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According to Babson Survey Research Group's last survey of online education programmes at colleges and universities, 6.1 million students took at least one online class in fall 2010 – a 10.1 percent increase over the previous year. But as the number of students in online courses increases, so too does the potential for cheating.

The financial management of the elite Institute of Political Studies in Paris has been strongly criticized in an official report that found evidence of exorbitant bonuses, absence of controls and waste of public funds. The report revealed a chaotic management that consisted more of "little deals between friends than a serious administration of public funds".

The State Board of Higher Education is working to tighten admission policies for international students after an audit found some Chinese student transcripts submitted to Dickinson State University were fakes.

Once comprehensively surveyed, the magnitude and reach of fraud is becoming clear. For example, research suggests that the majority of applications from a number of large student-sending countries are either significantly embellished or outright fraudulent. As a result, tens of thousands of international students, having passed through visa and admissions systems, are enrolled all over the world based on school transcripts, financial support statements, recommendation letters or test scores that are untrue.

A journalist from the Mail and Guardian reveals the growing trend of fake degrees, provided by Ashford University and Belford University, which offer life experience qualifications on a fee-only basis, without the need for training or study. These documents are available on the Internet and are being included on resumes at all levels of the employment sector.

A survey of more than 80 universities has revealed that academic misconduct is soaring at institutions across the country. More than 17,000 incidents of cheating were recorded by universities in the 2009-10 academic year – up at least 50% in four years.