Est. Earnings (1yr)
$66,418
Est. from national median (21 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,833
Est. from national median (17 programs)

Analysis

Quality control and safety roles in California's manufacturing and logistics sectors typically command solid entry-level salaries, and peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $66,400. For graduates carrying an estimated $25,800 in debt, that translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39—meaning the entire debt load equals roughly five months of gross salary. This is well within the threshold that financial aid experts consider sustainable, especially for a field with steady demand in industries like aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and food production that cluster around Southern California.

The caveat here is significant: CSU Dominguez Hills' program has too few recent graduates for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes, so these figures come from the handful of similar bachelor's programs nationwide. The school's 91% admission rate and high proportion of Pell-eligible students (61%) suggest it serves a different population than might be typical of the national cohort used for these estimates. Whether graduates actually achieve these earnings depends heavily on factors like internship access, industry connections, and regional employer relationships that aren't captured in this data.

Given the estimation uncertainty, the key question is whether this specific program connects students to California's quality control job market. Talk to the department about graduate employment rates, where alumni work, and what certifications students earn alongside the degree—those concrete details matter more than these national approximations when you're trying to gauge return on investment for this particular school.

Where California State University-Dominguez Hills Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all quality control and safety technologies/technicians bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
California State University-Dominguez HillsCarson$7,064$66,418*$25,833*
Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach$5,808$78,532*$80,937$28,415*0.36
Central Washington UniversityEllensburg$9,192$77,500*$85,825$25,833*0.33
Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute$9,992$71,755**
Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond$10,130$71,240*$83,606$34,786*0.49
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater$8,250$70,016*$67,876$24,384*0.35
National Median$66,418*$25,833*0.39
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with quality control and safety technologies/technicians graduates

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.

$78,900/yrJobs growth:

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians

Collect data on work environments for analysis by occupational health and safety specialists. Implement and conduct evaluation of programs designed to limit chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic risks to workers.

$78,900/yrJobs growth:

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply theory and principles of environmental engineering to modify, test, and operate equipment and devices used in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental problems, including waste treatment and site remediation, under the direction of engineering staff or scientists. May assist in the development of environmental remediation devices.

$58,890/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

$47,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At California State University-Dominguez Hills, approximately 61% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 21 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.