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What is a Quality Control?

Quality Control is a field of study focused on the application of basic engineering and technical skills to ensure consistent construction, system, and manufacturing standards.  Quality Control (QC) Technology has four primary areas of emphasis:

  1. Identification, defining, and managing of standards and managed processes
  2. Mental acuity including job and industry knowledge, hands-on experience in a manufacturing setting, and latent skills
  3. Managing people, equipment, resources, and processes
  4. Accurate and timely reporting to stakeholders

A Quality Control Technician and Technology degree program will likely include the following instructional principles: quality control systems management, technical standards, inspection procedures, testing procedures, relevant instrumentation training, equipment maintenance, equipment operation, and reporting standards.

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Quality Control Degree

San Jose State University is a public university located in Silicon Valley, committed to providing transformative and comprehensive education. It offers more than 250 courses in master’s, bachelor’s, and doctoral degrees to its 36,000 students.  Its department of aviation and technology provides a (Master of Science) MS in Quality Control that prepares students to become experts in developing quality systems, six-sigma, and various quality standards. It also focuses on analytical and theoretical techniques to help students gain communication and management skills. Applicants for this program must submit documents and take an assessment exam as required by the university. 

Acceptance Rate

63.57

Student to Faculty Ratio

26:1

California State University can accommodate approximately 38,000 students and more than 4,000 supportive and dedicated faculty and staff. It is a 356-acre campus dedicated to providing high-quality education and a wide range of services to the surrounding communities.

The university offers a quality management and assurance minor degree for its BSBA majors and gives them an opportunity to be educated about the methods and techniques of quality control. Students can apply their knowledge to various industries, such as electronics, automotive, healthcare, aviation, etc. The degree in quality control requires students to have 18-19 business or marketing management units before entering the program. 

Acceptance Rate

59.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

26:1

Founded in 1899, Tarleton State University provides 100 degree programs for undergraduates, doctoral degrees and doctoral degrees in agriculture, business, education, liberal arts and art, and health sciences. It also provided housing for 500 university students.

Tarleton State University has developed a quality management science curriculum under its School of Engineering to train students in the professional field and help them understand the importance of quality control. It has two options; students can choose between 30 hours of thesis and non-thesis courses. The curriculum of this course includes the management of quality, project, supply chain, and manufacturing systems. 

Acceptance Rate

55.77

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Central Connecticut State University or more commonly known as Central is a public university built in 1849 to provide quality education in liberal arts, business, engineering, education, and professional studies. It accommodates over 11,000 undergraduate and graduates, and houses half of its student population into the university’s dormitory.

The university offers a Quality Management program where students can learn global quality management and production systems, lean operation management, applied metrology, six sigma and advanced six sigma quality lessons. Students of the undergraduate minor program can learn about the basics of quality management and apply it for a rewarding career in their respective industries. The course is consisting of 18 credit hours and 6 subjects.

Acceptance Rate

65.63

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

The 1,338-acre campus of Bowling Green State University serves nearly 23,000 students of social sciences, education, arts, humanities, health and wellness, and technologies. It has over 300 student organizations and has been a member of NCAA Division I for Ice Hockey.

Its technology department has outlined a Quality Systems degree program is a major that is designed to prepare the students of STEM to help them become disciplined professionals in their careers. It is an online program that can be accessed in 7-weeks via the university’s eCampus. Upon completion, students can apply their knowledge in modern tools quality and will have an ability to solve quality-related problems.

Acceptance Rate

71.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

Grace College and Theological Seminary was established in 1948 as a private institute of learning located in Indiana. It has 6 departments that accommodates over 3,000 students and equipped with 104 dedicated staff and faculty members.

The institute designed an online program for Quality Management that will enable students to understand and apply the concepts of maintaining and managing quality. Students of the bachelor’s degree will study post market surveillance, design and control assurance, manufacturing quality, as well as management of supply chain, information technology, and economics. Grace College also offers a residential program for quality management students

Acceptance Rate

79.9

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

The Illinois State University is a public university founded 164 years ago and has been emphasizing on teaching and giving high-quality education for its students. It is known as the oldest public university in the state of Illinois. 

It has a Quality Management and Analytics degree program that aims to introduce the students in quality management tools. The program enhances the skills of the students in business relations, measurement, and planning that will improve their performance in the career industry. Students can choose between the 30- credit thesis option or the Exams, Project, Papers option that has a total of 33-credit hours.

Acceptance Rate

81.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

Central Washington University has been true to its motto, “By teaching we learn”, it has been teaching students since 1891 to learn about arts, sciences, humanity, and business. On average, CWU accommodates more than 18,000 students per year on a 380-acre campus. 

