

        43. Does the school's catalog include any photographs of the campus? If so, does the school look like a college, university, or seminary? For example, the catalog of one degree mill shows several students in front of a two-story house holding up a banner with the school's name, a weak effort at illustrating their "campus." Also, be careful of brochures or catalogs that with photographs of the city in which the school is located but not of the school itself. City photographs may be impressive, but they don't tell you about the institution's facilities (or lack thereof). Likewise, degree mills that have store-front locations, are located in an office suite, or that use a mailbox service generally don't print photographs of their "campus" at all.

        44. Likewise, does the catalog of a school which offers only external programs provide a beautiful, flowing description of the city in which they're located? If most or all of your studies will be external or non-residential, such descriptions are irrelevant and often misleading in terms of the quality of the school itself. I can establish a "school" in my home town of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I can tell you that Philadelphia is "the birthplace of our nation, where our founding fathers devoted themselves to prayer as they penned the words of our historic documents. Even now, millions of people a year visit such historic sites as the Liberty Bell, Constitution Hall, and Valley Forge Park. The metropolitan Philadelphia area is also a center of higher learning that, in addition to major colleges and universities, includes six medical schools, five law schools, and several Bible colleges and theological seminaries. The city is located along several major highways and is mid-way between New York City and Washington, the national hubs of commerce and government." Now, what have I told you about my school? Absolutely nothing. Here's the message, campers: When it comes to irrelevant facts, be discerning - not distracted.

        45. Be careful for language that misrepresents a school's library holdings or the relationship a school has with other libraries. One degree mill, for example, claims to have a "small, remote library." That can mean anything from a closet to a bookcase in the living room in the home of the school's president. Another degree mill makes a proclamation on the level of, "While we are continuing to build our own library, the Smith library, which is located downtown and houses over 100,000 volumes of books, is available for our students for research. The director of the library has given permission for our students to use the library for their research projects. This places our school in a great advantage regarding research materials." What they don't tell you is that the library they've named is a public library which anyone can use, and that public libraries normally don't have extensive collections of academic works. (And, at 100,000 volumes, they were describing a small public library.) If a school doesn't state up front how many holdings (books, subscriptions, tapes, etc.) they have in their own library, a red flag should go up immediately. Also, if a school claims to have a "special relationship" with another library, even a local college or university library, that should also trigger some discernment. Most college and university libraries are available for a student at any school to use (even schools other than the one with which the library is affiliated), and many of them are open to the general public as well. And take it from an old campus-free student, many Bible college and seminary libraries will let anyone in.

        46. Does the school's catalog or letterhead provide a street address or only a post office box number? If a street address, is there a suite number? (This is often a sign that the address is a mail forwarding service.) The absence of a street address does not necessarily indicate a degree mill in itself, but when combined with some of the other factors in this list it's a good indication that the school may be a degree mill.

        47. If a school has an actual campus location, how long have they been at that location? Beware of schools that have moved often, or have relocated from state to state. The relocation of a legitimate college or university is a major move. There are a few exceptions, but generally schools that have a habit of moving from one location to another are either too small to be legitimate or are degree mills that move to a new state after their current state tightens its requirements for institutions of higher education.

        48. Is the school located in a state that exempts religious or other nonprofit colleges, universities and seminaries from regulation by the state commission on higher education? These are a natural gathering place for degree mills. Be especially careful about schools located in California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Missouri. Degree mills can pop up in any state, but these five seem to have the highest concentration. Runners up: Alabama, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Washington.  At this writing, South Dakota is one of the biggest offenders, but recently passed legislation is likely to result in yet another degree mill exodus to other states.  Louisiana has also tightened its laws, and you will likely see a move of schools from there to other states.

        49. Does the school have addresses in more than one state? A few legitimately accredited schools have extension campuses in other states. However, many degree mills operate in one state but declare "field offices" in another state in order to be able to grant their "degrees" from states that regulate institutions of higher education minimally.

