Founded in 1885, Michigan Technological University. is a Public college. Located in Michigan, which is a city setting in Michigan, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 5,811 full time undergraduate students, and 1,441 full time graduate students.
The Michigan Technological University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 12:1. There are 408 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Michigan Technological University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
76%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
0
SAT Range
1068-1335
ACT Range
25-30
Admissions at are considered Less Selective, with ,52% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 25 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
89% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 61% were in the top quarter, and 30% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Michigan Technological University.
7%
“We”re apathetic”
54%
“We know about current events and vote”
34%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
5%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
7%
“Sometimes, but not often”
39%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
49%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
5%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
93%
“I feel extremely safe”
23%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
38%
“We bought the gear”
40%
“We live for the big game”
22%
“It”s not really our thing”
29%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
39%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
10%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
46%
“They keep regular office hours”
49%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
30%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
63%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
8%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
25%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
45%
“We only party on weekends”
30%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
18%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
55%
“There might be people who do”
25%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
3%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
7%
“We”re apathetic”
54%
“We know about current events and vote”
34%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
5%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
7%
“Sometimes, but not often”
39%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
49%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
5%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
93%
“I feel extremely safe”
23%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
38%
“We bought the gear”
40%
“We live for the big game”
22%
“It”s not really our thing”
29%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
39%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
10%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
46%
“They keep regular office hours”
49%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
30%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
63%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
8%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
94 Students rated on-campus housing 3.8 stars. 20 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
74 Students rated off-campus housing 3.7 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
100 Students rated campus food 3.3 stars. 13 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
103 Students rated campus facilities 4.3 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
103 Students rated class size 4.3 stars. 41 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
103 Students rated school activities 4.3 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
103 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
103 Students rated academics 4.2 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.
Michigan Technological University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Michigan Technological University?
43 Students rated Michigan Technological University
Lillian
Prospective04/17/2025
Participating in the Materials Science and Engineering camp at the Summer Youth Program at Michigan Technological University this past summer is one of the biggest contributing factors as to why I am applying to the school. While there, I felt very at home on the campus. The camp also gave me the opportunity to speak with some current students at the school. In my conversations with them, I could see how hard-working and driven the students at MTU were. Especially when speaking to the graduate students, there was such a clear love of learning. Edward Laitila and Peter Jaszczak, from the materials science department, specifically showed how fun science and education could be at Michigan Tech. My experience working in the foundry and doing different labs in this camp also demonstrated how practical this field of work could be, even while still in school. Michigan Tech's connections for internships and job opportunities also showed me how well MTU would prepare me for real-life job applications.
Outside of the classroom and the foundry, I also enjoyed the social aspects of MTU. One of my favorite parts of being on campus was that I made friends so easily with people outside of my camp group. This allowed me to see that while attending MTU, I would be able to make so many connections. Not only with people in my discipline of study, but with my friends studying anything from photography to health. Having friends with varying interests and passions has always been a priority of mine. There is so much to learn from people who have different values. Oftentimes, it can strengthen an individual’s values as well. Gaining this experience at MTU allowed me to see that this would be a real possibility for me. I could grow outside of my comfort zone and gain new interests at MTU.
What appealed to me while at MTU was how focused the school is on a range of activities. Hearing about the different clubs and physical education requirements showed me how the school wants more than just good students. There are so many different clubs at MTU. They have activities that I already do and new activities that I would like to try. Specifically, the new curling club at MTU has intrigued me because one of my friends, Gracie Kohn, was the founder of the club. When speaking to her, I saw that even if your interest doesn’t have a club, MTU is open to helping make your passions available to pursue. As a competitive curler in high school, I am excited for the opportunity to join this club.
Spending a week on campus allowed me to see myself at MTU. By speaking to staff members and current students, I could see the culture of learning that MTU develops. I was truly able to see how I could be prepared for the rest of my life, educationally. In the social aspects of the camp, I saw that MTU isn’t JUST an engineering school; there are so many opportunities to learn from your peers who have different interests and passions. In hearing about the various extracurricular options, I saw how much I could do outside of the classroom. During my week at camp, I saw that I could grow as a person by spending my college years at Michigan Technological University.
Amber
03/05/2025
In my personal opinion Michigan tech is a great place to spend the winters. All the people I met were so nice and welcoming. The school is very accommodating to my health needs. The school has access to activities, trails, skiing, all very close by. Which is great for people who love being outside, like me. The forestry program really interested me and I love the camp semester that the forestry students get to experience.
Michael
11/27/2024
Personally, I love the school. As an avid outdoorsman, the location of the school is fantastic. There is so much to do for anyone up at MTU. The campus life is also great, the smaller number of students allows for the student body to be very connected. The professors know their students by name and every single person feels welcome and known at MTU.
Kathryn
04/18/2024
This is a great school if you care about your education and are passionate about something for the future. Living in the dorms is a great way to make friends, and there is a group or organization for just about anybody. Classes are usually smaller, with the exception of campus-wide lectures, and teachers are usually pretty helpful.
Abigail
04/08/2023
A chance to work with research groups to further advance non-pharmaceutical interventions would allow me to stretch my thinking about what actions can be taken to advance water supplies. Resources should be cyclical, intended to be adapted and used again in creative ways. As I move forward in my efforts to be a part of preventive action to foster brighter communities, I have found a community that will foster me in this way at Michigan Tech.
Alyssa
11/19/2020
There is a big community atmosphere at MTU, and even through the COVID-19 pandemic there are many virtual things to keep students occupied and connected. The classes--especially engineering fundamentals (I am a first-year student)--are well taught and leave me wanting to learn more. The band program could be better, but I'm just grateful it exists in a solely engineering-focused school.
Scott
06/23/2020
I think Michigan Technological University is a very prestigious school in Michigan and I would say more difficult than UofM Ann Arbor. I wish they did offer Aerospace engineering as a major and invited more aerospace companies to the career fair because that is what I want to go into. However, they offer it as a minor so I am fine with that. Overall, the campus is nice and the city of Houghton is very welcoming and offers many study spots.
Gwyneth
06/01/2020
I love it. MTU is like a second home to me. Sure, it's in the middle of absolute nowhere, but the community is amazing and everyone has their little niche. I'm going to cry when I graduate -- I don't want to leave! The history and culture of the Keweenaw Peninsula is fascinating and the sights are even better!
Kaitlyn
04/08/2020
You really have to enjoy the outdoors and small towns to vibe with Tech. There are many different recreational activities in the area and many beautiful views to be seen. Some of the academics can get difficult, but there are plenty of learning centers that help students move along.
Ellie
02/12/2020
I love it here. The area is beautiful and there are so many fun things to explore and do. The classes are a good size and all of my professors so far have been great. The classes are challenging but Michigan Tech has an excellent job placement percentage so you truly get what you pay for. The housing could be better bu the food is great. Tech is far from just about everywhere so it is a little sad for people to be so far away from home but most people here are going through the same thing so you are never alone. I love Michigan Tech and I am so happy that I made the decision to come here.
Katherine
01/09/2020
The campus is gorgeous. I am planning on attending spring 2020, and I have never been more excited about a big leap in my life. I feel safe and at home up north. The staff is incredible and make me feel comfortable. I live downstate Michigan, and Michigan Tech is a solid ten hours away. The drive is beautiful and I will not regret my decision.
Naomi
11/10/2019
Michigan Tech is not a school for the weak, be it in an intellectual regard or your capacity to out-drink your (of-age) friends on the weekend before finals, but if there's one thing that crazy professors, apocalypse-level winters, and Broomball has taught us, it's how to work together to survive. Tech as a whole cultivates an environment of collaborative study, promotes a supportive and inclusive culture, and has fun down to a trade-marked science. I have never had so much fun figuring just how much I don't know, and I know that I have an extensive support group should I ever find myself in need of anything. Sure, the food leaves you longing for grandma's pot-roast, the sun is more rare than the girls, and it's a never-ending game of Whose Major Is More Difficult, but I have never once regretted my decision to be a member of this Crazy Smart family.
