Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

DegreeGoals is an independent education matching and information service. We help prospective students discover college, university, certificate, bootcamp, and continuing education programs offered by third-party schools. We are not a school and we do not grant degrees or credentials.

2. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of information:

• Information you provide. Name, email address, phone number, ZIP/postal code, date of birth, level of education, area of interest, military status, citizenship/residency status, and any other details you submit through our forms, quizzes, or contact requests.
• Automatically collected information. IP address, device and browser type, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, timestamps, and general location derived from your IP address.
• Cookies and similar technologies. First- and third-party cookies, pixels, web beacons, and session identifiers used to operate the site, remember preferences, measure performance, and support advertising.
• Third-party sources. Data appended from advertising, analytics, and verification partners, including hashed identifiers used for measurement and fraud prevention.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Match you with schools and programs that appear to fit your stated interests and eligibility;
• Deliver the information, brochures, or callbacks you request;
• Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the site and our matching services;
• Communicate with you by email, phone, SMS, or postal mail about programs, follow-ups, and related educational content;
• Personalize content and measure the performance of our advertising and marketing;
• Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse; and
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use.

4. How We Share Your Information

When you submit a form or request information about a school or program, you understand and agree that we may share the information you provide with one or more of our participating schools, their agents, and their marketing partners so they can contact you about educational opportunities. This sharing may constitute a "sale" or "sharing" of personal information under certain state privacy laws. See Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information for your rights and how to opt out.

We may also share information with:

• Service providers that host our site, deliver email/SMS, verify leads, process payments, and provide analytics on our behalf;
• Advertising partners such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, and other networks that help us measure campaigns and show relevant ads;
• Legal and safety recipients when required by law, subpoena, or to protect our rights, users, or the public; and
• Successors in the event of a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, bankruptcy, or sale of assets.

5. Marketing Communications & TCPA Consent

By submitting a request form, you expressly consent to be contacted by DegreeGoals and the schools or partners matched to your request at the telephone number and email you provided, including via automated technology, artificial or prerecorded voice, and text (SMS/MMS) messages. Consent is not a condition of enrolling in any educational program. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP to any SMS, using the unsubscribe link in an email, or contacting us at privacy@degreegoals.com.

6. Cookies & Online Advertising

We and our partners use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies for analytics, personalization, and interest-based advertising. You can control cookies through your browser settings and opt out of many interest-based ads through industry programs such as the DAA WebChoices tool and the NAI Opt-Out. We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals where required by law.

7. Your U.S. State Privacy Rights

Depending on your state of residence, you may have some or all of the rights described below. We do not discriminate against consumers who exercise their rights, and you may designate an authorized agent to submit a request on your behalf with written proof of authorization.

To exercise any right, email privacy@degreegoals.com, call us at 616-916-0804, submit a request through our Your Privacy Choices page, or write to DegreeGoals, Attn: Privacy, 500 Westover Dr., Sanford, NC 27330. We will acknowledge your request within 10 business days and respond within 45 days (extendable by an additional 45 days where permitted).

California (CCPA / CPRA)

California residents have the right to (i) know the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected, the sources, business/commercial purposes, and categories of third parties with whom we share it; (ii) request deletion of personal information; (iii) request correction of inaccurate personal information; (iv) opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information (including cross-context behavioral advertising); (v) limit the use and disclosure of sensitive personal information; and (vi) not be retaliated against for exercising these rights. In the past 12 months we have collected the categories of personal information described in Section 2 (identifiers, contact data, demographic data, internet activity, geolocation derived from IP, and inferences) and have "sold" or "shared" identifiers, contact data, demographic data, internet activity, and inferences with schools and advertising partners as described in Section 4. We do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of consumers under 16. Read the full California Consumer Privacy Act at oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa and the CPRA regulations at cppa.ca.gov/regulations. To opt out, visit Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information or enable the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal in your browser, which we honor as a valid opt-out.

Virginia (VCDPA)

Virginia residents may access, correct, delete, and obtain a portable copy of their personal data, and opt out of targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, and profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects. If we deny your request you may appeal by replying to our response email; if the appeal is denied you may contact the Virginia Attorney General at oag.state.va.us.

Colorado (CPA)

Colorado residents have the rights of access, correction, deletion, data portability, and to opt out of targeted advertising, sale of personal data, and certain profiling. Colorado recognizes universal opt-out mechanisms such as GPC, which we honor. Appeal a denied request by replying to our response email; unresolved appeals may be reported to the Colorado Attorney General at coag.gov.

Connecticut (CTDPA)

Connecticut residents have access, correction, deletion, portability, and opt-out rights (targeted advertising, sale, profiling) and the right to appeal a denied request. Complaints may be submitted to the Connecticut Attorney General at portal.ct.gov/AG.

Utah (UCPA)

Utah residents have the rights of access, deletion, portability, and to opt out of targeted advertising and the sale of personal data. Utah does not require an appeal process; complaints may be filed with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection.

Texas (TDPSA), Oregon (OCPA), Montana (MCDPA), Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nebraska, Minnesota, Maryland, Kentucky, Rhode Island

Residents of these states generally have rights to access, correct (where provided by state law), delete, obtain a portable copy of their personal data, and opt out of targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, and certain profiling. Where required, we honor universal opt-out mechanisms such as Global Privacy Control. Appeals of denied requests may be submitted by replying to our response email and, if unresolved, to the applicable state attorney general.

Nevada

Nevada residents may direct us not to sell certain covered personal information for monetary consideration by emailing privacy@degreegoals.com.

Florida (FDBR)

Florida residents that qualify as "consumers" under the Florida Digital Bill of Rights have rights of access, correction, deletion, portability, and to opt out of the sale of personal data, targeted advertising, profiling, and the collection or processing of sensitive data.

Washington & Nevada (Health Data)

To the extent we process "consumer health data" under Washington's My Health My Data Act or Nevada SB 370, you may withdraw consent, request deletion of that data, and receive a list of third parties with whom it has been shared by emailing privacy@degreegoals.com.

7a. How to Opt Out — Clear Instructions

• Sale/sharing & targeted ads: visit Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information and submit the form, or enable Global Privacy Control (GPC) in your browser.
• Marketing emails: click the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email we send, or email privacy@degreegoals.com with the subject line "Unsubscribe."
• SMS / text messages: reply STOP to any message you receive from us or a partner school. Reply HELP for assistance.
• Phone calls: tell the caller you wish to be placed on their internal do-not-call list, or add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov.
• Cookies & interest-based ads: use the DAA WebChoices tool or NAI Opt-Out, and manage cookies in your browser settings.
• Delete or correct data: email privacy@degreegoals.com with the subject line "Delete My Data" or "Correct My Data" and include your full name, email, phone, and ZIP.

8. Data Retention & Security

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information; however, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.

9. Children's Privacy

This site is intended for users 18 years of age and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe a child has provided us with information, please contact us and we will delete it.

10. Third-Party Links

Our site may contain links to third-party websites, including school and partner sites, which have their own privacy practices. We are not responsible for the content or privacy policies of those sites.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be indicated by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

Questions or requests? Contact our privacy team at privacy@degreegoals.com or visit our Contact page.