Diagnostic Medical Sonography

Career Information & Outlook

The Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is a skilled professional who uses equipment producing high-frequency sound waves to create diagnostic images and data that help health care professionals diagnose patients with disease. Ultrasound imaging is used on many parts of the body, including the abdomen, heart, blood vessels, and the developing fetus of a pregnant woman. When determining normal and abnormal findings, the sonographer must demonstrate sectional anatomy through transducer manipulation. The sonographer uses independent judgment in recognizing the need to extend the scope of the study according to the diagnostic findings. These professionals participate in the reading sessions with physicians, contributing technical and professional knowledge and observation to the final diagnostic impression. The sonographer spends extended time with the patient obtaining a thorough history of symptoms, explaining the exam, answering questions, and performing the exam. He or she must also recognize emergency patient care situations and institute lifesaving first aid when necessary. Extended patient contact and added professional responsibility are only a couple of the many rewards found in the field of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Visit the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET (29-2032.00 - Diagnostic Medical Sonographers) for additional career information.

2010 - 2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational outlook reports employment of diagnostic medical sonographers is expected to increase by about 18 percent through 2018—faster than the average for all occupations. Ultrasound imaging technology is expected to evolve rapidly and spawn many new sonography procedures, enabling sonographers to scan and image areas of the body where ultrasound has not traditionally been used. Sonographers with multiple specialties or multiple credentials also will have good prospects.
For statistics on salary expectations and additional information on a career in Diagnostic Medical Sonography visit the Bureau of Labor and Statistics website (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos273.htm)

2011 - 2012 Tuition, Fees, and Expenses

• Program Acceptance Fee - $150. Payable upon acceptance into the program. (Non refundable)
• Tuition - (These are subject to annual changes.
  • Students applying program hours towards a baccalaureate degree pay University of Iowa undergraduate tuition of $5,649/yr. for residents or $18,645/yr. for nonresidents. Second year tuition is approximately $4,035 for residents or $14,865 for nonresidents.
  • Students receiving a certificate of completion and zero hours of credit pay a tuition established specifically for the DMS Program of $4,500/yr. for residents or $6,750/yr. for nonresidents. The full-year certificate tuition is due on the first day of the program. Second year tuition is $2250 for residents and $3375 for nonresidents.
• Fees
  • Students are required to pay mandatory student fees which includes application, technology, student activities, student services, student union, building, arts and cultural events, and recreation fees. In addition, students in a degree program pay a new students program/matriculation (if not previously University of Iowa degree student), career services, and health fees and students in the certificate program pay a miscellaneous non-degree certificate program fee. The mandatory fees are assessed via U-bill.
  • Degree student’s total fees are $1,448.25 for the first year and approximately $1,158.25 for the second year.
  • Certificate student’s total fees are $1,975 for first year and approximately $1,419 for the second year.
• Textbooks – $790 (Estimate for the entire program)
• Uniforms - $300 (Estimate for the entire program)
• *Room & Board - $11,670 (Annually; based on double room with full board - 20 meals/week)
• Medical History and Health Screeing Forms, TB & TB Respirator-fitting Tests, & Immunizations

  All Radiation Sciences students are required to complete a medical history and a health screening form, complete a TB skin and mask-fitting test annually and show proof of immunizations. The TB tests and any needed immunizations may be obtained at UI Student Health Services or from your personal physician. Cost varies.

• *Personal - $4,844 (Annual; includes phone charges, clothes, entertainment, laundry, mandatory student health insurance, and other costs. Although your actual expenses may vary, these are estimates to help with budgeting.)
• *Transportation - $1,190 (Annual)
• Students are eligible to apply for financial aid as administered by the University Office of Student Financial Aid. Call (319) 335-1450 for information and/or appointments.
• American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers examination fees - $200 per exam, $50 application fee. (Most graduates take 4 examinations: Sonography Principles and Instrumentation, Abdominal, OB/GYN and Vascular certification exams)

*These figures are developed and provided by the UI Office of Student Financial Aid annually.

Payment of Student Account

Charges incurred for food, University computer, activity, and services fees, student health insurance, car registration, parking, library and parking fines are billed on a monthly statement and mailed to your residence address. Fees are billed three times each semester and once during the summer session. Accounts unpaid 15 days after the billing date are reported to the Registrar for cancellation of registration. If your registration is canceled and you wish to reinstate, a reinstatement fee and all existing indebtedness must be paid within ten calendar days after the cancellation becomes effective or the privilege of reinstatement may be denied. If you do not reinstate after a canceled registration, any tuition and fees remaining for the canceled session are still due. If you cancel your registration, any refund due will be, upon request, mailed to you approximately 45 days following the date of cancellation.

Commitment to the Pursuit of Quality

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program takes great care in its pursuit to select and educate top quality sonographers. The items below provide verification of our commitment to this pursuit.

Certification Examination Rate

Program graduates sit for at least two of four national certification examinations administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). (Most graduates sit for all four exams) One examination will be Sonography Principles and Instrumentation and the other options include Abdomen, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Vascular Technology. The program graduates have enjoyed strong achievement on ARDMS Certification exams. Since 2001 the graduates of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program have achieved a 100% certification rate with the ARDMS. The program is unable to report mean scaled scores or first time pass rates as that data is not provided by the certifying agency.  

Program On-Time Completion Rate Information

*Due to federal privacy issues when less than 10 people start or graduate from the program this data is not listed.

Program Placement Rate

*Placement rate is calculated using the Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (www.jrcdms.org) methodology. **Due to federal privacy issues when less than 10 people start or graduate from the program some this data is not listed.

Median Student Debt Load

*These median debt figures are developed and provided by the UI Office of Student Financial Aid.