CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 3,094us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 1,707us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Depreciation and amortization	4,482	5,091
Amortization of assets subject to financing obligation	468us-gaap_AmortizationOfLeasedAsset	155us-gaap_AmortizationOfLeasedAsset
Amortization of held-to-maturity investments	488	627
Bad debt expense	934us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	1,333us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Stock-based compensation	873us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	1,343us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0	(3)
Deferred income taxes	1,990us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1,550us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliate	(118)	(81)
Training equipment credits earned, net	(290)uti_TrainingEquipmentCreditsEarnedUsed	(244)uti_TrainingEquipmentCreditsEarnedUsed
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	2	48
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash: Title IV credit balances	34us-gaap_DecreaseInRestrictedCash	211us-gaap_DecreaseInRestrictedCash
Receivables	(7,425)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReceivables	165us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReceivables
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(835)	(1,382)
Other assets	(559)	(317)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(922)	(745)
Deferred revenue	2,845	224
Income tax payable/receivable	(4,177)	(283)
Accrued tool sets and other current liabilities	365	165
Deferred rent liability	425uti_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRent	(477)uti_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRent
Other liabilities	323	534
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,997	9,621
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(3,731)	(2,927)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment	3	77
Purchase of investments	(7,954)	(11,354)
Proceeds received upon maturity of investments	6,427	8,735
Return of capital contribution from unconsolidated affiliate	110	0
Restricted cash: proprietary loan program	(104)	(140)
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,249)	(5,609)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment of cash dividend	(2,483)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(2,465)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Repayments of financing obligation	(199)	(41)
Payment of payroll taxes on stock-based compensation through shares withheld	(7)	(21)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0	3
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,689)	(2,524)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(5,941)	1,488
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	38,985	34,596
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	33,044	36,084
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Taxes paid	4,423us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid	1,223us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Interest Paid	563us-gaap_InterestPaid	190us-gaap_InterestPaid
Training equipment obtained in exchange for services	107	878
Change in accrued capital expenditures during the period	(365)uti_ChangeInAccruedCapitalExpenditures	70uti_ChangeInAccruedCapitalExpenditures
Construction period construction liability - construction in progress	3,345	5,868
Construction liability recognized as financing obligation	0us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred	33,500us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred
Stock based compensation classified as liability instruments	$ 0	$ 3

The sum of the periodic adjustments of the differences between securities' face values and purchase prices that are charged against earnings. This is called accretion if the security was purchased at a discount and amortization if it was purchased at premium. As a noncash item, this element is an adjustment to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

Name:	us-gaap_AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration