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Diagnostic medical sonographer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a diagnostic medical sonographer. Diagnostic medical sonographers usually study medical technician, psychology, or biology. 55% of diagnostic medical sonographers hold a associate degree, and 28% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 1,789 real diagnostic medical sonographer resumes to see exactly what diagnostic medical sonographer education sections show.

The most common colleges for diagnostic medical sonographers are the West Coast Ultrasound Institute and the West Coast Ultrasound Institute.

There are also many online diagnostic medical sonographer courses to help get the education required to be a diagnostic medical sonographer.

There are certain diagnostic medical sonographer certifications that you should consider. These diagnostic medical sonographer certifications include Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer - Abdomen (RDMS) and Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS).

What education do you need to become a diagnostic medical sonographer?

What degree do you need to be a diagnostic medical sonographer?

The most common degree for diagnostic medical sonographers is associate degree, with 55% of diagnostic medical sonographers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 28% and bachelor's degree degree at 6%.
  • Associate, 55%
  • Bachelor's, 28%
  • Diploma, 6%
  • Master's, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a diagnostic medical sonographer?

You should major in medical technician to become a diagnostic medical sonographer. 76% of diagnostic medical sonographers major in medical technician. Other common majors for a diagnostic medical sonographer include psychology and biology.

Most common colleges for diagnostic medical sonographers

Diagnostic medical sonographers often get their degrees at West Coast Ultrasound Institute, Keiser University, and Brown University. Here are the most common colleges for diagnostic medical sonographers in the US based on their resumes.
Diagnostic medical sonographer common collegePercentages
West Coast Ultrasound Institute22.64%
Keiser University11.32%
Brown University5.03%
Argosy University5.03%
Jackson College5.03%

Best majors for diagnostic medical sonographers

RankMajorPercentages
1Medical Technician75.6%
2Psychology2.6%
3Biology2.0%
4General Studies2.0%
5Liberal Arts2.0%

Best colleges for diagnostic medical sonographers

The best colleges for diagnostic medical sonographers are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Tulsa.

A diagnostic medical sonographer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for diagnostic medical sonographers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become diagnostic medical sonographers.

1. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,695

Enrollment

6,596

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

3. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$53,430

Enrollment

5,963

4. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

6. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

7. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

In-state tuition

$49,816

Enrollment

6,840

9. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

10. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,382

Enrollment

5,597

20 best online courses for diagnostic medical sonographers

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1. Visualizing the Living Body: Diagnostic Imaging

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This course teaches learners the underlying principles behind conventional radiography, computerized axial tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound. The radiology of chest, abdomen, pelvis, extremities, spine and brain are taught in this course using a combination of lectures and extensive practical activities and assessments. By the end of the course you will be able to: Describe the principles of conventional radiography, CT MRI and ultrasound Describe systematic...

2. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation

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In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...

3. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing

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Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...

4. Introduction to Medical Imaging

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4.5
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Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...

5. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

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Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

6. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff

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Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...

7. Medical Coding: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Training

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Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...

8. EU Medical Device Regulatory Affairs explained Simply

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How to get approval to sell Medical Devices within the European Union. Understand regulatory affairs & ISO 13485 2016...

9. Trauma Emergencies and Care

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Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...

10. Medical Terminology

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Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...

11. A Specialty Approach to Learning Medical Billing and Coding

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4.6
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Volume One: Medical Hematology...

12. Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 EU regulatory affairs.

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4.3
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Understand regulations for medical devices in simple terms to gain market approval of a medical device in the EU...

13. AMCI Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course

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4.6
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Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course...

14. Medical Device Regulation (MDR): Intro for Device Designers

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4.4
(520)

An introduction to the EU's Medical Device Regulation (MDR) for those involved in developing medical devices...

15. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - European Medical Devices

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4.5
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A practical course discussing the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) in real-world situations...

16. Medical Terminology 101

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For those in healthcare, billing, and more. Boost earning ability and marketable skills by learning to speak medicine...

17. Practical Regulatory Affairs 2020 - US FDA Medical Devices

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4.4
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A practical course discussing the US FDA Medical Device regulations for real-world situations...

18. ISO 13485 Demystified - Medical Devices' QMS 360° Insights

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4
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Deep dive into the world of ISO 13485 international standard for medical devices' QMS, basic concepts & requirements...

19. ISO 13485:2016 - Design and Development of Medical Devices

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4.2
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Design and Development of Medical Devices in the perspective of ISO 13485:2016 and Medical Devices Industry...

20. Medical Devices Quality Management System - ISO 13485:2016

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4.2
(631)

Awareness and Application for the requirements of ISO 13485:2016 for Medical Device Development and QMS...

Top 10 most affordable universities for diagnostic medical sonographers

The most affordable schools for diagnostic medical sonographers are Brigham Young University, minot state university, and florida international university.

If the best universities for diagnostic medical sonographers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for diagnostic medical sonographers.

1. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

2. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

3. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

4. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. Augusta University

Augusta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$8,604

Cost of attendance

20,618

7. University of Colorado Denver

Denver, CO • Private

In-state tuition

$9,283

Cost of attendance

22,243

8. Maine College of Health Professions

Lewiston, ME • Private

In-state tuition

$12,245

Cost of attendance

18,826

9. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Cost of attendance

24,718

10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,872

Cost of attendance

13,476

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for diagnostic medical sonographers

The hardest universities for diagnostic medical sonographers to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Tulsa.

Some great schools for diagnostic medical sonographers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for diagnostic medical sonographers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

3. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

4. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,304

7. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

59%

SAT average

1,367

8. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,326

9. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for diagnostic medical sonographers

The easiest schools for diagnostic medical sonographers to get into are AdventHealth University, life university, and d'youville college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a diagnostic medical sonographer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for diagnostic medical sonographers.

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

2. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

3. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

4. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

6. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

7. Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Canton, OH • Private

Admissions rate

75%

SAT average

1,085

8. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

9. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

10. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

Average diagnostic medical sonographer salary by education level

According to our data, diagnostic medical sonographers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $108,271 annually. Diagnostic medical sonographers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $96,266.
Diagnostic medical sonographer education levelDiagnostic medical sonographer salary
Master's Degree$108,271
Bachelor's Degree$96,266
Some College/ Associate Degree$87,556

Diagnostic medical sonographer education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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