What Are the Top Ultrasound Technician Schools?
Learn about programs for ultrasound technicians or sonographers. Get an overview of three good schools that offer this training, including areas of concentration, school rankings and admission requirements.
What Are Characteristics of the Top Ultrasound Technician Schools?
The term ultrasound technologist is sometimes used interchangeably with diagnostic medical sonographer for professionals who use high-frequency sound wave technology to diagnose and treat patients. Programs can typically be completed in two years or less, though some bachelor's and a limited number of master's degree programs are available. You may want a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). These may have prerequisites like completion of a 2-year allied health program or a bachelor's degree. You may also prefer a school with state-of-the art medical facilities and equipment for your clinical rotations. Training is offered by hospitals, for-profit schools, community colleges and universities. Here are three CAAHEP-accredited options you could consider.
What Are Three of the Best Schools for Ultrasound Technicians?
George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
GWU tied as 63rd among national universities in U.S. News & World Report in 2019. Through an undergraduate sonography certificate program, you can choose a single or dual-track option of study where you can concentrate in an area like vascular and general sonography, vascular and cardiac sonography, general sonography, cardiac sonography or vascular sonography. These certificate programs are designed for individuals who have completed at least 60 credit hours of study.
In the Bachelor of Science in Health Science program with a sonography concentration, you'll take courses in all three single-track specialty areas and choose one or two areas for clinical rotations. Most students obtain employment-enhancing American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) credentials before graduation, based on eligibility criteria that permit bachelor's candidates to sit for the national examination prior to receiving their degree. Available programs include:
- Undergraduate Sonography Certificate
- B.S. in Health Sciences with Concentration in Sonography
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN
The Mayo Clinic was nationally ranked in 16 adult and ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report in 2019. The Mayo School of Health Sciences offers its 21-month general and vascular sonography program in Rochester, MN, and at the Mayo Clinic facility in Jacksonville, FL. You'll take the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) examination of the ARDMS prior to graduation. You can further focus on abdomen, gynecology, obstetrics or peripheral vascular sonography, qualifying you to also take ARDMS specialty exams in these areas.
Rochester clinical sites might include the Mayo Clinic, St. Mary's Hospital or the Rochester Methodist Hospital or affiliated research facilities. Florida students attend lectures through interactive video classrooms, receiving clinical education mostly at the Mayo Clinic Hospital. Your certificate of completion may qualify you to proceed to a Bachelor of Science in Health Professions with a sonography focus, awarded as a University of Minnesota in Rochester. You would be admitted as a junior and required to complete university core courses. You could instead matriculate in this program at the University of Minnesota at Rochester and later apply to the Mayo Clinic sonography program. Available programs include:
- B.S. in Health Professions with Sonography Focus (at University of Minnesota)
- Certificate in Sonography
University of California in San Diego
This college was ranked 41st among U.S. News & World Report's national universities in 2019. The UC-San Diego Medical Center was ranked nationally in six specialties in 2019 by U.S. News & World Report. The Medical Center offers a 12-month general diagnostic medical sonography certificate with some vascular exposure. To qualify, you must have completed either a 2-year program and passed a registry exam in respiratory therapy, radiologic technology or nursing or a bachelor's degree in any area and 80 hours of documented patient contact in a clinic or hospital. Volunteer work would be accepted.
This is a full-time program requiring one day per week in class and four days per week in a clinical setting. You'll complete 6-month rotations at two sites. After finishing the program, you'll qualify to take ARDMS physics, abdomen and obstetrics and gynecology exams. This highly competitive program admits only six students per year. The following program is offered:
- Medical Sonography Certificate
Nine Other Ultrasound Technician Programs
| College/University | Institution Type | Location | Estimated Undergrad In-State Tuition* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Institute of Technology | 4-year, Public | Klamoth Falls, OR | $10,000-$11,000 |
| Broward College | 4-year, Public | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $2,000-$3,000 |
| Lincoln University | 4-year, Private | Oakland, CA | $11,000-$12,000 |
| Foothill College | 4-year, Public | Los Altos Hills, CA | $1,000-$2,000 |
| Vanderbilt University | 4-year, Private | Nashville, TN | $49,000-$50,000 |
| University of Oklahoma - Tulsa | 4-year, Public | Tulsa, OK | $7,000-$8,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 4-year, Private | Baltimore, MD | $53,000-$54,000 |
| Kettering College | 4-year, Private | Kettering, OH | $12,000-$13,000 |
Source: *NCES, U.S. Department of Education