The university offers a quality control program that provides techniques for statistical quality control and product reliability for its technical students to use in their future careers. Students participating in the program will be able to understand the principles of quality control, and understand the relationship between leadership and operations and how it affects product quality. In this program, students must first complete four exams before finishing the course. 

Acceptance Rate

84.92

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

University of Akron was known as Buchtel College in 1870-1913. It is now a STEM-focused university that concentrates on polymers, materials, and engineering industry, and accommodates over 16,000 students and faculty.

It trains students and professionals in quality management workshops that are designed to develop the skills of an individual in making quality courses. The program is known as Quality Matters and will focus on educating its participants about the 8 standards of the QM Rubric as well as incorporate the standards in their course designs. It runs for four-weeks and participants will receive a certificate in quality management.

Acceptance Rate

73.04

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Eastern Michigan University aims to help students find their true passion by developing various and comprehensive academic resources as well as providing strong community initiatives in its student-friendly environment. It offers 200 undergraduate minors, majors, and certificate programs.

The university developed a quality and continuous improvement program to provide students with knowledge and understanding about the impact of poor quality and how to make high-quality products. It gives a quality systems manager certificate for students who enrolled and completed its quality management courses such as leadership principles and practices, quality system basics, and internal quality system. Students are also required to take two elective courses to receive a certificate. 

Acceptance Rate

74.06

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Youngstown State University is determined and ambitious in tackling new challenges to build promising futures for its students and community. With 12,756 students enrolled and over 150 programs, the university offers 14 students in 1 faculty ratio for its classes.

The university offers a bachelor’s degree program in supply chain management that stresses on the management of goods, services, and data. It also concentrates on project and quality management that provides the students with information about scheduling, project planning, work breakdown structure. In this course, students will also learn how to operate project management using computer software.

Acceptance Rate

67.39

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

The mission of California State University DH is to provide accessible and transformative education, scholarship, and services to its students, staff, and faculty. It has more than 10,000 alumni who have shared their experience and knowledge with the community. 

It outlined a degree program designed to prepare the students in giving a quality service to their respective field such as science, engineering, health care, government, etc. The program includes topics such as the six sigma, total quality management, reliability, process improvement, quality control, and other related subjects. With the help and guidance of professionals, students can take examinations and obtain quality management certificates. 

Acceptance Rate

77

Student to Faculty Ratio

25:1

Ferris State University is located in Michigan and has a mission to prepare students for responsible citizenship, lifelong learning, and successful careers. It enables students to enroll in its exceptional degree programs that are taught by dedicated and expert instructors.

Students of Education enrolled in the university can participate in the advanced training in Total Quality Management (TQM). The program focuses on the principles of TQM and gives students an understanding on how to conduct assessments as well as use their knowledge as a management tool. It is a four-certificate program that students can use to improve their classroom and school planning.

Acceptance Rate

86.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Western Kentucky University aims to prepare its diverse students to become productive and socially responsible citizens. It has a safe community for its more than 17,000 students and gives scholarship aids for 84% of its freshmen.

The university believes that every employee has a role in managing quality so they developed a quality management program to help students understand and learn how to sustain service and product quality. Throughout the program, students will also improve their problem-solving skills as well as learn finance, statistics, and process control. With professional and experienced instructors, students will learn how to properly apply the lessons into a solution for a real-life situation.

Acceptance Rate

97.26

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Northwestern State University of Louisiana is a student-oriented college that offers certificate, undergraduate and graduate programs. Through innovative teaching, service and research, the university is committed to acquiring, disseminating and creating knowledge for students.

It has a post-baccalaureate quality control program, which focuses on allowing students to acquire knowledge about quality control techniques and product principles that can be applied to their chosen field. In the 18-credit hours, students will enable their skills to work as a quality manager or supervisor as well as learn engineering, statistics, occupational supervision, production control, and etc. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a quality control certificate.

Acceptance Rate

81.98

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Purdue University creates a learning environment that welcomes a diverse community of students in its campus. The university is also committed to pursuing the academic freedom of students by supporting and exploring their ideas.

Its College of Engineering has developed a program in which students can receive a certificate in quality control management. The program will focus on maintaining quality techniques, industrial management, advanced metrology, process control, and elementary statistical methods. Students needed to take 20-21 credit hours before completing the program and obtaining a certificate. 

Acceptance Rate

81.43

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Located near the Ozark Mountains, Missouri Southern State University is a great place for students to study and enhance their personal and professional growth. Its mission is to educate individuals to be knowledgeable, successful and responsible citizens of their communities and the world.

