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Magnetic resonance imaging technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a magnetic resonance imaging technician. Magnetic resonance imaging technicians usually study medical technician, nuclear and industrial radiologic technologies, or military technology. 50% of magnetic resonance imaging technicians hold a associate degree, and 35% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 276 real magnetic resonance imaging technician resumes to see exactly what magnetic resonance imaging technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for magnetic resonance imaging technicians are the Pima Medical Institute and the Pima Medical Institute.
There are also many online magnetic resonance imaging technician courses to help get the education required to be a magnetic resonance imaging technician.
There are certain magnetic resonance imaging technician certifications that you should consider. These magnetic resonance imaging technician certifications include Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist and Certified MRI Technologists.
What education do you need to become a magnetic resonance imaging technician?
What degree do you need to be a magnetic resonance imaging technician?
- Associate, 50%
- Bachelor's, 35%
- Master's, 5%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become a magnetic resonance imaging technician?
- Medical Technician, 48%
- Business, 4%
- Other Majors, 31%
Most common colleges for magnetic resonance imaging technicians
| Magnetic resonance imaging technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Pima Medical Institute | 9.68% |
| University of Cincinnati | 9.68% |
| Ferris State University | 9.68% |
| Valencia College | 6.45% |
| University of Phoenix | 6.45% |
Best majors for magnetic resonance imaging technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical Technician | 48.0% |
| 2 | Nuclear And Industrial Radiologic Technologies | 11.2% |
| 3 | Military Technology | 5.6% |
| 4 | Business | 4.0% |
| 5 | Health Sciences And Services | 4.0% |
Best colleges for magnetic resonance imaging technicians
The best colleges for magnetic resonance imaging technicians are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Tulsa.
A magnetic resonance imaging technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for magnetic resonance imaging technicians. 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 magnetic resonance imaging technicians.
1. Texas A&M University
College Station, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$11,870
Enrollment
53,194
2. Siena Heights University
Adrian, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$27,124
Enrollment
2,035
3. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
5. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
6. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
10. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
20 best online courses for magnetic resonance imaging technicians
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1. MRI Fundamentals
Welcome! In this course learners will develop expertise in basic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) physics and principles and gain knowledge of many different data acquisition strategies in MRI. In particular, learners will get to know what is magnetic resonance phenomenon, how magnetic resonance signals are generated, how an image can be formulated using MRI, how soft tissue contrast can change with imaging parameters. Also introduced will be MR imaging sequences of spin echo, gradient echo,...
2. Visualizing the Living Body: Diagnostic Imaging
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...
3. Introduction to Medical Imaging
Your guide to the history, science, math, and economics of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound)...
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5. Introduction to Neurohacking In R
Neurohacking describes how to use the R programming language (https://cran.r-project.org/) and its associated package to perform manipulation, processing, and analysis of neuroimaging data. We focus on publicly-available structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We discuss concepts such as inhomogeneity correction, image registration, and image visualization. By the end of this course, you will be able to: Read/write images of the brain in the NIfTI (Neuroimaging Informatics Technology...
6. Fundamental Neuroscience for Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging methods are used with increasing frequency in clinical practice and basic research. Designed for students and professionals, this course will introduce the basic principles of neuroimaging methods as applied to human subjects research and introduce the neuroscience concepts and terminology necessary for a basic understanding of neuroimaging applications. Topics include the history of neuroimaging, an introduction to neuroimaging physics and image formation, as well as an overview...
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Learn how to use Pytorch-Lightning to solve real world medical imaging tasks!...
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20. Become a Microbiology Laboratory Technician
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Top 10 most affordable universities for magnetic resonance imaging technicians
The most affordable schools for magnetic resonance imaging technicians are Brigham Young University, minot state university, and florida international university.
If the best universities for magnetic resonance imaging technicians 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 magnetic resonance imaging technicians.
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. Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$7,292
Cost of attendance
20,387
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for magnetic resonance imaging technicians
The hardest universities for magnetic resonance imaging technicians to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Tulsa.
Some great schools for magnetic resonance imaging technicians 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 magnetic resonance imaging technicians 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. Texas A&M University
College Station, TX • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
1,291
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for magnetic resonance imaging technicians
The easiest schools for magnetic resonance imaging technicians 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 magnetic resonance imaging technician 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 magnetic resonance imaging technicians.
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 magnetic resonance imaging technician salary by education level
| Magnetic resonance imaging technician education level | Magnetic resonance imaging technician salary |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $66,506 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $50,811 |
Magnetic resonance imaging technician education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025