Diagnostic Medical Sonography Schools

While the average person may immediately associate diagnostic medical sonography—or ultrasound technology—with images of babies growing inside the womb, the field extends beyond obstetrics and gynecology to cardiac, vascular, and even pediatric sonography. Many sonographers focus on general sonography to keep their employment options open, but the specialization possibilities are extensive.

Sonographers (i.e., ultrasound technicians) work closely with trained physicians in capturing and interpreting sonographic images. The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) adds that practitioners get deeper insights into whether a person’s body functions properly by using high-frequency sound waves to elucidate structures such as organs or blood flow patterns.

In granular terms, sonographers take diagnostic scans; ensure patient safety with proper methods and equipment; maintain detailed patient records (e.g., anatomical or pathological abnormalities); and educate patients on sonographic devices.

Schools nationwide offer diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) programs, with distance learning options becoming increasingly prevalent. In addition to coursework, students are expected to complete a supervised clinical practicum to garner real experience working in a professional environment. This hands-on, practical training must be completed before certification.

While many national organizations offer credentials, no single licensing requirement is recognized by the federal government. While certification and licensure may be voluntary, employers typically prefer registered sonographers. Certification, such as that offered through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), can be accomplished following the completion of an accredited diagnostic medical sonography program and exam.

It’s important to note that beginning January 1, 2015, the ARRT began requiring candidates to have at least an associate degree before seeking credentialing, although this degree need not be in DMS.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2022), diagnostic medical sonographers make an average annual salary of $84,410. Additionally, the BLS (2022) projected that openings in this field will swell 10 percent between 2021 and 2031, an astonishing rate considering that the average growth for all occupations is 5 percent. The addition of 14,700 jobs nationwide will continue to impact opportunities in this field for years to come.

To increase employment opportunities, diagnostic medical sonographers can earn specializations in cardiology, which is projected to grow 8 percent in the same decade.

Attending one of many reputable diagnostic medical sonography schools may be the perfect option for those interested in a relatively lucrative and fast-growing career in the medical field.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer fast facts
Projected Jobs Created14,400
Projected Job Growth10%
Average Salary$84,410
Low Salary$59,640
High Salary$101,650
Entry-Level EDU Associate Degree
Source: BLS 2022

Sonography Degree & Certification Programs

Training programs throughout the country allow students to earn either a certificate of completion, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography. However, it should be noted that to qualify for certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)—one of the predominant credentials in the field—students must earn at minimum an associate degree.

Before enrolling in any diagnostic medical sonography courses, students should familiarize themselves with the educational and licensing requirements in the state where they wish to practice.

Those seeking to specialize in a certain type of sonography—areas such as obstetric and gynecological (OB/GYN), vascular, cardiac, or pediatric—should look for programs that offer either direct specialization tracks or clinical practicum options in those fields.

Each program on the following list has, at minimum, earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The list provides a general cross-section of programs offering training at hospitals, universities, and colleges running the spectrum from certificate to four-year bachelor of science (BS) degrees.

Ascension Providence Hospital

At this hospital in Southfield, Michigan, students can complete a 21-month certificate course in diagnostic medical sonography under the direct supervision of trained professionals in the School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

In order to be eligible for this program, applicants must be certified as radiologic technologists and/or have a minimum of an associate degree (healthcare fields preferred but not required). Several prerequisite courses (e.g., physics, algebra, anatomy) must be completed prior to admission. A full list is available on the program website.

The program includes classroom learning and clinical instruction on obstetrics, abdominal, gynecology, superficial anatomy, vascular ultrasound examinations, and sonographic physics and instrumentation.

  • Location: Southfield, MI
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP); Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS); Joint Commission of American Hospital Organizations (JCAHO)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 21 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $9,000

The University of Colorado at Denver

At the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver, the Department of Radiology offers a highly selective diagnostic medical sonography certificate program. Approximately six to seven students are selected each year from a pool of 40 to 60 applicants to complete the 13-month program. The program includes classroom and clinical training.

Before admission, students must have an associate degree from a two-year allied health program or a bachelor’s degree in a science or medical field. Direct patient care experience and documented observation within the ultrasound field are also highly valued in the application process.

The program’s curriculum focuses on obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound, ultrasound physics, abdomen, and superficial parts. Additional topics include pediatric, vascular, fetal echocardiography, and breast and musculoskeletal ultrasound.

  • Location: Denver, CO
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 13 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $11,500

Harper College

Located in Palatine, Illinois, the Harper College diagnostic medical sonography associate degree program is appropriate for those students who do not have the prerequisites necessary to qualify for the above certificate programs.

The curriculum of this 71-credit program includes courses such as ultrasound physics and instrumentation; sonography theory; healthcare technology and informatics; legal and ethical issues in health care; introduction to the medical sonography clinical; abdominal and small parts sonography; and obstetrical and gynecological sonography. This coursework helps prepare students for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) certification exams in either general or cardiac sonography, depending on the path they choose.

