Lawrence Technological University

In 1932, at the height of the Great Depression , Lawrence Tech's founding president Russell E. Lawrence envisioned a new model of higher education that could serve both traditional students as well as working adults, and combined a teaching philosophy espousing both theory and practice. Lawrence believed engineering and technological achievements would be what would spur economic recovery, both for the region and the nation. Henry and Edsel Ford agreed to lease their former Henry Ford Trade School building, [ 4 ] a part of their Model-T assembly complex in Highland Park, to the new university, which began operations with a few hundred students. The institution's enrollment dropped during World War II but surged immediately thereafter as veterans enjoyed the education benefits of the G.I. Bill . In 1955, Lawrence Institute of Technology (LIT) moved to a campus in then rural Southfield. [ 5 ] Since the university was founded as an engineering school, it is fitting that the first building constructed on the Southfield campus was the Engineering building. The campus master plan was created by professor Earl W. Pellerin, who also led the teams that designed the Architecture and Science Buildings, the university's first residence hall on Ten Mile Road, University Housing-South, and what was originally the president's residence on nearby Circle Drive. [ 6 ] LIT began offering multiple master's degree programs through its colleges, and in recognition of these post-baccalaureate programs LIT changed it name to Lawrence Technological University (LTU) on 1 January 1989. [ 7 ] LTU continued its transformation from a primarily commuter institution to offering a full campus life with the construction of more residence halls—Donley Hall, [ 8 ] Reuss Hall, [ 9 ] and East Residence Hall, [ 10 ] [ 11 ] the latter for all first-year students. The university now has the capacity for more than 1,000 residential students.

A marker designating the college as a Michigan Historic Site was erected by the Michigan Historical Commission in 1986. [ 12 ] The inscription reads: Lawrence Tech was chartered in 1932 by the Lawrence brothers, Russell E. and E. George. The college was located in Highland Park on Woodward Avenue until 1955, when the first building opened on this campus. Lawrence Tech, founded as an undergraduate college of engineering, later added programs in architecture, management, arts and science, and various technological fields. The college pioneered in scheduling evening programs for working students and in 1935 developed the four-quarter academic calendar. "Theory and Practice" has been the motto of the college since its founding. Application of classroom theories to real situations involving the community or Michigan industries has been its goal. Lawrence Institute of Technology is a nonprofit independent college.

Undergraduate admissions Quick facts Undergraduate admissions statistics, Admit rate ... Undergraduate admissions statistics 2021 entering class [ 13 ] Change vs. 2016 Admit rate 81.1 ( +11.8) Yield rate 22.2 ( −1.1) Test scores middle 50% SAT Total 1040-1250 ACT Composite 22-28 Close Lawrence Tech is considered "selective" by U.S. News & World Report . [ 14 ] For the Class of 2025 (enrolled fall 2021), Lawrence Tech received 2,641 applications and accepted 2,141 (81.1%). Of those accepted, 475 enrolled, a yield rate (the percentage of accepted students who choose to attend the university) of 22.2%. Lawrence Tech's freshman retention rate is 72.95%, with 58.35% going on to graduate within six years. [ 13 ] The enrolled first-year class of 2025 had the following standardized test scores: the middle 50% range (25th percentile-75th percentile) of SAT scores was 1040–1250, while the middle 50% range of ACT scores was 22–28. [ 13 ] More information Applicants, Admits ... Fall First-Time Freshman Statistics [ 13 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 Applicants 2,641 2,588 2,398 2,352 2,173 2,318 Admits 2,141 2,134 1,901 1,828 1,296 1,607 Admit rate 81.1 82.5 79.3 77.7 59.6 69.3 Enrolled 475 371 361 384 373 375 Yield rate 22.2 17.4 19.0 21.0 28.8 23.3 ACT composite* (out of 36) 22-28 21-29 21-27 23-28 21-28 22–29 SAT composite* (out of 1600) 1040-1250 1020-1280 1020-1270 1030-1280 1060-1280 — * middle 50% range Close

More information School, Founded ... School Founded College of Architecture and Design 1962 College of Arts and Sciences 1967 College of Business and Information Technology 1952 College of Engineering 1932 Close The university offers more than 100 academic programs through its five Colleges, Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences. In 1950, associate degree programs were added to LTU's baccalaureate programs and in 1952, what is today the College of Business and Information Technology was established. [ 20 ] LTU started offering multiple master's degree programs from the early 1990s. Master's degree programs in business were created in 1989, engineering in 1990, Architecture in 1993 and arts and sciences in 1997. Its most popular undergraduate majors, in terms of 2021 graduates, were: [ 21 ] Mechanical Engineering (68) Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology (46) Electrical and Electronics Engineering (43) Computer Science (41) The College of Business and Information Technology is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). [ 22 ] Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools. Only 6 percent of the world's 16,000 institutions of higher learning offering business degrees have earned its accreditation. Lawrence Tech first earned its accreditation in 2016, and a five-year extension was granted in February 2024. [ citation needed ] Lawrence Tech added a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in partnership with Ascension Michigan in 2017. In 2021, the program earned full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education through June 2026. LTU also added a two-year Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program in 2021, and that program has received provisional accreditation. [ 23 ] Finally, LTU launched a Master of Science in Cardiovascular Perfusion program in fall 2022.