Best Accredited Ultrasound Technician Schools in Illinois

(found 8 schools, updated in August 2017)

Are you looking for accredited ultrasound technician schools in Illinois? Illinois is a vibrant and diverse state that offers everything from exciting big city life in Chicago to quiet hikes in the Shawnee National Forest. As the fifth most populous state in the U.S., Illinois needs a steady influx of qualified healthcare workers with technology skills like those required to be a diagnostic medical sonographer.

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Sonography Education in Illinois

With 8 CAAHEP accredited ultrasound technician schools in Illinois as of 2017, students choosing a career in Diagnostic Medical Sonography have a choice of schools with diverse locations, ranging from Chicago to Carterville. Upon graduation from technician training programs, students are eligible to take the ARDMS examination. Passing the exam and registering with ARDMS opens up a varied number of general or specialized career paths in a rapidly expanding healthcare field.

Career Outlook and Salary for Ultrasound Technologists in Illinois

Sonographers can choose to earn a certificate, Associate degree or Baccalaureate degree. The higher the degree, the more career options will be available. The U.S. Department of Labor projects a 26.4% growth in national sonographer employment through the year 2024, exceeding most occupations. Illinois forecasts approximately 80 new positions annually, but a review of currently available positions suggests there will be many more opportunities than projected. Sonographers will find expanding job opportunities in hospitals, physician office, laboratories, outpatient care centers, long-term care facilities and schools of higher education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average ultrasound technician salary in Illinois in 2016 is $35.95 per hour, or $74,770 annual. | See Job Openings

Top Paying Regions in Illinois

Here are the 10 top paying regions in Illinois in terms of annual median wages for sonographers:

1. Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division: $78,990
2. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI: $78,010
3. Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division: $77,550
4. East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area: $77,390
5. Elgin, IL Metropolitan Division: $75,340
6. Rockford, IL: $74,960
7. Peoria, IL: $73,560
8. Champaign-Urbana, IL: $73,260
9. Springfield, IL: $69,650
10. Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area: $69,010

Diagnostic Medical Sonography Schools in Illinois

There are 5 cities in Northern Illinois, 1 city in Central Illinois and 2 cities in Southern Illinois with ultrasound technician schools in 2017.

SHOW ME SCHOOLS

6 Ultrasound Technician Schools in Northern Illinois

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Address: 541 North Fairbanks, Suite 950
Zip: 60611
City: Chicago
Website: www.nmh.org
Contact Person: Casey Clarke BSRT, RT(R), RDMS, RDCS
Contact Email: cclarke@nmh.org
Contact Phone: (312) 926-1196
Program: Certificate Program in General Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: 18 months
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Start Date: July each year
What to Learn: Fundamentals of Sonography, Sectional Anatomy for the Sonographer, OB/GYN Sonography, Abdomen Sonography, Abdomen Pathology, OB/GYN Sonography, OB/GYN Pathology, Pathophysiology, Ultrasound Physics, Introduction to Pediatric and Vascular Imaging, Image Critique, Specialty Sonography, Registry Review, Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: Feinberg and Arkes Pavilions, Interventional Radiology, Lake Forest Hospital in Northern Illinois, Lakeview Imaging Clinic, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Lynn Sage Breast Center, Prentice Women’s Hospital, and NMPG 680 Lakeshore Drive
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition – $9,000; Books – $1,500; Application Fee – $25; Additional expenses for medical insurance, liability insurance, TB testing, CPR certification, uniforms, immunizations, etc.

Rush University

Address: 600 South Paulina Street, Suite 1001
Zip: 60612
City: Chicago
Website: www.rush.edu
Contact Person: Eileen French-Sherry MA, RVT
Contact Email: Eileen_M_French-Sherry@rush.edu
Contact Phone: (312) 942-7286
Program: Baccalaureate Degree Program in Vascular Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: 5 semesters or 20 months for full-time vascular program (69 credit hours)
Average Class Size: 14
Admission Requirements: Must have earned 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours at accredited college with minimum GPA of 2.75 to be eligible to start vascular ultrasound program
Application Deadline: Begins September and runs continuously until class is full
Program Start Date: September of each year
What to Learn: Vascular Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology; Ultrasound Physics, Physical Principles and Instrumentation; Patient Care Class & Lab; Venous Procedures & Lab; Arterial Physiologic and Duplex Procedures; Arterial Physiologic Procedures Lab; Advanced Duplex Ultrasound Procedures Lab; Cerebrovascular Procedures & Lab; Abdominal Vascular Procedures Class and Lab; Introduction to Research and Lab; Professional Skills; Clinical Skills
Clinical Sites: Clinical sites in the Chicago metropolitan area including university hospitals, community hospitals and private labs; clinical sites out of the Chicago area located in Springfield in Illinois, Ann Arbor in Michigan, Boston in Massachusetts, Raleigh/Durham in North Carolina, Charleston in South Carolina, Tampa in Florida, and Seattle in Washington
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition – $867 per credit hour
Financial Aid Opportunity: Federal programs including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant FSEOG, Federal Direct Stafford Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans; State program like Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grants; Veterans Education Benefits

