10 Colleges That Offer Radiology Tech Programs Online

Radiologic technology is a genuinely hands-on career, so it's fair to wonder whether you can actually study it from home. The honest answer is that most programs blend online coursework with in-person clinical training, and a handful go even further, letting already-certified techs finish a bachelor's degree entirely online.

This article covers 10 colleges offering online and hybrid paths into radiologic technology, whether you're starting from scratch or building on a credential you already have. Each one pairs flexible coursework with the real clinical experience this field genuinely requires.

Can You Study Radiologic Technology Online?

Yes, though it's important to understand what that actually looks like in practice. Entry-level radiography programs almost always combine online didactic coursework with in-person labs and clinical rotations, since positioning patients and operating imaging equipment simply can't be taught through a screen alone.

Where fully online options do exist is at the bachelor's completion level, designed for students who are already certified radiologic technologists through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. These bridge programs let working techs finish a four-year degree entirely online, since they've already completed their hands-on training to earn their initial credential.

Best Colleges That Offer Radiology Tech Programs Online

This list includes both hybrid entry-level programs, where you'll complete real clinical hours alongside your online coursework, and fully online bachelor's completion programs built for techs who are already certified. Look at the program length and structure for each one to see which path actually fits your situation.

1. Southeast Community College

Southeast Community College offers a JRCERT-accredited online Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Radiologic Technology, letting you complete your coursework remotely while doing clinical rotations at approved hospitals outside Lincoln. The 68.5-credit program covers everything from patient care principles to advanced imaging and radiographic pathology.

Graduates leave prepared to sit for the ARRT certification exam and apply for state licensure wherever they plan to work. If you live in Nebraska or nearby and want a genuinely online-first approach to your coursework, this program is built with exactly that in mind.

2. Century College

Century College runs a hybrid AAS program that mixes online classes with daytime coursework and weekend or evening clinical rotations. Over six semesters, you'll work directly with radiology staff and physicians to learn positioning techniques, radiation safety, and patient care fundamentals.

The 78-credit curriculum is JRCERT-accredited, preparing you for the ARRT certification exam once you graduate. If a structured hybrid schedule with some in-person class time appeals to you more than a fully remote format, Century's approach strikes a solid middle ground.

3. Indian Hills Community College

Indian Hills Community College structures its two-year hybrid program so the first year happens primarily on campus, while the second year shifts to an online format alongside your clinical rotations. More than half of the 83-credit program takes place directly in clinical radiology departments or hospitals, so you should expect a genuinely hands-on experience.

Coursework covers medical terminology, radiologic pathology, digital imaging, and advanced radiographic procedures, among other subjects. If you'd rather ease into online learning after building a foundation in person first, Indian Hills' structure is designed around that exact progression.

4. Ball State University

Ball State University offers a 26-month hybrid Associate of Science (AS) program in Radiography, split into two distinct phases. Prerequisite coursework happens on Ball State's Muncie campus, while the professional concentration phase takes place in Indianapolis through a partnership with IU Health Methodist Hospital.

The 60-credit curriculum is JRCERT-accredited and includes courses like radiographic procedures, clinical radiography, and conceptual physics. If training directly through a major hospital partnership sounds appealing, Ball State's structure gives you that real-world clinical setting built directly into the program.

5. Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern's online radiologic sciences bridge program is designed specifically for students already certified as radiographers, radiation therapists, nuclear medicine technologists, or sonographers. You can choose between a fully online non-clinical track and a clinical track that combines online coursework with clinical education at an accredited healthcare organization.

Courses cover research methodology, advanced imaging modalities, and health information management, rounding out your technical background with skills relevant to supervisory and leadership roles. If you already hold a credential like ARRT, NMTCB, CCI, or ARDMS certification, this bridge program offers a genuine path to a bachelor's degree without starting your education over.

6. St. Joseph's College of Maine

St. Joseph's College of Maine offers a fully online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Radiologic Science Administration, aimed at students who've recently finished a radiography program or are already working as radiologic technologists. You can transfer up to 50 approved credits from your prior radiography coursework, which meaningfully shortens your path to a bachelor's degree.

