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Universal Technical Institute of California Inc — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private for-profit · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · 1,553 students

The verdict

Universal Technical Institute of California Inc charges a net price of $26,360/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $52,720. Graduates earn a median $52,873 ten years after entry, $4,513/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 11.7 years — a 20-year net return of $37,540, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Universal Technical Institute of California Inc's 11.7-year payback ranks #857 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 33% of them, and #101 of 334 in California.

Better ROI than 33% of US colleges#857 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$26,360
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$52,873
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
11.7 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Universal Technical Institute of California Inc: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$26,360/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (2 yrs)$52,720our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$52,873Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$4,513/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$13,124Scorecard, 2026
Payback11.7 yrsour math
20-year net return$37,540our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Universal Technical Institute of California Inc's own numbers. Net price $26,360 × 2 years = $52,720 total. Median earnings $52,873 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $4,513 a year of premium. $52,720 ÷ $4,513 = 11.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $37,540. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Universal Technical Institute of California Inc students graduate with?

A median $13,124 in federal loans among completers, or 25% of the $52,873 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Universal Technical Institute of California Inc students graduate?

72% finish their degree. Spread the $52,720 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $73,222 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Universal Technical Institute of California Inc expensive compared with other California colleges?

Its $26,360 net price runs $6,455 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $12,910 more across the full degree.

Universal Technical Institute of California Inc: frequently asked questions

Is Universal Technical Institute of California Inc worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Universal Technical Institute of California Inc charges $26,360/yr after aid ($52,720 over 2 years), and graduates earn a median $52,873 ten years out — $4,513/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 11.7 years and returns $37,540 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a Universal Technical Institute of California Inc degree take to pay off?
About 11.7 years. We divide the $52,720 four-year net cost by the $4,513/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Universal Technical Institute of California Inc cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $26,360/yr — about $52,720 over 2 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Universal Technical Institute of California Inc compare to other California colleges?
It ranks #101 of 334 California colleges we track by payback. Its $52,873 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $26,360 net price is above the national median of $16,902.