Your Privacy Protected | Top5 Colleges: Our Transparent Privacy Policy

By accessing the Top5 Colleges website (www.top5colleges.us), our companion site Virtue Analytics (www.virtueanalytics.com), or other domains under our control, you are agreeing to be bound by these website Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this site. The materials contained in this website are protected by applicable copyright and trademark law.

At www.top5colleges.us (the “Site”), Virtue Analytics Inc., owner of the Site (“Virtue Analytics”, and also referred to in these terms as “we”, “us”, “our”, or similar terms) understands that sharing your personal information online takes a great deal of trust. We take online privacy extremely seriously, and we strive to ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal information on the Site as detailed in this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy discusses, among other things, how data obtained during your visit to the Site may be collected and used. By visiting and using the Site, you affirm that you are of sufficient legal age to create and are fully able and competent to form a binding contract and that you agree to be bound by the terms of this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy is incorporated into and subject to the Terms of Service governing the use of this Site. We recommend that you read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not accept the terms of this Privacy Policy, you are directed to discontinue accessing or otherwise using the Site or any materials obtained from it. If you are dissatisfied with the Site, your only recourse is to disconnect from the Site and refrain from visiting the Site in the future.

This Privacy Policy applies to the Site only. Since the Site contains links to other websites (“External Links”) not protected under this Privacy Policy, once you click on an External Link, whether through an advertisement, content link, or any other means, you will no longer be on this Site and will no longer be protected under this Privacy Policy. Virtue Analytics is not responsible for the privacy practices of the other sites to which we link, so we encourage you to carefully read and fully understand the privacy terms of every website you visit through an External Link contained on the Site.

While you may use some of the features of the Site without registering, many of the specific services, features, and tools require registration. If you use the Site without registering, the only information we will collect will be Non-Personal Information (as defined below) such as through the use of Cookies and/or Advertising Trackers (as such terms are defined below). If you choose to register with the Site, we require you to submit some basic personal information, and you are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the identifiable information you submit to Virtue Analytics. Inaccurate information will affect the information you receive when using the Site as well as our ability to contact you as described in this Privacy Policy. If, for instance, your email address is not current, we may be completely unable to contact you.

We reserve the right to make non-material changes to this Privacy Policy that do affect your Personally Identifiable Information (as defined below), in which case Virtue Analytics is under no obligation to notify you of such changes. We will inform you if we make a significant change to this Privacy Policy (i.e. a change that expands the permissible uses or disclosures of Personally Identifiable Information) by either sending a notice to the email address you provided to us or by placing a prominent notice on the Site. Your continued use of the Site following the provision of such notice will indicate your acceptance of these changes.

Virtue Analytics is based in the State of Minnesota in the United States of America. Virtue Analytics has designed and runs the Site to comply with US-based data protection rights laws. Privacy laws vary from country to country, and your own country’s privacy laws and regulations may be different than US law. If you are unsure whether this Privacy Policy is in conflict with applicable local rules, you should not submit your information. If you are located within the European Union, you should note that your information will be transferred to the United States of America, which is deemed by the European Union to have inadequate data protection. Individuals located in countries outside of the United States of America who submit personal information do thereby consent to the general use of such information as provided in this Privacy Policy and to its transfer to and/or storage in the United States of America.

SITE SECURITY RULES

You are prohibited from violating or attempting to violate the security of Virtue Analytics, including, without limitation, (a) intercepting or accessing data not intended for such user or logging into a server or account which the user is not authorized to access, (b) attempting to probe, scan or test the vulnerability of a system or network or to breach security or authentication measures without prior express written authorization, (c) attempting to interfere with service to any user, host or network, including, without limitation, via means of submitting a virus to any Virtue Analytics, overloading, “flooding”, “denial of service attacking”, “spamming”, “mailbombing” or “crashing”, (d) sending unsolicited e-mail, including promotions and/or advertising of products or services, or (e) forging any TCP/IP packet header or any part of the header information in any e-mail or newsgroup posting. Violations of system or network security may result in civil or criminal liability.

