The number of students enrolling in radiologic technology programs is on the rise, according to new data from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.
ASRT, which boasts more than 156,000 members across the United States, said enrollment for radiography students rose from 17,679 in 2023 to 19,815 in 2024, representing a nearly 11% uptick.
Similar trends were observed across other American Registry Of Radiologic Technologists-recognized training programs for multiple modalities, including radiation therapy, nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging and sonography—a positive change amid years of healthcare staffing woes amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enrollment at ARRT-approved radiation therapy programs rose by more than 300 students—up to 1,663 in 2024 from 1,302 in 2023. Nuclear medicine technology program enrollment saw an increase of 500 students, bringing the total to 1,403 in 2024, up from 903 in 2023.
Sonography programs saw a significant gain in students as well, rising from 3,144 in 2023 to 5,511 in 2024, while MRI training program enrollment nearly doubled from 555 students to 1,004 during that same time.
“The increases in enrollment are consistent with the high vacancy rates that we’ve seen in our recent staffing surveys. Through the presidential initiatives of Heather Moore, PhD, ASRT is continuing to take action that raises visibility and increases the pipeline into the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession,” Melissa Culp, MEd, ASRT executive vice president of member engagement, said in a news release on the new report.
Student enrollment isn’t that only thing that’s on the rise. According to ASRT compensation data released in November, rad tech pay is growing as well. Across all modalities, salaries have risen by an average of 12.3% since 2022, up to a U.S. average of $86,484. Nuclear medicine technologist compensation increased the most, at more than 20%.
To learn more about student enrollment, the report can be viewed here.
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