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Lawrence Technological University

#4 Best Engineering Colleges in Michigan
Private nonprofit Southfield, MI · Urban · Great Lakes · 93% data
A Earnings B+ Social Mobility B+ Selectivity
62%
C+
Graduation Rate
About half of students who start complete their degree
$69,151
A
Earnings (10yr)
Top 8% nationally — exceptional earning power
$32,918
F
Net Price
92% more than the typical college
56%
B+
Acceptance Rate
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +70% vs avg
Graduation +8% vs avg
Net Price 92% vs avg
Mobility Top 19%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 12.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.8 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Engineering Colleges in Michigan.

12.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $12.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,549,732.

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What The Data Says

1

A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

2

Graduates earn 70% more than the national college median.

3

Inventor rate in the top 7% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.

4

Social mobility rate of 2.42% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

5

Every $1 invested returns $12.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

3.9%
Inventor Rate
Top 7%
89
Patents
Linked to graduates
80
Patent Citations
Downstream influence

Why Lawrence Technological University Matters

Lawrence Technological University is a private university in Southfield, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 8% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
1,668
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts

Why students choose Lawrence Technological University

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Startup & founder culture
Inventors produced at the top 7% rate nationally
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 8% of colleges
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 41% overall
A
Earnings
$69,151 median
C-
Value
2.1× net price
F
Affordability
$32,918/yr net
C+
Graduation
62% graduate
B+
Social Mobility
2.4% climb Q1→Q5
B+
Selectivity
56% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.58 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of 1,668 students, Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI is a great fit for those interested in practical, hands-on learning, especially in fields like Engineering, Computer Science, Business, and the Arts. The acceptance rate of 56% means that while it's competitive, there’s room for students who show promise in these areas. Students here often appreciate the blend of technical skills and creative thinking, preparing them for various careers.

When it comes to life after graduation, alumni earn a median of $69,151 after ten years, which gives a solid indication of the potential return on investment. While we don't have specific mobility data, the focus on career-oriented programs suggests that many graduates find their footing in a range of industries effectively. The cost of attendance is an important factor, and with a net price of $32,918, it’s essential to consider how this balances against future earnings.

Financially, students graduate with a median debt of $27,000, which is quite manageable given the earning potential. Affordability is key, and with a Pell Grant rate of 16%, there are some resources available for those who qualify. Students who thrive here typically have a clear sense of their career goals and are ready to engage deeply with their chosen fields.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Lawrence Technological University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Lawrence Technological University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Southfield, Michigan, Lawrence Technological University admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 56%. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 62%.

Acceptance Rate 56%
Retention Rate 78%
Full-Time Faculty 37%
Faculty Salary (mo) $9,215
Student–Faculty Ratio 11:1
Diversity Index 0.58
First-Gen Students 22%
Applicants 2,537
Admitted 2,078
2

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lawrence Technological University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Lawrence Technological University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $44,760 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $32,918 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,980 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.

$44,760
In-State Tuition
$44,760
Out-of-State
$32,918
Avg Net Price
$27,000
Median Debt
16%
Pell Grant Rate
35%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$25,980
Family Income $0–$30K
$27,036
Family Income $30K–$48K
$28,082
Family Income $48K–$75K
$37,492
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Lawrence Technological University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $69,151, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$58,827
6 Years After Entry
$66,979
8 Years
$69,151
10 Years
0.39x
Debt-to-Earnings
77%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$58,827 6yr $66,979 8yr $69,151 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

30%
100% (98)
30%
100% (98)
30%
100% (98)
30%
100% (98)

How Lawrence Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation62%Earnings 10yr$69KNet Price$33KRetention78%Median Debt$27KPell Grant Rate16%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$26K$0-30K$27K$30-48K$28K$48-75K$37K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%7.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%31.4%MOBILITY2.42%

College ROI Calculator

Is Lawrence Technological University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Lawrence Technological University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $32,918/year ($131,672 total). Graduates earn $69,151 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,681,404 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,549,732 (12.8× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$131,672
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,681,404
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,549,732
Net Return
12.8×
ROI Multiple
$32,918
Cost Per Year
$27,000
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
62%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Lawrence Technological University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Lawrence Technological University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.42%, among the highest in the country. About 7.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 31.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $95,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

2.42%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
31.4%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
7.7%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$95,100
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Lawrence Technological University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Lawrence Technological University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.50 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.50
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.04
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
5.9%
Volunteering Rate
1.00
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Lawrence Technological University produces inventors at an exceptional rate — the top 7% of U.S. colleges, with 89 patents tied to its graduates.

3.88%
Inventor Rate
Top 7% nationally
89
Patents Produced
Linked to graduates
80
Patent Citations
Downstream influence
4.44%
Inventors From Low-Income
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
$-10,013,549
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Lawrence Technological University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Lawrence Technological University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

Based in Southfield, Michigan, Lawrence Technological University admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 56%. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 62%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lawrence Technological University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Lawrence Technological University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $44,760 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $32,918 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,980 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.

Is Lawrence Technological University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $69,151, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

Does Lawrence Technological University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

Lawrence Technological University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.42%, among the highest in the country. About 7.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 31.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $95,100, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Lawrence Technological University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +

Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Lawrence Technological University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.50 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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