  • Location: Palatine, IL
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: four semesters
  • Estimated Tuition: In-district residents ($135.50 per credit); out-of-district ($390.50 per credit); out-of-state ($468 per credit)

University of Nebraska Medical Center

The College of Allied Health Professions, located at the Medical Center campus of the University of Nebraska in Omaha offers students the opportunity to earn either a post-baccalaureate professional certificate in diagnostic medical sonography or a BS degree in medical imaging & therapeutic sciences upon completion of the program. Graduates are also eligible to take the ARDMS credentialing exams specific to their field of study. The program offers two specialty track options: general or cardiovascular.

The BS program requires a minimum of 120 credits, while the certificate comprises a minimum of 40 semester hours. The curriculum includes courses such as ultrasound physics; vascular anatomy and physiology; orientation to cardiovascular sonography; cardiac anatomy and physiology; cardiac pathology and hemodynamics; high-resolution sonography; genitourinary ultrasound; and gynecological ultrasound.

  • Location: Omaha, NE
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $10,345

Mayo Clinic

At both their Rochester, MN and Jacksonville, FL campuses, the internationally acclaimed Mayo Clinic offers training in diagnostic medical sonography. The program takes 21 months to complete. Students may choose to receive a certificate of completion from the Mayo School of Health Sciences or to pursue a BS in health professions (BSHP) in collaboration with the University of Minnesota, Rochester. Class sizes are limited to 12 students and this program boasts a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the board exam.

As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as foundations of sonography; abdomen sonography; cross-sectional abdominal anatomy; gynecologic sonography; vascular technology; fetal anomalies; superficial sonography; ultrasound physics; and pediatric sonography.

  • Location: Rochester, MN; Jacksonville, FL
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 21 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $271 per credit

Seattle University

Seattle University is one of the few programs that offers a BS degree specifically in diagnostic ultrasound. The curriculum of the program provides students with the clinical experience and academic foundation necessary for pursuing rewarding careers in diagnostic medical sonography. The program offers three curriculum tracks, which include: general, cardiac, and vascular, allowing students to personalize their program experience.

This 4-year program is made up of 180 credits including coursework in anatomy & physiology; ultrasound physics; ultrasound instrumentation; pathophysiology; vascular sonography; cardiac sonography; clinical experience in ultrasound; and leadership for health equity.

Applicants may enter the program as freshmen with a high school diploma or GED, or may choose to transfer in later in their academic career. Students in this program benefit from a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1 and the university also offers more than 100 clinical internship settings nationwide for students to gain hands-on experience.

  • Location: Seattle, WA
  • Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 48 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $1,118 per credit

SELECT * FROM `mts_online_offline_data` WHERE `page_url` = '/ultrasound-technician' AND ( `table_type` = 'Offline' OR `table_type` = 'BOTH (Online + Offline)' ) ORDER BY `grads` DESC