Savannah
09/05/2019
Michigan Technological University is a college like no other. When I say that, I'm not boasting about how my university is better than any other. I'm saying that it takes true character, tenacity, and dedication to come to a school like Tech. It takes a certain type of person to move to a school on the peninsula of a peninsula and endure the brutal, seven month winter that we have here. Yet, Tech provides an insane amount of extracurricular activities (over 220), including, but not limited to, dogsledding club, bigfoot finding club, logrolling, a variety of intramural sports, etc. Michigan Tech is a wonderful place for students to grow academically, but also learn more about themselves.
Mickala
06/14/2019
I love Michigan Tech. It is placed in a beautiful location that is 45 minutes away from Copper Harbor. From beach bonfires to hockey games to exploring the waterfalls. Michigan Tech is nothing short of an adventure. Besides about 300 inches of snow in the winter being a difficult task, the college courses that you will take here are difficult. But you will learn a lot while you are here, and that is why Michigan Tech is a household name in many engineering firms. MTU does not need advertisements, students that graduate from this school is held to a certain level. This is the place any engineering student that is serious about learning indepth about their future career should go. Go Huskies!
Brady
05/07/2019
I was enrolled in the online Master's of Science in Electrical Engineering program in Spring of 2019. It seems like MTU has a good concept of what they want their education system to be like but fell very short. At first, the classes seemed engaging and interactive and the coursework made sense. Then at about week 5 we were given essays to hand in, in addition to the computational assignments for the week. Now, I am not one to stray away from work but this was touted as a program for working professionals. It was not. It wasn't only the essays, though, it was the lack of time given for quizzes and tests as well as the "procedures" for turning in handwritten work. Being able to complete quizzes or tests quickly is NOT A SIGN OF COMPREHENSION OR LEARNING. Also, I was spending countless hours on assignments from week to week only to be graded less than appropriately by an instructor who seemingly wanted me to struggle to keep a decent grade. I work about 45-50 hours a week and was spending near 35 hours doing homework and going through rambling and often redundant lectures. I talked to my academic advisor and she did not reach out to the professor nor did she help facilitate any discussion with said professor. I have no suspicion that Dr. Oliveira has the credentials to be a university professor. What I am suspicious about is how they expect working professionals to even come close to a decent GPA with the amount of coursework. I will not be returning to MTU in the future.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Michigan Technological University is 76%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Aggressively purse all learning opportunities. Yes, it's GREAT to be well-rounded and have fun however; for 4-short years place the emphasis on education first! Be a sponge, learn as much as possible. Be open-minded and cherish other peoples way of life. The college experience can't be duplicated - the opportunities you have are priceless, make the most of it. View it as a sprint, it wont last that long, but the wealth of knowledge and experience that can be ascertained is limitless!
Most of my classmates are technologically savvy, intelligent people. They tend to dislike English, but some of them enjoy writing. In general, they are friendly and welcoming and know how to have fun.
The best thing about Michigan Tech is its location. At the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Northern Michigan, the school is right on the Portage with a trail along the beach, and there are miles of trails through the woods on the upper campus. Being in Houghton, there's also a whole lot of snow, and it's a blast to ski, build snowmen, have snowball fights, and go sledding. Houghton is also small and safe, so Tech is safe. It's a great place to be.
Michigan tech is best known for its heavy work load and wintery weather. I have heard several times that it is easy to get into tech but hard to get out successfully. It is a lot of work, but all this work prepares you very well for the work force. Many employers respect the university and look favorably on graduates from here. If you are not a an of the winter weather, Michigan tech might not be the place for you, but there is plenty of outdoor activities to take part in in the winter.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
One common stereotype is that there are no girls! This is not true. Michigan Tech has increased its number of females that attend over the past few years. There are many female sports teams, clubs and groups. Although there is still more males, there are plenty of females!
