Quality Control at Southeast Community College Area

Lincoln, NE · Public · Associate Degree · Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians

with a mid-sized student body of 6,235 in Lincoln, NE.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $57,207 at Southeast Community College Area come in 12% above the national median of $51,188 for Quality Control programs.

With a 135.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Quality Control carry above-average AI exposure (39% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

Southeast Community College Area ranks #2 among 11 Quality Control programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The $57,207-to-$99,896 earnings arc over five years reflects a 75% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 31 apprenticeship pathways connected to Quality Control reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

73 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
73
Score
74
High End
Earnings $57,207/yr (12% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Large (95,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$1,004K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
141.8x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
5 of 5
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$7,080
Out-of-state: $8,520
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$99,896
75% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Quality Control graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Occupational health and safety specialists $83,910 +12.5% 67%
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians $64,790 +1.7% 61%
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians $58,890 +1.2% 59%
Occupational health and safety specialists
$83,910
+12.5% growth 67% AI-proof
Industrial engineering technologists and technicians
$64,790
+1.7% growth 61% AI-proof
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians
$58,890
+1.2% growth 59% AI-proof

View all 5 career paths with full salary data →

About Quality Control Careers

Your work is the backbone of a safe and efficient operation. One day, you might be on a factory floor with calipers and gauges, meticulously checking that machined parts meet blueprint specifications. The next, you could be walking a construction site as a safety specialist, using an air quality monitor to test for hazards and ensuring the crew follows proper protocols. You’ll be the person who documents findings, calibrates equipment, and communicates directly with engineers and production managers to solve problems.

Read the full Quality Control career guide →

Compare & Explore

Quality Control Overview

Quality Control at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southeast Community College Area

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 73/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Quality Control at Southeast Community College Area?
This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Quality Control nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
Will AI affect Quality Control careers?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $598,511 in decade earnings vs $1,003,909 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Southeast Community College Area's Quality Control program stand out?
Ranked #2 of 11 programs nationally, Southeast Community College Area lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Quality Control graduates?
There are 31 registered apprenticeships connected to Quality Control occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Quality Control workers?
With approximately 95,600 annual openings across mapped careers, Quality Control offers a large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →