How to spot distance learning scams

The best way to spot a distance learning scam is to research it. I have found that most, if not all, of the ones found as internet advertisements are exactly that. I have noticed that many of them target people looking to take classes online. Something everyone should know is that 90% of community colleges offer their basic classes online and many universities offer their master degrees fully online. There is no need to attend a college in 12 states away if you can get the same thing at “home.” I went looking for a college that offered an associate’s degree online so that I could stay home with my three small children and still get my education under wraps. I did a google search of online colleges and everyone I found was a scam waiting to get me. I decided that it wasn’t worth the risk and went to an off-site campus of the nearest community college and got their website. As I was navigating my way through their website I discovered they offer the classes and the degrees I was looking for. A big red flag when searching websites is that a real school will have a very extinisive website where the scams have very little options. For most scams there is only a place to put your mailing information and buy their program. One of the biggest scams is the school that advertises on TV and through the mail. My mother-in-law went through their high school diploma course and it doesn’t stand up. She can’t go to college with it and she can’t claim a high school diploma as her education on job applications. The place is not accreditated. Another big red flag is whether or not they accept financial aid from the government. If you can’t get grants and student loans through them, they are not recognized by the government. When it comes to schools and higher education, look for these three signs of being a scam; website abilities, acceptance of financial aid, and accredidation.