List of Diagnostic Medical Sonographer Schools

Filter by state :
School City State Website grads
High Desert Medical College Lancaster California https://hdmc.edu 166
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Florida https://www.keiseruniversity.edu 163
New York Medical Career Training Center Flushing New York https://www.nymedtraining.com 157
Triad Education Los Angeles California https://wcui.edu 144
CBD College Los Angeles California https://www.cbd.edu 101
Platt College-Anaheim Anaheim California https://plattcollege.edu 93
Center for Allied Health Education Brooklyn New York https://www.cahe.edu 88
Platt College-Riverside Riverside California https://plattcollege.edu 86
Monroe College Bronx New York https://www.monroecollege.edu 76
Platt College-Ontario Ontario California https://plattcollege.edu 73
South Hills School of Business & Technology State College Pennsylvania https://www.southhills.edu 58
Platt College-Los Angeles Alhambra California https://plattcollege.edu 56
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology Delray Beach Florida https://www.cambridgehealth.edu 53
Grand Valley State University Allendale Michigan https://www.gvsu.edu 50
Columbia Central University-Caguas Caguas Puerto Rico https://columbiacentral.edu 47
GateWay Community College Phoenix Arizona https://www.gatewaycc.edu 45
MCPHS University Boston Massachusetts https://www.mcphs.edu 45
South College Knoxville Tennessee https://www.south.edu 44
Florida Institute of Ultrasound Inc Pensacola Florida https://fiupensacola.edu 43
Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound Mobile Alabama https://www.ultrasound.edu 42
Jackson College Jackson Michigan https://www.jccmi.edu 42
Lackawanna College Scranton Pennsylvania https://www.lackawanna.edu 41
PCI College Cerritos California https://www.pci-ed.com 41
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville Hanceville Alabama https://www.wallacestate.edu 40
Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix Phoenix Arizona https://pmi.edu 39
Weber State University Ogden Utah https://www.weber.edu 38
ATA College Tulsa Oklahoma https://www.ata.edu/campus/tulsa-ok 34
Bellevue College Bellevue Washington https://www.bellevuecollege.edu 34
Lansing Community College Lansing Michigan https://www.lcc.edu 34
AdventHealth University Orlando Florida https://www.ahu.edu 33
Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh Pennsylvania https://www.ccac.edu 33
Temple College Temple Texas https://www.templejc.edu 33
Casa Loma College-Van Nuys Van Nuys California https://casalomacollege.edu 32
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach West Palm Beach Florida https://www.sec.edu 32
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus Carolina Puerto Rico https://uagm.edu/es 32
Medical Career Institute Ocean New Jersey https://www.mcinj.edu 30
Center for Ultrasound Research & Education White Plains New York https://www.cure.edu 28
Central California School of Continuing Education San Luis Obispo California https://www.ccsce.org 28
Lone Star College System The Woodlands Texas https://www.lonestar.edu 28
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education Piscataway New Jersey https://aimseducation.edu 27
Austin Community College District Austin Texas https://www.austincc.edu 27
Miami Dade College Miami Florida https://www.mdc.edu 27
Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale Florida https://www.nova.edu 27
Eastern Florida State College Cocoa Florida https://www.easternflorida.edu 26
ECPI University Virginia Beach Virginia https://www.ecpi.edu 26
Healthcare Career College Paramount California https://healthcarecareercollege.edu 26
Western Suffolk BOCES Northport New York https://www.wilsontech.org 26
Contra Costa Medical Career College Antioch California https://www.ccmcc.edu 25
Red Rocks Community College Lakewood Colorado https://www.rrcc.edu 25
American Medical Sciences Center Glendale California https://amsc.edu 24
Cuyahoga Community College District Cleveland Ohio https://www.tri-c.edu 24
Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome Georgia https://www.gntc.edu 24
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science Rochester Minnesota https://college.mayo.edu 24
North-West College-Long Beach Long Beach California https://www.nw.edu 24
St Catherine University Saint Paul Minnesota https://www.stkate.edu 24
Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Indiana https://www.ivytech.edu 23
Kettering College Kettering Ohio https://kc.edu 23
Pima Medical Institute-El Paso El Paso Texas https://pmi.edu 23
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester New York https://www.rit.edu 23
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande Ohio https://www.rio.edu 23
Ferris State University Big Rapids Michigan https://www.ferris.edu 22
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Virginia https://www.nvcc.edu 22
Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton Missouri https://stlcc.edu 22
Florida National University-Main Campus Hialeah Florida https://www.fnu.edu 21
ICPR Junior College-Arecibo Arecibo Puerto Rico https://www.icprjc.edu 21
Loma Linda University Loma Linda California https://llu.edu 21
San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield Bakersfield California https://www.sjvc.edu 21
St Philip's College San Antonio Texas https://www.alamo.edu/spc 21
Community College of Rhode Island Warwick Rhode Island https://www.ccri.edu 20
Dallas College Dallas Texas https://www.dallascollege.edu 20
Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville Georgia https://gwinnetttech.edu 20
Hillsborough Community College Tampa Florida https://www.hccfl.edu 20
Houston Community College Houston Texas https://www.hccs.edu 20
Hunter Business School Levittown New York https://hunterbusinessschool.edu 20
Tacoma Community College Tacoma Washington https://www.tacomacc.edu 20
Triton College River Grove Illinois https://www.triton.edu 20
Weatherford College Weatherford Texas https://www.wc.edu 20
Gadsden State Community College Gadsden Alabama https://www.gadsdenstate.edu 19
Modern Technology School Fountain Valley California https://mtschool.edu 19
Cambridge Institute of Allied Health & Technology Altamonte Springs Florida https://www.cambridgehealth.edu 18
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati Ohio https://www.cincinnatistate.edu 18
Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Iowa https://eicc.edu 18
Midwestern Career College Chicago Illinois https://mccollege.edu 18
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Omaha Nebraska https://www.methodistcollege.edu 18
The College of Health Care Professions-San Antonio San Antonio Texas https://www.chcp.edu 18
Central Ohio Technical College Newark Ohio https://www.cotc.edu 17
