Editorial Process
At College Educated, we hold our content and our content contributors to the highest standards. We have strict guidelines regarding sources and fact-checking, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Standards
Commitment to Diversity
Our commitment to diversity initiatives includes utilizing author voices from a wide cross section of the population and ensuring that we have content that has inclusive language and is representative of all the types of people who may be interested in a college education. We have a review team that will review content for inclusive language, sensitivity, and bias, and make adjustments to our content according to feedback from external expert reviewers.
Fact-Checking and Accuracy
Having updated and accurate information is of crucial importance to people looking to attend college. We do more than just provide lists of information – we provide analyses of different programs and how they could help students get into a career of their choosing. All content is written by subject matter experts (SMEs) and is then edited by a professional with expertise in the higher education system.
Part of our stance on accuracy relies on using approved sources. We do not use controversial, biased, political, or out-of-date sources for our work. Here is a look at our approved sources:
Approved Sources
For salary and population data, we use:
BLS
Our primary source is the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a government website that provides employment, salary, and other data for the public domain through their Occupational Outlook Handbook. Salary and employment data is updated here every couple of years, and this is where we get most of our data from.
For specific salary information on a niche profession that BLS.gov does not have the data for, our writers may use Salary.com or Payscale, although preference is always given to BLS data, even if it is less specific.
Population information: Census.gov
Higher Education Data: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES); IPEDS database
Organizations related to the industry, for example:
American Bar Association
American Nursing Association
National Education Association
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
State and Federal governing and licensing bodies relative to the occupation
Studies and analyses
Scientifically reviewed journals and publications
For testing information, we also go right to the source:
NCLEX (Nursing)
College Board (SAT and ACT)
Association of American Medical Colleges (MCAT)
Law School Admission Council (LSAT)
In Relation to Advertising
Our editorial process is agnostic, and writers are never directed what to say when they evaluate schools or programs or products where there is a monetary relationship. College Educated works with a third party to provide listings of colleges and programs, where appropriate, throughout the website but does not have direct relationships with any schools and has no control over what schools may show on any third-party advertising widget.
Knowledge and Authority
Education
Our higher education and K-12 content including degree program information, rankings, admissions information, and financial aid information are all written and reviewed by experts in their respective field, with at least a master’s degree to affirm their understanding of the material. Any admissions or financial aid information is written or edited by individuals who have worked in these departments in colleges and universities.
You can check out our editorial team here.
Insurance
While most of our content is related to college and university programs, sometimes we review or analyze products related to college students for their benefit.
Our insurance content is written and reviewed by industry experts, including licensed insurance producers and brokers. Insurance brokers must go through extensive training and continuing education, as well as pass licensing examinations. License renewals happen every two years.
If you have any further questions about our editorial standards and process, contact us.