Or. Rev. Stat. § 348.594 (2026)

      348.594 Definitions for ORS 348.594 to 348.615. As used in ORS 348.594 to 348.615:

      (1)(a) “Diploma mill” means:

      (A) A school against which a court or public body, as defined in ORS 174.109, has issued a ruling or finding, after due process procedures, that the school has engaged in dishonest, fraudulent or deceptive practices related to the award of degrees, academic standards or student learning requirements;

      (B) An entity without legal authority as a school to issue degrees valid as credentials in the jurisdiction that authorizes issuance of degrees; or

      (C) A school or entity that:

      (i) Offers fee-based degrees, diplomas or certificates that may be used to represent to the general public that the individual possessing the degree, diploma or certificate has completed a program of post-secondary education or training;

      (ii) Requires an individual to complete little or no education or coursework to obtain the degree, diploma or certificate; and

      (iii) Has not been accredited by a post-secondary accrediting agency.

      (b) “Diploma mill” does not include:

      (A) A school operating legally under ORS 348.604; or

      (B) A school that is actively seeking and able to show evidence of reasonable progress toward institutional accreditation with a post-secondary accrediting agency.

      (2) “Post-secondary accrediting agency” means a legal entity, or part of a legal entity, that:

      (a) Conducts accrediting activities through voluntary peer review;

      (b) Makes decisions concerning the accreditation or pre-accreditation status of institutions and programs; and

      (c) Is recognized by the United States Department of Education as an entity that conducts the activities and makes the decisions described in this subsection.

      (3)(a) “School” means a person, organization, school or institution of learning that confers or offers to confer an academic degree upon a person or to provide academic credit applicable to a degree.

      (b) “School” does not include:

      (A) An Oregon community college;

      (B) A public university listed in ORS 352.002; or

      (C) The Oregon Health and Science University. [1997 c.652 §8; 1999 c.59 §93; 2005 c.546 §8; 2007 c.325 §1; 2016 c.30 §2; 2023 c.557 §7]