college matchmakingMarriage Pactstudent relationshipsThe Marriage Pact, an annual matchmaking ritual popular on nearly 90 U.S. college campuses, pairs students based on an algorithm, leading to friendships, relationships, and even marriage for some.
Incepted at Stanford University in 2017 as an economics project, the Marriage Pact has engaged about half a million students, providing each with a unique match based on a comprehensive algorithm. While many participate for fun, a fraction of matches lead to long-term commitments, including marriages, demonstrating the pact's unexpected impact on student social life.