A Bit about University and College: Why “Buy-a-Degree’s” Aren’t Smart Economics

The internet has made a lot of things possible: users can now waste entire work days on YouTube, people all over the world can communicate with each other instantly and inexpensively, and students can now take classes online via distance studies. The internet has revolutionized the academic community in the same ways that it has transformed business and entertainment.

That revolution hasn’t come without a price, however, as more and more “buy-a-degree” style of schools are being launched every year. You’ve probably seen the television ads or the internet websites, yet you probably don’t know much about them or why they’re around. To be blunt, these “degrees” that they grant are almost always not worth the paper that they’re printed on because:

a) The school probably isn’t accredited – Many of these institutions (which won’t be named here for legal purposes) exist solely for the purpose of taking your money. The education that you will receive is probably of decent quality, as many of these schools strive to bring it experienced professionals who can relate real world experience to their students, but that doesn’t mean the education itself is going to be recognized by employers or by other institutions.

b) They are expensive – These kind of schools take advantage of someone’s previously poor academic performance by charging more than a typical college or university might. One institution, for example, wanted over $60,000 for a four year undergraduate degree (in liberal arts, no less)- that same degree can be had for under $30,000 elsewhere.

Recognizing a “Buy-a-Degree” School

These schools are easy to spot: the television commercials, internet advertisements, and even the campus themselves are all designed to convince you to attend their institution. Now, while all post-secondary institutions want you to attend, many rely simply on their reputation to draw in students. These schools don’t have a reputation to speak of, and instead rely on sales-type “academic counseling” sessions and other forms of conversion.

You can tell if a school is worth you time if:

• It has a large (and happy) student base – While not every school has the reputation of Yale or MIT that doesn’t mean that it won’t have a sizable student base (both present and previous) and a history of graduates that were able to find employment and become successful.

• The degrees or diplomas are accredited by other schools – There is a difference between college and university, but that doesn’t mean that one is better than the other. A good school’s degree/diploma will be recognized and granted as credit at other educational institutions.

• The focus of academic counseling sessions is education, not money ¬– Many students who sit down at a “BAD” (buy-a-degree) school find that the academic counselors are more concerned about getting them to drop down their credit card as opposed to helping them find a program that suits their interests. If you find this to be the case, back out and find a school that will offer that kind of support.

• Employers recognize the schools credibility – If an employer laughs when you tell them where you went to school that isn’t a very good sign. Talk to employers about their opinions of various schools and build your judgment based on that.