LeTourneau University

What LeTourneau University does

LeTourneau University is a private, nondenominational Christian polytechnic university founded in 1946 by earthmoving-equipment inventor R.G. LeTourneau and his wife Evelyn on the site of a former Army hospital in Longview, Texas. The institution operates eight schools—Aviation & Aeronautical Science, Business, Education, Engineering & Engineering Technology, Nursing, Psychology & Counseling, Theology & Vocation, and Arts & Sciences—and serves traditional undergraduates, online/graduate students, and dual-credit high schoolers. Its core technology edge is concentrated in hands-on engineering labs: an 8,600-square-foot Kielhorn Materials Joining Lab (the largest stand-alone in the U.S.), wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) 3D metal printing, robotics and wind-tunnel equipment capable of Class 3 hurricane speeds, a six-degree-of-freedom force plate system, and a $200,000+ biomedical motion-capture system, all of which support one of the few undergraduate biomedical engineering concentrations of this depth nationally.

The business model rests on tuition and fees (undergraduate, graduate, and online) supplemented by donations and a Build with Purpose fundraising campaign, with more than 90% of students receiving institutional financial assistance. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; primary revenue mechanics are typical of private nonprofit higher education, with quasi-recurring tuition as the dominant stream and donations filling institutional gap. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through campus visits, online applications, multi-channel digital marketing, college fairs, a featured appearance on Amazon Prime's The College Tour, and study-abroad partnerships in 13+ countries. Customers are individual students and their families; ancillary B2B engagements exist through senior design projects with entities such as East Texas Regional Airport and Aqueous Engineering, but these are applied-learning engagements rather than revenue anchors.

Recent strategic posture reflects expansion rather than retrenchment: acquisition of the Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity to anchor a faith-science-technology positioning, CPU Center groundbreaking, CACREP accreditation of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, consecutive U.S. News Regional Universities West recognition (2025, 2026), and a new athletic Air Dome. The university has produced 25,000+ alumni serving in all 50 U.S. states and 57 countries, with graduate placement rates reported at 92-100% across programs.

Name

LeTourneau University

Legal name

LeTourneau University

Website

https://letu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

LeTourneau University is a private, nondenominational Christian polytechnic university in Longview, Texas, founded in 1946, delivering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs across eight schools with an engineering and applied-learning focus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Polytechnic university programs
• Engineering education
• Christian college degrees
• Online graduate programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Longview

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, as well as various university fees for educational services.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable contributions from alumni, parents, and supporters through annual giving, endowments, and the Build with Purpose Campaign.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LeTourneau University is a private, nondenominational Christian polytechnic university delivering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across eight schools (Aviation & Aeronautical Science, Business, Education, Engineering & Engineering Technology, Nursing, Psychology & Counseling, Theology & Vocation, and Arts & Sciences). It offers traditional on-campus programs, online/graduate programs for working adults through the LEAP cohort format, and dual credit for high school students, integrating hands-on applied learning with faith-based instruction.

Product overview

LeTourneau University is The Christian Polytechnic University offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate academic programs across eight schools: Aviation & Aeronautical Science, Business, Education, Engineering & Engineering Technology, Nursing, Psychology & Counseling, Theology & Vocation, and Arts & Sciences. The university provides traditional on-campus programs, online and graduate education through LEAP cohort format, and dual credit programs for high school students. Notable specialized offerings include the Academy of Engineering & Engineering Technology (distinguished alumni program), the WHEELS research project for wheelchair design in developing nations, and extensive senior design capstone projects. The institution operates extensive engineering laboratories including the Glaske Center, Kielhorn Welding Lab, and MakerLab, providing hands-on practical training alongside classroom instruction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Academy of Engineering & Engineering Technology: An elite group of engineering and engineering technology alumni established to recognize outstanding graduates, advance the university's reputation, and provide networking opportunities.
• WHEELS Project

