Cardiovascular Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Cardiovascular Technology is a specialized health sciences program designed to train professionals in the accurate assessment and monitoring of heart and blood vessel function. Students gain hands-on expertise in performing a range of diagnostic procedures that support clinical decision-making and treatment planning under physician direction.
- Cardiovascular Anatomy and Physiology: In-depth study of the structure and function of the heart, blood vessels, and circulatory system to support accurate diagnostic interpretation.
- Patient Assessment and History Collection: Techniques for gathering and evaluating medical histories, symptoms, and risk factors to inform diagnostic approaches and ensure patient safety.
- Noninvasive Diagnostic Procedures: Training in technologies such as echocardiography, Doppler ultrasound, and stress testing to evaluate heart function without surgical intervention.
- Invasive Cardiovascular Techniques: Instruction in specialized procedures like angiography and catheterization, performed in controlled clinical settings to visualize and treat vascular conditions.
- Peripheral Vascular Assessment: Methods for examining blood flow and vascular health in extremities, including the use of duplex scanning and other imaging modalities.
- Diagnostic Data Analysis and Interpretation: Skills in processing, evaluating, and communicating imaging and physiological data to support clinical diagnoses.
- Medical Equipment Operation and Monitoring: Proficiency in using advanced cardiovascular diagnostic tools, including real-time imaging systems, hemodynamic monitoring devices, and patient support equipment.
- Professional Ethics and Clinical Standards: Emphasis on patient confidentiality, regulatory compliance, and ethical conduct within healthcare environments.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Physician Consultation: Development of communication strategies for effective teamwork with physicians and other healthcare providers in diagnostic and treatment workflows.
Cardiovascular Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Cardiovascular Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Cardiovascular Technology degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary and Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 290,900 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians 29-2031 | $67,260 | $37,890 - $108,900 | 61,180 | $32.34 |
Cardiovascular Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $55,850 in Oklahoma to $124,880 in Arkansas—a 124% difference. The highest-paying states include Arkansas, District of Columbia, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 290,900 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Cardiovascular Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 86 institutions offering Cardiovascular Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Cardiovascular Technology is found at Smith Chason College (162 graduates), Associated Technical College (ATC), Los Angeles (156 graduates), Eastwick College, Ramsey (121 graduates), Eastwick College, Nutley (87 graduates), and Grossmont College (47 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,540 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Chason College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
162 | Los Angeles, California | Private | wcui.edu |
| Associated Technical College (ATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
156 | Los Angeles, California | Private | atcla.edu |
| Eastwick College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
121 | Ramsey, New Jersey | Private | eastwickcollege.edu |
| Eastwick College |
Associate's
|
87 | Nutley, New Jersey | Private | eastwickcollege.edu |
| Grossmont College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
47 | El Cajon, California | Public | grossmont.edu |
| St Philip's College |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
44 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) |
Master's
|
31 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | web.musc.edu |
| South Suburban College (SSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
27 | South Holland, Illinois | Public | ssc.edu |
| Southeast Technical College (STC) |
Associate's
|
26 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Public | southeasttech.edu |
| Carnegie Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Troy, Michigan | Private | carnegie-institute.edu |
| Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) |
Associate's
|
24 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Public | hacc.edu |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Private | pucpr.edu |
| Kirtland Community College |
Associate's
|
22 | Grayling, Michigan | Public | kirtland.edu |
| Columbia Central University (CCU) |
Associate's
|
22 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | columbiacentral.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
22 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| Medical Career Institute (MCI) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
21 | Ocean, New Jersey | Private | mcinj.edu |
| Hillsborough Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hccfl.edu |
| Santa Fe College (SF) |
Associate's
|
20 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | sfcollege.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU-OKC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | osuokc.edu |
| Valencia College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Eastern International College |
Associate's
|
17 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Private | eicollege.edu |
| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (AIMS Education) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
17 | Piscataway, New Jersey | Private | aimseducation.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Associate's
|
16 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Howard Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Columbia, Maryland | Public | howardcc.edu |
| Northeast State Community College |
Associate's
|
16 | Blountville, Tennessee | Public | northeaststate.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Associate's
|
16 | Houston, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
15 | Aurora, Colorado | Private | concorde.edu |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Associate's
|
