Avoid Scams: Tips to Check if an Online Program is Accredited or Not

Technological advancement has brought a revolution in all sectors of life, be it medicine, architecture, construction, business, or education.

With the integration of e-learning and acquiring degrees with remote classes, education is no more what it used to be. Educational institutions are transforming classrooms, and tabs are replacing books.

Acquiring a higher education is no longer a matter of attending a university and lectures while sitting for hours on the seat until your back gets sore. With available Online Ph.D. programs in Texas, you can get an education within the comfort of your home.

In fact, you can get an education from a foreign university while sitting in your native hometown. But with so many online degree programs spreading like mushrooms, it has become difficult to differentiate the real deal from the fake one.

However, it doesn’t mean you should stop to consider acquiring an online degree. It is one of the best ways to get an education while continuing your side hustle. Just be vigilant and verify if the online program is a scam. How? Well, we have come up with some tips.

Here are a few tips to verify the credibility of an online degree:

Name Copying Trick

This is an old trick that scammers have been using for ages. Copying the name of a brand with a slight change is a prevalent practice of scammers to trick users’ minds.

So, if you find an online university that’s name is too close to a famous university’s name, take it as a red flag. 

For example, anyone can mistake Stanford Technical University for an initiative of the oh-so-famous Stanford University. A genuine online university would like to build its reputation rather than take a free ride on someone else’s popularity. So, better stay away from such universities using cheap scamming names.

Third-Party Verification

Now you can find various online sites that give reviews about different universities, colleges, degrees, etc. So, you can check out such websites to see if they have verified your chosen university and what their reviews are about it. Those few minutes of background checks can save your future and you from becoming a scam victim.

Moreover, the government’s education department is also responsible for checking the credibility of such universities.

So, you can visit these departments’ sites and get the required information. In fact, these universities also mention government verification certificates on their website.

There are various ways to verify the credibility of a degree program. So, don’t even move a finger unless you are assured of third-party verification.

Upfront Tuition Fees

Do you pay money to a shopkeeper before making a purchase? No, right? So, why should you give money before joining the program? Hence, if you are asked to submit your whole tuition fee before you are not sure about enrollment, put a full stop.

They are, for sure, scammers knitting a trap for you. First, stop further conversation with them. Second, block that site immediately. Better safe than sorry!

Degree Seems So Easy

Getting a degree is time-taking and also not a piece of cake. In other words, it requires effort and money. Whether you take remote or onsite classes, the course should capture all aspects of the degree rather than touching a few points. Moreover, instructors should be well-educated and serious about teaching. 

So, you should check out the course outline, if possible, connect with instructors to check if they seem like a real deal or not. In case the course outline shows that your degree is going to be a piece of cake, don’t ever go for it. The piece of cake will later turn into a stone for you and ruin your time and money.

Conclusion

E-learning has played a pivotal role in transforming the educational system’s dynamics. Now it is no more a matter of carrying heavy backpacks filled with books.

The teacher can forward notes, and children can read them on cellphones, tab, or laptops. But which online university you choose matters a lot.

So, be careful while selecting the degree program to avoid becoming a victim of a fake degree scam and throwing your money out of the window. Follow the above-mentioned tips, verify if the university is accredited or not, then enroll yourself. This carefulness will go a long way!

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