Online Ultrasound Tech Schools

If you want a career as an ultrasound technician (or “sonographer“), your first step is to get a two-year or four-year degree with an accredited program. Not all programs are created equally, however. For the best chance at finding a high-paying job, you need an education from a top ultrasound technician school. So, which schools are best for this field?

First, determine whether you want to go to college online or off. Yes, there are many online ultrasound technician schools, and these programs are often as good – or better – than programs found at brick-and-mortar colleges. At an online school, you can learn at your own pace with the freedom to be flexible, but at the same time, there are no face-to-face interactions with other students or professors. There are both advantages and disadvantages of online educational programs.

Recently, US News ranked ultrasound and sonography programs available, creating a list of the top ultrasound technician schools. There’s more than one way to determine the school that is “best,” though. How do you determine the right school for you?

Start by looking at your potential professors and the size of class you can expect. The best schools will have small class sizes, complete with professors who have experience in ultrasound technology. Avoid schools that have classes taught by teaching assistants or mainly adjunct and non-tenured professors. You should also look at your specific program. For example, just because an ultrasound technician school is widely known as a top schools for cardiovascular sonography doesn’t mean that it is also a top ultrasound technician school for OB-GYN sonography.

Another mark of a good school is their after-graduation programs. Does the college help you find a job or sponsor alumni career fairs? Do they set up internships? What is their success rate of students working in their field of choice within two years of graduation? While it may seem tedious to ask, all of these questions should be directed to your admissions counselor. Don’t forget, when you’re being interviewed for potential admission to the school, you are also auditioning the school to be your final choice. A college that doesn’t have a high success rate or doesn’t sponsor programs to help students finds jobs is probably not the school for you.

Luckily, you have plenty of choices. For students who want the top degree in their field, there are currently 25 options for accredited ultrasound technician programs that offer bachelor’s degrees. The top school depends on your concentration. All of these colleges have a general concentration, but only some have specialized programs for those wishing to concentrate on a specific sonography area. Of course, you can also find great programs if you simple wish to get your associate’s degree. You’ll have a lot more choices of schools if that’s the case!

Sometimes what others consider to be the best isn’t necessarily what is best for you. Look for a school that feels like a good fit with your personality, be it an online school or an offline school. Ask questions, learn about the college’s program requirements, and check out job placement programs offered after you graduate. Do your homework now, and you’ll thank yourself for finding a great school later.

Having a degree in the healthcare field is a wise move for anyone looking to become a part of a growing medical field. Becoming an ultra sound tech generally requires some formal training, with the most popular form of education being a two-year degree in a field such as medical assisting, as there aren't really any degrees specific to ultrasound technicians. The following schools offer accredited online degree programs in related healthcare fields.

AS in Health IT	DeVry University - DeVry University is offering a health information technology associate's degree program, though not specifically an ultrasound program, intended to prepare individuals to work with health information systems and databases in their future careers assisting nurse staffs and physicians.
AS in Medical Assisting	Herzing University - The AS in medical assisting online degree program from Herzing University gives students a general introduction to the basic operations of a physician's office, with training in medical examination and laboratory procedures. Please note that this is not an ultrasound technologist degree.
BS in Health Services Mgmt AS in Medical Office Admin	Virginia College - The health services management degree from Virginia College Online is a bachelor's level degree program that is geared toward medical professionals looking to advance their careers within the medical industry. The health services management degree is not an ultrasound technician program, but is related to the heathcare field. Graduates of this program will be suited for management positions in hospitals, private practices, home health agencies, and more. Virginia College also offers a degree in medical office administration.
AS in Medical Assisting AS in Health Info Tech	Kaplan University - The medical assisting program from Kaplan University, while not an ultrasound technologist degree program, is a related healthcare service program and a flexible and affordable way for anyone to train to become a certified ultrasound technician. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants. Kaplan also offers a program in health information technology.
AS in Health IT	Hodges University - Those graduating with an HIT degree from Hodges University's Online are trained to become specialists at overseeing computer information systems, managing patient health information and medical records, programming and coding the diagnoses and procedures for healthcare services provided to patients. Though this is not specifically a medical ultrasound degree, it could provide a good background.
AAS in Medical Billing	Lincoln College - Lincoln College Online does not have an ultrasound program, but does have related healthcare service programs such as the associate's degree in medical billing and coding which is geared specifically for students looking to advance their careers within the healthcare administration business. Specifically, this degree program will prepare individuals with the skills needed to properly bill patients and health insurance companies, a useful skill in many hospitals, ultrasound facilities, or physician offices.
AS in Health IT AS in Healthcare Admin	Carrington College California - Although this Carrington College California program is not an ultrasound technician degree, students of Carrington College California have two online degree options available to them: the AS in healthcare information technology focuses on the gathering and handling of patient-related health data; the AS in health administration focuses on developing entry-level administrators or administrative assistants within a healthcare setting such as a hospital or lab.
AAS in Health IT	Rasmussen College - The healthcare information technology program allows students to learn medical coding skills when obtaining an A.A.S. degree from Rasmussen College. Note: This is not an ultrasound tech degree. Students learn to the techniques and skills required for maintaining patient files, medical records and disseminating data needed within their medical agency. Enrollees will also be required to receive management and supervisory training.
AS in Medical Assisting BS in Health Science	Keiser University - The BS degree in health science offered by Keiser University prepares students for both health service administration as well as business endeavors. Ultrasound techs can have a variety of degrees and healthcare backgrounds, but the BS degree in health science is not a diagnostic ultrasound technician degree. The entirely online coursework focuses on business law, management, medical anatomy, physiology, and more. Keiser also offers an associates degree in medical assisting.
AS in Medical Assisting	San Joaquin Valley College - Though not a specialized sonography program, the AS in medical assisting online degree program from San Joaquin Valley College teaches students essential technical, technological, and organizational tasks within a healthcare office. There may also be an accelerated option for those who wish to get their career underway as soon as possible.
AS in Health Administration	Brookline University - Brookline College does not offer an ultrasound tech degree. The AS degree in health administration from Brookline College Online is a two-year program that educates students on the importance of both ethical and practical issues pertaining to 21st century healthcare and healthcare technologies, such as ultrasound.
AS in Health Administration	Iowa Central College - Iowa Central College's AS degree in health care administration is a two-year program that prepares students for the real world of patient care in a health setting, such as hospital, physician office, or medical ultrasound clinic. Please note - this is not a diagnostic medical sonography degree.
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