15 | Tampa, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC-NO) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | lsuhsc.edu |
| Jackson College |
Associate's
|
15 | Jackson, Michigan | Public | jccmi.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Associate's
|
14 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Piedmont Technical College (PTC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Greenwood, South Carolina | Public | ptc.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
13 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | concorde.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Associate's
|
12 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
12 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | concorde.edu |
| Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | South Portland, Maine | Public | smccme.edu |
| Sentara College of Health Sciences |
Associate's
|
12 | Chesapeake, Virginia | Private | sentara.edu |
| Molloy College |
Associate's
|
11 | Rockville Centre, New York | Private | molloy.edu |
| Dallas College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| Weatherford College (WC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Weatherford, Texas | Public | wc.edu |
| ATA College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | ata.edu |
| Fortis Institute |
Associate's
|
11 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | fortis.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
11 | Dallas, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Associate's
|
10 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College (SCTCC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | sctcc.edu |
| Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) |
Other Award
|
10 | Newark, Ohio | Public | cotc.edu |
| Atenas College |
Associate's
|
10 | Manati, Puerto Rico | Private | atenascollege.edu |
| Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) |
Associate's
|
9 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fsw.edu |
| Augusta Technical College (Augusta Tech) |
Associate's
|
9 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augustatech.edu |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Rome, Georgia | Public | gntc.edu |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
| Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | bhcc.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| The University of Findlay (UF) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Findlay, Ohio | Private | findlay.edu |
| Tulsa Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsacc.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences (PA College) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
9 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | pacollege.edu |
| Stellar Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | stellarcollege.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Polk State College |
Associate's
|
8 | Winter Haven, Florida | Public | polk.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Associate's
|
8 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Midwestern Career College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | mccollege.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Bryan College of Health Sciences |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Private | bryanhealthcollege.edu |
| High Desert Medical College (HDMC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Lancaster, California | Private | hdmc.edu |
| Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Rochester, Minnesota | Private | college.mayo.edu |
| American Institute of Healthcare & Technology (AIHT) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
6 | Stratford, Connecticut | Private | aiht.edu |
| Rush University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | rushu.rush.edu |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Senatobia, Mississippi | Public | northwestms.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
5 | Portland, Oregon | Private | concorde.edu |
| Laurel Business Institute (LBI) |
Associate's
|
5 | Uniontown, Pennsylvania | Private | laurel.edu |
| West Virginia University Hospital Departments of Rad Tech and Nutrition |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Private | wvumedicine.org |
| Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Warner Robins, Georgia | Public | centralgatech.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
3 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Associate's
|
3 | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Other Award
|
3 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) |
Associate's
|
3 | Fergus Falls, Minnesota | Public | minnesota.edu |
| Riverside College of Health Careers (RCHS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Newport News, Virginia | Private | riversideonline.com |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Associate's
|
2 | Miramar, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| Forsyth Technical Community College (Forsyth Tech) |
Other Award
|
2 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Public | forsythtech.edu |
| ATI College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
2 | Whitter, California | Private | ati.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Cardiovascular Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Cardiovascular Technology degree?
Salaries for Cardiovascular Technology graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians earn around $67,260. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Arkansas average $124,880 compared to $55,850 in Oklahoma. Approximately 290,900 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Cardiovascular Technology programs?
Currently 86 accredited institutions offer Cardiovascular Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Smith Chason College (162 graduates), Associated Technical College (ATC), Los Angeles (156 graduates), and Eastwick College, Ramsey (121 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Cardiovascular Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,019 in 2010 to 1,540 in 2023-24. This represents a 24% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Cardiovascular Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians, . Related occupations employ approximately 290,900 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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