We continually test content and features for WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance and remediate any issues to ensure we meet or exceed the standards. Testing of our digital content is performed by our accessibility experts using automated testing software (based on the axe rules library), screen readers, a color contrast analyzer, keyboard-only navigation techniques, and a variety of bookmarklets.

While this policy does provide the standard for individuals with disabilities to access Web-based information, this policy cannot anticipate every accessibility need, due to known limitations of existing technology. There may be other circumstances, independent of technology that may limit the accessibility of the Top5 Colleges website.

COLLECTION OF NON-PERSONAL INFORMATION

Even if you do not register with the Site to become either a member or a Provider, we reserve the right to collect non-personally identifiable information about you (“Non-Personal Information”), which Non-Personal Information may be obtained by the use of Cookies and Advertising Trackers (as defined below) when you use the Site. Such Non-Personal Information generally is collected for all users but does not personally identify you by name.

a. Cookies.

b. Advertising Trackers.

The information collected by Advertising Trackers can be used in any one or more of the following ways: (1) to allow us to determine accurately how many people are using the Site, as well as selected sponsors’ and advertisers’ websites, (2) to determine how many people open our emails, and (3) to determine the purposes for which these actions are being taken. Our Advertising Trackers are not used to track your activity outside of the Site’s domain or the domains of our sponsors and/or advertisers.

c. Computer and Connection and Log Files

We also reserve the right to determine what type of computer and web browser you are using, what website referred you to the Site, and what your connection speed is. This information is collected purely to enhance your experience on the Site. In addition, Virtue Analytics may use IP addresses to analyze trends, administer the Site, track users’ movements, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

We may store any information you enter on the Site or provide or make available to us in any other way, whether by email, postal mail, phone, or any other means, including information that can personally identify you, such as your first and last name, telephone number, postal and email addresses, topics of interest, and any other information you may give us (collectively, “Personally Identifiable Information”). When you register as a member of the Site and/or when you update your user profile, we will have access to any Personally Identifiable Information or other information that you submit to us. We may use the information that you provide to respond to your questions, provide you with the specific services you select or request, send you emails about the Site, and inform you of significant changes to this Privacy Policy. You can always decide not to provide information to us, but in order to register with the Site some information about you is required.

a. Emails You Send to Virtue Analytics

When you send us information by email, we may use that information to appropriately address your specific request or concerns and may retain the content of your email messages together with your email address and our responses. By emailing us, you are explicitly giving us permission to use your Personally Identifiable Information at our discretion to attempt to find a response to your inquiry. Additionally, this Privacy Policy does not apply to content, business information, ideas, concepts, or inventions that you send to Virtue Analytics by email. If you want to keep any such information private or proprietary, do not send such information in an email to Virtue Analytics.

b. Composite Data

Virtue Analytics may combine, any information that users of the Site provide to us in order to create Composite Data (as defined below) that may be disclosed or sold, or otherwise provided to third parties. “Composite Data” refers to information your computer automatically provides to us and which is not tied back to a specific individual, as well as aggregated or compiled data such as the type of information that users of the Site may have requested in the past or the ways in which users use the Site. Examples include referral data (the websites you visited just before and just after our site), the pages viewed on the Site, time spent on the Site, and IP address, which may be used to create aggregate reports on user demographics and traffic patterns for advertisers, Providers, and other partners, and for purposes of system administration. For example, Virtue Analytics may use the information we gather from you and other users to create a composite profile of all the users who have been selected to receive information about a certain type of educational service. These third parties may use this information to understand the needs of our users as an aggregate whole, in order to design appropriate programs and activities on their websites. Virtue Analytics will not disclose your Personal Identifiable Information to any third party without your prior permission, except as otherwise permitted by this Privacy Policy.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

By providing us with such personal information, you expressly grant Virtue Analytics and all other persons or entities involved in the operations of the Site the right to transmit, monitor, retrieve, store, and use such information in connection with the operation of the Site. In particular, Virtue Analytics may use other information about you (1) to provide you with the products, services, or procedures that you request; (2) to communicate with you in general; (3) to respond to your questions and comments; (4) to measure interest in and improve our products, services, and the Site generally; (5) to notify you about special offers and products, services or procedures that may be of interest to you; (6) to otherwise customize your experience with the Site; (7) to enforce our Terms of Service; and (8) as otherwise described to you at the point of collection. In addition, we may ask you to confirm your personal information when you contact us, as this will allow us to protect your confidentiality by verifying your identity.