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
Before coming to this school I knew of the academic responsibilities I would be facing. Though I wish I would have known more about the depth of the programs being taught. I feel like my high school education was behind that of many of my college classmates. If I would have known this, I would have spent more time in high school preparing for harder math and science courses.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
Someone who can't focus on coursework. Someone who can't handle the cold. In particular, someone who wants a well rounded liberal arts education (we don't have that here).
Individuals who already have an idea on what they want to do with their life. If they plan on having a non-engineering major they should be ready to deal with lack of caring from the university at events such as career fair.
What are the most popular student activities/groups?
One of the most popular student activities is broom ball. This sport has it's own newspaper, bracket system, tournament, and even live webcams that you can view online. Tons of students make their own teams and play broom ball right on campus. During the winter months when broom ball is played, talk of the most recent or upcoming games are all that you can hear about in the halls.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
The sweet outdoor opportunities. There's rock and ice climbing, skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, waterfall exploring and much more. Next summer my boyfriend and I are circumnavigating lake superior in our kayaks...that's 1400 miles of cool outdoors stuff.
I love Michigan Tech. The question I often get when people find out that I go to school in Houghton, MI is 'What do you do up there? Is it boring?' Michigan Tech is far from boring! When you are a student at Tech you get to go to sporting events for free, you get a season pass to Mt. Ripley that is located less than 5 miles from campus for free, you get to golf for free as well as use the workout facilities for free! We also have access to the Michigan Tech Trails which our nationally ranked cross country skiing, running, and mountain biking trails. The campus is also on the portage which is a body of water connecting to Lake Superior! There are so many things to do on and off campus.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
I think the environment around the school is very different than other schools in Michigan. With the cold temperatures of the Upper pennisula, the school does a really good job keeping the students active and healthy, for example broomball. I also like that the campus is smaller than most in michigan. With the smaller number of students I feel like I received more financial help than if I would have attended else where.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
I have come across a professor or two whose class was not run off of fact, but rather their opinion on the facts, and when it came to their grades, you recieved a score based on the mood the were in at the time of grading. Though I believe that to be quite aggravating, that is a tiny fraction compared to that of the whole staff and faculty.
Academics at Michigan Tech are very strong. Due to the lower number of students per faculty, you, as a student, can very easily get to know your professors well. This also creates a very high expectation for the students. I am a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate and because my class size is smaller (~30) I feel it to be a very competitive environment.
I choose to go to this school primarily because of its location. Michigan Tech is located in the Keewenaw Peninsula of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Recreational and outdoor activities are vast here, which influenced my decision to come here.
There is a variety depending on which building you live in. South McNair costs a bit extra but they have have the nicest things and it's the newest dorm building. East and West McNair are built up higher on McNair hill (its a good workout). They have a beautiful view if you have a room facing north. They both have all the necessities like washers and dryers as well as quiet study rooms and lounges with fun games. Every residence hall has their own sauna as well. Wadsworth is the biggest of the dorms. It has the only dinning hall that is open on the weekends plus it has all the other things that McNair has. Douglass Houghton Hall is the last dorm left. It is the hardest to get into. It is located the closest to campus and it has a old fashioned feel to it. It has a ballroom where many socials are held.
But no matter where you room there is student life and fellowship right outside your room!
The hardest thing is the transition from high school to college, the whole no parent scene makes some people go nuts so you have to learn to deal with them.
Well you step into the river if you go north but when you look across it you can see the city of Hancock and the Mount Ripley ski hill. They look amazing all lit up at night. if you go south or east you'll see rural homes and forest all around. Finally if you go west you will walk into the city of Hougton. It looks like a relatively small town but it has all it needs to be a college town.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
97% of students attending Michigan Technological University receive some sort of financial aid.
27% were awarded federal grants.60%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
