There’s an old saying that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Getting a diploma saying that you’ve earned a Ph.D. for a few hundred dollars, within thirty days, and with little or no work on your part may sound great—but such a diploma is a worthless piece of paper that could cost you your career.

Any degree-granting U.S. institution of higher education that you are considering attending should be accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education. You can find a free, searchable database listing all institutions with recognized accreditation here.

(You will also want to check with the ministry of education, licensing authorities, etc. in the country where you plan to work regarding any additional requirements that they may have for degree recognition.)

Accept no substitutes for CHEA/U.S. Department of Education recognized accreditation. “Incorporated,” “legally operating,” “approved,” “state-approved,” “authorized,” “registered,” or “member of” are not the same and are not sufficient to ensure minimum educational quality. Being “accredited” by an organization that is not recognized by CHEA or the Department of Education may prove to be completely meaningless.

Don’t trust a beautiful Web site, misleading advertising, or persuasive salespeople. Legitimate degree-granting institutions that are not accredited are rare. Fake universities that will provide “degrees” for a summary of life experience, review of your resume, completion of a test or research paper, or even simply for a credit card payment….these are common, because running such a “diploma mill” is a profitable if fraudulent business.

Increasingly authorities are cracking down not only on these fraudulent degree providers but also on those who purchase their degrees. Using unaccredited degrees is now illegal in ten U.S. states as well as in many overseas jurisdictions—and the number is increasing yearly. Real universities and reasonably careful employers do not accept diploma mill degrees. Even if such a degree is accepted initially, there is a lifelong risk of discovery, being fired, expelled, even prosecuted.

Be sure you choose one of the over 4,000 U.S. colleges and universities that has accreditation recognized by CHEA and/or the U.S. Department of Education.