Joliet Junior College

Address: 1215 Houbolt Road
Zip: 60431
City: Joliet
Website: www.jjc.edu
Contact Person: Elena Miller
Contact Email: emiller@jjc.edu
Contact Phone: (815) 280-2588
Program: Accredited Certificate Program in General Sonography, Accredited Associate Degree Program in General Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: Certificate – 4 semesters with 46 credit hours; Associate Degree – 6 semesters with 72 credit hours (26 credit hours of general education courses and 46 credit hours of professional sonography courses)
Program Start Date: Each Fall
Core Courses: Abdominal and Small Parts Sonography, Abdominal and Small Parts Pathology, OB/GYN Sonography, OB/GYN Pathology, Sonographic Specialties & Special Topics, Sonography Principles & Procedures, Sonography Physics, Sonographic Image Critique, Sectional Anatomy in Imaging (Online), Clinical Education
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition & Fees – $11,000 for the certificate program or $14,000 for the Associate degree program; $1500 for other costs including books, uniforms, drug screen, laboratory work, etc.
Financial Aid Opportunity: Grants including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Joliet Junior College Legacy Program, and Illinois Student Assistance Commission Monetary Award Program (ISAC MAP); Loans including Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Direct Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans; Possible scholarship like ICCFA Student Scholarship; Veterans Benefits

College of DuPage

Address: 425 Fawell Boulevard
Zip: 60137
City: Glen Ellyn
Website: www.cod.edu
Contact Person: Melissa McKirdie BA, RDMS, RVT
Contact Email: mckirdiem@cod.edu
Contact Phone: (630) 942-3608
Program: Accredited Certificate Program in General Sonography, Accredited Associate Degree Program in General Sonography, Certificate and Associate Degree in Vascular Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: Associate Degree – 2 years (85 credit hours); Diagnostic Medical Sonography Certificate – 18 months (40 credit hours); Diagnostic Medical Vascular Sonography Certificate – 6 months (15 credit hours)
Application Deadline: May 14, 2018
Program Start Date: Fall
What to Learn: Sonographic Physics and Instrumentation, Breast Sonography, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Abdominal/Superficial Structures, Abdominal and Peripheral Arterial, Cerebrovascular Ultrasound, Sonographic Cross-Sectional Anatomy, Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: Contact program (may require rotation)
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition & Fees Per Credit Hour – $135 (in-district), $322 (in-state), or $392 (out-of-state); Students also pays lab fees for lab courses and other fees like books, supplies, etc.
Financial Aid Opportunity: Grants including Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Illinois Monetary Award Program Grant, and Student to Student Grant; Loans including Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and Federal PLUS Loans; Scholarships like College of DuPage Foundation Scholarships, JumpStart Scholarship

Triton College

Address: 2000 Fifth Avenue
Zip: 60171
City: River Grove
Website: www.triton.edu
Contact Person: Debra Krukowski RDMS
Contact Email: debrakrukowski@triton.edu
Contact Phone: (708) 456-0300
Program: Certificate and Associate Degree in Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: Associate – 5 semesters (66 credit hours); Certificate – 4 semesters (37 credit hours)
Accepted Students: Associate – 30 students; Certificate – 12 to 15 students
Program Start Date: Fall 2018
Main Courses: Associate – Ultrasound Physics, Introduction to Ultrasound Principles and Procedures, Introduction to Peripheral Vascular Imaging, First Aid & CPR, College Algebra, Pathology & Diagnostic Sonography, Principles of Computerized Sonography, Cross-Sectional Anatomy, Anatomy and Physiology, Social & Behavioral Science, Clinical Applications; Certificate – Ultrasound Physics, General Sonography Lecture/Lab, Principles and Procedures of Ultrasound Imaging, Pathology & Diagnostic Sonography, Sonography Specialties Lecture/Lab, Principles of Computerized Sonography, Introduction to Peripheral Vascular Sonography, Cross-Sectional Anatomy, Clinical Applications
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $134 per credit hour (in-district), $324.20 (out-of-district), $402.52 (out-of-state, international)
Financial Aid Opportunity: Federal programs including Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, and Federal Direct Student Loans; State programs including Illinois Monetary Award Program Grant; Veterans Benefits; Scholarships including Leyden Credit Union Scholarship, Dr. George R. Cox Student Life Scholarship, UPS Scholarship, etc.

