LeTourneau University
Longview, TX, USA

Reviews

LeTourneau University

David from La Crescenta, CA

a current student here
13 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
LeTourneau does not offer many, if any, fluff classes. Everything is educational, and since it is a Christian university, there is actually meaning in what you learn.
History, for example, is not a bunch of names, dates, and places that need to be correctly connected, but a real, interesting story.
Am enjoying being here
Everyone on campus is wonderfully friendly, and the attitude is contagious. Whenever visitors cross paths with students, faculty or staff, they are always greeted warmly and asked if they need help. By no means does that helpfulness does not go away when you become a student.
The food is good and there is variety, with organic and vegan foods available for any on those diets.
The dorms are friendly, and though there is some rowdiness, everything is approved by campus security and completely voluntary.
Concerns about things local to a dorm are taken first to students of authority, and then larger matters are taken to adults in charge.
The student senate brings together concerns that students have about campus-wide things, and the administration actually listens to the student senate! (It was implied when I heard it that that is unusual.)
Bang for the buck
The majors that LeTourneau University offers are taught very well. Professors are chosen carefully, and many stay for decades. Every class is meant to truly teach students something.
This means that students learn more than the subject of their major; they also carry away a wealth of knowledge about other subjects. The price of each year at LeTourneau University, before any awards, scholarships or grants are taken into account, is about $28,000. This is slightly above the 2008 average, but it is well worth it.
Also, there are generous scholarships for merit based on the high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores, which range from $6000 per year to $9000 per year, taking out up to a third of tuition.
Tips for prospective students
Try to get A's in any and all remaining high school classes to maximize your GPA, and get the Official SAT Study Guide and do several of the practice tests inside to maximize your score when you take the SAT. These will maximize the monetary assistance you will get from the college, as well as raising your chances of getting other scholarships.
Get in touch early with an admissions counselor here, who will help you with everything until you start your classes.
If you are taking AP classes, make sure you take the AP tests and do well on them, so that you can transfer in credits and start with a lighter load. It is always good to start with a light load while you get used to how things work.
If you may be transferring more than 12 credit hours, you may want to wait until you have paid your part of the tuition before you ask to have the credits counted.
Class starts the last week of August, and registration is the last week before class starts. You meet with a counselor who teaches classes associated with your major, and he/she advises you on what to take. It is a good idea to meet with him/her again a couple days after your counseling appointment and review the schedule in case your mind has changed about any of the classes.
Great for these types of students
Most students at LeTourneau are getting either an engineering degree or a flight degree. The most frequent answer to the question What are you majoring in? is Mechanical Engineering. (Engineering has a wonderful job market.)
This is also a great place to get a science degree.

Lynnea from Dallas, TX

a current student here
5 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Definitely the best choice I could have made, education-wise. LeTourneau's faculty are engaging and interested in the welfare of their students and do their best to help you learn. Everything is tailored to help you in your specific major so you are not learning fluff (as another student put it), though they are thoroughly interested in making each and every student a well-rounded, engaged member of society. As opposed to my high school education, where I had one good teacher and the rest were bad, in my first semester at LeTourneau I only had one bad teacher, and that was in a core class.
Am enjoying being here
LeTourneau has a great deal of programs to get students engaged with each other (as opposed to 'to each other'). The campus is relatively small with around 1,500 undergraduates (smaller than my highschool), but there is always something going on. LeTourneau does something which, from what I've heard, is rather unique. They pair up male and female dorm floors as 'brother' and 'sister' floors. Because the male:female ratio at LeTourneau is about 3:1, we girls can often feel a little overwhelmed. However, through my relationship with my brother floor I have gotten to know a great deal of wonderful, God-honouring men. We do a lot of things together, from simply eating at the same table during mealtimes to Disney movie marathons in our dorm.
Bang for the buck
Don't let anyone tell you any different; LeTourneau is expensive. Especially if, like me, you are a flight major. On top of all the other expenses that other students are paying for, flight majors have to pay for airplane expenses, simulators, mechanic/maintenance tools, and some of the biggest textbooks on campus. However, the education is second to none. The hands-on experience is just that: they don't let you read about something and then not do it. There are free programs coming out the wazoo for LeTourneau students from tutoring (yes, FREE tutoring!) to intramurals to ice cream Fridays to free Monster energy drinks during finals week. The price is high, but the experience is well worth it.
Tips for prospective students
Don't be afraid to jump into your floor activities. Some floors do crazy stuff (nigh on hazing), but you don't have to participate if you don't want to. But what's the harm in trying? The people in your dorm are going to be the ones you see more often than anyone else, even those you have classes with. If you're going to see them so much, you might as well have fun with it!
Don't be afraid to prank. Now, I don't mean anything dangerous. Just fun things that won't hurt anyone or anything. You'd be surprised at how fast a friendship can be made once you've pranked someone! Plus, if you decide to go to LeTourneau, you'll be attending an engineering school (unless you ask a flight major, in which case it's an aviation school). You'll be amazed and awestruck at some of the epic pranks the engineering students can come up with.
Don't come to LeTourneau with your Ten Year Goal in mind. The school will change you. God will change you.
Get engaged in a local church! There are some really amazing ones, and growing in your relationship with God is more important than anything else you could do on campus.
DON'T SKIP CHAPEL! I know it's easy to, but you'll miss some really good ones and will be scrambling at the end of the semester to complete your chapel credit.
HAVE FUN!
Great for these types of students
Those seeking a closer, more intimate relationship with God.
Those seeking a wholesome and well-rounded education.
Those who don't mind having lunch conversations about whether or not there is a planet closer to the sun than Mercury and whether or not that is even possible based upon the mass of the sun and/or planet.
Those who don't mind watching Disney movies and, to their surprise and amusement, having the guys from their brother floor sing along to every single song.
Those who don't mind a smallish community (though it feels large once you realize the diversity and depth of the students).
Those who love airplanes.

