6 Best Ultrasound Technician Schools in Missouri – 2025
Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org
As a graduate of one of the ultrasound technician programs in Missouri, you’ll embark upon a satisfying career that will allow you to work with sophisticated technology. Demand for sonographers’ services in the Show Me State is high, and employment opportunities are expected to increase by 14 percent over the next 10 years. In Missouri, ultrasound techs can look forward to earning $75,220 a year on average. Chances are you won’t have to quit your current job either when you enroll in a Missouri ultrasound tech program because many of them are offered online. Want to find out more? Keep reading to learn about the 6 best ultrasound technician schools in Missouri for 2025.
WHAT ARE THE BEST ULTRASOUND TECHNICIAN PROGRAMS IN MISSOURI?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, below are the 6 best Ultrasound Technician programs in Missouri. The list includes both campus-based and online programs.)
1) University of Missouri - Columbia
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Baccalaureate & Masters
The University of Missouri’s diagnostic medical ultrasound department graduates perform exceedingly well on the national certification exams and hold leadership positions in the field of imaging. The college is also one of the top research institutions in the country, helping students to advance their knowledge in sonography.
The MU School of Health Professions is currently offering two programs -
BHS in Clinical & Diagnostic Sciences with Emphasis in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound: The 4-year program is designed to impart extensive knowledge and skills in the utilization of ultrasound techniques for diagnostic purposes. You will gain expertise in various areas of sonography such as OB/GYN, abdomen, vascular and echocardiographic technology. The program is quite rigorous, and you will have to attend classes and undergo clinical training for 35-40 hours per week.
MHS in Clinical & Diagnostic Sciences with Emphasis in Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound: MU happens to be the first college in the United States to offer a master’s program. The length of this program and the number of courses you will have to take will vary based on your educational qualifications.
1) If you hold a BHS degree in DMU from MU or a bachelor’s degree in DMS from any other college, then after the completion of the required general DMU courses you need to complete just 47-credit hours to earn this degree.
2) If you hold a BHS, BS or BA degree in any other health profession, then you must complete a total of 113-credit hours in general, vascular and Echocardiac. This will take you approximately 2.5-3 years to graduate.
2) State Fair Community College – Sedalia
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Associate (General & Cardiac)
State Fair Community College’s caring and warm environment with a healthy student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1 mentor sonography students to help achieve their academic goals.
Starting in August of each year, SFCC offers a rigorous 22-month associate degree program in diagnostic medical sonography that will train you to operate ultrasound devices and obtain data to help diagnose medical conditions. This 80.5-credit hour coursework is a mix of online learning, theoretical studies in classroom settings, practical training in laboratories, and experiential experience at various imaging centers in the region. It can be pursued in either of the two tracks – General Sonography or Cardiac Sonography. General sonography students are trained to perform diagnostic examinations of the following structures - abdomen, small parts, obstetrics, gynecology, and vascular, while the cardiac students will gain expertise in cardiac and vascular examinations.
3) St. Louis Community College - St. Louis
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Certificate (Medical Sonography) & Certificate Cardiac Sonography
St. Louis Community College’s sonography education is consistent with its motto of ‘Expanding Minds. Changing Lives.’ Its dedicated faculty incorporates a teaching pedagogy that caters to each student’s individual academic goals.
This diagnostic medical sonography program in MO beginning in fall every year is a full-time certificate program. It is a combination of classroom studies and clinical experiences at various affiliated healthcare settings spread across the region. This program is for individuals who hold an associate degree or a 2-year hospital-based training program in any allied health field. Before entry into the program, you will be required to complete 24-26 credits of pre-admission coursework in subjects such as oral communication, college composition, medical terminology and anatomy, and physiology.
You can pursue this program in either of the two tracks – Medical Sonography or Cardiac Sonography. The coursework requires completion of 37 credits in core sonography subjects based on the track you choose plus six credits in ultrasound physics and instrumentation. Graduates will be eligible to take the ARDMS certification exams. The Medical Sonography track graduates after passing the SPI exam can take the Abdomen and OB/GYN exam while the cardiac sonography graduates can take the Adult Echocardiography exam.
4) Cox College – Springfield
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Baccalaureate (Diagnostic Medical Sonography) & Certificate (Echocardiography)
Cox College is an ultrasound technician school in Missouri that trains graduates to become effective communicators, critical thinkers, and evidence-based decision makers. The college offers a bachelor’s degree in DMS and a certificate in Echocardiography. Your clinical rotations will take place at health care settings located in Springfield, Sullivan, Joplin and West Plains.
Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Imaging (BSDI): This degree focuses on the abdomen and small parts, obstetrics and gynecology, and vascular sonography. It is delivered through a combination of classroom learning, simulated lab experience, and clinical training. Post completion of the program you can sit for the certification exams administered by ARDMS or AART. To enroll in this program, you must either be a certified/licensed radiologic technologist or hold an associate degree with a minimum of 3.0 GPA. Before beginning the core DMS coursework, you must complete all pre-requisite courses with a ‘C’ grade or higher and complete a 32-hour job shadowing in ultrasound technology at any hospital within a year of applying (by March 1st).
Certificate (Echocardiography): This online post-bachelor’s certificate program is designed to train you in heart sonography. It is an extensive combination of classroom learning and clinical training in adult echocardiography. To apply for this program, you need to hold an accredited DMS bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, must be registered by either the ARDMS or ARRT and should have passed the Sonography Principles & Instrumentation examination.
5) St. Luke's Hospital of Kansas City - Kansas City
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Certificate
Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, a tertiary care hospital offers affordable and quality ultrasound technician programs at its state-of-the-art patient care facility. Students are provided with exceptional clinical opportunities at Saint Luke's Hospital, Saint Luke's East Hospital, Saint Luke's South Hospital, Saint Luke's Outpatient Imaging Center and Children's Mercy Hospital to develop employment-ready skills.
To become an ultrasound technician in MO, the St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City is offering two different types of programs for individuals who hold a two-year accredited associate degree in (radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, nursing or other allied health field) OR hold a 4-year accredited Bachelor’s degree. These programs can be a good option for health professionals seeking a career change or students looking to advance their education.
School of Diagnostic Medical Sonography offers an 18-month certificate program which focuses on abdominal, neurological, obstetrical/gynecological, and vascular sonography. Every year 15 best applicants are selected for the interview process, out of which only five are accepted. Upon graduation, you can take the certification exam administered by ARDMS and apply for positions in hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings.
School of Echocardiography offers a hospital-based 18-month echocardiographic certificate program emphasizing on heart sonography. This program will also give you a wide exposure to adult & pediatric echocardiography and vascular sonography. You will be required to devote at least 40 hours every week for classroom studies and clinical experiences. Only four students are accepted to this program based on - skill standards, referrals, practical training experience, job shadowing, and interview performance.
6) Hillyard Technical Center - St. Joseph
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Program Type: Certificate
Hillyard Technical Center designs a sonography curriculum that is adept to the changes in the healthcare industry. With the rigorous training that students go through they are ready to work in a variety of medical settings.
The 20-month DMS program at Hillyard is a mix of classroom learning and clinical experiences at various clinical centers throughout the Northwest Missouri region. Admission to the program is quite competitive, with only a limited number of students being accepted each year. This cohort program starts each year in August and prepares you for a career as a
general diagnostic medical sonographer and/or vascular technologist. Coursework is also designed to help you pass the national certification exams which will greatly enhance your career profile. To become a registered sonographer, you need to first pass the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) administered by ARDMS and then pass one or more specialty certification exams in - Abdomen/Small Parts, Breast, OB/GYN (RDMS), or Vascular Technology (RVT).
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