Southfield, Mich. – Lawrence Technological University has joined more than 600 colleges in a new nationwide database designed to give college-bound students and their families a clear view of their choices.

The University and College Accountability Network national database, known as U-CAN, was launched last week by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

The website, www.ucan-network.org, provides concise information in a colorful format about participating colleges. Visitors can research admissions processes, enrollment, academics, student demographics, graduation rates, most common fields of study, transfer of credits, accreditation, faculty information, class size, tuition and fee trends, price of attendance, financial aid, campus housing, student life and campus safety.

Access to U-CAN is free, and there are no advertisements or sponsorships.

While the information can be found through other sources, U-CAN offers it all in one location. Each college is allowed to add up to 25 hyperlinks to direct visitors to their individual institution’s website and the sites for various clubs or organizations.

“U-CAN provides an alternative source of more complete and unbiased information not available in most rankings reports,” said Lawrence Tech Admissions Director Jane Rohrback. “The links and narrative descriptions complement the profile’s statistical data and help show what makes each college or university unique.”

NAICU President David Warren said U-CAN was developed in response to public demand for comprehensive, comparable and easily accessible information, but it isn’t intended as a replacement for the rankings produced by U.S. News and World Report – which ranks Lawrence Tech among the best masters universities in the Midwest – and others.

According to Warren, U-CAN provides a way for students and their families to “launch” the college search process. Using the site, visitors can narrow down their potential choices and then visit those campuses, meet teachers and staff, and talk to other students.
 
“We know that parents and students are sometimes bewildered by how to choose a college,” Rohrback said. “The U-CAN site gives families the key facts in a well-organized, visual-oriented format.”

The website is www.ucan-network.org. Information on Lawrence Tech can be found at members.ucan-network.org/ltu.

Lawrence Technological University, www.ltu.edu, offers more than 60 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and Management. Founded in 1932, the 5,000-student, private university pioneered evening classes 75 years ago, and today has a growing number of weekend and online programs. Lawrence Tech’s 102-acre campus is in Southfield, with education centers in Livonia, Clinton Township, Traverse City, and Petoskey. Lawrence Tech also offers programs with partner universities in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia.