What Are the Best Radiation Therapy Schools?
To become a radiation therapist, you must complete an accredited radiation therapy program. Read more to learn about area specializations, degrees and certification from three of the best schools in the U.S. Review a list of ten additional nationally ranked schools that offer radiation therapy programs.
What Are Some Characteristics of the Best Schools for Radiation Therapy?
When aspiring to become a radiation therapist, you may prefer schools that meet radiation therapy accreditation standards of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Access to teaching hospital rotation facilities or a great placement record could be appealing.
You could prefer schools with radiation therapy facilities onsite, and schools that keep their radiation equipment up-to-date. One of these three schools could address your needs.
<h2 id="section---ThreeOfTheBestRadiationTherapySchools">Three of the Best Radiation Therapy Schools</h2><h3 id="section---OhioStateUniversityInColumbus">Ohio State University in Columbus</h3><p>OSU tied for 56th place among <i>U.S. News & World Report's</i> national universities in 2019. <i>U.S. News & World Report</i> also ranked its College of Medicine tied for 30th for research. OSU hosts the Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging. OSU's College of Medicine includes the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, which offers a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Science. Specialization options in the program are available in radiation therapy, radiography and sonography. Radiologic sciences study is also offered through either a Certificate of Study or a bachelor's completion option if you already have medical imaging certification.
</p><ul><li>AS to BS Degree Completion Program in Radiation Therapy
</li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfNorthCarolinaInChapelHill">University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill</h3><p>UNC-Chapel Hill was ranked as having the number one graduate medical school for primary care and the number 23 graduate medical school for research in 2019 by <i>U.S. News & World Report</i>. The Department of Radiation Oncology offers a JCERT-accredited 12-month, post-radiography Radiation Therapy certificate program to students who have an associate degree and current certification in radiography.
</p><p>You'll be supervised by radiation oncologists and biologists, medical dosimetrists, medical physicists and certified radiation therapists during your training. Your clinical rotation sites could include the UNC Hospitals or the Duke University Medical Center. UNC's North Carolina Cancer Hospital offers external beam radiation therapy, image guided radiation therapy, CyberKnife Robotic Surgery and a Brachytherapy Suite. Upon completion of the program, you'll be eligible to take the AART examination's radiation therapy component.
</p><ul><li>Certificate in Radiation Therapy
</li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfTexasSouthwesternMedicalCenterInDallas">University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas</h3><p>This medical center's medical school ranked the 26th-best medical research school and had one nationally-ranked specialty in <i>U.S. News & World Report's</i> 2019 evaluation. The Department of Radiation Oncology supports a radiation therapy program in conjunction with the School of Health Professions and a residency for doctors in radiation oncology. The program admits 4-6 students each year.
</p><p>The Bachelor of Science/post-baccalaureate certificate in radiation therapy will prepare you for cancer care with training in physics, radiation safety and patient anatomy. You'll support a radiation oncology team using imaging technology to locate tumors. In your junior year, you'll begin rotations at the Moncrief Radiation Oncology Center or the Annette Simmons Stereotactic Center at University Hospital-Zale Lipshy. The standalone 5-semester post-baccalaureate certificate in radiation therapy could help you complete a bachelor's degree, or use an existing bachelor's degree as a basis to train in radiation therapy.
</p><ul><li>Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Radiation Therapy
</li></ul><h2 id="section---MoreRadiationTherapySchools">More Radiation Therapy Schools</h2><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>College/University </th><th>Institution Type</th><th>Location</th><th>Estimated Undergrad In-State Tuition & Fees*</th></tr>
<tr><td>Ivy Tech Community College </td><td>2-year, Public </td><td>Indianapolis, IN</td><td>$4,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>St. Petersburg College </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>Clearwater, FL</td><td>$3,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Saint Louis University </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>St. Louis, MO</td><td>$44,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Maryland - College Park</td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>College Park, MD</td><td>$11,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>North Central College</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Naperville, IL</td><td>$39,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Pennsylvania College of Technology </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Williamsport, PA</td><td>$17,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Augusta University </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Augusta, GA</td><td>$9,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Michigan-Flint </td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>Flint, MI</td><td>$11,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>CUNY New York City College of Technology</td><td>4-year, Public </td><td>New York, NY</td><td>$7,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Suffolk University </td><td>4-year, Private </td><td>Boston, MA</td><td>$39,000</td></tr>
</table><p><i>*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education</i></p>