The 120-credit program blends healthcare administration topics with radiologic science-specific coursework, and graduates can fast-track directly into the college's master's in health administration program afterward. If management or administrative roles in radiology interest you down the road, this program builds that path in from the start.

7. University of Louisiana at Monroe

University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) offers a fully online BS in Radiologic Technology built specifically for students already registered with the ARRT. You can be awarded up to 38 credits for your existing certification, with 120 total credits required to complete the degree.

Coursework covers computed tomography, vascular and interventional procedures, and advanced imaging, giving you a genuine path to specialize beyond your initial credential. At least 32 of your credit hours need to come directly through ULM, so it's worth planning your remaining coursework around that requirement.

8. Santa Fe College

Santa Fe College's hybrid AS in Radiography delivers courses online, on campus, and virtually over a 20-month program. The JRCERT-accredited curriculum spans 77 credits, covering radiologic physics, radiation biology, and special imaging modalities alongside hands-on clinical education.

The program is specifically built to develop radiographers who can adapt to changing imaging technology, not just perform today's standard procedures. If you want a genuinely blended format that doesn't lean too heavily toward either fully online or fully in-person instruction, Santa Fe's three-part structure offers real balance.

9. East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) offers a fully online BS completion program specifically for working radiologic professionals who already hold an AAS in radiography. The 120-credit curriculum focuses heavily on supervisory and management skills relevant to allied health fields, not just clinical technique.

Courses include radiographic equipment, digital imaging, and professional transition to radiography, preparing you for leadership positions rather than repeating entry-level material you've already mastered. If you're a working tech looking to move into management without stepping away from your job, ETSU's bridge program is built for that transition.

10. Pima Medical Institute

Pima Medical Institute offers a fully online BS in Radiologic Sciences for current professionals looking to advance into leadership roles, along with a separate online radiography bridge associate degree. The bachelor's program requires a professional capstone project alongside coursework in healthcare law, pathophysiology, and critical thinking.

Faculty bring direct field experience to their teaching, which shows up in the program's emphasis on practical, career-relevant skills. With completion times ranging from 16 to 48 months depending on your starting point, Pima Medical Institute offers real flexibility whether you're just beginning your bridge coursework or close to finishing.

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program details published directly by each institution. We paid particularly close attention to JRCERT accreditation, since it's the only agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education specifically for radiography, radiation therapy, and related imaging programs.

• Accreditation: Programs preparing you for entry-level certification hold JRCERT accreditation, while bachelor's completion programs for already-certified techs may rely on regional accreditation instead.
• Admissions policies: We looked at clear prerequisite and certification requirements, including which programs require existing ARRT credentials versus those open to new students.
• Academic quality: We considered curriculum depth, clinical partnership quality, and how clearly each program lays out its online and in-person components.
• Student outcomes: Where available, program completion rates and ARRT exam pass rates helped confirm these programs deliver genuine career preparation.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

What to Know About Choosing an Online or Hybrid Radiology Program

Because clinical training is such a core part of this field, it's worth understanding exactly how each program structures its hands-on component before you commit. A program that's light on detail about clinical placement is a genuine red flag.

A few things worth confirming with any program you're considering:

• whether clinical sites are already established near you, or whether you'll need to arrange your own placement
• whether the program requires existing ARRT certification, which matters if you're just starting out versus already working in the field
• JRCERT accreditation status specifically, since this is what makes you eligible to sit for the national certification exam
• how online coursework and clinical scheduling fit together, since some programs run these concurrently while others sequence them in phases

Benefits of Choosing a Hybrid or Online Radiology Program

A hybrid format lets you handle the more traditional academic coursework, like anatomy and radiation physics, on your own schedule and often earn your radiology tech degree more quickly while still getting the structured clinical training this career genuinely requires. That flexibility matters if you're balancing school with a job or family responsibilities that make a fully in-person schedule difficult.

For already-certified techs, a fully online bachelor's completion program offers real career mobility without requiring you to step away from your current job. Moving into a supervisory, administrative, or specialized role often depends on that bachelor's credential, and finishing it online lets you keep working while you build toward that next step.

How To Choose the Right Program

Program format matters, but a few other factors deserve just as much attention before you enroll anywhere.

