Life Experience Degree & Accreditation

When Carolyn Cooper learned about Chester Ludlow—GetEducated's pug dog mascot—being awarded an online MBA degree from Rochville University, she again considered netting herself an advanced online business degree.

Cooper once toyed with the idea of getting an online MBA, but instead became a professor of literacy and cultural studies at the University of the West Indies.

"To think that a dog had more ambition than me!" Cooper wrote in a recent column in the Jamaica Gleaner. "I decided to apply to Rochville for a PhD in chemistry. Why chemistry? Why not? I have good chemistry."

Cooper manufactured the following chemistry "life experience" and "work experience" on her application for a degree to Rochville, the reputed diploma mill: being "good at chemistry in high school" and working for 20 years at a Jamaican producer of household chemicals.

Within 15 minutes of emailing her application to Rochville University, says Cooper, a representative from the online school called her to find out if she had a bachelors or masters in chemistry or just life and work experience.

Over the past decade, thousands of people in the U.S. and around the world have bought fake degrees from online colleges.

The lure: earn your degree—fast and cheap. No tests required! Just submit your resume for a life and work experience evaluation and get an instant life experience degree. The only graduation requirement: a valid credit card.

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?

—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.