Radiology Programs at Four-Year Colleges: A Comprehensive Guide

Radiology is a dynamic field that combines technology and patient care. If you are interested in a healthcare career involving advanced medical imaging, a radiology program at a four-year college might be the right path for you. This article provides an overview of radiography programs, exploring degree options, career paths, and key considerations for choosing the right school.

What is Radiologic Technology?

Radiography involves using sophisticated equipment to create X-rays and other medical images. Radiologic technologists play a vital role in diagnosing and monitoring diseases and injuries. They work with diverse populations in various healthcare settings, operating equipment such as X-ray machines, ultrasound machines, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners.

Radiography Degrees: An Overview

A degree in radiologic technology can lead to various careers in the medical field. In fact, radiologic technology is a popular field of study. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

Degree Levels

The radiography school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. The schools offer different types of radiography degrees.

Associate's Degree: An associate's degree is the most common degree for radiology.

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Bachelor's Degree: Earning a bachelor’s may qualify you for higher pay and management roles. You’ll study topics like medical imaging, anatomy, and radiation protection. After you graduate, you can work with diverse populations in various healthcare settings.
Master's Degree: Master of Science (MS) degrees in MRI and Nuclear Medicine are also offered.

Traditional vs. Online Programs

Students may take on-campus traditional degree programs or online degree programs. When looking at degree options, consider programs accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

Traditional Degree Programs

Traditional degree programs may be more suitable for students seeking initial certification. Traditional bachelor’s degree programs may take two years of full-time study before focusing on the radiologic technology coursework. Due to the hands-on nature of radiologic technology, a traditional degree program may be more suitable for students seeking initial certification.

Online Degree Programs

Online degree programs may be a better option for those who have an associate’s degree and licensure. Meanwhile, online degree programs typically require 120 credit hours.

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Curriculum and Specializations

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in radiology and radiologic technology, or completing a radiography program learn how to use advanced medical technology. These programs train them to produce diagnostic images and provide competent patient care. The majors for a radiologic technology bachelor’s program include radiography, radiation therapy, MRI, sonography (ultrasound), and nuclear medicine technology.

Common Courses

Common courses you might take for a bachelor’s degree in radiologic technology include:

Advanced imaging: Teaches you to identify illnesses in the brain, heart, and other areas of the human body.
Anatomy and physiology: Covers the complex structure of the human body and how the body functions, including cell function and heredity.
Technical imaging: Provides basic principles of medical imaging, including X-ray equipment, physics, patient care, and radiography.
Radiation protection: Teaches radiation science, how to detect and measure radiation, and how to protect patients against radiation hazards.
Advanced imaging techniques: Covers diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), and other advanced imaging techniques.

Featured Radiologic Technology Programs

Here are some examples of colleges and universities offering radiologic technology programs:

University of Nebraska Medical Center: Every student pursuing a degree in radiologic technology has to check out University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a good option for students pursuing a degree in radiologic technology.

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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center: It is hard to beat The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center if you want to pursue a degree in radiologic technology.
City College of San Francisco: Any student who is interested in radiologic technology needs to look into City College of San Francisco.
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale: Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Capital Community College: Located in the city of Hartford, Capital Community College is a public college with a very large student population.
Iowa University: Located in the city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a very large student population.
Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT): Located in the town of Klamath Falls, OIT is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
El Centro College: Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a public college with a very large student population.
GateWay Community College: Located in the city of Phoenix, GateWay Community College is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

GateWay Community College and Mayo Clinic Internship

GateWay Community College, located in Phoenix, Arizona, offers a Radiologic Technology Program with a clinical partnership at Mayo Clinic's campus in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. The curriculum is developed and offered by GateWay Community College. Graduates are eligible to take professional certification examinations given by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, providing nationally recognized credentials to practice radiography.

The Radiologic Technology Program, including the internship at Mayo Clinic's campus in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, is a full-time program consisting of five semesters over 21.5 months, based on 40 hours a week. During the program, approximately 1,500 hours of clinical experience are obtained in addition to classroom hours accumulated at the GateWay campus. A minimum grade of C must be received in all courses.

To participate in the internship, you must be enrolled in the Radiologic Technology Program at GateWay Community College and request Mayo Clinic's campus in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, as your clinical site. You pay all tuition and book fees to GateWay Community College.

Admission Requirements

Applicants whose primary language is not English must submit results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). Scores from the speaking portion of the exam are given particular consideration in admission decisions. If applicable, applicants must submit a translated transcript with U.S. equivalence by an accredited credential evaluation service company prior to submission.

Traditional Degree Programs: Detailed Examples

University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC): UMC offers a traditional Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences (BSRS) program that takes 22 months or five semesters. The BSRS degree requires completion of 124 credit hours of coursework. Admission is competitive, and applicants must submit an online application, ACT scores, and official transcripts.
California State University - Northridge (CSUN): CSUN offers a BSRS program that takes two and a half years to complete after prerequisite coursework. The program includes foundational education in radiographic technology and advanced imaging techniques, with over 2,600 hours of clinical experience.
Austin Peay State University (APSU): APSU offers a BSRT degree designed to provide students with a broad range of skills, including critical thinking, theory, laboratory work, and hands-on clinical experience. The different majors offered by APSU are radiography, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine technology, and diagnostic medical sonography.

Online Degree Programs: Detailed Examples

University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM): ULM offers an online Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology degree completion program for ARRT-registered technologists. The curriculum consists of 11 core credits in radiologic technology, 14 electives, and a capstone course.
University of Missouri at Columbia: The University of Missouri offers self-paced online classes covering clinical ethics, CT physics and procedures, MRI physics and procedures, public health principles and practice, radiologic pharmacology, and sectional anatomy.
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (UA Fort Smith): UA Fort Smith offers a BSIS degree completion program focused on leadership and management in the RT field. The courses include research in the health sciences, patient information management, and risk management.
East Tennessee State University (ETSU): ETSU offers an online degree completion program that includes courses in radiographic equipment, radiographic imaging and quality assessment, radiation in biology, and radiation protection.

Accreditation

Accreditation ensures that schools meet quality education standards, making them credible learning institutions. Accredited programs are helpful with transferring credits and obtaining certification or licensure. When choosing a radiology school or program, degree-seekers should ensure that the program has proper accreditation and meets their educational requirements.

Career Opportunities and Salary Expectations

Bachelor’s degree holders in radiology may become radiologic technologists, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologists, X-Ray technicians, sonographers, or nuclear medicine technologists.

Job Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that jobs for radiologic and MRI technologists will grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, which is faster than average.

Salary

Radiologic and MRI technologists earned a median annual salary of $78,980 in 2024, according to the BLS. That’s $37.97 per hour. However, average salaries may vary by state and modality. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the highest mean salaries were recorded in California ($86,120), Hawaii ($82,680), and Washington DC ($79,430). The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) also found in a survey that bachelor’s degree holders in radiology tend to make more than associate degree holders.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Program

Before you choose a bachelor’s in radiologic technology program, it’s important to understand what you’ll commit to.

Cost: Higher education can be expensive, so it’s important to consider the cost of your bachelor’s in radiologic technology program.
Program Length: Bachelor’s programs in radiologic technology usually take four years, but your program may be shorter or longer depending on your student status and whether your program accepts prior college credit.

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