College of Southern Nevada Las Vegas Nevada https://www.csn.edu 17
Great Lakes Institute of Technology Erie Pennsylvania https://glit.edu 17
Institute of Medical Ultrasound Atlanta Georgia https://imu.edu 17
Meridian College Sarasota Florida https://www.meridian.edu 17
Mount Aloysius College Cresson Pennsylvania https://www.mtaloy.edu 17
National Polytechnic College Lakewood California https://npcollege.edu 17
Pima Medical Institute-Houston Houston Texas https://pmi.edu 17
Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester Campus Sewell New Jersey https://www.rcsj.edu 17
San Jacinto Community College Pasadena Texas https://www.sanjac.edu 17
The College of Health Care Professions-Fort Worth Fort Worth Texas https://www.chcp.edu 17
Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque New Mexico https://www.cnm.edu 16
North-West College-Anaheim Anaheim California https://www.nw.edu 16
Orange Coast College Costa Mesa California https://orangecoastcollege.edu 16
Augusta Technical College Augusta Georgia https://www.augustatech.edu 15
Baker College Owosso Michigan https://www.baker.edu 15
Bergen Community College Paramus New Jersey https://bergen.edu 15
College of DuPage Glen Ellyn Illinois https://www.cod.edu 15
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry Dover Delaware https://www.dtcc.edu 15
Houston International College Cardiotech Ultrasound School Houston Texas https://cardiotech.org 15
ICPR Junior College Hato Rey Puerto Rico https://www.icprjc.edu 15
Lake Michigan College Benton Harbor Michigan https://www.lakemichigancollege.edu 15
MedQuest College Louisville Kentucky https://medquestcollege.edu 15
Parker University Dallas Texas https://www.parker.edu 15
Spokane Community College Spokane Washington https://scc.spokane.edu 15
The College of Health Care Professions-McAllen Campus McAllen Texas https://www.chcp.edu 15
Trocaire College Buffalo New York https://trocaire.edu 15
Cypress College Cypress California https://www.cypresscollege.edu 14
Gulf Coast State College Panama City Florida https://www.gulfcoast.edu 14
Hudson Valley Community College Troy New York https://www.hvcc.edu 14
ICPR Junior College-Mayaguez Mayaguez Puerto Rico https://www.icprjc.edu 14
Owens Community College Perrysburg Ohio https://www.owens.edu 14
Pitt Community College Winterville North Carolina https://pittcc.edu 14
Seattle University Seattle Washington https://www.seattleu.edu 14
Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls South Dakota https://www.southeasttech.edu 14
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College Rockford Illinois https://www.rockfordcareercollege.edu 14
The College of Health Care Professions-Austin Austin Texas https://www.chcp.edu 14
William Rainey Harper College Palatine Illinois https://www.harpercollege.edu 14
Alvin Community College Alvin Texas https://www.alvincollege.edu 13
Caris College Jeffersonville Indiana https://cariscollege.edu 13
Johnston Community College Smithfield North Carolina https://www.johnstoncc.edu 13
Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro Georgia https://www.ogeecheetech.edu 13
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences Lancaster Pennsylvania https://www.pacollege.edu 13
South Piedmont Community College Polkton North Carolina https://spcc.edu 13
Southern Technical College Fort Myers Florida https://www.southerntech.edu 13
Stautzenberger College-Brecksville Brecksville Ohio https://www.sctoday.edu 13
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas https://www.mdanderson.org 13
Tyler Junior College Tyler Texas https://www.tjc.edu 13
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock Arkansas https://www.uams.edu 13
Volunteer State Community College Gallatin Tennessee https://www.volstate.edu 13
Albany State University Albany Georgia https://www.asurams.edu 12
BridgeValley Community & Technical College South Charleston West Virginia https://www.bridgevalley.edu 12
Delgado Community College New Orleans Louisiana https://www.dcc.edu 12
Elgin Community College Elgin Illinois https://www.elgin.edu 12
Galveston College Galveston Texas https://www.gc.edu 12
Hill College Hillsboro Texas https://www.hillcollege.edu 12
Marion Technical College Marion Ohio https://www.mtc.edu 12
Middlesex Community College Bedford Massachusetts https://www.middlesex.mass.edu 12
Newman University Wichita Kansas https://newmanu.edu 12
Quinnipiac University Hamden Connecticut https://www.qu.edu 12
Baptist Health Sciences University Memphis Tennessee https://www.baptistu.edu 11
Bellin College Green Bay Wisconsin https://www.bellincollege.edu 11
Bryan College of Health Sciences Lincoln Nebraska https://www.bryanhealthcollege.edu/bcohs 11
Gateway Community College New Haven Connecticut https://www.gatewayct.edu 11
Grady Health System Professional Schools Atlanta Georgia https://www.gradyhealth.org 11
Lurleen B Wallace Community College Andalusia Alabama https://www.lbwcc.edu 11
NHTI-Concord's Community College Concord New Hampshire https://www.nhti.edu 11
O C Collins Career Center Chesapeake Ohio https://www.collins-cc.edu 11
Oakland Community College Bloomfield Hills Michigan https://www.oaklandcc.edu 11
St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud Minnesota https://sctcc.edu 11
Tulsa Community College Tulsa Oklahoma https://www.tulsacc.edu 11
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus San Juan Puerto Rico https://uagm.edu/es 11
West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah Kentucky https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu 11
Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood Pennsylvania https://westmoreland.edu 11
Baton Rouge Community College Baton Rouge Louisiana https://www.mybrcc.edu 10
Blackhawk Technical College Janesville Wisconsin https://www.blackhawk.edu 10
Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire Wisconsin https://www.cvtc.edu 10
Columbus Technical College Columbus Georgia https://www.columbustech.edu 10
Del Mar College Corpus Christi Texas https://www.delmar.edu 10
Greenville Technical College Greenville South Carolina https://www.gvltec.edu 10
H Councill Trenholm State Community College Montgomery Alabama https://www.trenholmstate.edu 10
Joliet Junior College Joliet Illinois https://jjc.edu 10
Kaskaskia College Centralia Illinois https://www.kaskaskia.edu 10
Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines Iowa https://www.mchs.edu 10
NUC University Bayamon Puerto Rico https://university.nuc.edu 10
Pittsburgh Career Institute Pittsburgh Pennsylvania https://www.pci.edu 10
Polk State College Winter Haven Florida https://www.polk.edu 10
Sacramento Ultrasound Institute Sacramento California https://sui.edu 10
Tarrant County College District Fort Worth Texas https://www.tccd.edu 10
Texas Southmost College Brownsville Texas https://www.tsc.edu 10
Union County College Cranford New Jersey https://www.ucc.edu 10
