Admissions FAQs

Michigan Tech has over 130 different degree options and over 50 minors. Majors cover seven areas of study: arts, humanities, and social sciences; business and economics; computing; engineering; forestry and environmental science; natural and physical sciences; and technology.

It's free to apply to Michigan Tech. Apply now using the online application.

First-year students are encouraged to apply in the fall of your senior year. Transfer students should apply at least 30 days before the start of the semester you intend to enroll.

Priority consideration for admissions, financial aid, and scholarships is given to students who apply for admission by January 15.

Transfer students applying for summer or fall semesters should apply by January 15. Spring semester transfer applicants should apply at least 30 days before the start of the semester.

First-year applicants need to submit an official copy of your high school transcript (sent directly from your high school to Michigan Tech or through a transcript service such as Parchment) and official ACT and/or SAT scores. If you'd like to have your guidance counselor share details about your academic performance, ask him/her to complete the High School Counselor Information page and send it directly to us.

Transfer students will need to submit official copies of college transcripts sent directly to us from the college(s) attended. We will also need an official copy of your high school transcript (not required for students who have earned an associate degree or higher at the time of application). ACT and/or SAT scores are not required for transfer students.

Additional application materials are required only for students applying for admission into the following degree programs: audio production and technology, sound design, theatre and electronic media performance, and theatre and entertainment technology.

Admissions requirements vary by major. On average, our incoming students have a 3.70 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and a 27.0 ACT composite. About fifteen percent of our students submit SAT scores, and the average total score is 1783. To learn more about admissions requirements, call us at 888-688-1885 or email mtu4u@mtu.edu.

You should have your decision within two or three weeks once your application is complete. If you applied for admission to audio production and technology or sound design you will be notified of your decision beginning in late November.

College prep classes including math, science, English, and social studies will keep you on track. View our course recommendations for more details.

Michigan Tech uses the scores we have on file when reviewing your application and for awarding merit-based scholarships. If you have applied and retake the ACT or SAT, be sure to have your new scores sent to Michigan Tech. Our ACT code is 2030; our SAT code is 1464.

Michigan Tech credit can be earned with qualifying scores on these exams. Test scores need to be sent directly to Michigan Tech. Our AP school code is 1464.

Campus tours are offered weekdays at 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Besides a tour of campus, your visit includes a meeting with a department representative for the major you’re most interested in. Other visit opportunities include Saturday tours, Adventure Visits, an annual fall Open House, and spring Preview Day for accepted students.

Michigan Tech is a public university, so the tuition rate you are charged is based on your residency. Room & board will vary slightly depending on the residence hall you are placed in as well as which meal plan you choose.

All first-year students are required to live on campus. Students receiving a Leading Scholar Award, National Scholars Program award, or Presidential Scholars Program award are required to live on campus for their first two years. But "required" isn't the best word to use, because once you get here, you'll love it. In fact, many students choose to live on campus for more than one year.

First-year students may have a car on campus but it is not necessary for day-to-day travel. For longer breaks, students can use campus resources to find rides home. Rideboards (travel share postings) are available in each residence hall, the Memorial Union Building, and online.

Students can also use the Houghton County Memorial Airport (code CMX), located about eight miles north of campus which is serviced by SkyWest/United Airlines—daily flights are available. Indian Trails offers regular bus service to the Houghton/Hancock area. Check out our directions to campus for more details.

Merit- and need-based scholarships are available for incoming first-year and transfer students—both from Michigan and out-of-state.  

When you are accepted to Michigan Tech, you are automatically considered for most merit-based scholarships. Seniors in high school should check out the Leading Scholar Award. It's a separate application that's due October 15.

To apply for federal aid, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1 and before March 1.

If you decide not to enroll, call the admissions office at 888-688-1885 or email mtu4u@mtu.edu to cancel your application. If you paid your deposit, you can receive a full refund if you cancel by May 1.

Transfer credit is granted for appropriate courses completed off campus with a grade of "C" or better. Most transfer credits usually satisfy Michigan Tech’s general education requirements. View our transfer guides and transfer equivalency listings for more details.

Michigan Tech maintains a full-time Transfer Services Office for new, current, and former students intending to transfer courses here. Students with questions should contact Nancy Gagnon at 906-487-2319 or transfer@mtu.edu.

Absolutely. Transfer students have access to virtually the same array of financial aid as incoming first-year students, as well as some scholarships just for transfer students.

Some students start out a bit hesitant or unsure, especially if they’ve never been away from home before. But once they settle in, get into their course work, and make friends from their residence hall and classes, distance from home becomes less of a concern.

Orientation week is a great way for your son or daughter to meet new students and make friends. On top of that, we have more than 220 student organizations that they can get involved with, as well as weekly campus events, activities, intramurals, and Husky athletics that bring students from across campus together.

We get this one a lot. You’ll come to campus for Orientation and move-in. In October we have Family Weekend, and in November students usually go home for a week at Thanksgiving, then again for three weeks in December and January over semester break. In February we have Winter Carnival, which is a must-see for most families. In March students have a week for Spring Break, and in early May they’re home for the summer. Check out the academic calendar for specific dates.

Michigan Tech provides its students with a wide range of services to help them adjust to college life. The Wahtera Center for Student Success is a great resource to help students succeed during their years at Michigan Tech. Starting from when they arrive on campus for Orientation, the staff can help students identify mentoring and tutoring opportunities to help with the academic transition. 

Many students also take advantage of our learning communities in the residence halls. Students live and learn together while forming lasting friendships and gaining access to specialized academic support and mentoring networks.

You can access ParentNet, a resource available exclusively to Michigan Tech parents, to hear the latest news, read letters from current students, and ask questions of your own.

Michigan Tech is a residential campus—most students have an eight- to 10-hour drive to get here—so students are around on weekends. Most students find it easy to make friends, get involved, and have a great time. Many students choose to live in Learning Communities within the residence halls as a way to connect with students who have shared interests. 

Houghton is a wonderful college town which, along with its sister city of Hancock, has a population of around 14,000. The community is welcoming to students and features coffee houses, restaurants, world-class shows at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, outdoor activities on our great trails, the Outdoor Adventure Program, houses of worship, and much, much more. Learn more about living in Houghton.