If you have accessed the Site through a portal provided by North Star Education Finance Inc. (NEF), or its grantees (“College Possible, Wallin Education Partners, All in Milwaukee, Cristo Rey Jesuit High Schools, The Alan Page Foundation, and others”), your use of the Site is subject to the terms and conditions of an agreement between them and NEF (the “Master License”). In order to comply with the terms of the Master License and also to facilitate the registration and billing requirements of Virtue Analytics, we may share Composite Data, Non-Personal Information, and Personally Identifiable Information about you with North Star Education Finance Inc ., In addition, if required under a Master License, we may share certain Composite Data with a third-party provider. Except as permitted by this Privacy Policy or as specifically agreed to by you.

When you fill out and submit a form on the Site that asks for any personal information, submit only the information that you might want us to share with the third-party Providers. We will process your information and filter it according to the specific procedure and/or college(s) you specify, and use the resulting information to identify the college(s) who may be able to answer your questions or concerns. Any information you disclose to these third-party Providers is not protected by our Terms of Service or by this Privacy Policy, and we do not endorse, and we are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party organizations.

Virtue Analytics, through the Site, provides links to websites run by third parties that may pay us commissions based on services or inquiries generated through the Site in order to maintain our costs. There may also be links to other third-party organizations within the Site, in banner advertisements, or placed beside the names or logos of sponsors, advertisers, or Providers. If you click on one of these links to a third-party website, any personal information you provide on those third-party websites will not be governed by this Privacy Policy, and we strongly encourage you to review the privacy policies of those websites before submitting any personal information.

Virtue Analytics also may share your information in the following situations:

1. Legal Compulsion: In response to legal proceedings, such as subpoenas, court orders, or search warrants; to establish or exercise our legal rights; to defend against legal claims; or as otherwise required by law. In such cases, we reserve the right to raise or waive any legal objection or right available to us.

2. Investigations: When it is appropriate to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal or suspected illegal activities; to defend or assert the rights, property, or safety of our organization, our customers, or others; and in connection with our Terms of Service. Should we be legally compelled to disclose your personal information to a third party, we will attempt to notify you about such an action unless doing so would violate the law or court order.

3. Corporate Transactions: In connection with a corporate transaction–including, without limitation, a merger, divestiture, or asset sale–or in the unlikely event of bankruptcy.

If you have a complaint or problem, please contact us at info@virtueanalytics.com. If you would like to remove your personal information entirely from the Site and our database, please email us accordingly. After receiving your email, we may require you to verify your identity before removing your information, such as by requiring you to reply to an email message sent to your then-current email address, and also may require you to confirm your authority as the account owner by requiring you to respond with your account name and subscription code. After we receive your confirmation and verify your authority with respect to the account, we will make every attempt to remove your personal information within one (1) week after which you will no longer be actively associated with the Site. Nonetheless, it may be impossible for us to remove every instance of information associated with you from all of our records, including log files, history digests, or public forums or message boards, though the information may exist for our internal purposes only and will not be shared with other parties. In addition, you understand that, even after removal, copies of content provided by you may remain viewable in cached and archived pages or if other users have copied or stored such content.

If you chose to have us share your information with a third-party Provider, you will have to contact them directly in order to remove your information from their databases. We do not maintain control over the databases of such third-party organizations, and thus we cannot reasonably control the removal of your personal information from the databases of those organizations.

HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION

We want you to feel confident about using the Site, so we are deeply committed to protecting the information we collect from our users. While no website can guarantee complete security, we have implemented appropriate administrative, technical, and physical security procedures to help protect the personal information you provide to us. Only a small handful of authorized employees are permitted to access your personal information, and these individuals may do so solely for business functions as outlined in this Privacy Policy, our Terms of Service, or as we deem reasonably appropriate. In addition, we employ firewalls and intrusion detection systems to help prevent unauthorized parties from gaining access to your information by hacking into our system, and our server is located at a secure facility that cannot be accessed except by authorized personnel.