Valencia College Orlando Florida https://valenciacollege.edu 10
ATI College-Whittier Whitter California https://wp.ati.edu 9
Bunker Hill Community College Boston Massachusetts https://www.bhcc.mass.edu 9
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Hudson North Carolina https://www.cccti.edu 9
Collin County Community College District McKinney Texas https://www.collin.edu 9
El Paso Community College El Paso Texas https://www.epcc.edu 9
JFK Muhlenberg Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder Schools Plainfield New Jersey https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/Healthcare-Professionals 9
John A Logan College Carterville Illinois https://www.jalc.edu 9
Lorain County Community College Elyria Ohio https://www.lorainccc.edu 9
Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto California https://www.msjc.edu 9
Palm Beach State College Lake Worth Florida https://www.palmbeachstate.edu 9
Pensacola State College Pensacola Florida https://www.pensacolastate.edu 9
Rhode Island College Providence Rhode Island https://www.ric.edu 9
Springfield Technical Community College Springfield Massachusetts https://www.stcc.edu 9
University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Nebraska https://www.unmc.edu 9
Amarillo College Amarillo Texas https://www.actx.edu 8
American Institute of Healthcare & Technology Stratford Connecticut https://aiht.edu 8
American Institute-Toms River Toms River New Jersey https://www.americaninstitute.edu 8
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville North Carolina https://abtech.edu 8
Atenas College Manati Puerto Rico https://www.atenascollege.edu 8
Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington Kentucky https://bluegrass.kctcs.edu 8
Central Carolina Community College Sanford North Carolina https://www.cccc.edu 8
Delta College University Center Michigan https://www.delta.edu 8
Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem North Carolina https://www.forsythtech.edu 8
Lewis-Clark State College Lewiston Idaho https://www.lcsc.edu 8
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Las Cruces New Mexico https://dacc.nmsu.edu 8
Northwest-Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals Alabama https://nwscc.edu 8
American Institute-Clifton CLIFTON New Jersey https://www.americaninstitute.edu 7
American Institute-West Hartford West Hartford Connecticut https://www.americaninstitute.edu 7
Cape Fear Community College Wilmington North Carolina https://cfcc.edu 7
Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga Tennessee https://www.chattanoogastate.edu 7
Concordia University-Saint Paul Saint Paul Minnesota https://www.csp.edu 7
Danville Area Community College Danville Illinois https://www.dacc.edu 7
Eastern International College-Jersey City Jersey City New Jersey https://eicollege.edu 7
Horry-Georgetown Technical College Conway South Carolina https://www.hgtc.edu 7
Idaho State University Pocatello Idaho https://www.isu.edu 7
Laramie County Community College Cheyenne Wyoming https://www.lccc.wy.edu 7
Louisiana State University-Eunice Eunice Louisiana https://www.lsue.edu 7
Pueblo Community College Pueblo Colorado https://pueblocc.edu 7
Southwestern Community College Sylva North Carolina https://www.southwesterncc.edu 7
Upstate Medical University Syracuse New York https://www.upstate.edu 7
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins Georgia https://www.centralgatech.edu 6
Eastern International College-Belleville Belleville New Jersey https://eicollege.edu 6
Labette Community College Parsons Kansas https://www.labette.edu 6
Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem Pennsylvania https://www.northampton.edu 6
South Texas College McAllen Texas https://www.southtexascollege.edu 6
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred Alfred New York https://www.alfredstate.edu 6
The University of Findlay Findlay Ohio https://www.findlay.edu 6
Allen College Waterloo Iowa https://www.allencollege.edu 5
Bowling Green State University-Firelands Huron Ohio https://www.bgsu.edu/firelands 5
Concorde Career College-Kansas City Kansas City Missouri https://www.concorde.edu/campus/kansas-city-missouri 5
ICPR Junior College Manati Puerto Rico https://www.icprjc.edu 5
Lincoln University Oakland California https://lincolnuca.edu 5
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Green Bay Wisconsin https://www.nwtc.edu 5
Ultrasound Medical Institute Royal Palm Beach Florida https://www.nriinstitute.edu 5
University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage Alaska https://www.uaa.alaska.edu 5
Ace Institute of Technology New York New York https://acecareer.edu 4
Angelina College Lufkin Texas https://www.angelina.edu 4
Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon Wisconsin https://www.cuw.edu 4
Healthcare Training Institute Union New Jersey https://www.htinj.edu 4
Montana State University Billings Billings Montana https://www.msubillings.edu 4
The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest Houston Texas https://www.chcp.edu 4
University of Hartford West Hartford Connecticut https://www.hartford.edu 4
University of Kansas Lawrence Kansas https://ku.edu 4
Alvernia University Reading Pennsylvania https://www.alvernia.edu 3
Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel New Jersey https://www.rcbc.edu 3
West Virginia University Hospital Departments of Rad Tech and Nutrition Morgantown West Virginia https://wvumedicine.org/radtech 3
Widener University Chester Pennsylvania https://www.widener.edu 3
Eastwick College-Ramsey Ramsey New Jersey https://eastwick.edu 2
Long Island University Brookville New York https://www.liu.edu 2
Maine College of Health Professions Lewiston Maine https://www.mchp.edu 2
Midland College Midland Texas https://www.midland.edu 2
Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick New Jersey https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu 2
Benedictine University Lisle Illinois https://ben.edu 1
Carl Sandburg College Galesburg Illinois https://www.sandburg.edu 1
Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville Jacksonville Florida https://www.concorde.edu/campus/jacksonville-florida 1
Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard Kentucky https://hazard.kctcs.edu 1
Institute for Business and Technology Santa Clara California https://ibt.edu 1
Montgomery College Rockville Maryland https://www.montgomerycollege.edu 1
Sacred Heart University Fairfield Connecticut https://www.sacredheart.edu 1
South Suburban College South Holland Illinois https://www.ssc.edu 1
Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Pennsylvania https://www.jefferson.edu 1
Tidewater Community College Norfolk Virginia https://www.tcc.edu 1
School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in September, 2023)

