Sonography & Ultrasound Tech Programs with Financial Aid

Profiling Online Sonography Programs that Offer Aid

Online sonography and ultrasound tech programs offer students a convenient and flexible option for getting the education and training they need to start their careers. What’s more, financial aid opportunities are available to qualifying students to help lower (sometimes significantly) the total costs of their sonography/ultrasound tech educations.

Funding opportunities may be internal (offered directly by sonography/ultrasound tech programs themselves) or external (offered by any of a number of independent providers, including professional organizations, special interest groups, and even private sponsors.)

Common financial aid types include:

• Scholarships and grants
• Student loans
• Employer tuition reimbursement
• Tuition discounts
• Tuition deferment and installment plans

While almost all online sonography and ultrasound tech programs offer and/or accept some forms of financial aid, there are some that simply do it bigger and better, including the three programs spotlighted directly below. These spotlights will give you a good idea of what to look for in terms of subject matter, content delivery formats, admissions requirements, costs and lengths and — of course — financial aid opportunities.

Financial Aid Eligibility & Application Checklist

Getting help to fund your education is completely doable, but you first have to find and apply to the right resources. By following the financial aid application checklist below, you’ll increase your chances of landing the resources you need to help make your online sonography/ultrasound tech program affordable.

Complete the FAFSA Early

The first step to obtaining financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for federal grants, scholarships, and student loans.

The online form opens in October for the following fall semester, and it is to your great advantage to get it filled out and submitted as early as possible. Filing early maximizes your chances of receiving aid and allows schools to consider you for their own financial aid packages.

Review Eligibility Criteria and Requirements

Each type of financial aid has its own eligibility and application requirements, so it’s important that you gain a clear understanding of those requirements before applying. So, carefully review the specific requirements for each option you are considering to be sure you qualify and that it’s the right option for you.

You can typically find the necessary details on the program website or within the application.

Check Deadlines and Apply Early

We cannot overemphasize this one. There is no faster way to ruin a lucrative financial aid opportunity than by missing its application deadline.

Strict deadlines apply to practically all forms of funding help, but particularly to scholarships and grants. So, be sure you carefully note and track key deadline dates to avoid missing one.

And consider getting your application in much sooner than the deadline. Doing so will allow ample time for application processing and for submitting supplemental materials if needed.

Gather All Necessary Documents

Financial aid applications often ask for additional materials, like essays, purpose statements, and recommendation letters. These materials take time to gather and complete, so it’s imperative to develop and collect them well in advance of the submittal due date.

Receive Feedback on Supplemental Materials

If scholarships or grants require submittal of essays, letters of intent, or portfolios, be sure to seek feedback from one or more trusted sources before you submit them.

Ask your professors, advisors, or career counselors for honest input on your application materials so you can ensure you’re submitting your best work. And make sure to factor this step into your timeline to meet deadlines.

Review Award Letters

If you’re selected for an award, you’ll receive notice (typically in the form of an award letter) outlining the details. Read the notice carefully to understand the types and amounts of aid being awarded.

Compare award packages from different schools and programs to determine the most beneficial options. And don’t hesitate to contact your school’s financial aid office or the organization awarding your funds with any questions you may have.

Common Funding Options for Sonography and Ultrasound Tech Students

With so many financial aid options out there, it can be overwhelming determining the right combination for you. To help you in sorting through them, we’ve outlined some of the most common options below.

The better you understand each option, the easier you’ll find it securing the ones you want and paving the way to launching your sonographer or ultrasound tech career.

Federal Student Aid

Easily the most common resource for funding college educations is the federal government through its many Federal Student Aid options. These include:

• Student loans
• Grants
• Work study
• Student loan forgiveness

The most common of these options are federal student loans. Federal loans typically come with lower interest rates (compared to private loans), and some are based on financial need.

Remember that student loans add to your overall debt burden, so accept only what you truly need and can comfortably repay once you’ve become a working sonographer or ultrasound technician.

Institutional Aid

Institutional aid (offered by the schools themselves) is commonly available to students in online sonography/ultrasound programs, especially those for associate and bachelor’s degrees. Institutional aid types mirror those of financial aid in general, and often include:

• Scholarships
• Grants
• Tuition discounts, and deferment and installment plans
• Work-study
• Loan forgiveness
• Tuition reimbursement

Check with your school’s financial aid office for details on the specific types of aid it offers.

Payment Plans

As mentioned just above, most sonography and ultrasound tech programs today offer flexible payment plans as part of their financial aid packages. Options range from monthly, deferred, and tuition installment plans.

Some schools integrate payment plans with the financial aid received from other sources. There are also employer-sponsored payment plans offered by some healthcare companies as part of their employee benefits packages.

Scholarships & Grants

Scholarships and grants are essentially free money (meaning they’re not paid back) awarded based on things like merit, need, and major. Many are open to students pursuing healthcare degrees generally while others are exclusively for sonography and ultrasound students.

Sonography/ultrasound tech scholarships and grants are offered by a wide range of sponsor types, including professional organizations, equipment manufacturers, and even hospitals and other medical service providers.

Examples:

SDMS Sonography Student Scholarship

• Amount: $2,500
• The Sonography Student Scholarship through the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) Foundation is for students accepted to or enrolled in an accredited sonography educational program and who are SDMS members. The application process includes three short essay questions.

ASRT Foundation Scholarships

• Amount: $500 to $5,000
• The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) offers a variety of scholarship opportunities through various individuals and organizations who understand the importance of highly skilled radiologists. Only one application is needed for the over 20 scholarships.

Find more scholarships for sonography and ultrasound tech students.