Every number on Pathwise, traced to the source.
We sell intelligence. That only works if the intelligence is real. Below is every primary source we use, what they're authoritative on, and how we cross-reference. If you ever see a figure on this site that's missing a citation — email us and we'll fix it.
◆ TIER 1Government & official data
These are our primary sources for salary, employment, debt, and school-level outcomes. Authoritative, publicly maintained, and updated annually.
◆ TIER 2Industry & research authorities
Non-government but widely cited and methodologically rigorous. We treat these as authoritative for new-grad starting salaries, college costs, and long-term major ROI.
◆ TIER 3Secondary references
Used only when primary data doesn't cover a question, and always cross-referenced against a Tier 1 or Tier 2 source before publication.
◆ METHODOLOGYHow we vet every number
- →No number ships without a source. Every quantitative claim on every page traces back to one of the sources above. If we can't source it, we don't publish it.
- →Primary first, always. When a Tier 1 source (BLS, IPEDS, College Scorecard) covers a question, we use it. Secondary sources are used only when no primary exists, and always cross-referenced.
- →Ranges, not false precision. If a source gives a salary range, we present a range. We don't manufacture point estimates to sound more authoritative.
- →Reports are versioned by data year. Every Pathwise major report is stamped with the data vintage (e.g. "Data: 2025–26"). When sources update, we re-pull.
- →Quarterly source review. We re-verify every figure on this site at least every three months. Stale data on a paid product is worse than no data.
- →Reader-flagged corrections. If you spot a discrepancy, email griffin@pathwiseusa.com. We'll either correct it or explain the source within 48 hours.
What about the scenarios on the "Real Cost" page?
Sarah and Marcus are illustrative composite students — not real people. We made them up to show how Pathwise data plays out over a decade. But every dollar figure in their stories — tuition, debt, starting salary, lifetime ROI — is pulled from the sources above. The narrative is illustrative; the math isn't.