CollegeNET
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| Formerly | Universal Algorithms, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Jim Wolfston |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
| Website | collegenet |
CollegeNET, Inc. is an American developer of web technologies used for higher education. The company is based in Portland, Oregon.[1]
History
[edit]The company was founded by Jim Wolfston in 1977 as Universal Algorithms, Inc.[2][3] The company introduced an automated classroom scheduling program for higher education in 1979.[4]
Universal Algorithms launched CollegeNET in 1995, a website allowing students to search for and apply to colleges online.[5] In 1996, Fran Gardner of The Oregonian described the website as Universal Algorithms's "most visible service".[6] By 1997, CollegeNET received 3 million hits per month according to CNET.[7]
Universal Algorithms changed its name to CollegeNET in May 1999.[3]
In 2014, CollegeNET filed an antitrust lawsuit against college application platform Common Application.[8] The two companies reached an undisclosed settlement agreement in 2019.[9]
In March 2025, CollegeNET was acquired by investment firm Rubicon Technology Partners. In November 2025, CollegeNET's founder sued the investment company, "alleging the private equity firm misled him before the sale and then fired him less than six months later when he objected to the way the new owner ran the company".[10]
Universities using CollegeNET
[edit]Stanford University, Yale University, University of Michigan, Elon University, University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Berkeley, University of Washington, Oregon State University, and approximately 1,000 other colleges and universities use CollegeNET's services.[11]
Social Mobility Index
[edit]CollegeNET produces the Social Mobility Index (SMI) which measures the degree to which individual colleges and universities contribute to social mobility.[12] As of 2021[update], the SMI "ranks nearly 1,400 four-year institutions on the degree to which they contribute to social mobility based on five variables: tuition, economic background, graduation rate, early career salary, and endowment".[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Dawson, Christopher (July 22, 2009). "CollegeNET ends the thick/thin letter game". ZDNet. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
- ^ Hoover, Eric (June 3, 2018). "How Admissions Competition Brought New Rivalries, Strange Bedfellows, and 'An Us-Versus-Us Lawsuit'". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ a b "CollegeNET, Inc.: Private Company Information". Investing.BusinessWeek.com. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ "Learn About CollegeNET". CollegeNET. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ Marklein, Mary Beth (September 25, 1997). "Applying to college electronically". Courier-Post. Gannett News Service. p. 3E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gardner, Fran (October 8, 1996). "Making a good match: Universal Algorithms' CollegeNet is now the most visible service of the Portland scheduling firm". The Oregonian. p. B16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Web college service expanded". CNET. July 29, 1997. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ Button, Keith (May 12, 2014). "Suit accuses Common Application of antitrust violations". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ Hoover, Eric (February 8, 2019). "Admissions Confidential: Antitrust Lawsuit Ends in Secret Settlement". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ Rogoway, Mike (November 11, 2025). "Portland software entrepreneur sues for $350M, says private equity firm bought his company and then fired him". OregonLive. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ Mitra, Sramana (February 2, 2009). "Deal Radar 2009: CollegeNET". Sramana Mitra. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
- ^ "2025 Social Mobility Index". SocialMobilityIndex.org. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ Georgianna L. Martin; Sonja Ardoin, eds. (2021). Social Class Supports: Programs and Practices to Serve and Sustain Poor and Working-Class Students Through Higher Education. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-00-344699-6 – via Google Books.