An associate’s degree in sonography is the most common way to pursue a career as an ultrasound technician. Although ultrasound imaging is most well known for being used during pregnancy, it has a wide range of other medical uses. Sonographers and ultrasound technicians frequently use it to image abdominal organs, bones and joints, and the heart. An associate’s degree in sonography gives students an overview of the technology and helps them to be familiar with all of the potential uses.
The professions of sonographer and ultrasound technician are both projected to increase.
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 so that our list would highlight the most affordable programs. Then, we then ranked the programs according to quality, based on graduation rate and student-to-teacher ratio (using information from collegenavigator.gov).
Ranking the Top Five Affordable Online Associate’s Degrees in Sonography
- State Fair Community College
- Valencia College
- Baptist School of Health Professions
- Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology
- Jackson College
5. Jackson College
Jackson, Mississippi
Associate in Applied Science in General Sonography Online
At Jackson College, students can earn an AAS degree in sonography by completing all of the coursework online. 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 in an approved facility. The 80-credit program prepares students for employment in two specialty areas – abdomen/superficial structures and obstetrics/gynecology.
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 wishing to become sonographers. The school offers a partially online, flexible program so that students can conveniently complete many courses from home. The clinical labs required on-campus can be completed at any one of the school’s four campuses. The program takes 28 months to complete, and includes four clinical externships in hospitals, imaging facilities, or doctor offices.
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 that will prepare competent entry-level registry-eligible sonographers. The program takes five semesters to complete, and offers all general education courses online, while the core classes must be completed in the classroom or a lab. The program requires a total of 1,200 clinical hours, in which students train in a variety of clinical education settings. Graduates will be ready to take both the ARDMS ultrasound certification exam and the AART sonography exam.
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 labs on campus. The two-year program prepares students to go directly into a specialized career in sonography. The curriculum teaches students to analyze and present diagnostic data, correctly position patients’ bodies, and perform sonograms. The program is fully accredited by the CAAHEP, and graduates are eligible to take the national certification exams.
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 consists of online classes, on-campus scanning labs, and internships in local clinical settings. Students can choose between a general track and a cardiac track. The general track teaches students to perform abdominal, small parts, obstetric, gynecological, and vascular exams, while the cardiac track trains students to perform detailed cardiac and vascular exams.
Tuition: $6,168
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