Universal Technical Institute-Southern California — ROI, Cost & Payback
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California charges a net price of $27,506/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $55,012. Graduates earn a median $52,873 ten years after entry, $4,513/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 12.2 years — a 20-year net return of $35,248, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California's 12.2-year payback ranks #878 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 31% of them, and #102 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $27,506/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $55,012 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $52,873 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $4,513/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $13,124 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 12.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $35,248 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Universal Technical Institute-Southern California's own numbers. Net price $27,506 × 2 years = $55,012 total. Median earnings $52,873 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $4,513 a year of premium. $55,012 ÷ $4,513 = 12.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $35,248. 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-Southern California 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-Southern California students graduate?
63% finish their degree — 37% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $55,012 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $87,321 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Universal Technical Institute-Southern California expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $27,506 net price runs $7,601 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $15,202 more across the full degree.