an academic institution with low standards that awards many diplomas
diploma mill in American English
US
Informal
an unaccredited school or college that grants relatively worthless diplomas, as for a fee
diploma mill in American English
noun
1.
an organization claiming to be an institution of higher learning but existing for profit only and granting degrees without demanding proper qualifications of the recipients
2.
a college or university having such a large number of students that none receives individual attention from the teachers
Also called: degree mill
Word origin
[1925–30]This word is first recorded in the period 1925–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Nazi, buildup, chain reaction, off-line, recycle