Hybrid & Online Sonography Programs

Online training programs for diagnostic medical sonography are rare. As of March 2022, there are few online programs that have received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP).

While these programs offer didactic courses online, there is still an essential clinical piece of ultrasound technician training that requires hands-on experience. Students will not be able to earn the sonography certification necessary to obtain top employment without clinical practice in addition to classroom or online courses. Here is a sampling of online certificate, associate, and bachelor’s programs for aspiring diagnostic medical sonographers:

Washburn University

With its main campus in Topeka, Kansas, Washburn University has been offering online diagnostic medical sonography training for more than a decade. All didactic courses are offered online, while clinical training can be arranged close to the student’s home for maximum flexibility and convenience. Graduating students are eligible for the ARDMS and CCI certification examinations. The program offers a general sonography certification program as well as specialized tracks in cardiac and vascular sonography.

The general program is made up of 40 credits, while the cardiac and vascular tracks comprise 34 credits each. Sample some of the courses in the curriculum: introduction to diagnostic medical sonography; sonography principles & instrumentation; abdomen sonography procedures; cardiac sonography procedures; and vascular sonography procedures, among others.

  • Location: Topeka, KS
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $410 per credit

Jackson College

As part of Jackson College’s allied health program, this Michigan-based college offers training in general, cardiac, and vascular sonography. Like Washburn, Jackson College offers its sonography didactic courses online but still requires students to complete an in-person clinical practicum. Students can expect to spend between 24 and 32 hours a week over the course of approximately one year at an approved clinical site near their home in order to successfully complete the program.

The general and cardiac sonography options have an associate in applied science degree while vascular sonography specialty has both an AAS and a certificate option. The general sonography AAS degree is made up of 80 credits, while the cardiac sonography program comprises 73 credits. Vascular sonography AAS degree requires 79 credits and the certificate consists of 59 credits.

Some of the courses in the curriculum are human anatomy and physiology; introduction to diagnostic imaging; introduction to sonographic instrumentation; medical terminology; sonographic techniques; abdomen and small parts sonography; obstetric and gynecologic sonography; cardiovascular principles; and cerebrovascular procedures, among others.

  • Location: Jackson, MI
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
  • Estimated Tuition: County residents ($176 per credit); out of county ($199 per credit); out of state ($264 per credit)

Oregon Institute of Technology

Headquartered in Klamath Falls, Oregon Tech Online provides an online bachelor of science (BS) degree-completion program in diagnostic medical sonography. Open to registered diagnostic sonographers, Oregon Tech’s courses include obstetrical sonography; applications of abdominal sonography; pelvic sonography; physics of medical imaging; sonographic pathology; breast sonography; neonatal & pediatric sonography; and musculoskeletal sonography.

Additionally, students complete a DMS externship at an approved clinical facility located close to their homes. Supervisors sign off on a DMS skills checklist as employment-ready skills are acquired.

  • Location: Klamath Falls, OR
  • Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  • Expected Time to Completion: 24 to 48 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $281 per credit

Institute of Ultrasound Diagnostics

Students at the Institute of Ultrasound Diagnostics will have the opportunity to complete an online accelerated sonography program which can be completed in just one year. The program provides students with the training, skills, and knowledge necessary for successfully gaining employment as entry-level ultrasound technicians.

As part of the program, students will be required to participate in a mandatory three-week “Sonography Boot Camp” that includes dedicated time for clinical rotations and in-class instruction. The curriculum includes courses such as abdominal sonography; physics & instrumentation; and obstetrical and gynecologic sonography. The program consists of 1,982 total contact hours.

