What Lincoln Educational Services Corporation does

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (NASDAQ: LINC) is a publicly traded career-focused post-secondary education provider founded in 1946 as Nashville Auto-Diesel College and headquartered in West Orange, New Jersey. Operating under the consumer-facing brand Lincoln Tech, the company runs 22 campuses across 12 states through three sub-brands (Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Technical Institute, and Nashville Auto-Diesel College), and delivered $518.2 million of revenue in FY 2025 with adjusted EBITDA of $67.1 million.

The platform delivers hands-on, equipment-based vocational training across four verticals: Automotive (Automotive Technology, Collision Repair, Diesel Technology, Heavy Equipment), Skilled Trades (CNC Machining and Manufacturing, Electrical/Electronics, HVAC, Welding), Health Sciences (Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Practical Nursing, Patient Care), and Information Technology (Computer Networking). The technical stack is physical-asset-intensive, including Haas Automation CNC machines, Electude automotive e-learning simulations, and manufacturer-donated diagnostic tools, supplemented by a WorkforceLinc division that delivers custom training at employer facilities such as NJ TRANSIT maintenance depots.

The business model is primarily B2C tuition funded by federal Title IV financial aid, supplemented by approximately $25 million in annual scholarships and a growing B2B employer-funded channel where partners such as Johnson Controls, Hussmann, and FPSA cover tuition, room, board, and transportation in exchange for hiring access to graduates. Student enrollment stood at 18,244 in Q3 2025 (up 14.8% year-over-year) with Q1 2026 student starts of 5,500 (up 19.5% year-over-year), marking the 14th consecutive quarter of starts growth. The company ended 2025 debt-free with approximately $90 million in liquidity and expanded its revolving credit facility to $125 million in April 2026, positioning it to fund a stated two-new-campuses-per-year expansion plan toward a 2030 target of $850 million in revenue and $150 million in adjusted EBITDA.

Name

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation

Legal name

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation

Website

https://lincolntech.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation operates 22 Lincoln Tech campuses across 12 states, delivering hands-on vocational training in automotive, skilled trades, health sciences, and information technology to career-seeking individuals and employer partners, funded primarily through tuition and federal Title IV aid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education (Vocational Training)

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB), Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Skilled trades education
• Automotive technician training
• Healthcare vocational programs
• Career technical education

Headquarters

HQ city

West Orange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrollment Fees: Lincoln Tech generates primary revenue from student tuition and enrollment fees across its post-secondary vocational programs in automotive, skilled trades, healthcare, and IT. Programs range from 12 to 24 months depending on the field of study.
2. Corporate/Employer Training Partnerships: Revenue generated through specialized workforce training programs with employer partners such as NJ TRANSIT (WorkforceLinc division), Johnson Controls, and Hussmann, where employers sponsor or fund technician training. Programs cover tuition, room, board, and transportation for accepted students.
3. Financial Aid and Title IV Funding: Students access federal financial aid (Title IV), scholarships, grants, and loans to fund education, with Lincoln Tech distributing approximately $25 million in scholarships annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, operating as Lincoln Tech, delivers career-focused post-secondary vocational training programs across automotive, skilled trades, health sciences, and information technology at 22 campuses across 12 states. Programs run 12–24 months, blend classroom instruction with hands-on labs using industry-standard equipment, and culminate in industry-recognized certifications with an 80% graduate placement rate. The company also runs employer-sponsored specialized training partnerships (Hussmann TechX, Johnson Controls Academy, Haas CNC, FPSA FIT) and a WorkforceLinc division providing custom corporate training.

