New acquisition by Universal Technical Institute expands reach into healthcare

Universal Technical Institute is expanding its career education offerings, recently announcing it has entered into an agreement with Concorde Career Colleges to expand UTI’s career-focused education brand into certificate, credential and degree-granting healthcare programs. 

Concorde Career Colleges is a leading provider of healthcare education programs focused on preparing the next generation of healthcare workers for the growing workforce. The company currently serves 7,400 students over 8 states. 

“The acquisition of Concorde Career Colleges will be a significant next step in our previously announced growth and diversification strategy,” Universal Technical Institute CEO Jerome Grant said. “We take the responsibility of becoming one of this country’s leading workforce solutions providers seriously, and entering the healthcare space allows us to help even more students and support employers as they seek to solve some of their toughest workforce-related challenges. Concorde’s programs, geographic footprint, solid leadership team, exemplary faculty and staff, diverse student body, tight industry alignment, and strong alumni network make this acquisition a great fit.”

The expansion comes when the healthcare sector is expecting to see an addition of 2.6 million jobs due to attrition in the workforce and an aging population. The diploma and degree offerings of Concorde currently include nursing, dental hygiene, and other patient direct care fields such as physical therapy assistant and respiratory therapy. 

This expansion into the healthcare industry is a significant expansion for Universal Technical Institute’s growth and diversification plan. UTI, Inc.’s brand family currently includes skilled trade programs such as Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Marine Mechanics Institute, NASCAR Technical Institute and MIAT College of Technology. 

“Universal Technical Institute’s brands have a great reputation with both employers and students in transportation and skilled trades. Concorde Career Colleges has a strong reputation in healthcare education, making this an excellent combination for addressing the nation’s skills gap,” Concorde CEO Jami Frazier said.  “I am looking forward to the opportunity to join this organization and become one of the preeminent educational providers in the country.”

The addition of Concorde Career Colleges will bring the company’s total students served to approximately 20,000 over 14 states and 31 different locations. The schools to be acquired from Concorde are accredited by either the Accrediting Commision of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) or the Council on Occupational Education (COE).