Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

EZ College Finder ("we," "our," or "us"), accessible via ezcollegefinder.com, values your privacy and is dedicated to safeguarding student data. This Privacy Policy outlines what information we collect, how it is handled, and how your privacy is protected when you browse our website and use our college matching features.

2. Information We Collect

We adhere to strict data minimization principles. We only collect information essential for providing our college matching services:

• Self-Reported Academic & Search Preferences: When you complete the 7-question college match questionnaire or apply search filters, you may input non-identifying criteria such as your approximate GPA, SAT/ACT score band, intended major, budget preference, and location interest. This data is processed client-side in your browser to generate matching fit scores.
• Side-by-Side Comparison Lists: Colleges that you select for side-by-side comparison are stored locally within your browser’s localStorage. We do not transmit or store your college selections on our backend servers.
• Contact Communications: If you voluntarily contact us via our contact form or email (support@ezcollegefinder.com), we collect your name, email address, and message contents solely to respond to your inquiry.
• Automated Technical Logs: Like standard web platforms, our servers log aggregated, non-personally identifiable technical telemetry (e.g., browser user-agent, operating system, pages visited, timestamps) to monitor server health, diagnose bugs, and deter cyber abuse.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected data solely for the following legitimate purposes:

• Calculating personalized college compatibility fit tiers (Safety, Target, Reach).
• Maintaining browser-side user preferences such as Dark Mode and side-by-side comparisons.
• Responding to user support questions, bug reports, and data correction requests.
• Maintaining website performance, caching speeds, and security infrastructure.

4. Absolute Non-Disclosure & Zero Data Selling

Unlike many commercial education portals, we never sell, license, rent, or trade your personal information to third-party colleges, private student loan corporations, test-prep vendors, or data brokers. We do not participate in cross-site behavioral ad-tracking networks.

5. Cookies and Local Browser Storage

EZ College Finder does not use intrusive tracking cookies. We utilize browser localStorage strictly for functional client-side features:

• ez_theme: Remembers your preferred display mode (Light or Dark).
• ez_compare_colleges: Remembers colleges you select for side-by-side comparison.

You can clear your local storage at any time via your browser settings without impacting your ability to use the site.

6. Children's Privacy (COPPA & FERPA)

EZ College Finder is intended for high school students, college applicants, and parents. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under the age of 13. If you believe that a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will promptly remove such records.

7. Your Legal Rights (GDPR, CCPA, CPRA)

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), or California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). These rights include:

• The right to know what personal data is retained about you.
• The right to request the deletion or correction of any personal data.
• The right to equal service and freedom from discrimination for exercising privacy rights.

To submit a privacy inquiry or data deletion request, email us at privacy@ezcollegefinder.com.

8. Contact Us

For any questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, please reach out to our privacy compliance team: