Have you ever considered the option of pursuing a career in sonography? Or maybe you might have imagined yourself in a career as an ultrasound technician. If so, you have likely wondered what level of education may be needed so that you can begin your career as an ultrasound technician. An associate’s degree in sonography is the most common way to pursue a career as an ultrasound technician. Without question, ultrasound imaging is most well known for its use during pregnancy. However, ultrasound technology also has a very wide range of other medical uses. Sonographers and ultrasound technicians are often called on to use sonography to capture images of abdominal organs, bones and joints. Sonography is also often used to take images of the heart. An associate’s degree in sonography will give students a thorough overview of the technology needed in the field. It can also help them to be familiar with all of the potential uses and situations that they may find themselves in. Some sonography associate’s degrees are general, while others are more catered to a specific area of the body. It is a good idea to consider what type of ultrasound technician you would like to be, and choose a program that works well with your career goals.
Sonography is in fact a very good profession to pursue. According to the latest data, the professions of sonographer and ultrasound technician are both projected to increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the job opportunities for diagnostic medical sonographers will grow more than 14% over the next ten years. This growth rate is much higher than the projected growth rate for most other jobs.
The option to earn an associate’s degree online has been increasing in popularity. However, online associate’s degrees in sonography are relatively rare. After compiling a list of every online associate’s degree in sonography that we could find, we sorted the programs by their cost. We did this so that our list would highlight the most affordable programs. After ranking programs by cost, we ranked the programs according to their quality. This ranking is done based on both the graduation rate and the student-to-teacher ratio at the Online Ultrasound tech schools. We did this using the information found on collegenavigator.gov. Below you will find our list of the top five affordable online associates degrees in sonography.
Ranking the Top Five Affordable Online Associate’s Degrees in Sonography
5. Jackson College
Jackson, Mississippi
Associate in Applied Science in General Sonography Online
At Jackson College, students can earn an AAS degree in sonography. Although it’s not a fully online program, the students in this program are able to complete all of the coursework online. Jackson College lists this program as one of their “Online + Ground Based” degrees. What this means is that these degrees can be completed mostly online, but they contain a ground-based component, such as a lab or internship. This program, accredited by the CAAHEP, consists of integrated educational and clinical work. Students are required to complete a minimum of 1,350 supervised clinical hours. This needs to take place in an approved facility. The 80-credit program prepares students for employment in two specialty areas – abdomen/superficial structures and obstetrics/gynecology. The program typically takes seven semesters to complete. This includes all of the required clinical hours. Entry into this program is competitive. It is based on a “point system”. These points are earned through prerequisite work, as well as the interview process. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to apply for all of the necessary exams through ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography) in order to be able to earn their certification. Jackson College also offers a similar sonography program which specializes in cardiac sonography, as well as a vascular sonography program.
Tuition: $11,933
4. Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology
Atlanta, Georgia
Associate of Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
The AAS degree program at Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology offers real-world knowledge and training for those that are wishing to become sonographers. The school offers a partially online, flexible program. This online component allows the students to conveniently complete much of the required coursework from home. The clinical labs that are required on-campus can be completed at any one of the school’s four campuses. These four campuses are located in Atlanta, Georgia and in Orlando, Palm Beach, and Miami, Florida. The program takes a little less than 24 months to complete from start to finish. This time frame includes four clinical externships. These can be completed in hospitals, imaging facilities, or doctor offices. Some of the courses that are included in the online curriculum are Anatomy and Physiology, General Physics, Sonography Anatomy, Principles of OBGYN Sonography, Principles of Abdominal Sonography, Introduction to Vascular Sonography, and Pharmacology. Cambridge offers various financial aid options, and these are available to their online medical sonography students.
Tuition: $14,908
3. Baptist School of Health Professions
San Antonio, Texas
Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Baptist School of Health Professions offers a partially online AAS degree in sonography. This diagnostic medical sonography program will prepare competent entry-level registry-eligible sonographers. The program takes five semesters to complete, and it is delivered in a blended format. All of the general education courses are offered online, while the core classes must be completed in the classroom or in a lab. The online component is delivered in a synchronous format. Classes are only offered during daytime hours. The program requires a total of 1,200 clinical hours, in which students have the opportunity to train in a variety of clinical education settings. These clinicals are offered in 8 week rotations, and they must be completed within an 80 miles radius of the campus in San Antonio. Graduates will be ready to take both the ARDMS ultrasound certification exam and the AART sonography exam. They will also be prepared to take other exams that may be required, depending on their specific area of specialization. In order to be accepted to the program, the students must complete 15 credit hours of prerequisite courses.
