
Southfield, MIprivate nonprofitwww.ltu.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 79%–82% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Lawrence Technological University (LTU) is a small, tech-focused institution in Southfield, Michigan, where hands-on learning and industry connections take center stage. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and a curriculum that leans heavily into engineering, architecture, and business, LTU attracts students who want to graduate job-ready—though its middling graduation rates suggest it’s not for the academically faint of heart. The campus vibe is tight-knit, with over 40 student organizations and a strong emphasis on STEM-driven extracurriculars.
Test-blind — scores not considered
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
LTU’s admissions process is moderately selective, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. fluctuating between 55.9% (2024) and 82% (earlier reports), reflecting its growing appeal among tech-oriented applicants. The university adopted a test-optional policy, allowing students to omit SAT/ACT scores—though mid-50% ranges for those who submit fall between 1030–1250 (SAT) and 22–26 (ACT). Applications are rolling, with a July 31 deadline for regular decisions. Notably, LTU’s admissions office emphasizes personalized outreach, listing a toll-free number (800.CALL.LTU) and direct email (admissions@ltu.edu) for prospective students.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
LTU’s academic identity is defined by its project-based, industry-aligned programs, particularly in engineering, architecture, and business. The university offers over 100 degrees across five colleges, with standout programs like Aeronautical Engineering and Audio Engineering Technology. Small classes are the norm: 82% have fewer than 20 students, and the 10:1 student-faculty ratio ensures close mentorship. The curriculum emphasizes AI integration and hands-on learning, with faculty often drawing from industry experience. However, graduation rates are a mixed bag—62% at six years, but just 25% at four years—suggesting some students may struggle with pacing.
Life at LTU revolves around its STEM-heavy extracurriculars and compact campus community. About 50% of students live on campus, with housing designed to foster collaboration (think shared maker spaces and tech-equipped lounges). The university boasts 40+ student organizations, including niche groups like robotics teams and architecture collectives. Athletics are surprisingly robust for a small school, with 30 teams and 700 student-athletes. Social life leans toward academic-adjacent activities—hackathons, design competitions, and industry networking events dominate the calendar. Off-campus, Southfield offers limited nightlife, so students often trek to Detroit for entertainment.
LTU’s career-focused approach pays off for graduates, who report a median earnings of $36,427 one year post-graduation—solid for a regional tech school. The university touts strong industry ties, particularly in automotive and aerospace sectors (thanks to its Detroit adjacency). However, outcomes vary by program: engineering and architecture alumni typically fare better than those in liberal arts. The six-year graduation rate of 62% lags behind national benchmarks, hinting at academic rigor or financial hurdles. Notably, Pell Grant recipients graduate at just 43%, suggesting socioeconomic disparities in persistence.
LTU’s sticker price is steep—$69,728 for total Cost of attendanceThe full estimated yearly cost of a college: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other expenses, before any financial aid.—but most students receive aid, bringing the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to $32,641. The university guarantees 100% of incoming undergrads receive grants or scholarships, though these often include loans. Merit scholarships are available for high-achieving applicants (think top 25% test scores). The financial aid office pushes its Net Price Calculator hard, a tacit acknowledgment that few pay full freight. Still, the relatively low graduation rates raise questions about return on investment for some majors.
LTU carves a niche as a pragmatic, no-frills tech school where students get hands-on with industry tools from day one. Its small size and Detroit-area location create unique opportunities—think co-ops at Ford or Stellantis, or architecture studios tackling urban revitalization projects. The 10:1 student-faculty ratio means professors know your name, and the curriculum’s AI integration keeps it forward-looking. But it’s not for everyone: the workload is intense, social life is club-centric, and the suburban campus lacks big-school energy. For STEM students who want to graduate with a portfolio (not just a diploma), though, LTU delivers.