EX-99.1

Jenny Bruso
Director, Investor Relations
Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
(623) 445-9351

PHOENIX – August 4, 2009 – Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) (the “Company”), a leading provider of technical education training, reported net income for the third quarter ended June 30, 2009 of $1.9 million, or 8 cents per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $0.7 million, or 3 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of the prior year. Net income for the nine months ended June 30, 2009 was $4.1 million, or 17 cents per diluted share, compared with $7.7 million, or 30 cents per diluted share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2008.

“I am pleased with the student metrics and financial results for the quarter. The growth in starts of more than 30% and average student population of 10% resulted in a meaningful increase in revenues and improvement in margins for the third quarter,” said Kimberly McWaters, President and Chief Executive Officer of UTI.


	Three Months Ended									Nine Months Ended
	June 30, 2009									June 30, 2009
	2009			2008			Growth			2009			2008			Growth
Total starts		2,946			2,225			32.4	%		9,646			8,180			17.9	%
Average undergraduate full-time student enrollment		14,813			13,452			10.1	%		15,531			15,018			3.4	%
End of period undergraduate full-time student enrollment		14,281			12,478			14.4	%		14,281			12,478			14.4	%
Average capacity utilization		60.6	%		53.7	%	690bps				63.5	%		60.0	%	350bps

Third Quarter Operating Performance
For the third quarter of fiscal 2009, net revenues were $87.9 million, an 8.9 percent increase from $80.6 million for last year’s third quarter. The increase in net revenues resulted from an increase in average undergraduate full-time student enrollment, higher tuition prices and a decrease in tuition discounts. Tuition revenue and loan origination fees financed under the proprietary loan program decreased net revenues by $1.9 million, which because collectibility is not reasonably assured, will be recognized as tuition revenue when such amounts have been collected.

Educational services and facilities expense increased $0.9 million, or 2.0 percent, to $47.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009, from $46.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008. This increase was due to an increase in compensation and benefits expense related to an increase in the number of employees in the financial aid and other student support departments which was necessary to meet the needs of the increasing student population.

Selling, general and administrative expense increased $1.9 million, or 5.3 percent to $37.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009, from $35.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The increase was due to increases in compensation and benefits expense, partially offset by decreases in advertising and contract services expense.

Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 was $3.0 million, compared to operating loss of $1.4 million in the same period last year.

Interest income decreased $0.5 million to $43 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2009, from $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008. The decrease is related to moving a portion of cash to lower risk, lower yield, U.S. government securities mutual funds and pre-refunded municipal bonds. During the three months ended June 30, 2009, the Company invested $17.3 million of cash in pre-refunded municipal bonds, which earn interest that is exempt from federal income taxes.

Nine Month Operating Performance
Net revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2009 were $267.1 million, a 3.2 percent increase, compared with $258.8 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2008.

Operating income in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 was $6.4 million compared with $10.2 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 resulting from increases in compensation and benefits expense which were partially offset by the increase in net revenues as previously described.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
At June 30, 2009, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $50.1 million as compared to $80.9 million at Sept. 30, 2008. The $30.7 million decrease is related to investing $17.3 million of cash in pre-refunded municipal bonds during the three months ended June 30, 2009 which are classified as current and non-current investments on the balance sheet. Additionally, during the nine months ended June 30, 2009, the Company used $16.9 million of cash to repurchase outstanding common stock of the Company at an average price of $10.87 per share. At June 30, 2009, the Company’s shareholders’ equity totaled $97.6 million as compared to $108.2 million at Sept. 30, 2008.

Cash flow provided by operations was $18.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2009, compared with $6.0 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2008. This increase is primarily attributable to a decrease in accounts receivable and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses, partially offset by a decrease in deferred revenue.

Proprietary Loan Program
As of June 30, 2009, the Company had committed to provide loans to students for approximately $13.0 million and of that amount there was approximately $11.0 million in loans outstanding.

Share Repurchase Program
On April 28, 2009 the Board of Directors authorized a common share repurchase plan of up to $20 million in both open market and privately negotiated transactions. The timing and actual number of shares purchased will depend on a variety of factors such as price, corporate and regulatory requirements and other prevailing market conditions. The plan may be limited or terminated without prior notice. The Company did not make any purchases during the three months ended June 30, 2009.

Fiscal 2009 Outlook
For the remainder of fiscal 2009, the Company anticipates continued year over year growth in the key leading indicators and the percentage growth in student starts to be in the low teens. Additionally, the Company believes average undergraduate enrollment and capacity utilization will continue to show year over year improvement. Excluding any unusual items, the Company currently anticipates earnings for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year to be in the range of $0.12 to $0.16 per diluted share.

Conference Call
Management of Universal Technical Institute will hold a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2009 third quarter results today at 7:00 a.m. Phoenix Time (10:00 a.m. Eastern Time). This call can be accessed by dialing 412-858-4600 or 800-860-2442. Investors are invited to listen to the call live at www.uti.edu. Please access the web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will be available on the Investor Relations section of UTI’s web site and will be archived for 60 days or alternatively the call will be available through August 11, 2009. To hear the replay, dial 412-317-0088 or 877-344-7529 and enter pass code 432399#.

