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Registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer. Registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers usually study medical technician, business, or marketing. 54% of registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers hold a associate degree, and 38% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 73 real registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer resumes to see exactly what registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer education sections show.
The most common colleges for registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers are the Ferris State University and the Ferris State University.
There are also many online registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer courses to help get the education required to be a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer.
There are certain registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer certifications that you should consider. These registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer certifications include Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer - Adult Echocardiography (RDCS) and Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS).
What education do you need to become a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer?
What degree do you need to be a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer?
- Associate, 54%
- Bachelor's, 38%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer?
- Medical Technician, 48%
- Business, 14%
- Marketing, 7%
- Biology, 7%
- Other Majors, 24%
Most common colleges for registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers
| Registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Ferris State University | 5.00% |
| Rhodes College | 5.00% |
| SUNY College at Oswego | 5.00% |
| Florida Atlantic University | 5.00% |
| Keiser University | 5.00% |
Best majors for registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical Technician | 48.3% |
| 2 | Business | 13.8% |
| 3 | Marketing | 6.9% |
| 4 | Biology | 6.9% |
| 5 | Medical Clinical Sciences | 3.4% |
Best colleges for registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers
The best colleges for registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Tulsa.
A registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers
The most affordable schools for registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers are Brigham Young University, minot state university, and florida international university.
If the best universities for registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers
The hardest universities for registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Tulsa.
Some great schools for registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac sonographers
The easiest schools for registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac 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 registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer salary by education level
| Registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer education level | Registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $94,619 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $83,101 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $74,837 |
Registered diagnostic cardiac sonographer education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025