Product overview

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation operates a unified career-focused post-secondary education platform organized under three primary brands: Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Technical Institute, and Nashville Auto-Diesel College. The company offers career-oriented vocational training programs across four main verticals: Automotive (including Automotive Technology, Collision Repair, Diesel Technology, and Heavy Equipment), Skilled Trades (CNC Machining, Electrical/Electronics, HVAC, and Welding), Health Sciences (Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Nursing, and Patient Care), and Information Technology (Computer Networking). The platform also includes specialized training partnerships with major employers like Johnson Controls, Hussmann, Haas Automation, and FPSA, as well as WorkforceLinc—a division delivering customized workforce development programs directly at employer facilities. With 22 campus locations across 12 states, the company provides hands-on skills-based training designed to prepare students for immediate employment in high-demand technical fields.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Automotive Technology Program Hands-on training program preparing students for careers as automotive service technicians, covering engine repair, electrical systems, diagnostics, and modern vehicle technology including EV and hybrid powertrains.
• Collision Repair and Refinishing Program Training program focused on automotive body repair, painting, and refinishing techniques for students seeking careers in collision repair shops.
• Diesel Technology Program Career training program teaching diesel engine repair, maintenance, and diagnostics for trucks, buses, and heavy equipment across various industries.
• Heavy Equipment Program Training program for maintaining and repairing heavy construction and industrial equipment.
• Machining and Manufacturing (CNC) Program Program teaching computer numerical control (CNC) machining, G-code programming, and precision manufacturing techniques using Haas-sponsored training facilities.
• Electrical/Electronics Program Training in electrical systems, circuit theory, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), wiring, and automation for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
• HVAC Program Technical training in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems including thermodynamics, electrical circuitry, and energy-efficiency technologies.
• Welding Technology Program Hands-on welding training covering MIG, TIG, and flux-cored arc welding techniques on various metals with emphasis on blueprint reading and fabrication.
• Dental Assistant Program Training program preparing students for dental assistant roles including patient care, office procedures, and clinical assisting duties.
• Medical Assistant Program Program training students in both clinical and administrative medical assistant duties including vital signs, patient histories, EKGs, and medical office procedures.
• Practical Nursing (LPN) Program Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program preparing students for NCLEX-PN examination and careers in healthcare settings including hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.
• Patient Care Technician Program Training program for patient care technicians providing direct bedside care including vital signs monitoring, mobility assistance, and daily living support.
• Computer Networking Program IT training program covering computer networking, system administration, and infrastructure skills for information technology careers.
• WorkforceLinc Corporate Training Division Specialized training division providing customized workforce development programs for employer partners including NJ TRANSIT, delivering hands-on training at employer facilities.
• Johnson Controls Specialized Training Program Johnson Controls Prep and JCI Academy training programs available at multiple campuses, with Johnson Controls donating equipment and providing employer-funded training for accepted participants.
• Hussmann TechX Advanced Refrigeration Training Program Hussmann's proprietary refrigeration training program taught exclusively at Lincoln Tech's Grand Prairie, TX campus. Hussmann sponsors tuition, room and board, and transportation costs for accepted students.
• FPSA FIT Technician Certification Program Food Processing Suppliers Association's Food Industry Technician certification program available exclusively at Lincoln Tech's Indianapolis campus. FPSA covers tuition and housing for accepted students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% graduate placement rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NJ TRANSITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026Lincoln Educational Services' WorkforceLinc division partnered with NJ TRANSIT to deliver diesel and electrical systems training for technicians supporting the agency's statewide bus fleet. The hands-on, performance-based program is delivered at NJ TRANSIT maintenance facilities, designed to improve technician readiness, support safety and compliance standards, and reduce skill gaps for new and experienced technicians. The partnership establishes a repeatable training framework for future cohorts.
• Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News Shipbuilding)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 August 2019Huntington Ingalls (U.S. Navy's largest shipbuilder) sent recruiters to Lincoln Tech's Nashville campus in 2019 to interview students nearing graduation in welding and collision repair programs. Eight students received on-the-spot job offers for shipbuilding positions at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, demonstrating Lincoln's ability to serve defense industry workforce needs.
