Universal Technical Institute
Highlights
- Over 44 years of technical career training
- Employment assistance offered for life of graduates
- Over 90% of graduates find employment in their field according to UTI
- UTI National Scholarship competition provides over $11 million worth of scholarships annually
- Students may earn NATEF/ASE certification credits
- Graduates may apply for tuition-paid manufacturer specific training
- Most studies are finished in 15 months or less
- Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology
About the School
Established in 1965, Universal Technical Institute is a nationwide provider of training programs in the fields of automotive, diesel, marine technician, motorcycle and collision repair. The institute also offers postgraduate Manufacturer Specific Advanced Training programs. Hands-on learning is emphasized in the programs. The curriculums also include business skills. The school reports they have hundreds of employers who regularly hire their students.
Academic Programs
Availability of UTI's programs vary by location. Program areas across all campuses include:
- Automotive Technology – Students are trained to diagnose, repair and service domestic and foreign automobiles. Students are also provided the knowledge and skills to build high-performance engines. Enrollees can add elective programs such as Nissan Advanced Technical Training, BMW Fast Track, Toyota Professional Automotive Training and Ford Accelerated Credential Training.
- Diesel & Industrial Technology – Provides hands-on training on the largest and most powerful equipment and engines. A Cummins elective program is also available.
- Collision Repair and Refinish Technology – Students are trained in welding, custom paint jobs, mechanical and electrical repair and frame alignment. Hands-on learning is emphasized.
- Motorcycle Technology – Offers a comprehensive review of motorcycles. Students are trained in using specialized diagnostic, maintenance and repair equipment. The curriculum also offers numerous elective programs.
- Automotive/NASCAR Technology – The program includes a variety of automotive technology courses along with courses focused on NASCAR and a Ford FACT elective.
- Marine Technology – Students are trained to use specialized diagnostic, maintenance and repair equipment. Training is provided on a variety of engines. Manufacturer sponsored courses are also included.
Learning Options
- Classes begin every three to six weeks
- On-campus training
- All work books and most major tools are provided
Faculty
The experienced instructors are able to offer personalized attention due to the limited class sizes.
Student Life
Universal Technical Institute representatives assist students and graduates in finding employment, including job searches, resumes, and connecting with hiring employers. Employment assistance is available to graduates throughout their careers. The Student Services department offers students help in locating housing. All the campuses provide job fairs and on-campus interviews with employers. In addition, most of the programs provide a tool kit for graduates.
Many students work part-time while in training. The school has lists of employers that would like to hire students. Upon graduation common employment is in entry-level technician positions with dealers, independent shops, construction companies, and other similar operations. Some graduates go in to the parts industry.
Admissions and Financial Aid
Enrollment can take place at anytime during the year. Generally at least a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Financial Aid Department representatives assist students in applying for grants and loans. Universal Technical Institute offers qualified military personnel, dislocated workers and other students a discount on tuition.
