How we fund independent college research

What institutions may pay for

Optional commercial relationships never replace verified federal data or editorial judgment. Partners may pay only for clearly labeled services.

• Optional lead delivery when a student explicitly requests contact and meets fit thresholds
• Sponsored content clearly labeled as commercial — never mixed with editorial rankings
• Premium tools for counselors and independent educational consultants

What institutions cannot buy

Rankings, fit scores, and factual records are firewall-separated from revenue. No institution can purchase preferential treatment.

• Higher category assignment or fit scores
• Better organic ranking in similarity or quiz match lists
• Removal or suppression of trade-offs or low-fit assessments
• Changes to verified IPEDS or College Scorecard facts

How recommendations work

Quiz identity types, category tags, and institution fit scores are calculated with deterministic rules before any partner eligibility check. Partner status is evaluated only after fit is computed — never the other way around.

When we share student data

We share information with an institution only after explicit, granular consent on a lead request form. Consent text is versioned and auditable. Students may withdraw consent per request at any time.