What is the Universal Technical Institute Known For?
The Universal Technical Institute is a trade and technical school with over 50 years of history and 15 campuses nationwide. They are known for their renowned reputation and impressive industry relationships built on the quality of training and instructors they offer.
The Universal Technical Institute provides career programs in the automotive, motorcycle, marine, diesel, welding, collision repair, and CNC machining industries and is one of the largest providers of employees to manufacturers of leading brands in the automotive and transportation sectors today.
Is it Legit?
Each institution of the Universal Technical Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), an organization recognized by the US Department of Education (USDoE).
Is the Universal Technical Institute Worth It?
The Universal Technical Institute boasts partnerships with manufacturers of over 35 leading brands; with over 220,000 students and alums of the institution, they are one of the leading providers of training for students preparing for careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, marine, CNC machining, and welding technicians.
Leading brands are known to recruit skilled graduates from the Universal Technical Institute, with some even offering tuition reimbursement plans as an incentive. Beyond career benefits exclusively accessible to Universal Technical Institute students and alums, the institution boasts top-notch education opportunities for students, with updated technology and modern facilities up to the industry standard.
The Universal Technical Institute ensures that its quality education is accessible to all, offering over $15 million in scholarships and grants.
The Universal Technical Institute vs. Community College
The Universal Technical Institute offers its students a competitive advantage both educationally and in the workforce. With state-of-the-art equipment provided to the school through their industry partnerships, students can learn hands-on in labs with the same equipment they’ll be expected to use in the field, granting them a level of expertise and familiarity a standard trade school may not be able to offer.
The Universal Technical Institute also upholds a rigorous standard for its instructors; all instructors have years of experience working in their respective fields, with a genuine interest in their students’ success. The school offers focused and accelerated training opportunities to ambitious students; some programs can be completed in as little as a year, and others in up to 18 months.
The institution’s programs are accredited, and many can even be used to substitute up to 2 years of work experience for certification training exams.
Acceptance Rate
The Universal Technical Institute has an acceptance rate of 100%.
Cost Per Year
Annual tuition at the Universal Technical Institute may range between $22,900 and $51,800, depending on the program. The institution does not offer room and board, allowing students to save money. The Universal Technical Institute accepts scholarships in the form of federal loans and grants, external scholarships, and loans. Additionally, over 15 million in scholarship funding is available to students who qualify.
School Catalog
A copy of the school catalog can be found here.
School Hours
All Universal Technical Institute campuses and related student facilities are open from 8 AM to 5 PM, Mondays through Fridays.
Programs & Courses
Automotive
- Automotive Technology
- Collision and Body Repair
Trucking & Transportation
- Diesel Technology
Welding Technology
- Welding
Campus Locations
Avondale, AZ 10695 West Pierce St., Avondale, AZ 85323
Phoenix, AZ 2844 West Deer Valley Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85027
Long Beach, CA 4175 East Conant St., Long Beach, CA 90808
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 9494 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Sacramento, CA 4100 Duckhorn Dr., Sacramento, CA 95834
Orlando, FL 2202 West Taft Vineland Rd., Orlando, FL 32837
Orlando, FL 9751 Delegates Dr., Orlando, FL 32837
Lisle, IL 2611 Corporate West Dr., Lisle, IL 60532
Norwood, MA One Upland Rd., #200, Norwood, MA 02062
Bloomfield, NJ 1515 Broad St., Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Mooresville, NC 220 Byers Creek Rd., Mooresville, NC 28117
Exton, PA 750 Pennsylvania Dr., Exton, PA 19341
Irving, TX 5151 Regent Blvd., Irving, TX 75063
Houston, TX 721 Lockhaven Dr., Houston, TX 77073
Peoria, AZ 8546 W Ludlow Dr., Ste 100, Peoria, AZ 85381
Houston, TX 533 Northpark Central Drive, Houston, TX 77073
Austin, TX 301 W. Howard Lane, Austin, TX 78753
Canton, MI 2955 Haggerty Road, Canton, MI 48188
Miramar, FL 2601 SW 145th Avenue, Miramar, FL 33027
Financial Aid Services
Also known as UTI, the trade school has a FAFSA Service Center to help applicants get financial aid. After submitting the form, most people will have options for loans and other types of assistance. Universal Technical Institute offers its own grants and scholarships, but hopefuls must follow the steps and meet certain requirements.
Student Services
UTI partners with industry leaders to set up a curriculum that will benefit students’ careers. The authentic training includes using real tools and machines. This lets pupils easily transition into jobs at major companies. The vocational school also provides support for things like accommodations for housing and disabilities.
Career Services
Employment Services helps UTI attendees find flexible local jobs during schooling. Before their degree is complete, enrollees can apply for the Technician Recruiting Early Access Program. If eligible, it puts them in contact with employers right away for opportunities they might not get otherwise. After graduating, the staff aids all alumni in their job search.
Veteran and Military Services
Armed forces personnel can attend campus orientations that focus on their needs. Universal Technical Institute has Military Admissions Representatives to assist these students with their VA funding options. UTI gives out the Salute to Service Scholarship, providing a tuition discount. Additionally, vets may apply for scholarships from other organizations.
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Avondale, AZ, is praised for its passionate instructors, excellent hands-on facilities, and strong job networking; however, it faces significant, recurring criticism regarding administrative and student services staff, scheduling issues, and high costs that may not be justified by some specialized programs.
Overall Score: 4.3/5 Stars
Common Praises
Excellent Instructors and Hands-On Labs: Students consistently praise the quality of instruction, noting that the instructors “actually do care about your education and growth,” are “passionate about passing down their knowledge,” and provide “good hands on experience.” Students also appreciate the modern, clean facilities, calling the campus a “candy store if you’re a gearhead.”
Strong Job Connections and Career Services: Many reviews highlight the school’s success in connecting students with the industry. Graduates mention the “solid work opportunities” and the connections they gain through career specialists, with many companies actively looking to hire UTI students.
Valuable Core Programs: Graduates of the core auto, diesel, and welding programs confirm that the curriculum teaches “very valuable information” and provides a strong foundation for a long-term career.
Common Criticisms
Administrative and Student Services Failures: This is the most intense area of complaint. Students report “unprofessional” behavior from staff members (including one in Student Services), lack of help from the department that finds jobs, and difficulty getting support for housing issues.
Scheduling and Operational Issues: Students report that classes “illegally withhold lunch break” and have “last minute changes.” One student in the welding program had their start date “pushed back 4 times.” There are also claims that the facility uses outdated equipment in some labs.
Misleading Recruiting/Over-Priced Programs: Several students feel they were lied to by the admissions team about job prospects and school amenities. One reviewer warned against a specialized program (e.g., the BMW Fasttrack), saying it only “Fasttracked my daughter into a part time valet job with a toxic manager,” indicating some programs may be over-priced relative to the job outcome.
Varying Program Quality: Specific complaints are raised about the Aviation program, citing a “complete lack of proactivity and necessary equipment” and an insufficient number of qualified A&P mechanic instructors.
Momentum
The momentum for Universal Technical Institute in Avondale is divided. The positive momentum is driven by the consistent quality of its core instruction and lab environment, leading to job success for many long-term graduates. However, the consistent flow of recent, highly negative reviews focused on administrative misconduct, scheduling errors, high cost, and failure in student services indicates systemic issues that are actively frustrating current students and detracting from the overall educational value. The school’s primary response to serious complaints is to direct users to an email address, which may not satisfy students looking for public accountability or immediate resolution.