The university has created an 18-hour quality management minor course. The course includes basic knowledge of financial accounting, statistics, quality control, quality management, and organization management. Students are also required to choose one between human resource management or operation management in order to complete the program. 

Acceptance Rate

94.07

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Since its establishment in 1928, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology has trained more than a hundred thousand technicians and pilots. It is equipped with professional trainers in aviation and other related industries.

By providing a supportive environment for its students, Spartan College developed a quality control management program that lasts up to 15 months. Students will learn how to properly examine products or parts that are constructed and repaired, and make sure that it meets the standard criteria of quality management. These methods will enable students to use in various industries such as aerospace, aviation, construction, manufacturing, railroads, and many more. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

De Anza College offers plenty of transformative degree and certificate programs that enhance the students’ college experience. De Anza has been a supportive and welcoming community with a diverse student body.

It offers a quality control technician program, which provides students with preparation for machine technology, metrology, engineering printing, and geometric inspection. Throughout the program, students will learn about the principles of associated standards and manufacturing quality control as well as analyze, record, and document the inspection of products using the quality control procedures. Upon completion, students will receive a certificate of achievement and can be used as quality control technicians and inspectors. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

29:1

Frontier Community College is located in Illinois and is one of the campuses of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. It offers associate degree programs that focus on giving excellent skill-based education and hands-on training to its students. 

One of its courses is Total Quality Management, which includes 12 general elective courses that students can study. The course includes organizational strategy, Covey’s seven habits, customer and quality improvement, internal and external quality standards, managing customers, conflict management, and the like. Students can apply the lessons they learned into their professional careers.

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

24:1

The mission of Dakota County Technical College is to serve the surrounding communities by providing relevant, informative, and outstanding education to its students. It is a student-centered organization with focused and dedicated faculty and staff.

The college provides a certification program that emphasizes 17 hours of quality improvement courses. With the guidance of expert instructors, students will study quality and project management, effective business communication, problem-solving, managing customer service, and conflict solution. Students are also required to take a 3-credit general education lesson to complete the program. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

21:1

For more than 100 years, Lakeshore Institute of Technology has been a leading provider of technical training and education for individuals who wish to become professionals in the industry. The college has provided degrees, apprenticeships and workforce training courses to more than 10,000 students.

Quality Assurance Technician is one of the college’s associate degree programs. It can be accessed through Lakeshore’s online platform and students will learn to monitor, evaluate, and inspect projects, services, or facilities to ensure that it meets the standard requirements of quality management. In the four-semester course, students can apply for financial aid. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

The vision of Riverland Community College is to provide the best opportunities and careers for every student enrolled on its campus. Its mission is to improve the lives of students and communities by providing quality services, relevant education and outstanding vocational training.

In its Supervisory Management course, students will learn about giving quality and productivity improvement of products and services. The program is handled by passionate professionals that will teach students about the principles of supervisory leadership, teamwork, decision-making, planning management, creativity and innovation, and so on. Students will gain basic knowledge of quality improvement tools and techniques. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Goodwin College provides a relevant learning community with a mission to empower students to succeed in employment. It offers flexible classes that fit the needs of the needs of the students.

It develops an associate degree program in Quality Management Systems where students can gain skills and knowledge about quality inspection techniques, interpreting blueprints, problem-solving, process control, and supplier quality control. Graduates of the program can be employed as Calibration Technician, Manufacturing Quality Inspector, Quality Auditor, Consultant, and Controller, as well as Inspector and Supervisor of quality standards. Students can receive financial aid from Goodwin College and experience a hassle-free enrollment. Also, students who completed the program will be eligible to earn a Certified Production Technician credential from Manufacturing Skill Standards Council.

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Asnuntuck Community College has a mission to give quality education by providing affordable, relevant, and accessible training and programs. The college welcomes all kinds of students and guides them to achieve their personal and professional success.

It has the principles of quality control courses and can prepare students for statistical quality control. Students will learn from professionals about the use of control charts, probability calculations and process capabilities. Throughout the program, students will also develop skills in total quality management and statistical quality control that they can use in manufacturing plans. 

Acceptance Rate

-

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Quality Control Degrees

Degrees in quality control and quality assurance can be obtained from a number of accredited universities and colleges.  In addition to the selection of a college, students can select modality of choice along with degree levels that fit their specific needs.

Modalities offered by many colleges and universities include online only, traditional on-site, and hybrid programs.  Hybrid learning models essentially blend the best of both online degrees with classroom-based degrees allowing most work to be completed outside class with a defined schedule to meet as a class in person.

