Abstract: A method and programmed computing system (12) that enables a college search by matching criteria of a searcher (16) to statistics (14) relevant to colleges. Criteria are compared to stored statistics by a method (30) that scores a college as to at least one specific criterion on a variable scale, such that a college that partially matches the specific criterion is awarded a score that is less than that awarded to a fully matching college but greater than that of a awarded to a less matched college as to the specific criterion. Searchers also provide Boolean criteria for colleges that are incorporated into the college scores. Searchers provide importance weightings for criteria, which are used to weight college scores and create rankings of colleges.