Online Sonography Programs in NC: A Guide for Students

Program Profiles: Exploring Sonography Programs in North Carolina

There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to sonography programs in North Carolina. As a rule, you can expect to be studying either in person or in a hybrid format for your sonography qualifications. This is because, in North Carolina and elsewhere, sonography training requires hands-on work with advanced technology and clinical rotations in hospitals and other care settings. Although some coursework may be completed online, the amount of online work in a sonography program will vary.

Students interested in becoming medical sonographers or ultrasound technologists can get associate and bachelor’s degrees in this field. Most sonography schools in NC offer an associate degree in medical sonography, allowing students to qualify to sit for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) exams, gain registration, and practice as general or specialist diagnostic medical sonographers.

You’ll need to do your research to find which program is fit for you based on your schedule and personal obligations. Below, we’ve profiled a few high-quality sonography programs in North Carolina to give you an idea of what you might expect from your chosen program.

Answering Commonly Asked Question About Online Sonography Programs

Before you begin a North Carolina sonography program, it’s natural to have a few questions. In fact, most students in your position do. That’s why below, we’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions for students considering enrolling in online sonography programs in North Carolina.

Are there fully online sonography programs in North Carolina?

While there are no full-time online sonography programs in North Carolina, there are hybrid programs, such as the Medical Sonography Associate in Applied Science degree at Wake Technical Community College. Sonography requires hands-on use of complex medical technology, so in-person training and clinical rotations are crucial. A fully online quality program is hard to develop and implement. If you’re looking for an online ultrasound tech school in NC, you might consider studying mammography at Pitt Community College — a two-semester certificate program that can help you become a registered mammographer. If your concerned about the timeframe of a hybrid sonography program, there are accelerated programs that allow you to complete the required sonography training in one year.

Can I get an advanced degree in sonography?

Most sonography schools in NC offer an associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography, which allows students to apply for registration with the ARDMS. According to the ARDMS, most practicing sonographers earn their certification through an associate degree program, so you don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s or advanced degree to work as a sonographer. In fact, master’s programs in sonography in NC are uncommon. If you want to gain a deeper understanding of the field or want to increase your pay, consider pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a concentration in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, like the one offered at South College Asheville.

What is the difference between a sonographer and an ultrasound technician?

According to ARDMS’s guide to becoming a sonographer, the terms “sonographer” and “ultrasound technician” are used interchangeably, but sonographers undergo additional training and gain extra certifications. These can include an associate or bachelor’s degree, while some ultrasound technician roles require only a diploma or certificate. Both use sound waves to visualize organs and diagnose disease. This imaging method differs from others because it uses sound instead of radiation to visualize organs. Although sonographers and ultrasound technicians are similar, sonographer roles often pay more, as they require more advanced certification, and possibly working with more complex machinery. This distinction is especially relevant when looking for scholarships to cover your tuition as some scholarships only apply to sonography programs and not ultrasound programs.

What prerequisites do I need before I start a sonography program?

Those interested in sonography should take physiology, anatomy, mathematics, and physics in high school. These prerequisites can vary slightly between sonography schools in NC. For example, Central Carolina Community College wants students with a 2.0 cumulative GPA who have completed the Assessment Technologies Institute’s Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) exam. In contrast, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College requires students to take additional basic anatomy, physiology, and health sciences classes. Generally, associate degree programs have fewer prerequisites than bachelor’s programs. However, be sure to check with your school about their prerequisite requirements and how you can complete them before applying because it could shorten the length of the sonography program.

What jobs can I get after graduation and how well do they pay?

After you graduate, you can apply for entry-level jobs in hospitals, physician offices, medical laboratories, and outpatient care centers, the largest employers of medical sonographers in 2023. Diagnostic medical sonographers earn a median annual salary of $84,470, with those in outpatient care centers earning as much as $122,380. Aside from diagnostic medical sonography, you may consider roles in obstetric sonography, which generally takes place in OB-GYN offices and hospitals, although these roles may pay less than diagnostic medical sonography. As with many jobs, pay in sonography roles is partially determined by experience and location.

Top-Rated Online Sonography Degrees in North Carolina

We’ve ranked the top online (and hybrid) sonography programs in North Carolina below using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). In our rankings, we consider multiple factors, including availability of online classes, resources for students studying remotely, tuition costs and availability of financial aid, and graduation rates as well as time to graduation. For more details on how we determine rankings, see the methodology pop-up. Otherwise, read on for North Carolina’s top sonography programs:

Salary & Career Trends for Sonographers in North Carolina

North Carolinians looking for a new career should consider sonography. For starters, the state has a significantly high growth rate for sonographers (26.5%, to be exact). Compare that to the national growth rate for sonographers of 14.3%, and you can see why North Carolina is a great place to enroll in a sonography and ultrasound training program. High growth should equate to more room for promotions, an easier job application process, and increased opportunities to negotiate a higher salary. Speaking of pay, the average salary range for sonographers in North Carolina is from $63,630 to $99,950. Some sonographers earn even more, depending on their specific region of North Carolina. In Raleigh, for example, the 90th percentile earns $101,600 or more per year. Sonographers located in the Durham-Chapel Hill area can expect even higher salaries, with the 90th percentile earning over $107,460 annually.