Illegal Online Degrees: Scams at Santa Monica Pacific University and Other "Universities"

Do you want a university degree without studying? An income that starts off high? The opportunity to just get in the door? Questions like these are used by the registrar’s office at Santa Monica Pacific University, which calls itself an online distance learning institution, in order to attract customers to its two-week degree program. This diploma grantor offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and master’s degrees for what it calls a “small fee,” which actually turns out to be $1, 365.

Ready to trade in your full-time course load for a quick degree from this institution? Before you sign the check, keep in mind that some institutions may not be legal.

“They are legal in some states, not in most,” says Dr. Tom Peterman, vice president for distance learning at Park University, which has 42 campus centers in 21 states across the U.S. “Ironically, some states, California, I think, will permit them to operate but will not allow people from their state to take classes. It seems like they are protecting their citizens but not those from the other 49 states.

“They (institutions like these) are too common, in my opinion. When they receive negative publicity, they tend to go out of business. Several have been exposed on national television and have never been heard from again.”

Tom Blake from the registrar’s office at Santa Monica says his institution awards degrees for prior work experience and classes taken. He says the degrees are not meant for those with no knowledge of the degree’s particular field.

“They are good for professional purposes,” he says. “They are good for pay raises, to get a better job, or for self-satisfaction.

“The entire investment costs $1, 365 U.S. dollars. This includes a very beautiful degree in a nice frame. We assign you a set of registered classes and a student identification number. The degree of choice and transcripts will be sent within two weeks.”