Lincoln Technical Institute is a for-profit institution headquartered in Parsippany, NJ with 22 campuses. It is accredited by ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges). The median federal student debt at graduation is $28,400, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median year-1 post-completion earnings are $31,200. Median year-4 earnings are $38,500. The debt-to-income ratio is 0.91. Estimated monthly payment on a 10-year standard repayment plan at 6.5% interest is $321. The 3-year student loan default rate is 13.7% (national average: ~4.5%). Approximately 210 complaints have been filed in the CFPB database. PlumbSquare's rating: FAIL — avoid. Lincoln Tech charges $28,000–$37,000 for programs whose median graduate earns $31,200 in year one — a debt-to-earnings ratio that leaves grads paying $321/month on a $15/hr paycheck. The 13.7% three-year default rate is more than double the national average for all schools. Union programs cover the same material, pay you $18–$24/hr while you learn, and result in zero debt.
The Verdict.
Lincoln Tech charges $28,000–$37,000 for programs whose median graduate earns $31,200 in year one — a debt-to-earnings ratio that leaves grads paying $321/month on a $15/hr paycheck. The 13.7% three-year default rate is more than double the national average for all schools. Union programs cover the same material, pay you $18–$24/hr while you learn, and result in zero debt.
ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges). ACCSC is a national accreditor recognized by the Dept. of Education, but many four-year colleges and union programs do not recognize ACCSC credits — meaning Lincoln Tech credits are largely non-transferable.
The Numbers.
| Lincoln Tech | Amount | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Program cost (range) | $28,900 – $37,200 | Tuition + fees + books/tools (est.) |
| Median federal debt | $28,400 | College Scorecard — median at graduation |
| Median earnings — Year 1 | $31,200 | College Scorecard post-completion earnings |
| Median earnings — Year 4 | $38,500 | Scorecard 4-yr post-completion median |
| Estimated monthly payment | $321/mo | 10-yr standard repayment at 6.5% |
| Debt ÷ year-1 earnings | 0.91× | Below 0.5× is manageable. Above 0.8× is a warning sign. |
| 3-year default rate | 13.7% | National avg: ~4.5%. Source: FSA NSLDS CDR database. |
- Total cost
- $6,000
- Debt at completion
- $0–$4K (Pell eligible)
- Accreditation
- Regional
- 3-yr default rate
- <4%
- Total cost
- $0
- Debt at completion
- $0
- Income while learning
- $44,000/yr
- Employer recognition
- Full — nationwide
Sources: College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education), FSA NSLDS Cohort Default Rate database, BLS OEWS May 2024. Community college cost estimate based on national NCES average for vocational certificates at public 2-year institutions. Union apprentice income based on IBEW/UA mid-market Year 1 rates.
Employer Recognition.
IBEW, UA, and major trade union JATCs do not credit Lincoln Tech hours toward apprenticeship completion. You start from zero in a union program regardless of time spent here.
What the brochure won't say.
- 01At 22 campuses, Lincoln Tech is a marketing operation as much as a school. Enrollment counselors are sales reps compensated on conversion rates.
- 02The $34,000 sticker price for HVAC does not include tools (~$2,500), uniforms, or transportation to externship sites — which are often 30–60 minutes from campus.
- 03ACCSC accreditation is not recognized by the IBEW or UA apprenticeship programs. Your $34K Lincoln Tech HVAC certificate is worth nothing at the union hall.
- 04Job placement statistics are self-reported. 'Placed in the field' can mean any job using skills tangentially related to your program.
- 05The 13.7% three-year cohort default rate means roughly 1 in 7 graduates defaults on their loans within three years of leaving school.
- 06Students are frequently enrolled in federal Direct PLUS Loans on top of Stafford loans, pushing total debt well above the published median.
Alternatives.
IBEW (electrical), UA (plumbing/pipefitting/HVAC), SMART (sheet metal), and other union JATCs run DOL-registered apprenticeship programs. You earn $18–$28/hr from day one. You graduate with zero debt and a journeyman card recognized by every employer in the country. They are competitive to get into — apply to multiple locals.
Find your trade →Public community colleges offer the same trade programs for $4,000–$8,000 total — often $0 out-of-pocket with Pell grants and state workforce funding. Regional accreditation means your credits are real. The main downside: waitlists of 6–18 months at popular programs. That wait is worth it.
Search your state's community college system at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator
Honest caveat on union apprenticeships:They are harder to get into than a for-profit school. Union locals have application windows, waiting lists of their own, and competitive selection processes. Some have political connections. If you don't get in the first time, apply again. The process is worth understanding before you default to a for-profit program because it said “enroll now.”
The Legal Record.
| Metric | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FTC action | None on record | No FTC enforcement actions found as of review date. |
| CFPB complaints | ~210 | Approximate count from CFPB public database. Includes parent company. |
| 3-yr default rate | 13.7% | FSA NSLDS official CDR. National average: ~4.5%. |
Legal data sourced from FTC.gov enforcement database, CFPB Consumer Complaint Database, and state attorney general public records. This is not a complete legal history. Do your own research at ftc.gov and consumerfinance.gov.