Best colleges for Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians by graduate earnings are Eastern Kentucky University ($71,240), University of Wisconsin-Whitewater ($70,016) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania ($68,996), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, KY): $71,240, 114 graduates a year
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Whitewater, WI): $70,016, 21 graduates a year
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, PA): $68,996, 72 graduates a year
- University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO): $67,263, 62 graduates a year
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (Slippery Rock, PA): $67,072, 128 graduates a year
Compare 121 U.S. colleges offering Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 35 states.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $63,706 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 15.07 and the Occupational Health and Safety Technicians occupation (BLS SOC).
About Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians programs
The Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians program focuses on ensuring workplace safety and maintaining quality standards across various industries. This program is designed for individuals interested in protecting worker health and safety while also enhancing product quality through effective quality control measures. Students will gain essential skills to evaluate and improve safety protocols in diverse work environments.
Learn more about Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians →
Students in this program will develop core skills in active listening, critical thinking, and monitoring. Coursework covers essential knowledge areas such as public safety, engineering, and mathematics, equipping students to address environmental hazards and implement safety procedures effectively.
Top 21 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,240 | 114 | 50% | — | $34,786 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,016 | 21 | 59% | — | $24,384 |
| 3 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,996 | 72 | 56% | — | $26,288 |
| 4 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,263 | 62 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,072 | 128 | 66% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Murray State University Murray, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,418 | 69 | 61% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,706 | 20 | 58% | — | $25,375 |
| 8 | Keene State College Keene, NH Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,479 | 63 | 60% | — | $26,000 |
| 9 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,466 | 22 | 55% | — | $23,709 |
| 10 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,356 | 58 | 32% | — | $23,779 |
| 11 | Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,321 | 24 | 35% | — | $21,189 |
| 12 | Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $78,532 | 2,166 | 33% | $15,554 | $28,415 |
| 13 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $77,500 | 11 | 54% | — | $25,833 |
| 14 | Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $71,755 | 19 | 43% | — | — |
| 15 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $69,750 | 11 | 57% | — | — |
| 16 | Marshall University Huntington, WV Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $67,923 | 14 | 51% | — | $26,750 |
| 17 | Waldorf University Forest City, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,908 | 136 | 21% | $22,328 | $23,047 |
| 18 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $58,781 | 10 | 67% | — | $29,000 |
| 19 | Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $55,514 | 12 | 45% | — | $23,455 |
| 20 | University of Houston-Downtown Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $51,840 | 13 | 33% | — | $37,784 |
| 21 | Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,423 | 10 | 44% | — | $26,307 |
Top 7 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI Public · Certificate | $67,753 | 20 | 47% | — | $22,750 |
| 2 | Ashland Community and Technical College Ashland, KY Public · Certificate | $58,388 | 30 | 51% | — | $10,500 |
| 3 | Ocean Corporation Houston, TX Private for-profit · Certificate | $38,240 | 75 | 92% | $32,464 | $9,500 |
| 4 | Texas State Technical College Waco, TX Public · Associate degree | $33,249 | 28 | 46% | — | $19,000 |
| 5 | Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE Public · Associate degree Small program | $57,207 | 13 | 38% | — | — |
| 6 | Ogden-Weber Technical College Ogden, UT Public · Certificate Small program | $55,875 | 17 | 53% | — | — |
| 7 | Del Mar College Corpus Christi, TX Public · Associate degree Small program | $34,991 | 16 | 11% | — | $5,920 |
Specializations within Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
4 of the 6 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 15.07 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Occupational Safety and Health Technology/CIP 15.0701
Technician 3,546 graduates / yr58 institutions25 states - Quality Control Technology/CIP 15.0702
Technician 442 graduates / yr49 institutions25 states - Industrial Safety Technology/CIP 15.0703
Technician 268 graduates / yr19 institutions10 states - Quality Control and Safety Technologies/CIP 15.0799
Technicians partial data121 graduates / yr9 institutions9 states
Show all 6 codes (2 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Hazardous Materials Information Systems Technology/
Technician15.0704 - Process Safety Technology/
Technician15.0705
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 35 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-5012, Occupational Health and Safety Technicians, and its national outlook.
The career outlook for graduates in Quality Control and Safety Technologies is promising, with an expected growth rate of 8.5% and approximately 3,400 annual job openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $58,440, and a typical education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 15.07.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 15.07 (Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians) maps to 5 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 17-3025 | Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians |
| 17-3026 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians |
| 19-5011 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists |
| 19-5012 | Occupational Health and Safety Techniciansprimary |
| 51-9061 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Evaluate situations or make determinations when a worker has refused to work on the grounds that danger or potential harm exists.
- Supply, operate, or maintain personal protective equipment.
- Train workers in safety procedures related to green jobs, such as the use of fall protection devices or maintenance of proper ventilation during wind turbine construction.
- Test workplaces for environmental hazards, such as exposure to radiation, chemical or biological hazards, or excessive noise.
- Maintain all required environmental records and documentation.
- Provide consultation to organizations or agencies on the workplace application of safety principles, practices, or techniques.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available?+
Specializations include Occupational Safety and Health Technology, Quality Control Technology, Industrial Safety Technology, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, and safety training.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with an expected growth of 8.5%.
What is the typical education required?+
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry into this field.
How much do Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?+
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $63,706, College Scorecard (2019); the Occupational Health and Safety Technicians occupation pays about $68,120 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians?+
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians maps to CIP 15.07 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card