Faking It
The best way to begin to understand the differences between a bona fide program and one that's a bit more shady is to simply use your powers of observation. A high class university will demand that you attend classes, fulfill certain assignments, and pass rigorous exams, in order that you will qualify for an actual degree.
A problematic school, however, will make learning seem a bit too much like Easy Street. At such a school, the work load will be incredibly low, if not nonexistent. You may even be able to use your own life's experience in order to pass certain "tests." Schools like these sound too good to be true, and they are. These are diploma mills.
What is their incentive for doing so?
Diploma mills basically pump out degrees by the truckload, shoveling them out to anyone willing to pay the monetary fee, without having to sweat academically at all. The primary motivation for a diploma mill is to make a ton of money fast, off of naive, desperate, and unsuspecting victims. In exchange for your flat fee for "tuition" up front, you receive a diploma with the greatest of ease. Unfortunately, this diploma does not hold water upon further evaluation.
They sell the dream of an easily attained degree that will apparently be respected anywhere; all that is required of the "student" is to pay the piper and kick up her heels in relaxation. Attorneys from the Federal Trade Commission have issued many a warning against diploma mills from all sides. See our article for information on identifying a diploma mill for the disreputable organization that it is.
How can I avoid this?
The most important thing you can do is to get excited about hard work: trying to coast your way to a diploma is childish and only leads down a bad road. Step two is to evaluate any potential school. Look at its requirements: is "life experience" all that you will need to get by, or will serious academic rigor be part and parcel of your time on the campus?
Next up is to take a look at the school's qualifications; without proper accreditation, the deal is off. Diploma mills have great song-and-dance routines about accreditation, however. Turn off the music by visiting the United States Department of Education's listing here. It publicizes the information for every properly accredited school in the country. If your school isn't there, it may be trying to hoodwink you.
Finally, ensure that you are the one holding the reins in your education. Any program that attempts to cajole or convince you to enroll is likely on the lookout for diploma mill fuel.