  • Location: Daphne, AL
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $11,500

Labette Community College

Labette Community College’s online diagnostic medical sonography program has two concentration options: general sonography and vascular sonography. Both concentrations require students to complete clinical rotations (1024 clinical hours) at a site near them. Students will also be prepared to take the ARDMS registry exams.

The general concentration comprises 38 credits, while the vascular concentration consists of 32 credits. The curriculum includes courses such as introduction to sonography; sonography physics & instrumentation; sonography pathology of abdomen and small parts; vascular sonography; and OB/GYN for sonography.

  • Location: Parsons, KS
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: Kansas residents ($14,162 total); Arkansas, Missouri, & Oklahoma residents ($15,086 total); out-of-state residents ($15,262 total per credit)
School City State Website grads
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Florida https://www.keiseruniversity.edu 163
Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls Oregon https://www.oit.edu 103
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts San Mateo California https://www.gurnick.edu 84
Fort Hays State University Hays Kansas https://www.fhsu.edu 60
Washburn University Topeka Kansas https://www.washburn.edu 43
PCI College Cerritos California https://www.pci-ed.com 41
AdventHealth University Orlando Florida https://www.ahu.edu 33
Baptist Health System School of Health Professions San Antonio Texas https://www.bshp.edu 28
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health Omaha Nebraska https://www.methodistcollege.edu 18
Misericordia University Dallas Pennsylvania https://www.misericordia.edu 16
Lamar Institute of Technology Beaumont Texas https://www.lit.edu 14
Southwest University at El Paso El Paso Texas https://southwestuniversity.edu 14
Marian University Fond Du Lac Wisconsin https://www.marianuniversity.edu 13
Hinds Community College Raymond Mississippi https://www.hindscc.edu 12
State Fair Community College Sedalia Missouri https://www.sfccmo.edu 12
Siena Heights University Adrian Michigan https://www.sienaheights.edu 11
University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Missouri https://missouri.edu 10
Great Basin College Elko Nevada https://www.gbcnv.edu 3
Santa Fe College Gainesville Florida https://www.sfcollege.edu 2
School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in September, 2023)

Core & Elective Courses in Medical Sonography Programs

To establish a standard curriculum across the many diagnostic medical sonography schools in the US, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS) has made available a common core curriculum list of courses, as well as those specialty courses that should be taken for specialization in the field.

The core curriculum of an accredited program typically includes:

  • Anatomy & physiology
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Communications
  • Psychology & human behavior
  • Statistics
  • Information technology
  • Superficial structures
  • Vascular & neuro sonographic imaging
  • Patient care
  • Medical ethics & law
  • Medical terminology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Sonography principles & instrumentation
  • Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD)

Full descriptions of each of these requirements are available on the JRCDMS website in a PDF. Students who wish to specialize in abdominal sonography should expect to find courses that include each of the following areas:

  • Biliary
  • Liver
  • Pancreas
  • Renal & lower urinary tract
  • Spleen
  • Adrenal
  • Abdominal vasculature
  • Gastrointestinal tract
  • Abdominopelvic wall & cavities
  • Interventional
  • Organ transplant
  • Breast
  • Neck
  • Prostate
  • Scrotum
  • Musculoskeletal sonography
  • Pediatric hip
  • Neonatal brain
  • Neonatal spine

For students who wish to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, the following elective courses are generally required:

  • Clinical assessment of obstetrical patients
  • Fetal assessment
  • High-risk obstetrics
  • Fetal structural abnormalities
  • Interventional procedures
  • Postpartum complications
  • Performance standards & documentation

There may be other elective possibilities for those students pursuing a four-year degree that is outside of the sonography curriculum.

Diagnostic Sonography School & Program Accreditation

Generally, accreditation means that a particular educational program has been evaluated and approved by a nationally recognized body of experts. Both programmatic and institutional accreditation is important to consider.

Programmatic Accreditation

Programmatic accreditation refers to the evaluation of a specific program, in this case, a sonography program. Prior to seeking professional certification through a body such as the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), aspiring ultrasound technicians must complete a program at an accredited school.

For many branches of medical technology, including diagnostic medical sonography, the gold standard of programmatic accreditation is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP), a group that has established ultrasound technician program standards in conjunction with the Joint Review Commission on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRCDMS).

Accreditation will consider faculty, facilities, curriculum, and other factors to determine whether a program meets the accrediting body's standards. CAAHEP maintains a list of accredited sonography programs.

Institutional Accreditation

Additionally, there are six regional institutional accrediting organizations that have been recognized by the US Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA):

  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
  • Commission on Colleges for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Each agency has its own process, but accreditation typically consists of a thorough application, self-study, and site visit by the accrediting agency. Typical criteria used in the program-approval process are curriculum standards, quality of facilities, program finance management, availability of institutional resources, and student outcome measures.

Prior to enrolling in a program, students should ensure that their school has the proper accreditation, which can vary by region, place of employment, or desired credential.

Career Outlook

The career outlook for diagnostic medical sonographers is exceptionally strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2022) anticipates a 10 percent increase nationally in openings for diagnostic medical sonographers (DMS) between 2021 and 2031, which is more than double the average growth projected for all occupations in that time period (5 percent).