        50. Is the school's telephone number listed in their local telephone directory? It's worth a call to directory assistance to find out if they have a phone number listed under the name of the school itself. If not, chances are that you're dealing with a degree mill. (Remember, however, that some degree mills do list their numbers.) Also, do not be deceived into thinking that a school is legitimate because they advertise a toll-free number. Any business, as well as individuals in many states, can get a toll-free number easily (in many cases, the only cost is for individual calls made to that number), and the existence of a toll-free number is not an indicator of a school's size or credibility. (In fact, many degree and credential mills obtain toll-free numbers merely to enhance the public's perception of their credibility.)
 

        52. Try calling the school at, say, 3:00 A.M. on a Sunday morning. Is the telephone answered by someone who sleepily says, "Hello?" Congratulations - you've just awakened the president (or his or her spouse) at home. And the school? It's a degree mill.

        53. If the school uses the word State in its name, is it actually a state college or university?  A recent trend among degree mills has been to imply that they are a state college - common examples of degree mills are American State University (Hawaii), Columbia State University and Columbus State University (Louisiana), and Loyola State University (Illinois), allof which operated out of mailbox services.  Another common tactic is to use a front name similar to legitimate universities (both the legitimately accredited Columbia and Loyola are private universities).  The best way to check on whether "_________ State University" is really a state-related school is with that state's department of education; do not take the school's word for it.  If you have any doubts, combine those doubts with some of the other criteria here; for example, if a "state" university advertises in classifieds, that in itself indicates that it's a degree mill.

        54. Does the school's tuition seem too cheap to be true? If so, it probably is. A school that charges only a few hundred dollars for a bachelor's degree, or only one or two thousand dollars for a doctorate, is a degree mill. Such schools may attempt to tell you that the reason their tuition is so inexpensive is that (1) they're passing the savings of external studies onto you, or (2) because they are not answerable to the government or a regional accrediting association they can afford to charge much less for their degrees. Don't believe it. (And remember, even when it comes to education, you generally get what you pay for.)

        55. Does the school offer "combination" degree programs at a discount? These are not the same as "dual majors," which are often offered by legitimate schools at the undergraduate level, but actually are offers for multiple degrees, for example, bachelor's and master's, or master's and doctorate. Only degree mills tend to make such offers.

        56. Does the school offer a substantial "cash discount" if you pay the tuition for your entire degree program up front? This is a classic bait technique that ensures that once they have you they'll keep you, and no legitimate school would do it. Let me digress for a moment and offer some practical advice: never pay more up front than you have to. Even if you enroll in a legitimate program, spread your tuition payments out as much as possible. There are two reasons I make this recommendation. First, making regular tuition payments is a motivating factor that will help you pursue your studies with interest. What you get out of something depends, in part, on what you put into it, and making regular payments will remind you of the commitment you're making to your higher education. (This is a secret behind the success of many health clubs and gymnasiums, which charge patrons several hundred dollars for an annual fee. When the customer pays the entire fee up front, he or she often exercises with enthusiasm for a few weeks, then loses interest. The health club doesn't care; after all, they have all of their money up front.) Second, spreading out your tuition payments leave you with a way to get out if the program isn't what it's cracked up to be. If you're not satisfied with the quality of a degree program but have paid your entire tuition up front, you can be sure that they won't be anxious to give you a refund and you'll be stuck in a program with which you're unhappy (or, you'll be out a lot more money if you withdraw). Never pay for more than the course you're taking or the semester in which you're enrolled (and, even then, use a monthly payment plan if it's available). And, if you're not satisfied with the quality of the program, don't feel guilty about withdrawing and refusing to make further payments, even if you've signed an alleged "contract." There's no reason you have to settle for mediocrity (or worse) and, if you decide to withdraw, you don't have to let a school intimidate you into making payments for a program that doesn't cut it. If a school tries to make you pay for a program with which you're not satisfied (and legitimate schools generally won't do this), it may be worth consulting a lawyer to uphold your rights. Remember, above all, that as a student, you are a consumer of educational services and the ball is in your court.

        57. Does the school offer "scholarships" without knowing about your academic ability or financial needs? A common degree mill tactic is to mail you their literature and, if they haven't received an application from you shortly thereafter, send you another mailing offering you a "scholarship" or "tuition discount." Be aware that this is a marketing ploy designed to get you to enroll, and that no legitimate school would make such a blanket offer.