About Universal Technical Institute
Universal Technical Institute is the leading provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians as measured by total average undergraduate enrollment. The Company offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 10 campuses across the United States, and manufacturer specific training programs that are sponsored by the manufacturer or dealer at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, Universal Technical Institute offers specialized technical education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI). We routinely post important information about us on our web site at www.uti.edu under the “About Us – Investors – Information” captions.

Safe Harbor Statement
All statements contained herein, other than statements of historical fact, could be deemed “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the Company’s actual results include, among other things, changes to federal and state educational funding, possible failure or inability to obtain regulatory consents and certifications for new or expanding campuses, potential increased competition, changes in demand for the programs offered by the Company, increased investment in management and capital resources, the effectiveness of the Company’s recruiting, advertising and promotional efforts, changes to interest rates and unemployment, general economic conditions and other risks that are described from time to time in the public filings of the Company. Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results or condition may be found in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in expectations, any changes in events, conditions or circumstances, or otherwise.

UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)


			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			June 30,						June 30,
			2009			2008			2009			2008
			(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net revenues			$	87,852		$	80,639		$	267,098		$	258,831
Operating expenses:
	Educational services and facilities			47,307			46,378			143,947			139,386
	Selling, general and administrative			37,579			35,690			116,799			109,295

		Total operating expenses		84,886			82,068			260,746			248,681

Income (loss) from operations				2,966			(1,429	)		6,352			10,150

Other income (expense):
	Interest income			43			521			181			2,758
	Interest expense			(16	)		(10	)		(37	)		(29	)
	Other income			64			183			207			183

		Total other income		91			694			351			2,912

Income (loss) before income taxes				3,057			(735	)		6,703			13,062
Income tax expense (benefit)				1,134			(11	)		2,556			5,397

Net income (loss)			$	1,923		$	(724	)	$	4,147		$	7,665

Earnings per share:
Net income per share – basic			$	0.08		$	(0.03	)	$	0.17		$	0.30

Net income per share – diluted			$	0.08		$	(0.03	)	$	0.17		$	0.30

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
		Basic		23,626			25,059			24,451			25,736

		Diluted		23,953			25,059			24,836			25,978

UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)


			June 30,			September 30,
			2009			2008
			($’s in thousands)
Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	50,149		$	80,878
	Restricted cash			—			2,000
	Investments, current portion			9,106			—
	Receivables, net			13,207			20,222
	Deferred tax assets			7,156			5,951
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			9,146			8,568

		Total current assets		88,764			117,619
Investments, less current portion				8,181			-
Property and equipment, net				70,391			68,258
Goodwill				20,579			20,579
Other assets				4,703			2,919

Total assets			$	192,618		$	209,375

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	40,295		$	37,995
	Deferred revenue			36,628			44,695
	Accrued tool sets			4,256			3,870
	Other current liabilities			80			44

		Total current liabilities		81,259			86,604
	Deferred tax liabilities			1,419			2,908
	Deferred rent liability			5,600			5,354
	Other liabilities			6,725			6,322

		Total liabilities		95,003			101,188

Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
	Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized,
		28,570,160 shares issued and 23,699,934
		shares outstanding at June 30, 2009 and
		28,406,762 shares issued and 25,089,517
		shares outstanding at September 30, 2008		3			3
	Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized,
		0 shares issued and outstanding		—			—
	Paid-in capital			139,316			137,100
	Treasury stock, at cost, 4,870,226 shares and 3,317,245 shares at
		June 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008, respectively		(76,506	)		(59,571	)
	Retained earnings			34,802			30,655

		Total shareholders’ equity		97,615			108,187

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity			$	192,618		$	209,375

UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)


			Nine Months Ended
			June 30,
			2009			2008
			(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income			$	4,147		$	7,665
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
	Depreciation and amortization			13,092			13,177
	Bad debt expense			5,048			3,377
	Stock-based compensation			3,630			4,151
	Deferred income taxes			(3,370	)		149
	Loss on disposal of property and equipment			727			720
Changes in assets and liabilities:
	Receivables			2,439			(8,177	)
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(650	)		495
	Other assets			128			493
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses			1,441			(3,703	)
	Deferred revenue			(8,067	)		(12,387	)
	Income tax payable (receivable)			(668	)		636
	Accrued tool sets and other current liabilities			422			(716	)
	Other liabilities			143			167

		Net cash provided by operating activities		18,462			6,047

Cash flows from investing activities:
	Purchase of property and equipment			(14,411	)		(13,385	)
	Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			35			32,688
	Purchase of investments			(17,287	)		—

		Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(31,663	)		19,303

Cash flows from financing activities:
	Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee plans			261			652
	Payment of payroll taxes on stock-based compensation through shares withheld			(1,049	)		(313	)
	Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			195			250
	Purchase of treasury stock			(16,935	)		(29,542	)

		Net cash used in financing activities		(17,528	)		(28,953	)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents				(30,729	)		(3,603	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period				80,878			75,594

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			$	50,149		$	71,991