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How Do I Tell If An Online College is Legitimate?

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The cost of traditional schooling has significantly increased, forcing many students to resort to more affordable alternatives: Online Education. According to the Education Data Initiative, earning a degree online can save you up to $30,000!

With the continuous demand for online education, more and more new online colleges are surfacing on the Internet. In 2021, over 175 online colleges were recorded.

But here’s the kicker – not all of them are the real deal.

Some are just waiting to take your money and hand you a worthless piece of paper. With the rise of online education, it’s important to distinguish between legitimate accredited colleges and fraudulent diploma mills.

The first thing you need to look for is ACCREDITATION. Accreditation is a stamp of approval that ensures employers, graduate programs, and licensing boards recognize a degree.

We want to help you get a great return on your college degree investment. In this guide, we will cover how to check if an online college is legitimate, spot red flags, and choose a top-accredited program.

Related:

Why Online College Accreditation Matters

Before we discuss how to check if an online college is legitimate, you should understand the importance of accreditation, which is the first thing you have to look for.

College accreditation sounds complicated, but it’s really important. It impacts everything from the quality of your education to financial aid and how employers view your degree.

Accreditation means a school or program has been approved as meeting certain standards of quality, assessed by experts. This approval comes from organizations like the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Why does it matter to you? Attending an accredited school ensures:

  • Educational Quality: Schools must meet academic and institutional standards.
  • Employers Recognition: Many jobs require degrees from accredited institutions.
  • Financial Aid Eligibility: Only accredited schools qualify for federal financial aid and grants.
  • Graduate School Acceptance: Unaccredited degrees may be rejected by master’s and doctoral programs.

Accreditation helps maintain educational standards and ensures schools meet specific criteria to benefit students and society.

How to Verify an Online College’s Accreditation

It is time to dive deep into how to check if an online college is legitimate. It’s not as hard as you might think. In fact, it’s just four simple steps.

Step 1: Check the U.S. Department of Education database.

The U.S. Department of Education has a nifty tool called the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP).

Here’s how to verify online college accreditation:

  1. Head over to ope.ed.gov/dapip.
  2. Type in the school’s name

See if the school’s name is on the list. If it’s not, that’s your first red flag.

Step 2: Look for recognition by CHEA.

The first of the many signs of a legitimate online college is its recognition by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). They approve the agencies that can actually accredit schools. So, if the college claims to be accredited by an agency that CHEA doesn’t recognize, it’s a diploma mill. Visit chea.org to check.

Step 3: Confirm Regional or National Accreditation.

Here’s where it gets a little tricky. Regional and National are the two primary types of accreditation.

Regional Accreditation is important for transferring credits or applying to grad school. It is considered the gold standard for academic recognition, granted by:

  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities (NWCCU)
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

National Accreditation is usually for career and trade schools. It’s great if you’re looking for specific vocational training, but transferring credits might be an issue. Examples include:

  • Accrediting Commission of Career Schools & Colleges (ACCSC)
  • Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
  • National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS)

Step 4: Review the college’s website and contact info.

The most important tip on how to check if an online college is legitimate is to check the school’s website. Only accredited colleges can use a .edu domain.

Legitimate schools are also very transparent. It should be easy to find accreditation on their website – usually in the “About” section.

Red Flags of Diploma Mills and Fake Colleges

Here are a few tips on how to spot online college scams:

1. No Accreditation or Fake Accreditation Claims

Some schools make up fake accreditation agencies to look legitimate. If you see an accrediting body you’ve never heard of, look it up on the Department of Education or CHEA websites. If it’s not there, it’s not real.

2. Degrees Offered in an Unrealistically Short Time

One of the main differences between accredited vs. unaccredited online colleges is the stated time of completion. If they’re promising a bachelor’s degree in six months or a master’s degree by next Tuesday, run. Real degrees take time, effort, and coursework. There are no shortcuts.

3. No Physical Address or Faculty Information

Is my online degree valid? If it’s coming from a school without a campus location, it’s probably not. Legitimate schools list campus locations and faculty credentials. If there’s no physical address or the faculty bios are suspiciously vague (like “Professor John, PhD”), it’s sketchy.

4. Guaranteed Diplomas with No Coursework

If they’re willing to give you a diploma just for showing up (or worse, just for paying), it’s a scam. Real colleges require exams, assignments, and lectures.

5. Pushy Enrollment and Upfront Tuition Fees

If they’re using high-pressure sales tactics or demanding full tuition upfront, be cautious. Legitimate schools don’t need to strong-arm you into enrolling.

6. Poor or No Online Reviews

One of the biggest red flags of diploma mills and fake colleges is having poor or no reviews at all. Look up reviews on trusted sites like Niche, College Scorecard, or even Reddit. If you can’t find any real student feedback, or if all the reviews sound like the same person wrote them, it’s a red flag.

How to Choose a Trustworthy Online College

Now that you know how to spot the fakes, how do you find the real deal?

  1. Look for schools with a strong reputation. Checking accreditation for online colleges also involves looking into their reputation. Research rankings and student testimonials from sources like the U.S. News & World Report.
  2. Consider tuition costs & financial aid availability. Legitimate schools offer federal aid options and scholarships.
  3. Verify the faculty and curriculum. Check if instructors hold advanced degrees and have relevant experience.
  4. Ensure the school offers student support services. Legitimate online colleges provide career counseling, tech support, and tutoring.
  5. Check for industry recognition & employer partnerships. Some accredited online schools have strong employer connections for job placement.

Top 3 Accredited Online Colleges

Here are the top 3 best accredited online colleges:

1. University of Florida Online

  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACSCOC)
  • Why It’s a Top Choice:
    • Ranked among the best online colleges by U.S. News & World Report
    • Offers 100% online degrees in business, healthcare, and technology
  • Tuition: $129.18 per credit (in-state), $552.62 per credit (out-of-state)

2. Arizona State University Online (ASU Online)

  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Why It’s a Top Choice:
    • One of the largest and most respected fully accredited online universities
    • Partners with companies like Google and Starbucks for tuition reimbursement programs
  • Tuition: $561–$774 per credit (varies by program)

3. Penn State World Campus

  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Why It’s a Top Choice:
    • Offers over 150 online programs, including business, cybersecurity, and healthcare
    • Strong reputation for academic excellence and career support
  • Tuition: $632–$678 per credit

What to Do If You’ve Enrolled in an Unaccredited Online College

Mistakes can happen, but enrolling in an unaccredited online college can become a very expensive one. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic—there are steps you can take to minimize the damage.

  1. Stop paying tuition immediately. Diploma mills often charge non-refundable fees.
  2. Contact the U.S. Department of Education. Report fraudulent colleges through studentaid.gov.
  3. Verify if the credits can be transferred. Some accredited schools accept limited coursework from unaccredited institutions.
  4. Consider alternative education options. Look into community colleges, state universities, and online trade schools.

Conclusion

Here’s a recap on how to choose a trustworthy online college:

  1. Always verify accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA.
  2. Watch out for diploma mills and fake accreditation agencies.
  3. Choose well-known, accredited institutions to ensure degree credibility.

Researching real, accredited online colleges takes time, but it’s worth it. A legitimate online degree can open doors to career growth and financial security.