2026 Best Value Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician Schools in North Carolina
[Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/diagnostic-medical-sonography-sonographer-and-ultrasound-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician students.
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2026 Best Value Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician Schools
Leading the list is Fayetteville Technical Community College, our #1 best value for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician in North Carolina. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates is $14,486. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $50,872 early in their careers. Set against $14,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnston Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician schools. Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Smithfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,756, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Typical student debt for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates is $9,490. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $52,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Piedmont Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician schools. Set in the rural area of Polkton, South Piedmont Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,022, compared with $6,630 for out-of-state students. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates carry a median of $10,098 in student loans. Soon after graduation, diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician degree recipients from South Piedmont Community College generally make around $39,321. Set against $10,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Community College Sylva came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician schools. Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sylva. Students from in state pay about $4,112 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,184. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates carry a median of $10,408 in student loans. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates of Southwestern Community College Sylva earn a median of $48,233 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,408 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician will find it at Cape Fear Community College, which ranked #5. Cape Fear Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Students from in state pay about $2,748 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,892. Typical student debt for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates is $12,388. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute came in at #6 for value in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician this year. Located in the suburb of Hudson, Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,528, while out-of-state students pay about $6,528. Typical student debt for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates is $8,750. Early-career diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates make about $52,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Forsyth Technical Community College placed #7 among the best values for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates carry a median of $13,588 in student loans. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $54,726 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wake Technical Community College earned the #8 position for value in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician this year. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Typical student debt for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates is $17,090. Soon after graduation, diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $51,707. Set against $17,090 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pitt Community College landed the #9 spot for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician value this year. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,871, with out-of-state students paying around $13,087. Typical student debt for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates is $13,763. Early-career diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates make about $60,240. That is a strong return on a $13,763 median debt.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College placed #10 among the best values for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician. Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Asheville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,882, with out-of-state students paying around $9,026. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earn a median of $48,052 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeastern Institute Charlotte landed the #11 spot for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician value this year. Southeastern Institute Charlotte is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,080. Typical student debt for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates is $13,194. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates of Southeastern Institute Charlotte earn a median of $25,628 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,194 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
