What is UEI College known for?
UEI College is a vocational and trade school with over 40 years of experience and campuses in California, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Texas, and Washington. They offer career-focused training in high-demand fields such as healthcare, the skilled trades, and business and are known for their fast-paced and affordable programs.
UEI College is known for offering a hands-on approach with on-campus lab sessions for students to practice necessary skills in their fields of choice while still granting students the flexibility they may need through a hybrid learning model.
Is it Legit?
UEI College’s campuses in Garden Grove, Chula Vista, Huntington Park, Ontario, Phoenix, Reseda, Oceanside, Stockton, West Covina, and Mesa are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET).
UEI College’s Bakersfield, Gardena, Fresno, Riverside, Sacramento, and Tacoma campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
Is UEI College worth it?
UEI College strives to foster a community of opportunity, equipping students with a highly-regarded skillset through a curriculum based on employer demands.
When asked to reflect on components of their UEI experience critical to their success, multiple UEI students and alumni noted the institution’s available externship experiences and the hands-on training they received through labs.
Students emphasized applying their education to their careers, highlighting the usefulness of their prior training.
UEI College’s benefits extend beyond workplace skills; the institution offers career support, interview training, and academic support for students with demanding schedules. The overarching theme embodied by the school’s student body and alumni community is that their education was worth it and provided them with valuable skills crucial to their workplace success.
UEI College vs. Community College
Students at UEI College may earn a diploma in as little as 9 months. In contrast, community college students may take up to 2 years to complete an Associate’s degree while still needing additional vocational training before obtaining a career.
UEI College offers vocational and trade school programs constructed with industry standards in mind. The school provides students with hands-on, real-world training in semiweekly labs and online learning in the school’s virtual classroom.
In addition, the college’s instructors all have career-relevant experience. Comparatively, community college instructors may not necessarily be vetted for prior experience and thus may provide a comparatively inferior education when addressing critical skills for career readiness.
UEI College offers students the luxury of flexible scheduling, enabling them to prioritize their careers and education without compromising either.
UEI College Acceptance Rate
UEI College’s acceptance rate is 100%.
UEI College Cost per Year
UEI College’s tuition ranges between $19,900 to $21,500 for their 9-month programs. The institution accepts federal grants and loans and offers federal loan repayment options. UEI College receives Cal Grants from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and accepts CSAC’s grants for foster youth for students in California. UEI College also accepts military grants.
School Catalog
A copy of the program catalog can be found here.
School Hours
UEI College’s campuses are all open from 8 AM to 8 PM in their respective time zones.
Programs & Courses
Automotive
- Automotive Technology
Business
- Business Administration
Criminal Justice & Law
- Criminal Justice
Healthcare
- Dental Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Billing & Coding
HVAC & Building Services
- HVAC
Campus Locations
Phoenix, AZ 9215 N. Black Canyon Hwy., Phoenix, AZ 85021
Anaheim, CA 401 W. Carl Karcher Way, Anaheim, CA 92801
Bakersfield, CA 3737 Rosedale Hwy., Bakersfield, CA 93308
Chula Vista, CA 1261 3rd Ave., Ste A, Chula Vista, CA 91911
Encino, CA 5445 Balboa Blvd., CA Encino, CA 91316
Fresno, CA 3602 N. Blackstone Ave., Ste 0268, Fresno, CA 93726
Gardena, CA 661 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., Gardena, CA 90247
Huntington Park, CA 6055 Pacific Blvd., Huntington Park , CA 90255
Ontario, CA 4730 Ontario Mills Pkwy., Ontario, CA 91764
Riverside, CA 1860 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92507
Sacramento. CA 4424 Florin Rd., Ste D, Sacramento, CA 95823
San Marcos. CA 2085 Montiel Rd., Ste D-100, San Marcos, CA 92069
Stockton, CA 4994 Claremont Ave., Stockton, CA 95207
West Covina, CA 339 N. Azusa Ave., West Covina, CA 91791
Morrow, GA 1564 Southlake Pkwy., Morrow, GA 30260
Stone Mountain 971 N. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Tacoma 1415 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404
Financial Aid Services
UEI accepts private, state, and federal loans to pay for tuition. Applicants could also qualify for grants, scholarships, or work-study programs. Using a completed FAFSA form and some basic info, the on-campus Financial Aid Office guides attendees to the plan that is right for them. For active duty or former armed service members, Veterans Administration Benefits may be available.
Student Services
The school offers a simple application process, and enrollees with any questions can get help from its Admissions Office. For current learners, a Student Portal allows quick access to materials, coursework, and instructors. To stay state-of-the-art, UEI College’s software, labs, and classes are often updated to meet industry standards.
Career Services
Students at UEI College can visit the Career Services Center. Advisors help with all things related to employment. Through many ties to local companies, this vocational school actively markets its pupils to employers. The staff may even set up job fairs or interviews with businesses in the area. Alumni continue to get all of these perks as well.
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, UEI College in Phoenix is generally recognized for its excellent, hands-on instructors and flexible scheduling, making it a viable option for those starting a trade career. However, strong and recurring criticisms suggest significant administrative issues, staff inconsistencies, and a lack of support in crucial areas like the externship process.
Overall Score: 4.2/5 Stars
Common Praises
Exceptional and Hands-On Instructors: This is the school’s biggest strength. Instructors (such as Instructor A, Instructor B, and Instructor C in the HVAC and Medical programs) are consistently called “amazing,” “phenomenal,” and “great,” and are praised for being patient, highly knowledgeable, and providing “straight hands on learning” with real-life examples.
Flexible and Convenient Schedule: The hybrid format, often described as “2 days in class of straight hands on learning and 2 more days of online learning,” is lauded by students as a “perfect schedule” that accommodates working adults, including single parents with multiple jobs.
Effective Admissions Staff: Admissions staff members (like Admissions Staff A) are praised for being welcoming, helpful, and making prospective students “feel right at home” during the enrollment and tour process.
Career Readiness and Preparation: Students, particularly in the HVAC program, feel the instruction “made sure i was well prepared” for their field, leading to successful employment.
Common Criticisms
Serious Administrative and Communication Failures: Many graduates accuse the administration of “knowingly miss lead[ing] students to get them to attend,” and one recent complaint alleged being “dropped from the college without prior notification.” Another student reported a lack of materials and communication from the non-instructor staff.
Externship and Career Services Issues: The process for starting and completing the externship is a major pain point. A recent graduate stated their externship was “pushed out multiple times,” indicating a lack of coordination between the school and partner sites. Another student reported sending multiple emails to administrators about their externship and receiving no response.
High Staff Turnover and Favoritism: Students in the Dental Assistant program complained that their class had “already gone through 3 different instructors” in five months. Others reported “favoritism amongst the students,” leading to an unfair learning environment.
Bullying and Unprofessional Peer Behavior: A student in the Medical Assistant program reported “getting bullied MULTIPLE times” by classmates who “act like they are in middle school” and noted that the school’s efforts to address the issue were insufficient.
Momentum
The momentum for UEI College – Phoenix is polarized. The core educational delivery (hands-on learning and dedicated instructors) is working well, as evidenced by positive feedback up to the present. However, the recent and persistent complaints regarding administrative integrity, externship placement failures, and poor student support after enrollment indicate a systemic flaw in the non-instructional and executive operations. Students who succeed appear to do so because of their individual instructors, and often in spite of the administrative and externship-related challenges.