There is always a risk that an unauthorized third party may gain access to your information by bypassing our security measures or by intercepting the transmission of your information over the Internet. For example, a spyware program that you may have inadvertently installed on your computer may be logging your keystrokes and sending the information to an unauthorized third party.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY (COPPA)

The Site does not cater to children under the age of 13, and we are deeply committed to protecting the privacy of children. Should a child whom we know to be under the age of 13 send personal information to us, we will use that information only to respond directly to that child to inform him or her that we must have parental consent before receiving his or her personal information. Neither Virtue Analytics nor any of its affiliates nor services are designed or intended to attract children under the age of 13. Should a person under the age of 13 require the use of the Site, we encourage that child’s parent or legal guardian to establish an account to be used by such parent or legal guardian on behalf of such minor, and it becomes that parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to monitor the use of such an account. The parent or guardian is also responsible for maintaining the accuracy of any information so submitted. Furthermore, any information that Virtue Analytics or any of our affiliates provides is directed at the parent or guardian, whom we hold responsible for interpreting and using that information. We take no responsibility for a child who knowingly falsifies his or her information in order to obtain information from us or from any of our Providers’ or other partners’ websites.

Disclaimer

The materials on Virtue Analytics’ website are provided “as is”. Virtue Analytics makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights. Further, Virtue Analytics does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of the materials on its Internet website or otherwise relating to such materials or on any sites linked to this site.

Photographs accompanying testimonials are representational and may not be of the quoted individual.

Limitations

In no event shall Virtue Analytics Inc., or its partners and affiliates be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data or profit, or due to business interruption,) arising out of the use or inability to use the materials on Virtue Analytics’ Internet site, even if Virtue Analytics or a Virtue Analytics authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage. Because some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, or limitations of liability for consequential or incidental damages, these limitations may not apply to you.

You understand that we cannot and do not guarantee or warrant that files available for downloading from the internet or the Website will be free of viruses or other destructive code. You are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for anti-virus protection and accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to our site for any reconstruction of any lost data.

Photographs accompanying testimonials are representational and may not be of the quoted individual.

WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY A DISTRIBUTED DENIAL-OF-SERVICE ATTACK, VIRUSES, OR OTHER TECHNOLOGICALLY HARMFUL MATERIAL THAT MAY INFECT YOUR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, COMPUTER PROGRAMS, DATA, OR OTHER PROPRIETARY MATERIAL DUE TO YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR TO YOUR DOWNLOADING OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON IT, OR ON ANY WEBSITE LINKED TO IT. YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT, AND ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT, AND ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANY PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY MAKES ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPLETENESS, SECURITY, RELIABILITY, QUALITY, ACCURACY, OR AVAILABILITY OF THE WEBSITE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY REPRESENTS OR WARRANTS THAT THE WEBSITE, ITS CONTENT, OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE WILL BE ACCURATE, RELIABLE, ERROR-FREE, OR UNINTERRUPTED, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, THAT OUR SITE OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS OR THAT THE WEBSITE OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE WILL OTHERWISE MEET YOUR NEEDS OR EXPECTATIONS. THE COMPANY HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY WARRANTIES WHICH CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

Limitation on Liability

IN NO EVENT WILL THE COMPANY, ITS AFFILIATES OR THEIR LICENSORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS, OR DIRECTORS BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE WEBSITE, ANY WEBSITES LINKED TO IT, ANY CONTENT ON THE WEBSITE OR SUCH OTHER WEBSITES OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR SUCH OTHER WEBSITES, INCLUDING ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONAL INJURY, PAIN AND SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS OR ANTICIPATED SAVINGS, LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF GOODWILL, LOSS OF DATA, AND WHETHER CAUSED BY TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF FORESEEABLE. THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY LIABILITY WHICH CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, licensors, and service providers, and its and their respective officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, suppliers, successors, and assigns from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses or fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to your violation of these Terms of Use or your use of the Website, including, but not limited to, your User Contributions, any use of the Website’s content, services and products other than as expressly authorized in these Terms of Use or your use of any information obtained from the Website.