Because diagnostic medical sonographers can be useful in many different situations, there are several factors contributing to this positive outlook. First, as with so many healthcare occupations, the aging US population is going to continue to have more and more contact with the healthcare industry. From mammograms to blood clots, ultrasounds can be of assistance for many age-related ailments.

Furthermore, medical imaging technology is continuing to advance. This means that physicians are going to be able to treat more health issues using non-invasive techniques and outpatient procedures, which can include the assistance of ultrasound technicians.

While hospitals are expected to hire the majority of new sonographers, physicians’ offices and outpatient surgical centers are also expected to be in the market for trained sonographers moving forward.

Specializing in a certain area of medical sonography can also enhance a person’s employment prospects and earning potential. The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS) releases annual compensation survey providing information about salaries for sonographers. Of course, one should also consider that demand can fluctuate based on geographic location and demographics, so other specialties might be growing faster in other states.

The BLS (May 2022) found the following percentiles for diagnostic medical sonographers around the country:

United States
Number of professionals employed 81,080
Annual mean wage $84,410
10th percentile $61,430
25th percentile $68,580
50th percentile (median) $81,350
75th percentile $97,350
90th percentile $107,730

Interestingly, PayScale (June 2023)—an aggregator of self-reported wages—found lower figures among its 1,287 DMS respondents:

  • 10th percentile: $50,000
  • 50th percentile (median): $68,335
  • 90th percentile: $97,000

Not surprisingly, wages and employment figures in this field also tend to vary based on region. The BLS (May 2022) found that the top-employing states for diagnostic medical sonographers correlated roughly with population size:

  • California: 8,100 employed ($114,480 annual average salary)
  • Hawaii: 310 employed ($105,850 annual avg.)
  • Washington: 1,430 employed ($103,700 annual avg.)
  • Oregon: 1,160 employed ($101,850 annual avg.)
  • Rhode Island: 300 employed ($96,400 annual avg.)

Fortunately for residents of the Golden State, California was both the top-employing and top-paying state in this profession.

Considering that only two years of postsecondary school is the typical entry-level education for this career, it can prove a very lucrative professional field. For aspiring technicians in this field, there is a wide range of specialties and conditions that benefit from applying this continually evolving technology. Some of the high-growth subfields of this discipline include gynecology, pregnancy, breast imaging, heart disease screening, prostate cancer detection, and musculoskeletal exams.

Career Facts Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Related CareersClinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, Radiation Therapists, Radiologic and MRI Technologists, Registered Nurses
Common Job TitlesCardiac Sonographer, Cardiac/Vascular Sonographer, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS), Sonographer, Ultrasonographer, Ultrasound Technician, Ultrasound Technologist
Technology & EquipmentUltrasound Monitors, Ultrasound Video Equipment, High-Frequency Transducers, Patient Medical Record Software, Office and Productivity Software
Sourced From BLS 2022

Licensing & Certification in Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Two main bodies offer national certification exams for careers in sonography. More diverse, specialty-focused credentials are available from the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), while a generalized sonography certification is available from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

The ARDMS offers five specialized exams, which result in the credential of Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS). The exams are:

  • Abdomen (AB)
  • Breast (BR)
  • Fetal Echocardiography (FE)
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)
  • Pediatric Sonography (PS)

Additionally, the ARDMS has three credentials for subfields of diagnostic sonography: Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS), Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT), and Registered Musculoskeletal Sonographer (RMSKS). The ARDMS has minimum education and/or experience levels in order to sit for any certification exam. To obtain certification, students must pass the basic Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam as well as at least one specialty examination.

Applicants can visit the Prerequisite and Requirement Eligibility Program (PREP) portion of the ARDMS site to determine eligibility for their intended certification exam. This credential is valid for one year.

The ARRT provides a generalized sonography certification. To be eligible for the ARRT exam, students must have completed an ARRT-approved sonography program within the last three years and earned an academic degree. Accredited agency lists are available on the ARRT website.

Additionally, candidates must have fulfilled the didactic and clinical competence requirements, including proof of having completed seven mandatory patient care procedures, four mandatory scanning techniques, 22 imaging procedures, and five elective imaging procedures. This registration must be renewed annually.

As of June 2023, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) reports that there are four states which regulate sonographers: New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, and North Dakota. Additional states may pass licensure laws for sonographers, so interested students would be wise to check with their local state organizations to determine whether licensing is required.

The ARRT and ARDMS certifications require continuing education (CE) units to maintain the credentials. The ARRT requires 24 CE credits biennially as well as continuing qualifications requirements (CQR) to be fulfilled every 10 years. The ARDMS requires 30 continuing medical education (CME) units every three years. Please reference the links above for details about what types of CE qualify.

Finally, the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) provides a wealth of CE and CME opportunities through annual conferences, events, meetings, online coursework, and other offerings.

Farheen Gani
Farheen Gani Writer

Farheen Gani has immense knowledge about medical technology schools, having researched topics such as medical billing and coding, health information management, nursing informatics, and biotechnology degree programs since 2018. She is a freelance writer, marketer, and researcher. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).