Harper College

Address: 1200 West Algonquin Road
Zip: 60067-7398
City: Palatine
Website: www.HarperCollege.edu
Contact Person: Kelly Hamontree MS, RDCS
Contact Email: khamontr@harpercollege.edu
Contact Phone: (847) 925-6991
Program: Associate Degree in General Sonography, Associate Degree in Cardiac Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: 2 years (71 credit hours for general sonography, 69 credit hours for cardiac sonography)
Application Period: Diagnostic Medical Sonography – October 1, 2017 to February 1, 2018; Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography – October 1, 2017 to March 1, 2018
Program Start Date: Fall 2018
Main Courses: Diagnostic Medical Sonography – Ultrasound Physics/Instrumentation, Sonography Theory and Lab, Abdominal and Small Parts Sonography Theory, Obstetrical and Gynecological Sonography Theory, Health Care Technology and Informatics, Legal and ethical Issues in Health Care, Basic Health Care Skills, Medical Terminology, Basic Pharmacology, Fundamentals of Speech Communication, Medical Sonography Lab, Medical Sonography Clinical; Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography – Sonography Theory and Lab, Ultrasound Physics/Instrumentation, Electrocardiography, Cardiovascular Principles, Cardiac Sonography Theory and Lab, Fundamentals of Speech Communication, Basic Health Care Skills, Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care, Health Care Technology and Informatics, Medical Terminology, Basic Pharmacology, Clinical Sonography Lab, Cardiac Sonography Clinical
Clinical Sites: Call or email program for information
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Must attend information session to get specific tuition costs, which are twice the standard tuition rate
Financial Aid Opportunity: Grants including federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and State of Illinois Monetary Award Program Grant; Federal Direct Loans; Scholarships including Harper College Educational Foundation Scholarships, and Harper College Institutional Scholarships; Veterans benefits

1 Sonography School in Central Illinois

Danville Area Community College

Address: 2000 East Main Street
Zip: 61832
City: Danville
Website: www.dacc.edu
Contact Person: Tammy Howard
Contact Email: thoward@dacc.edu
Contact Phone: (217) 443-8552
Accreditation: ARRT recognized
Program Length: 45 credits (3 semesters)
Application Deadline: May 15 of year students wishes to begin program
Program Start Date: Fall semester
What to Learn: Abdominal & Small Parts Sonography, OB/GYN Sonography, Sonography Physics & Instrumentation, Cardiovascular Sonography, Clinical Education
Clinical Sites: Danville affiliates Carle Clinic, Christie Clinic, Illiana VA, Polyclinic, and Presence USMC; Other sites in Illinois located in Bloomington, Decatur, Hoopeston, Kankakee, Monticello, Pontiac, Springfield, Taylorville, Urbana, and Watseka; Sites in Indiana located in Lebanon, Monticello, Terre Haute, and Williamsport
Estimated Tuition and Fees: Tuition & Fees – $285 (in-district), $352.50 (in-state), or $385 (out of state); Books and Supplies – $1,000; Uniform Items – $150; Additional expenses including drug screen, background check, and ARDMS Physics/Specialty exams

2 Ultrasound Technician Schools in Southern Illinois

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Address: 1365 Douglas Drive
Zip: 62901
City: Carbondale
Website: www.siu.edu
Contact Person: Jessica Whittaker BS, RDMS, RVT, RT(R)
Contact Email: j.whittaker@siu.edu
Contact Phone: (618) 453-4980
Program: Certificate Program in General Sonography, Baccalaureate Degree in General Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP accredited, ARRT recognized
Application Deadline: February 1, 2018
Program Start Date: Fall semester
Main Courses: OB & GYN Sonography, Abdominal Sonography, Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation, Fundamentals of Sonography, Pediatrics, Advanced Vascular, Clinical Practicum
Clinical Training: Throughout Southern Illinois, Missouri, and the surrounding region
Financial Aid Opportunity: Grants including Federal Pell Grant, Illinois Monetary Assistance Program Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Student-to-Student Grant, and SIU Carbondale Institutional Need-Based Grant; Loans including Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loan; Veterans Benefits; Scholarships like Dean’s Scholarship, Chancellor’s Scholarship, etc.

John A. Logan College

Address: 700 Logan College Road
Zip: 62918
City: Carterville
Website: www.jalc.edu
Contact Person: Valerie Newberry PhD
Contact Email: valerienewberry@jalc.edu
Contact Phone: (618) 985-2828
Program: Certificate and Associate Degree in Cardiac Sonography
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Length: 18 Months for Associates in Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography (71-72 credit hours); Advanced Certificate Program in Cardiac Diagnostic Sonography (50 credit hours) – Students must have already completed prerequisites so shorter program
Application Deadline: March 31, 2017
Program Start Date: Fall Semester for students meeting requirements
What to Learn: Diagnostic Ultrasound Foundations, Cardiac Ultrasound Imaging/Lab, Medical Physics and Instrumentation, Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology, Cardiac Ultrasound Clinic
Clinical Sites: In multiple states that include Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee
Estimated Tuition, Fees and Costs: Tuition Per Credit Hour – $115 (in-district), $173 (in-state), $193 (out-of-state), or $400 (international); Books – $3,136; Other expenses including technology fee, graduation fee, program costs, etc.
Financial Aid Opportunity: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Illinois State Map Grant, JALC Foundation Scholarships, GI Bill Benefits and Illinois Veterans Grants