Tara from Longview, TX

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
This is a very educational school so I suggest that if you want to attend you be sure that you are NOT looking for a school all about partying. I will be very honest with you on what the school is like because it really depends on the type of person that you are, if you understand what I am saying. This is a very good school if you are interested in anything flight related and or enginerring related because you will learn a lot. Not only in the educational sense but you will also learn a lot about other people and how others intereact.
Am enjoying being here
fr me personally, it is not my enviroment. That's not to say it won't be just right for you. The people you meet on campus are amazing and friendly. I personally come from a bigger place so it is not my 'scene'.
Bang for the buck
It is some what expensive so make sure you apply fr scholarships, but it is worth the cost in the end.
Tips for prospective students
Choose either engineering or flight related major when you choose to come here. If you are choosing something other than that, your best bet is to go somewhere else only because I feel as though you can get the same education (easier) for a cheaper price.
Great for these types of students
Great for students who are home schooled.

kelsie from collinsville, il

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
letourneau has a top notch engineering program that teaches students to learn and grow in every aspect of the classroom. the professors push and drive their students to work hard while still encouraging them and reasonably listening to the requests and needs of the students. the campus provides a large enough area to find quiet areas and a small enough community to build meaningful relationships with hall mates, classmates, faculty, and staff.
Tips for prospective students
jump into activities on campus. it is important to study hard and focus on the school work, but networking and connecting with people makes college worthwhile. the yellow jacket activities council (yac) holds events on almost a weekly basis including outdoor movies, laser tag tournaments, and pancake dinners. yac also partners with a number of other clubs and sports teams to immerse the student body in every part of campus living. join a society. start a club. attend a sporting event.
Academic Rigor
letourneau's academic rigor exceeds expectations. the courses are not blow off classes, yet diligent study will more than keep your head above water. the professors look at their teaching as preparing the next generation of engineers, nurses, business people, and the like. they teach thoroughly and grade particularly because they want their students to enter the workforce prepared to take on challenges from the get go. the free tutoring services and supplementary instruction sessions allow students to catch up, stay on top of, and get ahead of their studies. the professors work with students to make sure they are learning and comprehending the material. many professors provide an ample amount of office hours for students to receive help and extra instruction as well.
Dorm Life
the dorms at letourneau are clean, nice, and well taken care of. the rooms are spacious, and most provide suite style living with two room sharing a bathroom. some halls are separated by gender, and other house both. davis hall houses the honors college and both genders separated by floors. one downside to letourneau's dorm life is the visiting hours in which girls can be on guy floors and vice versa. although there is not a constant flow of cohabitation between dorms and floors, the separated environment has helped me prioritize study time and social time. the visiting hours exclude the lobbies in which everyone can visit within lobby hours, and girls have unlimited access to girls' floors and guys to guys' floors. the floors of every hall adopt a name and/or theme from year to year, and community builds among the floor mates. many students live in their hall all four years.
Food and Dining
the food is not bad at letourneau, but it is also not fantastic either. there are only two main options on campus; therefore, the options become bland and boring fairly quickly. the hive, located in the student center, provides quicker meals for students on the move all day. many students prefer to eat their lunches here as well as late night snacks due to the extended hours on this option. the hive also offers cafã© options with scone, muffins, and other pastries with a full menu of hot and iced coffees, teas, and shakes. the meal plan also applies to several option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hive. the corner cafã©, or saga as many students call it, is the main option that has typical college cafeteria hours for all three meal times. saga offers a variety of choices including a salad and sandwich bar, grill, pizza and pasta, fire and spice, cereal bar, mom's kitchen, soup bar and dessert bar. a variety of cold and hot beverages are also offered to accompany meals. thee corner cafã© features buffet style eating and seating includes, tables, booths, and bar seating.
What to do for fun