Accreditation

Confirm JRCERT accreditation for any entry-level program, since this determines your eligibility to sit for the ARRT certification exam after graduation. For bachelor's completion programs, regional accreditation from an agency like SACSCOC or NECHE matters most, since you'll already hold your clinical credential.

Entry Requirements

Some programs on this list are entry-level, open to students without prior radiology experience, while others specifically require existing ARRT certification. Make sure you understand which category a program falls into before you apply, since applying to the wrong type wastes real time.

Clinical Site Access

Ask directly about established clinical partnerships and how far you might need to travel for rotations. A program with strong, nearby clinical relationships, like Ball State's partnership with IU Health Methodist Hospital, can make a real difference in how smoothly your hands-on training goes.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Compare total program costs, including any additional fees for uniforms, background checks, or health screenings that often come with clinical placement. Community college radiology tech programs tend to run more affordably than university-based options, though specifics vary quite a bit by school.

Student Support Services

Look for programs with dedicated clinical coordinators and academic advisors who understand the unique demands of balancing coursework with clinical hours. That kind of support can make a real difference when you're juggling online classes, hospital shifts, and everything else in your schedule.

Cost and Financial Aid

Total program costs for entry-level radiologic technology programs typically range from around $7,000 to $26,000, depending on the school and whether you're paying in-state or out-of-state rates. Bachelor's completion programs vary too, though many offer credit for your existing ARRT certification, which can meaningfully reduce the number of credits you actually need to pay for.

Filing the FAFSA is worth doing regardless of which program you choose, since it determines your eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study. A few things worth budgeting for beyond tuition itself:

• background checks and health screenings, which most clinical placements require before you can start rotations
• uniforms and required equipment, since clinical sites typically have specific dress and safety requirements
• transportation to clinical sites, which may be located a meaningful distance from your primary campus

Career Outlook

Radiologic technologists earn a median annual wage of $78,980, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a solid return given that this career typically requires only an associate degree. The BLS also projects a 5% increase in radiologic technologist positions over the next decade, a growth rate faster than the average across all U.S. occupations.

Radiologic technologists most commonly work in general medical and surgical hospitals, followed by physicians' offices and diagnostic imaging labs. Earning a bachelor's degree on top of your initial certification, something several schools on this list are specifically built to help with, can open doors to supervisory, administrative, or specialized imaging roles that pay more than entry-level positions.

FAQs About Colleges That Offer Radiology Tech Programs Online

Here are a few more questions people often ask about studying radiologic technology online. Reach out to a specific program's admissions office for details relevant to your situation.

Can I Become a Radiologic Technologist Without Any In-Person Training?

No, entry-level certification requires hands-on clinical training, since positioning patients and operating imaging equipment safely can't be taught remotely. Any program claiming to offer a fully online path to initial ARRT certification without clinical hours should be treated with real skepticism.

Do I Need to Already Be Certified to Start One of These Programs?

It depends on the specific program. Schools like Southeast Community College, Century College, and Santa Fe College accept students without prior radiology experience, while bridge programs like those at Georgia Southern and East Tennessee State require existing ARRT certification.

How Long Does an Online Bachelor's Bridge Program Typically Take?

Most bridge programs run around 24 months, though this varies depending on how many credits you can transfer in from your existing certification and clinical experience. Some programs, like Pima Medical Institute's, offer a wider range from 16 to 48 months depending on your starting point.

Will These Programs Prepare Me for Specialties Like CT or MRI?

Some bachelor's-level programs include coursework in computed tomography, MRI, and other advanced imaging modalities, which can help you pursue additional certifications after graduation. Entry-level associate programs generally focus on core radiography skills first, with specialty training typically coming through separate post-certification coursework.

Are Online Radiology Programs Respected by Employers?

Yes, as long as the program holds proper accreditation through JRCERT for entry-level training or through a recognized regional accreditor for bachelor's completion programs. Employers generally care more about your ARRT certification and clinical competency than whether your coursework happened online, in person, or through a hybrid format.

Explore Colleges That Offer Radiology Tech Programs Online

A career in radiologic technology and a flexible path to get there aren't mutually exclusive, and the schools above prove that real clinical training can pair with genuine online convenience. Compare programs, accreditation, and costs on Learn.org, and reach out to admissions offices directly with any questions specific to your situation.