CollegeSource's Catalog Retention Policy

As of February 2025, CollegeSource has collected over 193,000 college catalogs, which include over 165,000,000 course descriptions.

Catalogs contain curricula, degree programs, and other key, date-sensitive data. An accurate record of the data as it existed when students began using it to earn credit is a critical resource for higher education institutions globally. Higher education professionals use this data to analyze credit for transfer and degree completion. Collecting and maintaining such a historic resource is part of the mission of our company. 

To accomplish this mission, we designate a catalog as "Archival" one year after students begin taking courses and pursuing a degree using the data provided within a catalog. Typically, college catalogs become effective at the start of a fall term of study. Once a catalog gains the archival status it will not be removed from the data set or altered, other than to correct any data entry errors identified.

Prior to becoming archival, a catalog may be removed or revised only by request. The requesting agent must be an individual of the proper authority at the issuing institution.