Prior to its acquisition by UTI, the Canton campus ran as a small school called MIAT College of Technology which was founded in 1969 by a highly experienced aircraft technician whose foresight regarding the growth of the aviation industry motivated him to develop a training resource for aircraft technicians.
The original school, Detroit Institute of Aeronautics, was located on the west side of Willow Run Airport. The school had expanded to 14,300 square feet by 1980. In response to dramatic growth and sophistication in the aviation industry, a new 38,000 square foot training facility was constructed in 1990 for classes beginning in 1991. In 2010 the school expanded again and moved operations to a 125,000 square foot facility in Canton, Michigan.
Aviation Technology programs were created in 1969 to encompass training focusing on FAA certificated curriculum. Graduates of the Aviation Technology programs are eligible to take federal exams that qualify them to be certificated Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Technicians.
Energy Technology programs began in 2007 in response to the energy industry looking for qualified technicians to work in steam and gas turbine technology, powerplant operations, wind turbine technology, and other areas of power generation such as substation, standby, and nuclear. The industry recognized the high degree of skills the aviation graduates possessed and asked for a program that was similar, but also specific, to the energy industry needs.
The HVACR Technician program was created in 2012 to meet the demand for residential and commercial technicians with obtaining EPA certifications and skills in installation, maintenance and service of climate control equipment.
In August 2012, Canton received approval from the State of Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) to offer an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology.
The Robotics and Automation Technology Associate in Applied Science degree and the Robotics and Automation Technician certificate programs began enrolling students at the Canton campus in 2018. The programs are designed to create a knowledge bridge for the technician between mechanical technology and the electrical and electronic circuits used to control and automate mechanical processes.
The welding programs are specifically designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in structural, pipe and pipeline, thin alloy welding, pipefitting, and steam fitting.
MIAT College of Technology became part of Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in November 2021 when UTI acquired the Canton and Houston campuses from HCP ED Holdings, Inc.