Revisions and Errata

The materials appearing on Virtue Analytics’ website could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. Virtue Analytics does not warrant that any of the materials on its website are accurate, complete, or current. Virtue Analytics may make changes to the materials contained on its website at any time without notice. Virtue Analytics does not, however, make any commitment to update the materials.

Links

Virtue Analytics has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its Internet website and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked site. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by Virtue Analytics of the site. Use of any such linked website is at the user’s own risk.

Site Terms of Use Modifications

Virtue Analytics may revise these terms of use for its website at any time without notice. By using this website, you are agreeing to be bound by the then-current version of these Terms and Conditions of Use.

Governing Law

Any claim relating to Virtue Analytics’ website shall be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

User Information

When you register for the Virtue Analytics service, you will be asked to provide Virtue Analytics with certain information including, but not limited to, first and last name, a valid email address, city, state, and other identifying information. Some non-identifying information may also be collected through regular use of the Website and Virtue Analytics services. In addition to the terms and conditions that may be set forth in the Privacy Policy on this Website, you understand and agree that Virtue Analytics may disclose to third parties, aggregate and certain personally identifiable information based on your use of the Virtue Analytics service. In order to provide valuable experiences, Virtue Analytics reserves the right to offer third-party services and products to you based on the information and preferences that you provide to Virtue Analytics during your registration and/or through your use of the Website and at any time thereafter; such offers may be made by Virtue Analytics or by our third-party affiliates. Please see our Privacy Policy for further details regarding your personal information. We are not responsible for any data collection and practices of non-affiliated third parties that are linked to or from our Website.

By creating an account on Virtue Analytics, you agree to receive periodic email updates from us regarding new content, features, and other information. You will be able to unsubscribe from these email updates at any time.

Agreement to be Contacted

You agree to be contacted by Virtue Analytics or on our behalf or by any other party to whom you may be referred or whom you may contact via your utilization of our services by mail, email, telephone calls, text messages, and other platforms for marketing and non-marketing purposes associated with the business of the Services. You also specifically agree that you have provided express consent to receive auto-dialed and prerecorded non-marketing calls (e.g., calls to service your relationship with us) and text messages from us or on our behalf at the telephone number(s) that you provide.

You confirm that all of your contact information is correct. You also agree that you are the subscriber for any telephone number(s) provided and the authorized user for the email address(es) provided. You also agree to notify us promptly if any of your number(s) or address(es) change in the future. You understand that your wireless service provider’s message and data rates may apply to the messages that we send to or receive from you.

You also agree that by submitting a request, application, or inquiry for a scholarship, loan service or product or a school matching service or referral through the Services, you are extending an express invitation to us and each applicable organization, financial service provider, and educational institution related to the submission to contact you so that we and they may assist you with your transaction or request. Such communications may include marketing or promotional communications.

Your Representations About the Data You Provide to Us

You confirm that you are authorized to provide us with any data you submit to Virtue Analytics, including but not limited to academic, family, and financial data entered into our calculation tools as well as any information about the estimated or actual net price, financial aid, scholarship, or other data relating to the cost of attendance for any college or institution about which you provide to Virtue Analytics. Further, you acknowledge that once this data is submitted to Virtue Analytics, the data, absent any personally identifiable information about you, will, in the aggregate, become the sole property of Virtue Analytics and that we may decide to use it at our sole discretion to estimate the costs for students of similar academic and/or financial circumstances to attend those institutions for which you provide us data. You represent that the data you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge, understand that we may terminate your use of our services without notice for providing us with inaccurate or unauthorized information, and acknowledge that any models created by Virtue Analytics which utilize such data are entirely owned by us.

HOW TO CONTACT US

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or any other concerns related to the site, please email us at info@virtueanalytics.com