Universal forms engines

The present invention relates to a method of processing over a computer network forms directed by multiple form users to multiple academic entities, the forms being processed by a third party forms servicer that is neither one of the academic entities nor one of the forms users, the method comprising: presenting to a form user over a computer network by a third party forms servicer a form directed to one of the multiple academic entities, the forms including fields for the form user to enter user information; receiving by the third party forms servicer over the computer network user information and electronic payment information entered by the user;storing by the third party forms servicer at least some of the user information entered on the form in a user database; processing by the third party forms servicer an electronic payment associated with the form, the processed payment being from the user to the one of the multiple academic entities to which the form is directed; and making web-based viewing or uploading of at least some of the stored user information in the user database available by the third party forms servicer to the one of the multiple academic entities to which the form is directed, the third party forms servicer providing to form users customized forms identified with the academic entity and providing to the academic entities web-based access to the data, while relieving the academic entity's burden of processing forms and payments.