Editorial Standards

What we cover

University HQ USA covers the business and data of American higher education: college closures and enrollment, endowments and university finances, research funding, college athletics, graduate salaries and outcomes, and the policies that shape campuses. Articles explain what the numbers show and what they mean for students, families and anyone following the sector.

Who writes our articles

Articles are researched and drafted with the help of software, including AI writing tools, and are published under the University HQ Editorial Team byline according to the standards on this page. The byline names the team rather than an individual because no single reporter writes each article.

Sources

We prefer primary sources: federal and state agencies (such as the National Center for Education Statistics, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Education's College Scorecard), the institutions themselves, peer-reviewed research, and established higher-education data publishers and trade press. When an article cites a figure, it should be traceable to the source it came from. Figures change from year to year, so check the source for the latest numbers before making a decision that depends on them.

Independence

Our articles are not written or approved by the colleges and universities they mention. Rankings and lists on this site reflect the data and criteria described in each article, not payments from schools.

How the site is funded

University HQ USA is supported by advertising. Some pages outside our articles promote partner schools or education services, and we may be paid when visitors request information through them. Those pages are separate from our articles, and advertisers do not choose the topics or conclusions of our articles.

Corrections and updates

If you find an error, please tell us through our contact page with the article link and the source for the correct information. We review reported errors and update articles when a correction is needed.

Not professional advice

Our articles are general information. They are not legal, financial or admissions advice for your situation. For decisions about financial aid, loans or admissions, confirm the details with the school or agency involved.