Student/Alumni Reviews of This School
Sort Reviews By:Universal Technical Institute • Orlando, FL
Studying Mechanics (completion in: 2007)
• 9/4/2011
"I have a ton of debt and nothing to show for it. I feel like going there was the biggest mistake of my life. Not one of the things they guaranteed me have come true."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | There are plenty of other places that cost less. Call possible employers first and ask what a UTI education means to them. Then you will see what all that tuition money will get you. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 1 | It was over priced and has no credibility in the real world. Most employers consider it a joke. |
| Instruction | 4 | Some of the instructors were very good. Most of them didn't care if you learned anything or not. |
| Cost | 1 | Way overpriced. Employers all over the country have no respect for anyone coming from that school. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They had morning and night classes. It was very hard to switch if you had to. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | They had some really nice engines there. Unfortunately we were not allowed to touch them even though when you sign up to the school they tell you that you will be working on them every day. |
| Social Life | 1 | There was none of the above. Once they had your money they did not care about you anymore. |
| Placement Services | 1 | When I told them that I didn't expect them to find me a job for minimum wage considering I just spent $23,000 on an education they stopped helping me. That was the last time that I ever heard from them. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no support network. I believe that you have to pay for the alumni services. |
Universal Technical Institute • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Harley-Davidson Technician
• 8/31/2011
"The ladies you had to see about paying for school were not helpful at all, and it ended up costing me more money after asking them for help. The information I learned was great, but for the price I paid I could have done a lot better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would only recommend this school to others if there was no chance they would ever run out of money. If they were broke, like me, I would tell them to hit the books at the local community college. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 3 | The teachers were former mechanics, not licensed teachers, so some of them didn't teach the material very well. Some of the instructors were inconsiderate and also not very helpful when you needed help with some of the assignments. |
| Instruction | 6 | Knowing nothing of motorcycle mechanics beforehand, I did gain a good amount of knowledge concerning motorcycles. I don't believe they give you a realistic view of the field you're trying to get into. |
| Cost | 1 | For what I got out of the school, I paid way too much. I could have paid a mechanic half as much to teach me twice as much stuff. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Classes were available throughout the entire day. You could either take morning, afternoon, or evening classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | There were always options available to you if you needed help. Some instructors were more easily available to you than others. |
| Social Life | 2 | As long as I was there, there were no social events for students. Something like this could be helpful to new students, as many of them were away from home for the first time. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There was always a good amount of job postings available for students. The job posting could be pretty insulting to someone that just paid a ton of money to go to school there, though. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | The alumni all knew their stuff really well. The only problem with that is that they sometimes had a hard time relaying that information into terms you can understand if it is all new to you. |
Universal Technical Institute • Pennsylvania
Studying Automotive Technology (completion in: 2010)
• 9/17/2011
"I loved UTI, because of its curriculum, programs, and lifestyle. I got a good education, which led to a good paying job, something I couldn't be happier with."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | For others pursuing my career, UTI is a comprehensive education that will lead to a very good career. They prepare you for your working experience. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 9 | UTI is well known for its Automotive Technology program. Of all the schools I looked at, UTI seemed to be the best. |
| Instruction | 9 | Instruction was very nice because it was done by experienced people. I feel that I was prepared for my job quite well. |
| Cost | 10 | I had looked at other colleges, but all were more expensive than I could handle. UTI fit my budget very well, and was easy to pay for. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Scheduling was quite flexible, actually. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Availability of resources was very good. When I needed something for class, whether it be a teacher, book, or tutor, it was fairly easy to access. |
| Social Life | 9 | The whole experience was awesome. Our group was close knit, and we had lots of fun together, working on all our projects as well as parties and such. |
| Placement Services | 10 | UTI is known for its job placement. They put a graduate right into a nice job. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | It really seems like the alumni program isn't the biggest one for tech schools. However, alumni bond strongly. |
Universal Technical Institute • Columbia, SC
Studying Aviation, General Schooling, History (completion in: I didn't complete my degree)
• 9/26/2011
"I wish that I could have stayed longer. While I was there I learned a great deal."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have and probably will again recommend it to others. It's always been a joy to me. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 10 | The depth and explanation of History was amazing. Well coordinated and presented in an understandable way. |
| Instruction | 10 | The teachers were active and engaging. They generally wanted to help their students learn. |