many students join or start clubs and organizations in order to keep busy, apart from studying. yac provides many activities throughout each semester to give students a chance to interact, compete, and eat free food. the sports teams at letourneau draw crowds in their respective seasons, including volleyball, tennis, basketball, baseball, softball, etc. yac along with the student-athlete advisory committee (saac) partner to provide hot dogs, chips, and sometimes free t-shirts to help involve the rest of the student body with the student-athletes to further the community building. there is also a mall and movie theater in the town of longview a mere ten minute drive from campus. the mud hut provides an artsy outlet for finals week as well with paint and pottery.
Bang for the buck
because letourneau is a private university, the tuition costs fit the bill for a pricey higher education. however, the school provides hands on learning from the very first semester of freshman year. freshman engineering students build their own 3d printer and cnc router first semester. labs contain no more than thirty students, and lectures will never reach 120 students. the student faculty ratio stays low for a more personal experience. all the housing prices for dorms stay the same price no matter which dorm you live in, and the meals plans all have a consistent price as well. the campus is college student friendly with activities that don't drain the wallet or bore a student to death.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
the loop and berm are two typical letu words. the loop is the one mile route that is the main drag around campus. it is said that if you walk the loop once with the opposite sex you're just friends. twice, you're dating. three times, you're married, and four times, you're just bored;) the berm refers to the hill surrounding the old student center turned nursing building. the mall refers to the strip of grass in front of the bell tower. the corner cafã© get its unusual nickname, saga, from the company that used to provide the food many years back. i've heard there have been several companies since then, but saga is what stuck i guess. hootenanny is a big talent show, more or less, during alumni weekend in april. every year is themed differently and spectacularly. the weekend comes just a few weeks before finals, and many students dedicated the same amount of hours preparing for the show that they do studying for finals, leaving no time for sleep.
Great for these types of students
students who are willing to work hard and challenge themselves will thrive in letourneau's environment. students sign a lifestyle agreement to refrain from harmful behaviors both or and off campus although it is not a requirement to be a christian.
Clubs and Activities
letourneau's student life relies on students, club presidents, and club sponsors to get other students, new and transfer involved in the various clubs and organizations on campus. they hold event at the beginning of the year to showcase every club that sets up a both to provide information and answer questions for interested students. starting a club is also very easy. the staff in the student life office are very helpful at walking you through the process and offering advice.
Campus Safety
the campus is not located in the nicest area, and it is advised to not leave campus alone, especially at night. however, the campus safety police roam the grounds at all hours of the day and respond fairly quickly to disturbances. i have never once felt unsafe on campus, not even at random 2am runs to clear my head.

Rebecca from Crestwood, KY

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
LeTourneau University is a very professional school. They make you work hard, lean a lot and have fun doing it. It is very hands on and the teachers go the extra mile to make sure you succeed at what you are doing in the LeTourneau Community and beyond.
Tips for prospective students
Come in ready to have fun and work hard. The more general education credits (English, Physics, Math...) you come in with the better.
Academic Rigor
Every teacher wants their students to be the best in the industry. Most teachers have experience in that industry. Whatever they put you through will be great, but expect it to take a lot of time and hard work.
Dorm Life
Dorm life here is great. There is a big community on campus and the daily life of the students is very important to LETU staff. They make sure we are all well cared for and have plenty of room to spread our wings to do crazy things.
What to do for fun
Play games with your floor, Go out to movies, Homework study parities, Devotionals with the floor, date night with the Brother & Sister Floor, Movies with YAC, Bowling, Mystery Bus Tour, Flying...
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
We have a lot of different traditions. If you walk on to a certian floor and yell Donuts! you will be forced to take a cold shower fully clothed. If you get a girlfriend you have to walk around the loop before it is official. On your birthday you get special surprises. There is always a campus wide . NERF war in the fall.
Clubs and Activities
There are countless clubs and always something for everyone to do.
Campus Safety
Campus is really safe. Even though it is in the bad side of Longview, it is respected by the community and generally left alone. Campus Security also does a great job making sure everything is in order.