        58. Degree mills can sometimes be identified by the publications in which they advertise, and some publications are havens for degree mill advertising. The biggest offenders today? USA Today and virtually any airline magazine. Ditto obvious luminary academic journals like The National Enquirer, The Globe, and Star. For religious schools, the biggest offender is Pulpit Helps, followed by Charisma and Christianity Today.

        59. Speaking of advertising, beware of schools that advertise through classified ads in any publication (including legitimate magazines). Legitimately accredited schools use only display advertising, not classifieds. Let me make this point strongly: I have never seen a school advertise in a classified ad that wasn't a degree mill.

        60. Do magazine or newspaper ads for a school include a photograph of the school's president, provost, or chancellor)? Generally, when legitimate schools feature anyone in their advertising, it's usually one or more prominent faculty members. Only degree mills tend to feature their chief executive officer in their advertising.

        61. What about the school's catalog itself? Does the school charge for the catalog? With the exception of a few Ivy League schools and large state universities, college and university catalogs are generally free. For small schools, especially religious schools, to charge for their catalog should immediately raise a red flag; only degree mills tend to do it.

        62. Does the catalog, in addition to listing specific degree requirements, include both course titles and course descriptions? Is it of a length and quality comparable to catalogs from legitimately accredited schools?

        63. Is the catalog or brochure commercially printed or just a photocopy? Typeset or created with a standard typewriter? Perfect bound (like a book) or simply stapled? Remember, catalogs that have a poor appearance often give an accurate representation of the school or a professional organization itself.

        64. Does the school claim that it's out of catalogs? Legitimate schools rarely, if ever, run out of catalogs. If you have requested a catalog from a school and they respond that they've run out of them, it's possible that the school doesn't publish a catalog in the first place. In short, if any school claims that they do not have a catalog available for any reason, your discernment level should rise immediately.

        65. What about the letter that came with the catalog? Is it printed on an actual letterhead produced by a commercial printer, or on a letterhead that was run through a photocopy machine or created on a laser printer? The poorer the letterhead (or the letter itself) looks, the higher the chance that you're dealing with a degree mill.

        66. Is a school's letter to you signed by an admissions director or by an officer of the school (such as the chancellor, president, or a vice-president)? The higher the position of the person writing a recruitment letter, the higher the chance that you're dealing with a degree mill. Is the letter personally addressed to you, or is it a form letter? A legitimate school will take the time to write you a personal letter. With all of these criteria, however, keep in mind that if you are dealing with a large degree mill, they may have sophisticated marketing or recruiting techniques and their cover letter may look legitimate. Another way of putting it: a letter that looks good could still be from a degree mill, but a letter that looks poor is almost definitely from a degree mill.

        67. If you have received a letter from a school's president or any other representative and he or she claims to have a doctorate degree, how is the person's name signed? Here's a fine point of academic protocol which you should be aware: the word doctor and a degree title are never used together. A letter may be written by "John Doe, Ph.D." or "Dr. John Doe," but never by "Dr. John Doe, Ph.D." Not only is this redundant, it's also an indication that ol' John Doe may have earned a bogus doctorate degree himself. Remember that the old maxim, "If you've got it, flaunt it," isn't necessarily true. A person with a legitimate doctoral degree doesn't have to flaunt it. Also, the name of a letter writer may indicate a degree title, but the signature itself shouldn't. If a person hand-signs his or her name with a title, that should also raise a red flag.

        68. What about the envelope in which the catalog or brochure was mailed to you? Was the return address pre-printed, printed on a label, or handwritten? (An envelope with a handwritten return address is almost a sure sign of a degree mill. It can also indicate that the school or organization is very small or doesn't want to spend money on having their return address printed on their envelopes.) Was your name and address typed or handwritten? (If your address was handwritten it doesn't necessarily indicate a degree mill, but the sloppier the presentation the higher the chance that it is.) Was the envelope stamped with postage stamps or by a commercial postage meter? (Most legitimate schools and many of the larger degree mills use postage meters. The use of stamps doesn't necessarily signify a degree mill, but it does indicate a much smaller school or organization.)