Products and services

• Aviation & Aeronautical Science Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 92-100% graduate placement rates across programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bethany Kids Relief and Rehabilitation InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Bethany Kids in Kenya which provides rehabilitation to children at Joy Town Special Primary School for the Disabled in Thika. LETU Wheels team conducts field studies and provides feedback to wheelchair manufacturers.
• MotivationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheelchair provider partner for the Wheels project. The team provides feedback on wheelchair function for low-resource settings.
• WhirlwindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheelchair provider partner for the Wheels project, specializing in rough terrain wheelchairs for developing countries.
• Hope Haven InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheelchair provider partner for the Wheels project serving people with disabilities globally.
• Free Wheelchair MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheelchair provider partner for the Wheels project providing wheelchairs through field studies in Kenya.
• ROC wheelchairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheelchair provider partner for the Wheels project.
• Joni and FriendscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for mission trips and wheelchair project collaboration serving people with disabilities internationally.
• Handong Global UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner university in Pohang, South Korea for semester study abroad programs.
• Hannam UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner university in Daejeon, South Korea for semester study abroad programs.
• Leibniz University HannoverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner university in Hannover, Germany for semester study abroad programs.
• University of Highlands & IslandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partner university in Scotland.
• University of Southern QueenslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partner university in Australia.
• Ider UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partner university in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• University of CanterburyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partner university in Christchurch, New Zealand.
• The Spanish Language InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partner in Costa Rica for Spanish language immersion programs.
• Liverpool Hope UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partner in England offering programs for most majors except Aviation and Engineering.
• CCCU GlobalEdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBestSemester program partner through Council of Christian Colleges and Universities for study abroad in England.
• Women's Christian CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partner in India for semester programs.
• Madras Christian CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partner in India for semester programs.
• American University of MongoliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy abroad partner in Mongolia, particularly suitable for Business majors.
• Hanyang UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner university in South Korea for semester study abroad programs.
• Sungkonghoe UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange partner university in South Korea for semester study abroad programs.
• CIS AbroadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-party study abroad provider offering programs in various locations worldwide.
• East Texas Regional AirportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient for Airport Utilities and Aviation Maintenance Building Design senior design project for airport expansion planning.
• Aqueous EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary client for Lazy Rivers hydraulic design research project, developing design tools for the aquatics industry.
• MuZ MotionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company for Version Motor Project designing and testing ultra-light, high-torque intelligent electric motors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: A top-ranked undergraduate-only private engineering institution with a hands-on teaching model; the gold-standard comparator for private polytechnic-style engineering education and high graduate outcomes.
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute: WPI is the quintessential private polytechnic university in the U.S., defined by a project-based learning (Great Problems Seminars, MQP) model and hands-on STEM culture—the closest analog to LeTourneau's polytechnic identity outside of faith-affiliation.
• Kettering University: A small, private Michigan institution famous for its co-op/internship model and hands-on engineering focus; competes for the same career-oriented STEM applicant pool with similar learning-through-practice philosophy.
• Oral Roberts University: A faith-affiliated (Pentecostal) private university in Tulsa, Oklahoma with engineering and STEM programs; directly comparable on Christian identity, private structure, and similar enrollment scale.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: A private university specializing in aviation and aerospace—directly comparable to LETU's School of Aviation & Aeronautical Science and the only real polytechnic-style aviation competitor at the undergraduate level.
• Calvin University: A Christian (Reformed) private university in Michigan with a strong engineering program and similar emphasis on integrating faith with vocation; structurally comparable in size, faith integration, and STEM orientation.
• Milwaukee School of Engineering: A small Midwestern private polytechnic with applied learning across engineering, nursing, business, and computer science—comparable scale, niche-as-engineering focus, and student outcomes.
• Walla Walla University: A Seventh-day Adventist university in Washington state operating engineering, aviation, and STEM programs at a similar small-private scale; near-perfect mirror of LeTourneau's faith-affiliated polytechnic positioning with comparable size and program mix.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: The largest private Christian university in the U.S. with the most extensive online program reach and NCAA Division I athletics; sets the upper bound on faith-affiliated online enrollment against which LETU's 30% online footprint competes.
• Baylor University: A large, established Baptist research university with a strong engineering school and significant scale; an incumbent faith-affiliated competitor for Christian-market STEM applicants in the broader South-Central region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LeTourneauUniv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LeTourneauUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/myletu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/letourneau-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/letourneauuniversity

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LeTourneau University