Top 3 Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in Iowa

(found 3 schools, updated in August 2017)

Iowa is considered the heart of the Midwest and a farming state. Many of its attractions are associated with outdoor recreation, like sailing on Clear Lake or hiking in Backbone State Park. The state’s largest city, Des Moines, is the cultural, arts and health industry center. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers will find a variety of job settings throughout the state, including hospitals, outpatient clinics and research hospitals.

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Sonography Education in Iowa

Three Iowa schools offer CAAHEP accredited ultrasound programs in 2017. Allen College in Waterloo offers a certificate program in general sonography and a Bachelor degree in general sonography. Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines offers Certificate, Associate’s degree and Bachelor’s degree with either a concentration in cardiac sonography or general sonography. In Iowa City, the University of Iowa Health Care academic medical center offers more options. Students can earn a Bachelor’s degree in cardiac sonography, general sonography or vascular sonography. Completing the CAAHEP accredited programs at the three schools qualifies ultrasound technology students to take ARDMS sonography certification.

Salaries and Career Outlook for Sonographers in Iowa

Though Iowa’s beginning salaries for sonographers are close to the national average for beginning salaries, they do not increase as quickly with experience. In fact, statistics indicate an average ultrasound technician salary in Iowa was at $62,470 and the average national salary was at $71,750 in May 2016.

The projected growth in job openings during the 2014 to 2024 decade is 24.6 percent, and employment growth is on track in 2017. There were approximately 860 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers employed in 2016.

Over 40 percent of the ultrasound jobs are available in the four cities of Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines. The 2016 average salaries were quite close across the state and ranged from a low of $59,360 in the northwest Iowa non-metropolitan area to $66,130 in Cedar Rapids. | See Job Openings

Best Paying Regions in Iowa

Here are the 5 top paying regions in Iowa in terms of annual median wages:

1. Des Moines-West Des Moines: $66,060
2. Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area: $64,140
3. Cedar Rapids: $63,760
4. Waterloo-Cedar Falls: $62,900
5. Dubuque: $62,600

Best Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in Iowa

Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in Iowa City, Iowa

School: University of Iowa Health Care
Address: 200 Hawkins Drive
Zip: 52242
City: Iowa City
Website: www.uihealthcare.org
Contact Person: Stephanie Ellingson
Contact Email: stephanie-ellingson@uiowa.edu
Contact Phone: (319) 356-4871
Program: Baccalaureate Degree in General Sonography, Baccalaureate Degree in Cardiac Sonography, Baccalaureate Degree in Vascular Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: Bachelor’s Degree – 4 years (107 to 112 semester hours for one year of general education courses and three years of sonography classes and clinical training)
Application Deadline: Before January 15 in the year of desired program start date
Accepted Students: DMS and General and Vascular Sonography – 8 students; DMS and Cardiac and Vascular Sonography – 6 students
Program Start Date: Fall semester to begin general education requirements or sonography curriculum
Main Courses: DMS and General and Vascular Sonography –
Foundations of Sonography With Lab, Abdominal Sonography With Lab, Obstetrical and Gynecological Sonography With Lab, Vascular Sonography With Lab, Sonography Principles Physics and Instrumentation With Lab, Advanced Sonography With Lab, Vascular Anatomy (Online), Electrocardiogram and Hemodynamics (Online), Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Sciences (Online), Radiation Sciences Quality Management and Health Care Administration (Online), Research Methodology for Radiation Sciences, Patient Care for the Radiation Sciences, Pathology for Radiation Sciences, Medical Ethics and Law, Clinical Internship; DMS and Cardiac and Vascular Sonography – Cardiac Sonography With Lab, Cardiac Physiology and Hemodynamics, Vascular Sonography With Lab, SPI With Lab, Advanced Sonography With Lab, Advanced Cardiac Sonography With Lab, Foundations of Sonography With Lab, Research Methodology for Radiation Sciences, Radiation Sciences Quality Management and Health Care Administration (Online), Vascular Anatomy (Online), Electrocardiogram and Hemodynamics (Online), Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Sciences (Online), Medical Ethics and Law, Pathology for Radiation Sciences, Patient Care for the Radiation Sciences, Sonography Clinical Internship
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition & Fees (Fall and Spring Semesters) – $9,189.50 (Iowa residents) or $30,833.50 (nonresidents); Books & Supplies – $950; Additional potential costs including ARDMS examination fee, background check, room & board, transportation and so on
Financial Aid Opportunity: Federal programs including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loan; State programs including grants and scholarships; Scholarships for first-year students including Presidential Scholarship, Iowa Flagship Award, Old Gold Scholarship, Iowa Scholars Award, National Scholars Award, Advantage Iowa Award, and so on

Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in Des Moines, Iowa

School: Mercy College of Health Sciences
Address: 928 6th Avenue
Zip: 50309
City: Des Moines
Website: www.mchs.edu
Contact Person: Adrienne St. Clair
Contact Email: send mail
Contact Phone: (515) 643-6610
Program: Certificate, Associate Degree and Bachelor Degree in Cardiac Sonography, Certificate, Associate Degree and Bachelor Degree in Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Application Deadline: February 15
Transcript Deadline: March 1
Interview Deadline: March 31
Class Size: 12 to 16 students
Estimated Tuition and Fees: Tuition – $8,800 per term; Diagnostic Medical Sonography Fee – $250 per term; Registry Examination Preparation Fee – $200; Graduation Fee – $110
Financial Aid Opportunity: Grants including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Iowa Tuition Grant; Loans including Federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans, and Federal Parent PLUS Loan; Veterans Educational Benefits; Scholarships including Academic Program Student Scholarship, Connie French Endowed Scholarship, Independent Order of Odd Fellows Scholarships, Iowa Heart Center Scholarship (to a sonography student), Veronica A. Labor Academic Program Endowed Scholarship, Workforce of the Future Student Scholarship, Schildberg Foundation Student Scholarship and more

Accredited Sonography Schools in Waterloo, Iowa

School: Allen College
Address: 1990 Heath Street
Zip: 50703
City: Waterloo
Website: www.allencollege.edu
Contact Person: Evalene Martin
Contact Email: send mail
Contact Phone: (319) 226-2048
Program: Certificate and Bachelor Degree in General Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: Certificate – 19 credit hours of general courses and 66 credit hours of sonography core courses (5 semesters for sonography core courses); Bachelor Degree – 58 credit hours of general courses and 66 credit hours of sonography core courses (5 semesters to complete sonography core courses)
Application Deadline: November 1
Main Sonography Courses: Abdominal Sonography, Vascular Sonography, OB/GYN Sonography, Ultrasound Imaging, Special Studies – Sonography, Introduction Physics, Advanced Physics, Methods of Patient, Clinical Practicum
Clinical Sites: 8 sites located in Des Moines, Mason City, Vinton, and Waterloo
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition – $603 per credit hour;
Graduation Fee – $275; Registration Fee – $200; Laboratory Fee – $52 per credit hour for each class with lab or clinical training; Application Fee – $50; Student Service Fee – $29 per credit hour; Professional Membership Fees – $15 to $45 per year
Financial Aid Opportunity: Federal grants and loans including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal PLUS Loan, and Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans; Iowa State Tuition Grant; Scholarships like Allen Alumni Association Scholarships, Lloyd R. Dilley and Donald L. Dilley Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Tim & Renee Rasmussen Family Scholarship, Bob Sieglaff Scholarship, Allen College Winter Family Promises to Keep Award and more; Veterans Benefits