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eCollege Further Distinguishes Itself by Earning a Microsoft Competency in ISV/Software Solutions DENVER, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- eCollege(R) (NASDAQ:ECLG), a leading provider of value-added information services to the post-secondary education industry, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in ISV/Software Solutions, recognizing eCollege's expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, eCollege has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven its ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel. "We are extremely proud to have attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program," said Oakleigh Thorne, chairman and CEO of eCollege. "This certification demonstrates the strength of our solution, which leverages the latest Microsoft technology. We look forward to the role the Gold Certified Partner program will play as we continue to advance our products to power some of the largest and fastest growing online programs in the market." "Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes eCollege as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology." As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, eCollege had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry. The ISV/Software Solutions Competency that eCollege attained recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packaged software based on Microsoft technologies. "Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs," said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of the Developer & Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft. "They allow ISVs to keep and win customers through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help them deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide." The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners' businesses be successful. About eCollege eCollege (NASDAQ:ECLG) is a leading provider of value-added information services to the post-secondary and K-12 education industries. The Company's eLearning Division designs, builds and supports some of the most successful, fully online degree, certificate/diploma and professional development programs in the country. The Company's Enrollment Division, Datamark, Inc., helps institutions build new enrollments and increase student retention. Customers include publicly traded for-profit institutions, community colleges, public and private universities, school districts and state departments of education. eCollege was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Chicago, with the eLearning Division headquartered in Denver. Datamark was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City. For more information, visit http://www.ecollege.com/ and http://www.datamark.com/. This news release contains statements that are not historical in nature and that may be characterized as "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. Examples of these forward-looking statements would include statements about the expected benefits to customers of our products or services and any other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks. Actual performance and results may differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the Company's industries as well as the more specific risks and uncertainties facing the Company, including those identified in the Company's reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which you are encouraged to review in connection with this release. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. We are not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. eCollege is a registered trademark of eCollege. Other names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. DATASOURCE: eCollege CONTACT: Kristi Emerson of eCollege, +1-303-873-3788, Web site: http://www.datamark.com/ Web site: http://www.ecollege.com/

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