Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Diagnostic Medical Sonography is a specialized health sciences field focused on using advanced ultrasound technology to produce detailed images of internal body structures for medical evaluation. Professionals in this discipline play a critical role in supporting accurate diagnoses by capturing high-resolution sonographic data under the guidance of licensed physicians.
- Anatomical and Physiological Foundations: In-depth study of human body systems, including structure and function, to interpret sonographic images with clinical precision.
- Pathology and Disease Recognition: Training in identifying abnormal tissue patterns and conditions through ultrasound, enabling early detection of medical issues.
- Patient Assessment and Care: Development of skills to collect and analyze patient histories, provide pre-procedure instructions, and ensure comfort and safety during imaging sessions.
- Sonographic Imaging Techniques: Hands-on instruction in operating ultrasound equipment to generate diagnostic images across various body regions, including abdomen, obstetrics, and vascular systems.
- Data Processing and Image Analysis: Mastery of software tools and protocols to enhance, store, and interpret sonographic data for clinical reporting.
- Professional Ethics and Clinical Standards: Emphasis on ethical conduct, patient confidentiality, regulatory compliance, and adherence to national accreditation guidelines in healthcare settings.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Diagnostic Medical Sonography degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. 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 316,180 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 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers 29-2032 | $89,340 | $64,760 - $123,170 | 86,460 | $42.95 |
Diagnostic Medical Sonography Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $71,725 in South Dakota to $133,980 in District of Columbia—a 87% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Arkansas, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 316,180 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 Diagnostic Medical Sonography by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Diagnostic Medical Sonography 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 Diagnostic Medical Sonography is found at Smith Chason College (275 graduates), Keiser University, Ft Lauderdale (207 graduates), Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology (184 graduates), New York Medical Career Training Center (178 graduates), and High Desert Medical College (HDMC) (153 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,822 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 |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
275 | Los Angeles, California | Private | wcui.edu |
| Keiser University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
207 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology |
Associate's
|
184 | Delray Beach, Florida | Private | cambridgehealth.edu |
| New York Medical Career Training Center |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
178 | Flushing, New York | Private | nymedtraining.com |
| High Desert Medical College (HDMC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
153 | Lancaster, California | Private | hdmc.edu |
| CBD College |
Associate's
|
139 | Los Angeles, California | Private | cbd.edu |
| Monroe College |
Associate's
|
128 | Bronx, New York | Private | monroecollege.edu |
| Center for Allied Health Education (CAHE) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
118 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | cahe.edu |
| South College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
106 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Private | south.edu |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
95 | San Jose, California | Private | gurnick.edu |
| Platt College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
95 | Riverside, California | Private | plattcollege.edu |
| Oregon Institute of Technology (OTI) |
Bachelor's
|
94 | Klamath Falls, Oregon | Public | oit.edu |
| Platt College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
92 | Anaheim, California | Private | plattcollege.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Associate's
|
89 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| American Medical Sciences Center (AMSC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
77 | Glendale, California | Private | amsc.edu |
| Platt College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
76 | Alhambra, California | Private | plattcollege.edu |
| Healthcare Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
72 | Paramount, California | Private | healthcarecareercollege.edu |
| Center for Ultrasound Research & Education (CURE) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
70 | White Plains, New York | Private | cure.edu |
| Platt College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
67 | Ontario, California | Private | plattcollege.edu |
| PCI College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
66 | Cerritos, California | Private | pci-ed.com |
| ATA College |
Associate's
|
56 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | ata.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Southeastern College |
Associate's
|
53 | West Palm Beach, Florida | Private | sec.edu |
| Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology |
Associate's
|
52 | Altamonte Springs, Florida | Private | cambridgehealth.edu |
| Casa Loma College |
Associate's
|
51 | Sherman Oaks, California | Private | casalomacollege.edu |
| City College |
Associate's
|
49 | Hollywood, Florida | Private | citycollege.edu |
| Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
| Washburn University (WU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
46 | Topeka, Kansas | Public | washburn.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Associate's
|
42 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| George C Wallace State Community College |
Associate's
|
41 | Hanceville, Alabama | Public | wallacestate.edu |
| Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) |
Associate's
|
41 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | ccac.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College (CCMCC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
39 | Antioch, California | Private | ccmcc.edu |
| Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Ultrasound (CVIU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
38 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | ultrasound.edu |
| ECPI University (ECPI) |
Associate's
|
36 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | ecpi.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
36 | Houston, Texas | Private | pmi.edu |
| Southern Technical College (STC) |
Associate's
|
35 | Fort Myers, Florida | Private | southerntech.edu |
| North-West College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
35 | Long Beach, California | Private | nw.edu |
| Baptist Health System School of Health Professions |
Associate's
|
34 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | bshp.edu |
| Lone Star College System (LSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | The Woodlands, Texas | Public | lonestar.edu |
| Columbia Central University (CCU) |
Associate's
|
34 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | columbiacentral.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Associate's