| Cost | 10 | My schooling was paid for by the state. I only had to provide my own supplies, pencil, paper, etc. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I wasn't able to choose my own schedule. The one I was issued worked out well and didn't keep me there too long or too late. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | They had about what anyone could expect from a college. Library was always open and welcoming. |
| Social Life | 4 | I was there to learn, not to party. It was a technical college so there were no sports teams or social events. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They taught well. I was able to get jobs easily while in school there. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I was unaware of any network. So, I can't really rate it. |
Universal Technical Institute • Moorseville, NC
Studying Auto Repair Technician (completion in: 2004)
• 9/22/2011
"I spent a lot of money and learned very little. If you have any skill at fixing cars, just go get a job. You will be better off and if not, then go to your local college. You'll have more fun and get more than just a piece a paper that no one cares about."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would never recommend this or any school like it. I've gone as far as stopping my younger brother from making this same mistake. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 3 | The quality of the instructors was very low. There was lack of hands on time on non-US made products. |
| Instruction | 4 | Instructors had good real world work experiences for the most part. However, they had very poor basic science understanding and poor communication skills when conveying general theory. |
| Cost | 1 | The total cost for just the program was $27,000. That was for the shortest program at about 12 months and does not include the other $12,000 it costs to live there for a year. In hindsight, I would have been much better off buying $10,000 dollars worth of tools and finding a job at a shop on my own. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | The class schedule was like a job - be there when you're told, no choice at all. They are extremely tight about missing classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | It was as well equipped as any large auto shop would be, although they do lack equipment for foreign cars. |
| Social Life | 3 | There are very few social activities run by the school, mostly limited to volunteering in the community. If you have a close group of friends there it can be pretty fun on your own. |
| Placement Services | 3 | If you were placed with a manufacturer, job placement was great, but that did require you to arrive with some work experience. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is not an alumni network to speak of as far as I know. I am very sure that I would not want to be part of it if there was one. |
Universal Technical Institute • North Brunswick, NJ
Studying Auto Mechanics (completion in: 2014)
• 9/15/2011
"Going to a college would be nicer."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If the students were smart enough and had enough money, I would recommend a college. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 6 | No hands on work has started just yet. |
| Instruction | 5 | The teachers aren't very available. |
| Cost | 9 | The school is very affordable. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I only had scheduling problems with one class this semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | Everything has been conceptual so far. |
| Social Life | 5 | Networking with friends isn't the same as living on campus. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I have heard some good things so far. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The school is somewhat supportive. |
Universal Technical Institute • Boston, MA
Studying Motorcycle Mechanics (completion in: I didn't complete my degree)
• 9/29/2011
"I was satisfied, but not completely satisfied. I felt it could have been better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would if working in this field is really what they wanted to do. But if they are undecided, I probably would not. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 6 | It was a pretty good school, but just not for me. |
| Instruction | 7 | I learned a lot. It just wasn't what I really wanted to do, I realized. |
| Cost | 9 | It was pretty cheap. I got some grants which was great! |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The school was averagely flexible. I was able to pick which season I wanted to got o school in. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | They had very good resources! The library and computers were very useful. |
| Social Life | 4 | People were not that friendly. Many just minded their own business. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They helped somewhat, but I felt you were pretty much on your own for job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Their alumni support was good. They were always willing to help. |
Universal Technical Institute • Orlando, FL
Studying HonTech (completion in: 2010)
• 11/12/2011
"Completely satisfied. Would love to attend at a later date to maybe get updated and learn things I missed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, I would recommend, and have recommended, the school. The lessons are good and the teachers are as well. But when I was finishing up school, they were making a lot of changes, like getting rid of teachers. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 9 | I liked the program and that most of the teachers wanted to help. Sometimes I think they went by the book a bit much. |
| Instruction | 9 | The teachers were good at explaining things to us. They were always willing to help when I couldn't understand something. |
| Cost | 5 | I got help paying for school and my parents covered the rest. When I asked them, they said it was a good price. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The schedule was great. I had a part time job before stating school and they helped me pick out classes during the evenings. I do wish they had a real late class so I could have completed school quicker. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Everything was up to date. We had all the manuals and there were videos online as well. They were always changing out the papers in the manuals. |
