Independent profile. Not owned, sponsored or endorsed by Almeda University.
Almeda University — Company Information
Almeda University was an online provider of 'Life Experience' degrees sold for a fee; a 2016 Michigan Court of Appeals opinion describes it as incorporated in Nevis and records that it conceded its credentials were false academic credentials under Michigan law. This page covers how to check a credential, the court record, and what CBC reported. One archive complaint is linked.
Company Information
- Business type
- Online degree provider that offered 'Life Experience' degrees for a fee; a Michigan appellate opinion describes it as incorporated on the Caribbean island of Nevis, and the court record shows its credentials did not qualify as those of a U.S. institution
Almeda University offered 'Life Experience' degrees for a fee and, according to a Michigan Court of Appeals opinion, was incorporated on the Caribbean island of Nevis. In the Michigan Court of Appeals opinion decided January 14, 2016, the court records that 'Defendant conceded in the trial court that any academic credential issued or manufactured by it qualifies as a "false academic credential" under Michigan law.' Judge Murray's partial opinion notes that the parties agreed the diplomas were issued by an institution that was neither an institution of higher education within the United States as defined in federal law nor authorized to do business in Michigan. CBC News called Almeda 'a phoney school that claims to be based in Boise, Idaho'. A reader who needs to check a particular qualification should use the CHEA and U.S. Department of Education accreditation databases and confirm with the employer or school that must accept it.
Complaint and review record
Counts on this page are as of 2026-10-22.
- Our archive. One approved complaint in this site's archive is linked to this page: a 2012 post calling Almeda University 'just a phony online College' (a short, unsupported allegation, which is the poster's opinion and not a finding). Two other archive posts that name Almeda were set aside and are not linked: a 2004 question asking whether the university is legitimate, and a 2008 post, written for another online school, that criticises a degree-review website and claims the site favours Almeda.
- BBB. Searches of bbb.org for 'Almeda University' and for 'Almeda' with the location Boise, ID, run on 2026-10-22, returned no results. A BBB review of an Almeda University entry in Boise, Idaho is cited in older reference works; this page states nothing about its content.
- Trustpilot, ComplaintsBoard, CFPB. Almeda is not a financial company, so the CFPB complaint database does not apply.
Had an experience with Almeda University? Tell other people what happened.
Submit a ComplaintAlmeda University: what to check, report or do
This page was checked on 2026-10-22. Almeda University sold degrees based on a résumé and a fee. A published Michigan Court of Appeals opinion (City of Fraser v. Almeda University, decided January 14, 2016) describes it as an online university incorporated on the Caribbean island of Nevis and records that it conceded its credentials were 'false academic credentials' under Michigan law. The website almedauniversity.com redirects to a domain-sale page.
- If you are considering enrolling or paying. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) says that if the answers to many of a list of questions are 'yes' a provider 'may be a mill', including: 'Can degrees be purchased?', 'Are degrees available based solely on experience or resume review?' and 'Does the operation lack state or federal licensure or authority to operate?'.
More detailShow less
It points to two databases of institutions accredited by recognized accreditors: the CHEA database and the U.S. Department of Education database.
- If you already hold an Almeda credential. CHEA says degrees from mills 'may not be acknowledged by other institutions' when students transfer or go to graduate school and that employers may not acknowledge them for tuition assistance.
More detailShow less
Judge Murray's partial opinion in the Michigan case quotes Michigan's Authentic Credentials in Education Act, MCL 390.1604, which provides that 'An individual shall not knowingly use a false academic credential to obtain employment; to obtain a promotion or higher compensation in employment' and for other listed purposes. Other states and employers have their own rules; the opinion's facts show that an employer, the City of Fraser, sued after paying its police officers more on the strength of these degrees (see court records).
- If you paid and want to report it. The Federal Trade Commission's ReportFraud.ftc.gov page invites reports of fraud and bad business practices and says: 'We can't resolve your individual report, but we use reports to investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices.' You can also contact your state attorney general. No refund or complaint channel of Almeda itself could be verified.
- Find the entity. The only legal description of the defendant in the opinion is 'Almeda University' with a Nevis incorporation; the opinion lists no street address. A story by CBC News says Almeda 'claims to be based in Boise, Idaho'.
Court records
City of Fraser v. Almeda University. The City of Fraser, Michigan, sued Almeda University in Macomb Circuit Court in January 2013 (LC No. 2013-000449-CZ) under Michigan's Authentic Credentials in Education Act. The opinion records that 16 city police officers obtained degrees from Almeda between 2003 and 2009, that none was required to complete classes, coursework, research or exams, that the 11 employees' salaries rose by $1,000 to $3,000 a year depending on the degree, and that the city 'paid a total of $143,848 to the employees for the purchase of Almeda degrees'. The trial court granted summary disposition for the city and awarded $600,000, $100,000 for each of six degrees issued after the Act took effect in 2005.
More on the lawsuitsShow less
On January 14, 2016 the Michigan Court of Appeals (Judges Riordan and Meter, with Presiding Judge Murray concurring in part and dissenting in part) held that the Michigan court had personal jurisdiction over Almeda, and that Almeda violated MCL 390.1603 by mailing false academic credentials to individuals in Michigan. It reversed in part: the statute of limitations barred all but one of the claims (the degree issued on or after January 31, 2007), so the case was remanded 'concerning the damages owed to plaintiff'. Judge Murray agreed on jurisdiction but dissented on whether the statute applies to a diploma mill outside Michigan. The opinion also says Almeda 'conceded in the trial court that any academic credential issued or manufactured by it qualifies as a false academic credential under Michigan law'.
