2026 Best Value Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician Schools in Virginia
[Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/diagnostic-medical-sonography-sonographer-and-ultrasound-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 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 Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician Schools
Our analysis ranked Rappahannock Community College the best value for a degree in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician in Virginia. Rappahannock Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Glenns. Students from in state pay about $5,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,540. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates carry a median of $8,997 in student loans. Early-career diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates make about $43,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician will find it at Piedmont Virginia Community College, which ranked #2. Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,072, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates carry a median of $11,735 in student loans. Soon after graduation, diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician degree recipients from Piedmont Virginia Community College generally make around $46,170. Set against $11,735 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tidewater Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Typical student debt for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates is $12,109. Early-career diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates make about $52,548. Set against $12,109 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician schools. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Typical student debt for diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates is $13,437. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $74,050 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,437 median debt.
Ecpi University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician schools. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,484. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates carry a median of $27,242 in student loans. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates of Ecpi University earn a median of $60,365 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,242 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Riverside College Of Health Careers came in at #6 for value in diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician this year. Riverside College Of Health Careers is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newport News. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,250. Diagnostic Medical Sonography/sonographer And Ultrasound Technician graduates carry a median of $21,560 in student loans. Early-career diagnostic medical sonography/sonographer and ultrasound technician graduates make about $47,366. Set against $21,560 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 13%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