| Social Life | 3 | No events other then Monster Jam coming to the school, but it was easy to make friends there and have something to talk about and in common. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They have a board with job listings and you could ask the teacher about jobs if they knew of any. Sometimes different people would come and let us know that they have openings for students. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | There wasn't really much of an alumni network, but almost all of the teachers were there to help. I liked that they helped me find an apartment to stay in. |
Universal Technical Institute • Los Angeles, CA
Studying Automotive (completion in: 2014)
• 11/10/2011
"I am very satisfied with the experience. I love this school, the instructors, and my peers."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If anyone is looking for a great automotive education, this is the place to go. I love going to Universal Technical Institute. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 10 | This major is so much fun! It is great because we have hands on learning. |
| Instruction | 10 | I have already learned so much. The curriculum is really easy to understand and the instructors are very knowledgeable. |
| Cost | 10 | I looked around at a lot of schools before deciding on this one. This school was definitely in my budget. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The class flexibility is great! I am able to go to class and work a full-time job. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The computer resources are the best part about this school. I do not have a computer so when I need to get work done, I am able to use their computers to do it. |
| Social Life | 10 | It is great being able to hang out and meet people with similar interests. I have met most of my friends at parties and organized social events. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I have not had the opportunity to use the job placement help yet. However, I did have a friend who graduated last year and it worked really well for him. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network and support is very easy to get to. There is a Facebook page where we can chat with anyone who goes or went to the school. |
Universal Technical Institute • Rancho Cucamonga
Studying Automotive Technician (completion in: 2006)
• 11/1/2011
"I was very satisfied. I worked in the field for a while and the education they gave me was enough to get some A.S.E. certificates. I would suggest it to other people."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school because it gives you the knowledge needed to become an awesome mechanic. The education is worth the price, and the way they structured the classes helped me finish with a 3.9 GPA, which I never was able to do in the past. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 10 | I was very satisfied with the experience because they gave me the general knowledge and skills to work in the automotive field. When I was done they gave support in helping find work quickly. |
| Instruction | 9 | The quality was great. They helped me understand what I needed to know and gave some real life experiences to what happens in the field. They had courses one section at a time so you can digest the information. |
| Cost | 8 | The price I paid was $25,000, which isn't too bad, but I could've gone to a community college for cheaper. The thing they had that sold me was the industry connections. Recently, from some friends that currently go, I heard they raised it to $30,000+. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The class scheduling is extremely flexible. They give you morning, afternoon, and night classes to choose from. They even let you double phase if you get good enough grades like I did. The morning classes are good for people who have no responsibility, afternoon for people who worked in the morning, and night classes for people who have families. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facility had everything - classrooms, a garage, dynos, lifts, and in class labs especially for the electrical part. It was basically a normal school until you stepped into the garage area. |
| Social Life | 9 | My social life at the school was only at the school. I commuted about an hour just to go to the school so all my friends were school friends. The school didn't really offer events. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The placement help was excellent. They give you many resources to go to look for a job and refer you to a lot of dealers that are looking for technicians. But after two years, they stop doing it and you're on your own. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | The alumni support is horrible. There basically is no alumni network. We don't get newsletters or emails from the school. It's a business - once you're, done you're done. |
Universal Technical Institute • Orlando, FL
Studying Automotive (completion in: 2012)
• 11/11/2011
"With the combo of great teachers, students, equipment, and job opportunities, I am very satisfied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, because, again, of the combo of great teachers, students, equipment, and job opportunities. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 9 | It is very informative. A LOT of hands on work, makes for a great experience! |
| Instruction | 9 | Excellent teachers. They really are interested in helping the students succeed. I have never seen such passion from teachers. The quality of the students is also excellent. |
| Cost | 6 | It's a bit expensive, but for what you get in return, you will understand why it's so expensive! |
| Schedule Flexibility | I never had any scheduling conflicts. So I cannot rate this properly. | |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | EXCELLENT! Top Quality tools, and the world's best lab rooms! An excellent garage, it is amazing! |
| Social Life | 5 | Not many social events. Most students here are STRICTLY concentrated on their goals and I have noticed most don't care for social events, including myself. |
| Placement Services | 9 | By the time you finish, you will already either have a job, or have a job waiting for you on the outside. |
| Alumni Network | I actually have not looked into that. |
