Don't misrepresent where you went to school.

[alexf.1990]

Do employers check education credentials in the private sector?  I used to work with someone who lied for twenty-years that he had a BA from the University of Cape Town.

It's trivial for them to check your academic credentials. There are a handful of national clearinghouses that offer the service for $10-20. Education is one of the most commonly fabricated sections of a person's resume, so its likely employers will check. Even if they don't check right away, they're likely to check when you come up for a promotion or if they need an excuse to get rid of you. Don't start you career out based on a lie.