Universal Technical Institute

Author: Jenna Vasquez

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The Good

• Graduation and job placement
• Financial aid available
• Technician programs
• Specialization opportunities

Graduation and Job Placement

Out of all of the students that start a Universal Technical Institute program, sixty percent of them will graduate with a degree or certification necessary to get started in the automative industry. Universal Technical Institute also helps their students obtain employment. Of those students who graduate, ninety-two percent obtain employment following graduation. This is an encouraging sign for those debating whether or not the cost benefit will play out in their favor.

Financial Aid Available

Not all online or trade schools qualify for federal financial aid. Without the ability to obtain financial assistance through the available federal options, the burden of covering educational costs can be daunting or even impossible. However, Universal Technical Institute students do qualify for federal financial aid. This means that students will be able to obtain loans and grants to help offset the costs of tuition. Students will need to apply and submit various forms to obtain this assistance, but Universal Technical Institute will help students with this process if they are interested.

Technician Programs

There are eight different programs Universal Technical Institute students can choose from. The available programs of study include the following subject manner: automative, collision repair, diesel, marine, motorcycle, NASCAR, CNC Machining, and welding. Costs and term lengths may vary depending on the program chosen. Those interested in this industry will be encouraged to know that Universal Technical Institute offers educational opportunities across the board.

Specialization Opportunities

In addition to offering eight areas of study, Universal Technical Institute students can also specialize within their program. In the automative program, students can specialize in BMW FastTrack/Step, Mopar Tec, Ford-FACT, GM Tech, Mercedes-Benz DRIVE, NASCAR, Nissan-NATT, Porsche-PTAP, Toyota-TPAT, and Volvo-SAFE. Additionally, there are specialization opportunities within the following areas of study, including: diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, and marine. These specializations can make students more valuable upon graduation as they are viewed as "experts" in that particular arena. To view other specialization, visit the Universal Technical Institute website.

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The Bad

• Undisclosed tuition costs
• Loan repayment default

Undisclosed Tuition Costs

For students trying to gauge how much their education will cost them, Universal Technical Institute does not make this part of the research process easy. Since costs vary depending on the program chosen and whether or not a student specializes, Universal Technical Institute does not provide a range or average of tuition or program costs. Students considering Universal Technical Institute will need to inquire further to find out this information.

Loan Repayment Default

Many Universal Technical Institute students are required to obtain financial assistance in the form of loans in order to finance their education. Upon graduation, or leaving the school early for other reasons, students will be expected to pay these loans back. Loan amounts will vary for each student, but as a whole, roughly 15 percent of all Universal Technical Institute students default on repaying these loans. Despite high graduation rates, there are still a large portion of students that struggle, for whatever reason, to pay back their loans.

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The Bottom Line

Universal Technical Institute provides the educational programs and specializations needed to learn and excel within the automotive industry. That being said, there are some unknowns surrounding the school including cost of attendance. Students interested in working within the automotive realm will find the Universal Technical Institute to be a promising educational endeavor. Not only does Universal Technical Institute provide job placement services, but roughly 92% of all graduates leave with a job secured. Students not interested in this field of study will not find Universal Technical Institute to be a quality educational choice.