Tuition: $11,552
2. Valencia College
Orlando, Florida
Associate in Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
At Valencia College, students can earn an affordable associate’s degree in sonography while studying primarily online. However, students are required to complete all of their labs on campus. The two-year program, which begins each fall, prepares students to go directly into a specialized career in sonography. This sonography program, which can be done primarily online, requires the completion of 77 credits. This does not include the prerequisite courses that are required to be accepted into the program. The curriculum teaches students to analyze and present diagnostic data, to correctly position patients’ bodies, and to perform sonograms. Graduates will be prepared to enter the field as either a diagnostic medical sonographer or as an ultrasound technologist. The program is fully accredited by the CAAHEP, and graduates are eligible to take the national certification exams. The school offers various pathways so that students in the program can go on to earn a bachelor’s degree and/or advanced technical certificates.
Tuition: $9,383
1. State Fair Community College
Sedalia, Missouri
Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
State Fair Community College offers the top affordable online associate’s degree in sonography. The competitive, 22-month, five-semester program is offered in a blended format. It begins each August, and students graduate 22 months later in May. The program consists of online classes, on-campus scanning labs, and internships in local clinical settings. Students are required to complete 80.5 credit hours throughout the program. Students can choose between a general track and a cardiac track. Completion time is the same for both tracks. The general track teaches students to perform abdominal, small parts, obstetriwoc, gynecological, and vascular exams, while the cardiac track trains students to perform detailed cardiac and vascular exams. Prospective students can apply to both of the tracks, but can only choose to accept admission to one. There are some required prerequisite courses in the sciences and general education. Students will finish the program prepared to take any necessary specialized certification exams.
Tuition: $6,168
Sonography FAQ
What kind of job can I get with an Associate’s Degree in Sonography?
It is good to consider whether an associate’s degree in sonography is just a stepping stone to a higher degree program or a gateway to the field as an ultrasound technician. The good news is that earning just an associate’s degree is enough for you to be able to enter the field of sonography. In fact, most sonographers hold only an associate’s degree. A bachelor’s degree may only be a necessary option for those who would like to move into some type of managerial position within the field. The field of sonography is very specialized, so the technical training included in an medical sonography associate’s degree is usually all that is needed to be fully qualified for an entry-level position in the field. There are sometimes additional certificates that can be earned in order to specialize in a specific area.
What personality traits are important for a sonographer to have?
There are a few personality traits and qualities that are very helpful for someone to have if they want to have a long and successful career as an ultrasound technician. It is essential that an ultrasound technician be very strong in their ability to pay attention to detail. Their job is dependent on the careful analyzation of images. Ultrasound technicians are often asked to compare images and note any differences, and these are often very small and easy to miss. It is also their job to carefully acquire all the necessary imaging, and this can not be done without extreme attention to detail. It is also vitally important that a sonographer has exceptional people skills. A sonographer will often meet with someone when they are experiencing a heightened level of anxiety. Having the ability to treat their patients with kindness, calmness and respect will go a very long way. An ultrasound technician who can do their job carefully and skillfully while exhibiting care and sympathy with the people they work with will enable them to have a very successful career.
How much can a sonographer make with just an associate’s degree?
The salary for a sonographer can vary quite a bit depending on what kind of work they do. Ultrasound technicians who specialize in a certain area can earn a higher salary. This is especially true for technicians with specializations such as cardiac, OBGYN, neuro or vascular. According to indeed.com, the average wage for an ultrasound technician is $41.70 per hour. There are obviously quite a few variables that could change this, such as areas of specialty or geographical location. The good news is that having just an associate’s degree should not have any kind of negative impact on your potential salary. It is one of the highest paying options in the medical field for jobs that only require an associate’s degree. There are not a lot of options within the medical field for good career pathways without the need to earn a higher degree. Sonography is an exception, and it’s a great option for those looking for a rewarding career without too many years of school.
Related Resources:
- Top Associate’s Degrees in Health Informatics
- Best Online ADN Programs
- Affordable Associate’s Degrees in Health Services Administration Online
This concludes our article on the top five affordable associate’s degrees in sonography.
Updated summer 2024