Judah from Carrollton, TX

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
My Teachers are excellent and have sufficient office hours for help when I don't understand concepts in class.
Am enjoying being here
Yes, very much. My college mates are great fun, I especially enjoy hanging out with my honors cohort. The food's decent enough and the campus is well suited to my needs.
Bang for the buck
Only because of my scholarships though. LeTourneau is well recognized for their engineering degrees, and the tuition is quite hefty if you have no outside financial support.
Tips for prospective students
LeTourneau has a group for every body. There's a parkor club, a jazz band, people who go out on the weekends to dance two-step . . . Just be ready to be who you are and find the right group to hang out with. At the same time, be aware that floor community is very strong at LETU. You'll end up having a blast with your floor mates regardless your differences.
Great for these types of students
LETU specializes in Engineering, and, thus, the courses are demanding. There are enough senior design projects opportunities for freshmen to stay busy in their free time. LeTourneau's engineering is for people who are willing to be diligent. Don't be enrolled in it if you plan on partying all night.

LeTu student

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
I've learned quite a lot in the short time I have been here. Hardly any of my classes are subjects that would not be relevant to my major (engineering). The one-on-one time you can get with faculty and teachers is something unparalleled in larger universities.
Am enjoying being here
While there is not too much student events, you will almost always see people you know everyday.
Bang for the buck
Great quality education for the money that goes into it. They even offer very high merit scholarships that you can get to help yourself out.
Tips for prospective students
Take the ACT multiple times. That extra point could mean $2000 more a year for your merit scholarship.
Take dual credit classes in high school. They are an excellent way in getting rid of your basics so you can start on something relevant to your major.
Apply for housing IMMEDIATELY after being accepted (if you know you are going there). I waited until mid-June before my freshman year and barely got into a dorm.
Check LeTourneau's deadline for FAFSA as well, if you want need-based financial aid or loans.
Great for these types of students
Mostly Nerds, Geeks, Athletes (we don't have football though), and Homeschoolers.

Daniel from Bellevue, NE

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
LeTourneau University is more than just a college, it's a way of life. LeTourneau contains a plethora of amazing students and faculty all striving to better themselves and their community for Christ.
Tips for prospective students
Tips:
-LeTourneau offers a great learning community for all of its majors, but especially for students seeking a hands on degree related to Aviation or Engineering.
-Do your Homework
-LeTourneau is pretty small, so everything is campus centered.
Academic Rigor
LeTourneau is a very hands-on school. As a freshman engineering student, I learned how to machine on a lathe, weld, and I even built my own 3-D printer. The nice thing is that I continue to use the skills I learned for other classes and misc. projects.

The workload is challenging but manageable with very little fluff material taught. Almost all of what I learn has a direct application to my career. However, the most amazing thing about LeTourneau is how involved the teachers are in the lives of the students. There are countless examples of teachers going above and beyond to teach and be involved in their student's lives. I have had some classes where my professor took the class to their house and fed us dinner. Other professors have invited me and other freshman students to weld bikes together in their back yard late at night. Just to name a few. Altogether, the faculty are invested in their students at a personal as well as academic level.
Dorm Life
* <- 6th star.
The dorms form the families of LeTourneau University. I have never been a part of a stronger community of God fearing men. Each dorm has its own traditions, with a good balance of fun, fellowship, and academic pursuit.
Food and Dining
The main cafeteria has a variety of choices for students.
A typical day might offer the following selection:
Breakfast: Bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy, cereals, yogurt/granola, lots of fresh fruit, oatmeal, grits, cream of wheat, pastries, toast, cinnamon rolls, and waffles.
Lunch: Burgers, Chicken, Pizza, Asian dish with rice, pasta, home-style meal (meat loaf, fish, etc.), full salad and sandwich bar, soups, ice cream, and a variety of desserts/cookies.
Dinner: Similar to lunch items, with different selection

Students can also use funds from their meal plan to buy food from the student center (aka the Hive) during lunch, after dinner and in the evening/ night. This menu includes burrito wraps, taco salad, pizza, coffee/hot drinks, ice cream, a variety of pastries, and a whole lot more.

