Life Experience Degree Question:

I have a friend who claims he earned his college degree online (a life experience online degree) by “testing out" of courses and by putting together a portfolio of all his work and military training over the last two decades. Is it really possible to earn an entire online degree based on work and life experience, or has my friend been scammed big time?{{ad91}}

—Todd
Modesto, California

Answer:

Input “college credit for life or work experience” into any search engine and you’ll be swamped with hundreds of websites that promise to review your resume and convert your life experience credentials and training into a college diploma.

Most of these websites are indeed scams and most of these diplomas are quite fake.

However, a few are the real deal. A select handful of these online colleges represent solid opportunities for seasoned professionals to jump-start a college degree.

A diploma mill, also known as a degree mill, is a phony university that sells a college diploma—the piece of paper itself—rather than the educational experience. Diploma mills are scam operations that literally crank out fake paper diplomas to anyone who pays the requested "tuition.”

Diploma Mills often promise a college degree fast based on life experience. The Get Educated online education team has prepared these Top 10 Signs of on Online College Degree Mill to help students protect themselves from this popular online learning scam. {{ad91}}

Many maintain impressive-looking websites.

All of them advertise online under the terms fast degree, life experience degrees, fast online degree, and work experience degree.

To protect yourself, you need to look behind the curtain. In other words, flip past the flashy graphics on the website and the promises of an instant degree for the name of the school’s accreditation agency.