Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared for professionals already certified as radiological technicians, this program focuses on advanced training in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. It equips learners with the expertise to produce high-resolution static and dynamic images of vascular systems and internal anatomical structures, supporting accurate medical diagnosis and therapeutic planning.
- MRI Imaging: Core principles and operational techniques for capturing detailed internal body images using magnetic fields and radio waves.
- Sectional Anatomy and Pathology: In-depth study of cross-sectional human anatomy alongside disease patterns affecting organs and tissues.
- MRI Technology: Exploration of hardware, software, and system integration essential for effective MRI operation and maintenance.
- MRI Techniques and Procedures: Hands-on training in standardized protocols for acquiring diagnostic-quality scans across diverse clinical scenarios.
- MRI Physics: Foundational understanding of electromagnetic principles, signal generation, and image formation processes unique to MRI.
- Clinical Training: Supervised, real-world experience in medical imaging environments to apply theoretical knowledge in patient care settings.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists. 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 271,250 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 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists 29-2035 | $88,180 | $64,910 - $121,420 | 41,530 | $42.40 |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $67,720 in South Dakota to $136,545 in District of Columbia—a 102% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Arkansas, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 271,250 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 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 65 institutions offering Magnetic Resonance Imaging 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 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology is found at Smith Chason College (159 graduates), CBD College (133 graduates), Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts (128 graduates), Career Networks Institute (CNI College) (119 graduates), and Casa Loma College, Los Angeles (71 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,055 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
Other Award
|
159 | Los Angeles, California | Private | wcui.edu |
| CBD College |
Associate's
|
133 | Los Angeles, California | Private | cbd.edu |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts |
Associate's
|
128 | San Jose, California | Private | gurnick.edu |
| Career Networks Institute (CNI College) |
Associate's
|
119 | Santa Ana, California | Private | cnicollege.edu |
| Casa Loma College |
Associate's
|
71 | Sherman Oaks, California | Private | casalomacollege.edu |
| Med College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
47 | Hialeah, Florida | Private | medcollege.edu |
| National Polytechnic College (NPC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
43 | Lakewood, California | Private | npcollege.edu |
| MCPHS University (MCPHS) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
24 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mcphs.edu |
| Midwestern Career College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | mccollege.edu |
| Owens Community College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Perrysburg, Ohio | Public | owens.edu |
| Sacramento Ultrasound Institute (SUI) |
Associate's
|
14 | Sacramento, California | Private | sui.edu |
| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (AIMS Education) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
13 | Piscataway, New Jersey | Private | aimseducation.edu |
| Stellar Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
13 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | stellarcollege.edu |
| Universidad Central Del Caribe (UCC) |
Other Award
|
12 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | uccaribe.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Other Award
|
11 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| Greenville Technical College (GTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Greenville, South Carolina | Public | gvltec.edu |
| Galveston College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
11 | Galveston, Texas | Public | gc.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Other Award
|
10 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Columbia Central University (CCU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | columbiacentral.edu |
| Community College of Denver (CCD) |
Other Award
|
9 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ccd.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Rochester, Minnesota | Private | college.mayo.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Other Award
|
7 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Lansing Community College (LCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | Lansing, Michigan | Public | lcc.edu |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unmc.edu |
| Wake Technical Community College (Wake Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | waketech.edu |
| Southwest University |
Associate's
|
7 | El Paso, Texas | Private | southwestuniversity.edu |
| Kent State University |
Other Award
|
6 | Salem, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Mercy College of Ohio |
Other Award
|
6 | Toledo, Ohio | Private | mercycollege.edu |
| South Suburban College (SSC) |
Other Award
|
5 | South Holland, Illinois | Public | ssc.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
5 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Public | grcc.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Forsyth Technical Community College (Forsyth Tech) |
Associate's
|
5 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Public | forsythtech.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Other Award
|
4 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| Washburn University (WU) |
Other Award
|
4 | Topeka, Kansas | Public | washburn.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Other Award
|
4 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| Kellogg Community College (KCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Battle Creek, Michigan | Public | kellogg.edu |
| Schoolcraft Community College District |
Other Award
|
4 | Livonia, Michigan | Public | schoolcraft.edu |
| Southwestern Michigan College (SMC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Dowagiac, Michigan | Public | swmich.edu |
| Washtenaw Community College (WCC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | wccnet.edu |
| Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ccbcmd.edu |
| Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Warner Robins, Georgia | Public | centralgatech.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Other Award
|
3 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| AdventHealth University (AHU) |
Other Award
|
3 | Orlando, Florida | Private | ahu.edu |
| Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) |
Other Award
|
3 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | atlantatech.edu |
| Augusta Technical College (Augusta Tech) |
Other Award
|
3 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augustatech.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Other Award
|
3 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Reno, Nevada | Public | tmcc.edu |
| Edgecombe Community College (ECC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Tarboro, North Carolina | Public | edgecombe.edu |
| Bucks County Community College |
Other Award
|
3 | Newtown, Pennsylvania | Public | bucks.edu |
| Chattanooga State Community College |
Other Award
|
3 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | chattanoogastate.edu |
| West Virginia University Hospital Departments of Rad Tech and Nutrition |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Private | wvumedicine.org |
| Stellar Career College |
Associate's
|
3 | Crown Point, Indiana | Private | in.stellarcollege.edu |
| University of Saint Francis (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Private | sf.edu |
| Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Rochester, Minnesota | Public | rctc.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Master's
|
2 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Other Award
|
2 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| South College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Private | south.edu |
| Athens Technical College (Athens Tech) |
Other Award
|
2 | Athens, Georgia | Public | athenstech.edu |
| Oconee Fall Line Technical College (OFTC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Sandersville, Georgia | Public | oftc.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| Albany Technical College |
Other Award
|
1 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Elgin Community College (ECC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Elgin, Illinois | Public | elgin.edu |
| Autry Technology Center (Autry Tech) |
Other Award
|
1 | Enid, Oklahoma | Public | autrytech.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology degree?
Salaries for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists earn around $88,180. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $136,545 compared to $67,720 in South Dakota. Approximately 271,250 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 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology programs?
Currently 65 accredited institutions offer Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Smith Chason College (159 graduates), CBD College (133 graduates), and Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts (128 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 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 100 in 2010 to 1,055 in 2023-24. This represents a 955% 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 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists, . Related occupations employ approximately 271,250 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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