• Johnson ControlscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohnson Controls has donated equipment to ten Lincoln Tech campuses to help train the next generation of HVAC, electrical, and electronic systems technicians who will install and maintain their equipment. Lincoln Tech graduates have been hired at Johnson Controls branches throughout the US. The Johnson Controls Academy is available exclusively at the Columbia, MD campus for graduates of Lincoln Tech's Electrical/Electronics programs. Johnson Controls Prep Training is available at 13 Lincoln Tech campuses to all students in Electrical or HVAC programs. Both programs are employer-funded for accepted participants.
• Haas Automation / Gene Haas FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaas Automation sponsors Gene Haas Centers for Advanced Automation at Lincoln Tech's Grand Prairie, TX and East Windsor, CT campuses, and additional sites at Indianapolis, IN and Mahwah, NJ. Students train on Haas CNC machines that are industry-standard equipment, giving graduates direct experience on equipment they will encounter in the workforce. The Gene Haas Foundation also provides scholarships for qualified Lincoln Tech students training for careers in modern manufacturing.
• HussmanncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHussmann's TechX Advanced Refrigeration Training Program is taught exclusively at Lincoln Tech's Grand Prairie, TX campus. Hussmann sponsors accepted students by covering tuition, room and board, and transportation costs. TechX graduates are matched with open positions at Hussmann facilities across the country. The program addresses the need for well-trained HVAC/R technicians to service refrigerated display cases and refrigeration systems in food retail environments.
• FPSA (Food Processing Suppliers Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Food Processing Suppliers Association's (FPSA) Food Industry Technician (FIT) certification program is available exclusively at Lincoln Tech's Indianapolis campus. Graduates of Lincoln's HVAC and/or Electrical/Electronics programs from any campus are eligible to apply for the three-month specialized training program, and FPSA covers tuition and housing costs for accepted students. FPSA member companies interview graduates for positions within their organizations.
• AudiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudi has a specialized training partnership with Lincoln Tech to train future automotive technicians for Audi's workforce. The partnership provides students with manufacturer-specific training aligned with Audi's technology and service standards.
• TeslaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTesla has specialized training partnerships with Lincoln Tech for automotive technician workforce development, providing students with exposure to Tesla's EV technology and service requirements.
• MazdaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMazda has partnered with Lincoln Tech for automotive technician training, offering specialized training aligned with Mazda's technology and service procedures.
• MoparminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMopar (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram) has a specialized training partnership with Lincoln Tech providing automotive technician training curriculum and certification pathways aligned with Mopar's manufacturer standards.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ECPI University: For-profit career college offering hands-on programs in technology, nursing, and skilled trades with a similar accelerated-format, employer-responsive curriculum. Targets the same career-changer demographic as Lincoln Tech.
• WyoTech: Vocational school focused on automotive, diesel, collision refinishing, and industrial welding. Direct program overlap with Lincoln Tech's automotive and skilled-trades verticals and similar employer-recruitment-led placement model.
• The Refrigeration School (RSI): HVAC/R-focused vocational school with deep employer partnerships in refrigeration and food retail (overlap with Lincoln Tech's Hussmann TechX partnership). Comparable hands-on training model and graduate placement emphasis.
• Tulsa Welding School: Vocational school focused on welding, HVAC, and electrical training. Shares Lincoln Tech's hands-on skilled-trades DNA, similar employer-recruitment placement model, and overlapping target student.
• Universal Technical Institute (UTI): Public peer (NYSE: UTI) and the closest direct competitor to Lincoln Tech, offering hands-on automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, collision repair, and welding training across roughly 15 U.S. campuses. Same target demographic, same manufacturer-partnership model (e.g., Ford, BMW), and same tuition-driven revenue mix.
• New England Institute of Technology (NEIT): Private, for-profit technical college offering associate through master's programs in automotive, HVAC, electrical, welding, healthcare, and IT. Operates with the same hands-on, equipment-intensive pedagogy and similar career-focused student base as Lincoln Tech.

Broad incumbents

• Perdoceo Education Corporation: Public for-profit education holding company (American InterContinental University, Colorado Technical University). Comparable for-profit education business model and regulatory exposure, but with online/digital delivery rather than physical campuses.
• Grand Canyon Education: Public for-profit university with a largely online and traditional-degree model. Provides a comparable for-profit higher-education regulatory and growth-investor comp, even though it does not focus on skilled-trades vocational training.
• Adtalem Global Education: Public for-profit education company (Chamberlain University, Ross University, ACAMS). Operates in adjacent healthcare and professional education verticals with similar for-profit regulatory and financial-aid dynamics.
• Strategic Education (Strayer/Capella): Public for-profit education holding company (Strayer University, Capella University). Same for-profit higher-education regulatory profile as Lincoln Tech, but with primarily online, degree-completion offerings rather than hands-on skilled-trades training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LincolnTech
• Facebookfacebook.com/LincolnTech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-tech

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lincoln Educational Services Corporation