Editorial Guidelines

Transparency in how we create content is essential, especially for topics that affect financial decisions. Here is how DegreeMath produces its content.

Data-Driven Content

School pages, state pages, rankings, and comparison pages are generated programmatically from federal data. The primary source is the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Every statistic displayed on these pages comes directly from this dataset.

AI-Assisted Editorial Content

Guides and glossary articles are created with AI assistance using Claude by Anthropic. Each piece of content follows a structured process:

1. Research phase: Topic and keyword research using industry-standard SEO tools.
2. Content generation: AI drafts the article following strict guidelines around accuracy, qualifying language, and balanced risk presentation.
3. Review: Each article is reviewed for factual accuracy, appropriate qualifying language, and compliance with our content standards.
4. Publication: Articles are published only after review.

Content Standards

• Every data claim must be sourced from a verified dataset and include inline attribution.
• We use qualifying language: "typically," "may," "generally," "in most cases."
• We present risks and downsides alongside benefits. No one-sided promotion.
• We do not provide personalized financial advice or make specific recommendations without qualification.
• Every article includes a disclaimer noting that outcomes vary by individual circumstances.

Corrections

If you find an error in our content, please email us at Click to reveal email address or reach out through our Contact page. We take accuracy seriously and will correct verified errors promptly.

Data Update Frequency

College Scorecard data is typically updated annually by the Department of Education. We update our dataset when new data becomes available. Check our Methodology page for the current data vintage.