The Lawrence Tech Southfield campus
LTU file photo

Lawrence Technological University has again been named one of the best in the Midwest, according to the Princeton Review. Only 159 colleges and universities in 12 Midwestern states made the list for 2019.

The Framingham, Mass.-based education services company lists LTU among the “2019 Best Colleges: Region by Region” at www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=best-midwestern.

“We chose Lawrence Tech and the other outstanding institutions on this list primarily for their excellent academics,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief. “We also give careful consideration to what students enrolled at the schools reported to us about their campus experiences on our student survey for this project.”

“As in past years, this recognition from the Princeton Review is a tribute to the hard work of our students, faculty, and staff,” LTU President Virinder Moudgil said. “It continues to demonstrate that Lawrence Tech’s ‘Theory and Practice’ approach to education molds well-rounded graduates that not only succeed in their careers, but who contribute to building a better society.”

The Princeton Review’s list is based on an 80-question student survey, a survey of administrators at several hundred colleges in each region, staff visits to schools, and the perspectives of college counselors and advisors whose opinions the company solicits. Students rate their institutions on several issues, from the accessibility of their professors to the quality of science labs to campus life.

“We designed our survey to include questions that prospective applicants might ask on a campus visit,” Franek said. “Only schools that permit us independently to survey their students are eligible to be considered for our regional ‘best’ lists, and only schools at which we see a strong level of satisfaction among students make it to our final slate of regional ‘best’ college selections.”

The Students Say section of LTU’s listing on the website noted the Lawrence Tech student body is “smart,” with athletes being “the most sociable.” There are also a “lot of nerdy kids who love video games and engineering,” and “artsy kids as a result of the design programs,” as well as “car enthusiasts, both engineers and designers.” Everyone is a “techie,” and “most of the students are dedicated to their studies, especially those in higher level classes.” For those living on campus, there’s a “big focus on community service, and a lot of students contribute to the Detroit metro area in some way.”

The Princeton Review also ranks Lawrence Tech No. 34 in the country for top undergraduate programs in game design.

The Princeton Review’s “regional best” lists constitute about 25 percent of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges. The colleges that the Princeton Review chose for the “Best in the Midwest” list are located in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.