|
34 | Austin, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Associate's
|
33 | Bakersfield, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| AdventHealth University (AHU) |
Associate's
|
33 | Orlando, Florida | Private | ahu.edu |
| GateWay Community College (GWCC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
| Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
32 | Rochester, Minnesota | Private | college.mayo.edu |
| National Polytechnic College (NPC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | Lakewood, California | Private | npcollege.edu |
| MCPHS University (MCPHS) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mcphs.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Cupey) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
31 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Carolina) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
31 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Associate's
|
31 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Sacramento Ultrasound Institute (SUI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
31 | Sacramento, California | Private | sui.edu |
| Tyler Junior College (TJC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
30 | Tyler, Texas | Public | tjc.edu |
| Modern Technology School (MT School) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
29 | Fountain Valley, California | Private | mtschool.edu |
| Florida National University (FNU) |
Associate's
|
29 | Hialeah, Florida | Private | fnu.edu |
| Western Suffolk BOCES |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
29 | Northport, New York | Public | wilsontech.org |
| ATI College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
29 | Whitter, California | Private | ati.edu |
| Medical Career Institute (MCI) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
29 | Ocean, New Jersey | Private | mcinj.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Hunter Business School |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
28 | Levittown, New York | Private | hunterbusinessschool.edu |
| Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health (NMC) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
27 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | methodistcollege.edu |
| South Hills School of Business & Technology (SHSBT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
27 | State College, Pennsylvania | Private | southhills.edu |
| Bellevue College (BC) |
Associate's
|
27 | Bellevue, Washington | Public | bellevuecollege.edu |
| Eastern International College |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Private | eicollege.edu |
| Lackawanna College |
Associate's
|
26 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | lackawanna.edu |
| Central California School of Continuing Education (CCSCE) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
26 | San Luis Obispo, California | Private | ccsce.org |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
26 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | pmi.edu |
| Triton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
25 | River Grove, Illinois | Public | triton.edu |
| St Catherine University (St. Kate’s) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stkate.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Great Lakes Institute of Technology (GLIT) |
Associate's
|
25 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | glit.edu |
| Temple College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Temple, Texas | Public | templejc.edu |
| Pensacola State College (PSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
24 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | pensacolastate.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Associate's
|
24 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Laramie County Community College (LCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
24 | Cheyenne, Wyoming | Public | lccc.wy.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Associate's
|
24 | Houston, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Southeastern College |
Associate's
|
24 | North Charleston, South Carolina | Private | sec.edu |
| ATA College |
Associate's
|
24 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | ata.edu |
| Stautzenberger College |
Associate's
|
24 | Rockford, Illinois | Private | rockfordcareercollege.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Associate's
|
23 | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Lansing Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Lansing, Michigan | Public | lcc.edu |
| Concordia University |
Associate's
|
23 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | csp.edu |
| St Philip's College |
Associate's
Residency
|
23 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| American Institute |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
22 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | americaninstitute.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
22 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | concorde.edu |
| Owens Community College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Perrysburg, Ohio | Public | owens.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
22 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Midwestern Career College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | mccollege.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
22 | Dallas, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| Integrity College of Health (ICH) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
22 | Pasadena, California | Private | ich.edu |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College (BVCTC) |
Associate's
|
22 | South Charleston, West Virginia | Public | bridgevalley.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
21 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (CSTCC) |
Associate's
|
21 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | cincinnatistate.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Associate's
|
21 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) |
Associate's
|
21 | Warwick, Rhode Island | Public | ccri.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs
How much can I earn with a Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree?
Salaries for Diagnostic Medical Sonography graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Diagnostic Medical Sonographers earn around $89,340. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $133,980 compared to $71,725 in South Dakota. Approximately 316,180 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 Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs?
Currently 321 accredited institutions offer Diagnostic Medical Sonography degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Smith Chason College (275 graduates), Keiser University, Ft Lauderdale (207 graduates), and Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology (184 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 Diagnostic Medical Sonography growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5,570 in 2010 to 7,272 in 2023-24. This represents a 31% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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 Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, . Related occupations employ approximately 316,180 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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