        69. Is the school organized as a proprietary (profit-making) or not-for-profit corporation? While there are some legitimate proprietary schools in existence (including some that have regional accreditation), keep in mind that the primary goal or proprietary organizations is to make a profit. They may or may not provide a credible education. (In terms of religious schools, many degree mills are also incorporated as non-profit organizations. However, if you find a religious school organized as a proprietary or profit-making institution, that should immediately raise a red flag.)

        70. One of the best ways to inquire about distance education programs is the forum http://www.degreediscussion.com.  Another forum, the alt.education.distance newsgroup, has become so spam-filled over the past year that is no longer a valuable resource.  However, even in its heyday,  alt.education.distance was often a forum in which degree mill operators attempted to defend their institutions.  This is not the same as students or graduates attempting to defend degree mills (which is usually a personal exercise in denial).  But if a school administrator attempts to defend his or her institution on any forum against allegations that the school is a degree mill, then it is a degree mill.

       71. Does a school threaten litigation if it is critiqued?  If so, it's a degree mill.  Legitimately accredited schools know that there will be a diversity of opinion about their programs, but degree mill operators are quick to fly off the handle and threaten a defamation suit.  I mention this because, on occasion, a degree mill will actually threaten litigation right on an Internet forum.  (I have been threatened with lawsuits many times, but only one school has ever actually filed a suit, which was later withdrawn.)

        72. This one is esoteric, but I'll throw it in as a freebie. It's an item that, if you are a prospective student, you may not have the opportunity to discern, but it's a degree mill indicator nonetheless, so I've included it. If you've ever received a bank check from the school, what is the size of the check itself? Most individuals have been issued checks on their bank accounts that measure six inches by 2-3/4 inches. These are known as personal checks. Most businesses, on the other hand, use business checks that measure about 8-1/4 inches by three inches. If a school uses personal checks rather than business checks for its own checking account, that should raise a red flag as to the their size and credibility.

        73. Here's another freebie . . . Does the school have the reputation of ever having been a degree mill historically?  If so, don't assume that a school that proclaims to have cleaned up its act will not tarnish your résumé based on questionable history.  Two examples: Andrew Jackson University once offered correspondence doctorates and was affiliated with a sleazy counselor education program; they cleaned up their act sufficiently enough to become accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a U.S. Department of Education-approved accreditor.  Ditto the former American Computer Sciences Institute, which was also accredited by DETC.  Ditto LaSalle University, which was busted after an extensive F.B.I. investigation, gutted its administration, and now claims to be the new and improved Orion College.  History is not the ultimate criterion in judging a distance education program, but the sleazier the history, the more red flags are raised.

        74. Even if a school is accredited by a Department of Education-approved agency, do not assume that their degrees will have universal acceptance, do not assume that their course credits will automatically transfer into a regionally accredited college or university, and do not assume that their degrees will guarantee your admission into the graduate program of your choice.  Many regionally accredited schools do not recognize the accreditations of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC, which largely accredits vocational programs), the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS, which has had a questionable history of its own), or any accreditation that does not come from one of the six regional associations.  If you want your degree to have universal acceptance, or you want to ensure your admission into the graduate program of your choice, regional accreditation is the only way to do it.
        Remember, however, that some professional fields require accreditation from a professional agency approved by the Department of Education.  If you want to be a lawyer in most states, you will require a degree approved by the American Bar Association to sit for the bar exam.  If you want to be a psychologist, you will need a degree approved by the American Psychological Association to sit for the psych boards.  However, schools with these accreditations will almost always be regionally accredited as well.

        75. Now that you've read all of the other criteria, be discerning - even when it comes to finding out about legitimately accredited schools.  Don't just look at what they're telling you, look at what they're not telling you.  If a paralegal program accredited by DETC doesn't tell you that most large firms require graduation from an American Bar Association-approved paralegal program, they're as sleazy as if they were a degree mill.  If an unaccredited school offering a doctorate in psychology or a J.D. in law does not tell you up front that their degrees will not qualify you to sit for the psych boards or the bar exam, they're also sleazy - psychology programs generally require APA approval, and law programs require ABA approval.  Remember, there are sins of commission and sins of omission, and an admissions representative's job is to sell the program, period.  Learn to ask the right questions, and never take a school's marketing statements at face value.