The degree levels in QA and QS include both graduate and undergraduate degrees.  To help you find the best degree for you, we have assembled a summary of each degree type along with means to quickly connect to colleges and universities offering your preferred degree.

Quality Control Associate Degrees

Associate degrees are designed to twenty-four month programs of full-time study.  Meanwhile, students enrolled on a part-time basis can reasonably expect the program to take longer depending on degree requirements.

QC degrees at this level can be conferred as an Associate of Science (AS) or Associate of Arts (AA) depending on the overall emphasis of the degree.  Students will take both core classes and general education courses in most associate degree programs.  General education classes will likely include English composition, psychology, communications, math, history, and philosophy.  Core classes may include a variety of business, operational, auditing, management, and production courses.

Quality Control Bachelor Degrees

Online bachelor degrees are available from a number of higher education institutions in the QC space.  Bachelor degrees can be conferred as a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Arts (BA), or a Bachelor of Science (BS).  A bachelor’s degree will take most students around 4-years to complete given the general education courses and core curricula.

Core classes you can reasonably expect to take during matriculation in a quality control program include the following:

  • Fundamentals of Quality
  • Essentials of Measurement Science
  • Technical Communications
  • Data Analysis
  • Technical Documentation
  • Statistical QC and Analysis
  • Quality Auditing
  • Reliability and Safety
  • The Manufacturing Process
  • Supply Chain Management and Logistics
  • System Failure Analysis
  • Value-Based Quality

Quality Control Master Degrees

Master degrees in quality control and quality assurance prepare students and professionals for a variety of career opportunities.  Students enter the program from engineering, quality, management, and science backgrounds in all industries.

QC experts study business principles and processes of an organization to help their company promote operational excellence, reduce waste, and boost a company’s bottom line, and help to refine inefficient processes.  Quality control has evolved over the last three decades to include virtually every sector of the economy including non-profit organizations, finance, healthcare, telecommunications, hospitality, and manufacturing.

Master of Science (MS) and Master of Arts (MA) degree programs combine management skills and communication techniques with theoretical knowledge and analytical techniques.  The net result is to help each student create a set of heuristics to make great decisions around the best practices to enhance quality, improve productivity, and the practices associated with reaching those objectives.  Students in most programs will be afforded the ability to select core classes and electives to effectively customize their degree program.

Students in most master degree programs can expect to learn about a variety of topics and acquire knowledge in the following areas:

  • Managing human behavior in an organization
  • Implementing quality design concepts and processes of manufacturing operations
  • Developing acceptance sampling plans & related dashboard reporting systems
  • Planning and implementing a comprehensive quality assurance program
  • Problem solving root causes of quality-related issues
  • Performing process capability studies and cost analysis studies
  • Managing statistical reports and statistical analysis design systems
  • Engineering reliable processes and products
  • Performing vendor analysis and vendor quality rankings
  • Creating systems and processes to support quality, safety, reliability, and sustainability
  • Managing an organization focused on quality processes and results
  • Analyzing statistical process control charts and departmental implications

Quality Control Education Requirements

While each degree program will vary, quality control will contain similar courses. The most typical classes you will find in a quality control degree program are listed below. To learn more about these degree pathways, simply toggle to that degree portal.

Employment & QC Specializations

Quality control majors will have a specific cadre of skills and knowledge. A quality control manager or QC engineer will be equipped to pursue various careers in the field. For students seeking similar challenges, careers in adjacent areas may be interesting. Careers akin to quality control include the following: production manager, safety engineer, fabrication director, machinist, drafter, systems engineer, CAD manager, operation design, manufacturing engineer, materials engineer, management science, production engineer, and management engineer.

Quality Control Careers

Career paths in quality control and quality assurance can be found in virtually every industry in our economy. From pharmaceuticals and automobile manufacturing to financial services and aviation, quality control managers are embedded within companies to ensure a reliable, quality product or service.

There is virtually no limitation to the sectors a quality control technician can be employed. Given the right resources and managements priority on quality outcomes, a quality manager can be a valuable member of any organization.

Quality Control Job Outlook

Quality control jobs appear to be pacing with the national average and steady for the foreseeable term.  Surveys performed by ONet indicate jobs like an machinist and industrial mechanic are projected to growth by 6% and 16% respectively. The largest employers of quality control managers are auto and aerospace manufacturers followed by plastics and textile manufacturers.  States employing the most QC managers include California, Texas, Ohio, and Michigan.

Additional Resources in Quality Control
  • Quality Assurance Association (QAA)
  • American Society of Quality (ASQ)
  • Society of Quality Assurance (SQA)
  • American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • ASTM International (ASTM)
  • AOAC International (AOAC)

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