At $26,611/yr net price, UEI College-Gardena graduates earn $30,848/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $26,611 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $106,444 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $30,848/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-3,152/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 62.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $26,303/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $26,915/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,965/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,548/yr |
| $110,001+ | $31,863/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. | Certificate | $26,933 | $9,500 |
| Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology. | Certificate | $25,967 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $21,417 | $9,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Certificate | $20,388 | $9,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $20,140 | $9,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $19,879 | $9,500 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services. | Certificate | $19,045 | $9,500 |
The Risk Factor
62.9% of students at UEI College-Gardena graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 37% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
The numbers at UEI College-Gardena do not add up in your favor. You pay roughly $26,600 a year in net price, and ten years after enrolling the median graduate earns about $30,800. Paying two years at that price for a certificate that leads to earnings near $30k is a hard financial trade, and every program listed here is a certificate, not a degree.
None of the top programs clears $27k in median earnings. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair sits at the top, and Electrical/Electronics Maintenance follows close behind. Both are tied to hands-on trades where Gardena's proximity to Los Angeles industrial and automotive work gives you a real shot at a job. The healthcare-adjacent certificates pay less: Health and Medical Administrative Services, Dental Support, and Criminal Justice all land in the low $20k range, which is near or below what many entry-level jobs pay without any certificate at all.
The debt side is the one bright spot. Median debt is $9,500, low enough that you are unlikely to be buried in loan payments. The bigger risk is the price itself: you are spending far more in tuition than you will recover quickly in added earnings, especially in the corrections, dental, and medical admin tracks.
Net price barely moves by income here. Even under $30k in family income, you pay around $26,300, and higher earners pay only a few thousand more. There is no meaningful discount for low-income families, so the sticker cost hits everyone hard.
This school makes financial sense only if you are targeting the automotive or electrical trades, can finish the certificate quickly, and land a job in the local market. If you are eyeing the medical admin, dental, or corrections certificates, price out community college first, where the same fields cost a fraction of this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is UEI College-Gardena worth the cost?
With graduates earning $30,848 ten years after enrollment and annual costs of $26,611, UEI College-Gardena offers marginal financial returns. The school's automotive and electrical programs show better earning potential than healthcare administration or criminal justice tracks.
What are the best paying programs at UEI College-Gardena?
Vehicle maintenance and repair technology leads at $26,933 annually, followed by electrical/electronics repair at $25,967. These technical programs significantly outperform the school's healthcare administration and criminal justice options, which start around $20,000.
How much student debt do UEI College-Gardena graduates have?
The median debt load is $9,500, which is relatively low compared to many career colleges. However, with starting salaries around $20,000-$27,000 depending on program, even this modest debt can strain graduates' budgets.
What is UEI College-Gardena's graduation rate?
About 63% of students graduate from UEI College-Gardena. This means more than one in three students leave without completing their program, losing time and money in the process.