Universal Technical Institute • Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Studying BMW Fasttrack (completion in: 2008)
• 11/26/2011
"I feel somewhat satisfied with my experience. The education I received was basic, and three years later the employment department has forgotten about me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend this school to someone who is really interested in pursuing the career. Based on my experience I would rather not have my close friends attend. I would not want them to end up in the same position I am in - working as a package handler for Fedex ground and not a BMW technician. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 4 | I feel as if I graduated unprepared because some classes were not too in depth. It's three years later and I have yet to find a job in the automotive industry. |
| Instruction | 5 | The quality of instruction deeply depended on the instructor. Some instructors did not fully prepare me in a certain subject. |
| Cost | 1 | I am trying my best to repay my $36,000 loan for my education and I am really struggling considering I haven't even found a job. For the amount of education I received I would have felt better paying fifteen grand less. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Schedule flexibility was great - morning, afternoon and evening. This makes it easy for you to have a part time job and go to school. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Classroom space was ok, and so were the lab areas. As far as libraries or any computer resources go, I don't recall there being any. |
| Social Life | 4 | Social experience consisted of classmates talking about how much better their cars were than yours. There were several organized social events such as car shows, but I never attended any. |
| Placement Services | 2 | The employment department tries to help you find a job. I graduated as a certified BMW technician but they would only offer me irrelevant lube oil technician jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I feel as if there is no alumni network. I have not been in contact with the school in three years. |
Universal Technical Institute • Phoenix, AZ
Studying Harley-Davidson And BMW (completion in: 2012)
• 11/24/2011
"So far, I am a little disappointed due to the lack of being challenged. I feel the clinics should be a little more hands on."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | This school is best for anyone who has zero experience. The program breaks everything down piece by piece and has a very slow pace on learning. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 4 | The school, in my opinion is half and half, on the idea of training qualified professionals and making money. I am in Clinic 5 of the core program and I breeze by not having to try at all. Many times I have so much free time that we play card games to pass the time. I feel I am not challenged enough. |
| Instruction | 5 | I am only in the core program and not in the electives yet, so I can't judge the actual Harley or BMW program, although the clinics are so basic and elementary that I feel it is a waste of my time. All of my past teachers are great teachers and take time with students (except my clinic 2 teacher who should not be a teacher at all). |
| Cost | 1 | Absolutely too expensive. We have to take Theory I and Theory II which is $8,000 and it is so basic for someone at my level. Then we have to take the Clinics 1-7a and 7b, which is another $10,000 to continue to introduce the students to different parts of the bike and the very elementary basics of motorcycles. Then we can move on the the elective of your choice, which in my case is Harley-Davidson, and BMW costing another $10,000 a piece. The elective cost I do not mind due to you study only that elective and you do not have to worry about what bike you may get stuck with for a project like you do in the clinics. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They have AM, Evening, and PM classes that you can choose from. The good thing is if you are late or miss a class you have the option to go to the one of the other classes and not be counted as tardy or absent. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The resources are always available to anyone that needs them. They have a resource center that is open on Saturdays where you can take your PHD's (if you're in Harley) and other certifications. |
| Social Life | 3 | I do not participate in any of the activities given by the school. |
| Placement Services | 2 | The school tries to put on a big show of how they can help you find jobs, housing, and scholarships, but when it comes down to it they just give you list and tell you good luck. |
| Alumni Network | I haven't used any part of the alumni network or support. |
Universal Technical Institute • Norwood, MA
Studying Collision Repair (completion in: 2012)
• 12/14/2011
"I got a degree, which is the most important thing. I do think that UTI should assist you more in finding a job after graduation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a good alternative to four year expensive colleges. I now have a steady, good paying job. |
| Satisfaction With Major | 3 | The training given by UTI was not hands on enough. Many times trainings were cancelled by the instructor with no notice. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instructors had a pretty good understanding of the topics. |
| Cost | 9 | The school was a great value for the degree that I received. My degree and the time needed to get it has been invaluable. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I had no issues with class scheduling. Instructors were accommodating to my peers when they had issues. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | Much of the equipment was older and in need of replacement. It is extremely antiquated compared to that which I use on my job now. |
| Social Life | 3 | The school had no school spirit to speak of. The social events were few and far between. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I got a job, however not at the pay I would have liked. I cannot thank the school for the job as it was entirely me who earned it. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I was never contacted by alumni. Additionally, I never was able to obtain contact information of past graduates when looking for employment. |