List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning

This article lists colleges and universities whose qualifications may possibly not be accepted by civil service or other employers. These institutions may have been listed on publically available lists of unaccredited institutions, or are absent from the UNESCO list of world universities (see "external links" at the bottom of this article). Some are also suspected of being diploma mills, while others are no longer in existence. Several unaccredited universities have names chosen because they are similar to those of accredited institutions or falsely imply that it is a public university.

Legal issues and considerations

In the United States, it is possible that unaccredited degrees may not be acceptable for state or federal civil service or other employment; in certain cases and circumstances, criminal penalties may even apply should such a degree be presented in lieu of a degree from an accredited institution. However, such degrees are illegal only in Oregon, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, North Dakota and Nevada, where they are considered as misdemeanors mostly punishable by relatively small fines [1] (http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=28423&ntpid=3).

In addition, it has been reported that some of these unaccredited schools have successfully objected against such laws, the most notable being Wyoming-based Kennedy-Western University, which sued Oregon to cease listing it as a diploma mill in 2004 [2] (http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/margie_boule/index.ssf?/base/living/1107867837315370.xml), claiming that its degree-holders had a First Amendment right to say they were degree-holders. However, the case did not result in a trial as the University and the Oregon Deptartment of Justice reached an out-of-court settlement (only affecting Kennedy-Western).

According to the settlement, Kennedy-Western degree-holders may now say that they have degrees when applying for jobs in the private sector in Oregon, but they must also reveal that Kennedy-Western is unaccredited in all job applications, resumes, business cards and advertising that mentions the degree. Public employment and licensed professions are excepted from the agreement.

Oregon now lists Kennedy-Western as "unaccredited", stating that its "degrees do not meet requirements for employment by State of Oregon or for work in any profession licensed by the State of Oregon for which a degree is required" [3] (http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.html).

It has also been reported [4] (http://www.aus.ac.nz/publications/tertiary_update/2004/No32.htm) that the University of Newlands, a school that was listed as a "wannabe" or "degree mill" by The Australian newspaper, was given permission by the New Zealand High Court to proceed to trial in its suit against the paper's publisher for defamation. However, the presiding judge did state that such degrees may be illegal and that purporting to offer such degrees could be deemed dishonest or unethical conduct. He also ruled that defamation occurs in the country where the material is downloaded from the internet. As of August 2004, no court date had yet been set for the actual trial [5] (http://www.xtramsn.com/business/0,,5085-3633398,00.html).

Therefore, taking the above-mentioned legal factors into account, a list such as the one contained in this article should not necessarily be viewed as complete or authoritative.

List

• Adam Smith University
• American Austin University
• American Global Universities
• American National University
• American Pacific University
• American World University
• Ashford University (London)
• Badaganvi Sarkar World Open University Education Society
• Baptist College of Ministry
• Berne University
• Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad
• Brentwick University
• Breyer State University
• Buxston University
• Cambridge State University
• Chadwick University
• Clayton University
• Columbia Pacific University
• Columbia State University
• Columbus University
• Commercial University Ltd.
• D.D.B. Sanskrit University
• Degrees-R-Us
• Delhi Vishwa Vidyapeeth
• Edison University
• Gandhi Hindi Vidyapith
• Glencullen University
• Golden State University (not to be confused with Golden Gate University)
• Hamilton University (not to be confused with Hamilton College)
• Hamilton University of Wyoming
• Harrington University
• Hartley University
• Harvard University for External Studies (not to be confused with Harvard Extension School)
• Hawaii University
• Honolulu University of the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities
• Indian Education Council of U.P
• Irish International University
• James Monroe International University
• James Monroe University
• Kennedy-Western University
• Kesarwani Vidyapith
• Kingsfield University
• Knightsbridge University
• Lacrosse University
• Landford University
• LaSalle University (Louisiana) (not to be confused with LaSalle University)
• Lexington University
• Loyola State University
• Madison University (not to be confused with University of Wisconsin-Madison or James Madison University)
• Maharana Patap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya
• Mahila Gram Vidyapith
• Maithili University
• Marlborough University
• Metropolitan Collegiate Institute
• Monticello University
• National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy
• Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University
• Northfield University
• Open University of America
• Pacific Southern University
• Pacific Western University
• Parkwood University
• Preston University
• Raja Arabic University
• Recoleta University
• Robertstown University
• Rushmore University
• Shaftesbury University
• Shelborne University
• South Pacific University
• St Clements University
• St Regis University (not to be confused with Regis University)
• Stafford University
• Stamford International University (not to be confused with Stanford University)
• Strassford University
• Stanford University (Arkansas)
• Stanton University
• Summit University of Louisiana
• Thornewood University
• Trinity College and University
• Trinity Southern University
• Tufts University School of Medicine (not to be confused with Tufts University)
• University of Asia
• University of Bedford
• University of Devonshire
• University of Dunham
• University of England
• University of North America
• University of Northern Washington
• University of Palmers Green
• University of Ravenhurst
• University of San Gabriel Valley
• University of San Moritz
• University of Sussex at Brantridge
• University of Switzerland
• University of Wexford
• Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya
• Vancouver University Worldwide
• Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya
• Vocational University
• Westhampton University
• Weston Reserve University

External links

• State of Oregon - list of unaccredited schools (http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.html)
• State of Michigan list of unacceptable schools or civil service requirements (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Non-accreditedSchools_78090_7.pdf)
• The World Higher Education Database (IAU/UNESCO) (http://www.unesco.org/iau/world-universities/index.html) list
• The World Higher Education Database (IAU/UNESCO) (http://www.unesco.org/iau/whed.html)
• Wired article (http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,62689,00.html)
• Christian Science Monitor article (http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0610/p15s02-lehl.html)