Court & Public Records
City of Fraser v. Almeda University
Appeal decidedThe outcome on remand was not found.
Case details: City of Fraser v. Almeda UniversityShow less
Published opinion, 314 Mich. App. 79, 886 N.W.2d 730. The court affirmed the trial court's exercise of personal jurisdiction and its holding that Almeda violated MCL 390.1603 by mailing false academic credentials to Michigan residents, but reversed the award in part because the statute of limitations barred all but one claim, and remanded concerning damages. The trial court had awarded the city $600,000. Judge Murray concurred on jurisdiction and dissented on the statute's application.
Who was behind Almeda University
The fullest primary description of the business comes from the Michigan Court of Appeals opinion in City of Fraser v. Almeda University (No. 323499). The lead opinion says: 'Defendant is an online university, incorporated in the Caribbean island of Nevis, that offers "Life Experience" degrees to prospective "students." All interactions with those students take place through defendant's website.' An applicant submits an electronic application and a résumé, and if the university finds the applicant eligible the applicant pays online: $499 for a bachelor's degree, $795 for a master's degree or $1,495 for a doctoral degree, after which the degree is mailed to the applicant's home. The opinion adds that the website stated the university had 'over 26,000 online students in over 7,000 cities worldwide', a figure that is the company's own claim as recorded by the court.
Link to Axact. CBC says a Marketplace journalist qualified for an Almeda PhD in biblical counselling after giving a backstory over the phone, without providing a résumé. The degree was sold in a $2,500 package (first quoted at $3,200 US) with a Gatesville University PhD, and the Almeda-labelled degree was later emailed by Gatesville, which CBC described as 'another Axact-affiliated school'. CBC says it identified 'more than 100 fake online schools and accreditation bodies connected to Axact', a Pakistan-based IT firm. CBC reported that Almeda is 'affiliated with Axact's international diploma mill scheme, and is not an accredited post-secondary institution'. Axact's U.S. lawyer told CBC that Axact 'does not own or operate any online education web sites [sic] or schools'. The article does not say who owns Almeda University, so this page does not assert an owner.
More company historyShow less
Current status. On 2026-10-22 almedauniversity.com redirected to a HugeDomains page offering the domain for $4,295. That shows the domain is being sold; it does not by itself establish when, or whether formally, the school stopped operating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Almeda University accredited?
In City of Fraser v. Almeda University the Michigan Court of Appeals recorded that Almeda conceded its credentials are 'false academic credentials' under Michigan law. The city's summary-disposition motion relied on 'defendant's admissions that it lacked accreditation under state or federal law'. Judge Murray's partial opinion notes the parties agreed the diplomas were issued by an institution that was neither one of higher education within the United States as defined in federal law nor one authorized to do business in Michigan. This page does not list an accreditation from an accreditor recognized by CHEA or the U.S. Department of Education. Check the CHEA and U.S. Department of Education databases yourself.
Who owns Almeda University?
The Michigan opinion calls the defendant 'Almeda University', incorporated in Nevis, and names no owner. CBC News described a sister school as 'another Axact-affiliated school' and linked more than 100 schools to the Pakistan-based firm Axact, and reported that Almeda is affiliated with Axact's diploma-mill scheme and is not accredited. Axact's U.S. lawyer told CBC that Axact does not own or operate any online schools. The article does not say who owns Almeda, so this page does not assert an owner.
How much did an Almeda degree cost?
The court opinion records the fees as $499 for a bachelor's degree, $795 for a master's degree and $1,495 for a doctoral degree, paid online after submitting an application and résumé. These are the prices recorded in the 2016 opinion and may have changed.
Can I use an Almeda degree to get a job or a raise?
Michigan law (MCL 390.1604, as quoted in Judge Murray's partial opinion in the case) says an individual shall not knowingly use a false academic credential to obtain employment or higher compensation. CHEA says employers may not acknowledge degrees from mills. Rules in your state and your employer's policy decide the consequences, so check them before relying on any credential.
Was Almeda University sued?
The City of Fraser, Michigan sued it in 2013 over degrees held by its police officers. On January 14, 2016 the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded for further proceedings on damages.
Is the Almeda University website still online?
On 2026-10-22 almedauniversity.com redirected to a HugeDomains page listing the domain for sale at $4,295.
Where can I report a fake degree seller?
The FTC's ReportFraud.ftc.gov invites reports of fraud and bad business practices and says the FTC cannot resolve an individual report but uses reports to investigate and bring cases. You can also contact your state attorney general.
What signs does CHEA list for a degree mill?
CHEA lists questions including whether degrees can be purchased, whether degrees are available based solely on experience or résumé review, whether a short time is needed to earn a degree, and whether the operation lacks state or federal authority to operate. It says a provider may be a mill if the answers to many of the questions are 'yes', adds that 'There are institutions that may not be accredited but are not degree mills', and that CHEA does not state a conclusion about any particular entity.
Sources (5)
Public records
- Same opinion: degrees offered for $499 courtlistener.com
- FTC ReportFraud.ftc.gov home page reportfraud.ftc.gov
Other