Altogether a great food service.
What to do for fun
There is always something going on at LeTourneau. The YAC (YellowJacket Activity Council) does a good job of hosting various events throughout the year. These include movie nights, inter-dorm competitions (cardboard canoe contests, etc.), game/videogame nights, longboard races, Free Friday Icecream social, and a whole lot more. Students also enjoy playing sports like soccer and Frisbee every Friday and throughout the week.
Bang for the buck
Employers like LeTourneau grads. Most people I know have pretty good job offers even before they graduate.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Pondings: Birthdays are a lot of fun at LeTourneau. The most common tradition is throwing the lucky individual into the pond kicking and screaming.

Showerings: If you are need of a shower, just yell Donughts! on the top floor of Tyler Hall. A group of guys will politely assist you down the hall and dowse you under the shower faucet.

Great for these types of students
Very Nerdy People
Somewhat Nerdy People (i.e.Nerd-lings in training)
Less Nerdy People too
Those interested in missions work
Engineering Students
Aviation Students
Clubs and Activities
There is an activity for everyone at LeTourneau. There are sports clubs, music clubs, gaming clubs, justice groups, prayer groups, ministry groups, and a whole lot more. I was even in a club where we built our own bikes and raced them 100 km in Tulsa Oklahoma.
Greek Life
I know a number of strong Christian men living in frats. From my experience, they are more centered on community than partying. There is still lots of tradition. The Greek houses are located on campus.
Campus Safety
LeTourneau University has a 6-8 foot fence on 2 of the 3 mile perimeter and has only two entries. Campus security monitors the campus and sends students alerts when any issues arise. The only real crime is bikes that aren't locked being stolen. The community surrounding LeTourneau is a bit on the rough side, but the campus itself is a very safe environment.

Caitlin

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
A great school, better than what I thought. I am glad to say that I'm a student, very challenging academically and spiritually. I would not choose to go to another university.
Tips for prospective students
Pray about if this is the school you are called to, and if you are listen to God. Even if it's scary and you feel out of place.
Academic Rigor
Definitely five stars. I learned so much in my first week here at Letourneau. The professors push their students, but also care for them.
Dorm Life
It's a great experience but I think it could improve if the different floors could interact with one another more often.
Food and Dining
The food and dining for the first few weeks is good, but having too much of one thing can get boring.
What to do for fun
I personally feel you don't get much free time, unless you are good with time management. I like to spend a majority of my free time with friends playing sports, but the new Allen Student Center has given us students more options.
Bang for the buck
Letourneau is a pretty expensive school, but the education you receive is incredible! You learn so much within one class period.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
During homecoming in the spring semester the students and alumni all surround the main campus, holding hands, and pray over the school, students, and faculty. I think that is pretty awesome!
Great for these types of students
Letourneau is a great place for students who want to learn and grow in their faith.
Clubs and Activities
The activities council is great about coordinating activities for the students.
Campus Safety
When I first visited the campus I was a little concerned about safety, but the campus police are always driving around campus to insure student safety. Students are also good about reporting any abnormal activity.

Kimberly from Spring, TX

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
What makes LeTourneau such an incredible university is the people. The students, professors, resident directors, and even the cafeteria workers all care about you and help you to succeed. There is a unique kind of Christian love and support that permeates the entire campus.
Tips for prospective students
Make sure to get to know your floor mates. They are the ones who will be there for you when things get tough. Also, be sure to visit the Achievement Center if you are struggling - they are excellent helpers.
Academic Rigor
The classes in the sciences are really tough, but they teach you a lot. The learning experience is really worth it, even though there may be a few late nights of studying.
Dorm Life
The floors are all really close, and it is fun to make floor traditions. You can find support and encouragement from those around you.
Food and Dining
Saga is a cafeteria, so it will never be like your mom's cooking. However, it does pretty well, especially if there are previewers or administrators visiting.
What to do for fun
One of the best things to do is to get off campus and go dancing in Big Sandy or one of the churches in Longview.
Bang for the buck
The room and board is really steep, but the tuition is worth it since the education is so excellent.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The BERM is really awesome to sled down in the snow or to roll down on a sunny day.
Great for these types of students
Homeschoolers, engineers, pilots, nerds, and Christians will all feel really comfortable at LeTourneau.
Clubs and Activities
There are tons of different clubs and activities to get involved in. Also, YAC sets up campus-wide events for everyone to participate in. There are tons of things to do if you just look out for them.
Greek Life
There are a few different societies on campus, but they keep to themselves.
Campus Safety
Though it is not in the best part of town, LeTourneau has an excellent security team to keep students safe. There has never been a serious incident on campus, and God has protected the students faithfully.