Radiology Technologist Schools in Minnesota
The colleges and universities in Minnesota offer a variety of options for earning a certificate or degree in radiologic technology, including programs that offer courses in specialty practice areas such as fluoroscopy and radiotherapy. This guide to radiologic technologist and technician schools in Minnesota can help you make an informed decision. You may also wish to consider online radiologic technologist and technician schools, which can offer reduced commuting time and greater scheduling flexibility. Read about the difference between radiology technologists and radiology technicians. Read more about radiologic technologist and technician programs in Minnesota and career projections for radiologic technologists and technicians below, where you will find a table of top-rated rad tech programs, a list of nationally accredited radiologic technology programs, and more.
Radiologic Technology Program Stats
- There are 16 colleges and universities with radiologic technology degree programs in Minnesota.1
- 3 schools offer a certificate program in radiologic science.1
- 13 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in radiologic science.1
- 3 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in radiologic science.1
- No schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in radiologic science.1
Institution-Wide Facts
- Highest graduation rate*: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 68%.1
- Highest transfer-out rate*: Marian University 41%.1
- Highest net price per year*: Bellin College $26,935.1
- Lowest net price per year*: Blackhawk Technical College $7,771.1
- 9 radiologic technology programs are accredited by JRCERT (see below).*
*For not-for-profit schools with radiologic technology programs.
Credentialing Exam Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Medical Imaging Schools in Minnesota
We designed the following table to allow you to easily compare top-rated, not-for-profit radiologic technology and medical imaging programs in Minnesota on a variety of factors. You can sort the table by clicking on the arrows in the top row. Since many state licensing boards and organizations that offer credentialing exams such as the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) require that aspiring radiologic technologists complete a recognized program, accreditation is an important factor in evaluating schools. Additionally, if you are considering transferring from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the imaging sciences, or are interested in pursuing a specialized certificate in the future, be aware that many programs consider accreditation for previously completed programs in their admissions decisions. Finally, you should always check with your state’s licensing board to ensure that the program you are considering will meet licensure requirements.
| School Name | Associate’s Imaging Program | Bachelor’s Imaging Program | Graduate Imaging Program | National Accreditation | Completion Rate2* | Credential Exam Pass Rate2* | Job Placement Rate2* | Net Price**1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Century College | Yes | No | No | JRCERT | 71% | 100% | 86% | $8,323 |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | Yes | No | No | JRCERT | 95% | 88% | 93% | $23,816 |
| Lake Superior College | Yes | No | No | JRCERT | 71% | 98% | 100% | $11,768 |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Yes | No | No | JRCERT | 92% | 97% | 76% | $13,201 |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Yes | No | No | JRCERT | 88% | 94% | 90% | $10,004 |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Yes | No | No | JRCERT | 64% | 98% | 91% | $9,426 |
| Normandale Community College | Yes | No | No | — | — | — | — | $11,915 |
| Northland Community and Technical College | Yes | No | No | JRCERT | 81% | 86% | 98% | $11,542 |
| Ridgewater College | Yes | No | No | — | — | — | — | $11,631 |
| Riverland Community College | Yes | No | No | JRCERT | 88% | 94% | 100% | $8,599 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Yes | No | No | — | — | — | — | $14,832 |
| Saint Cloud State University | No | Yes | No | — | — | — | — | $13,582 |
| Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota | No | Yes | No | JRCNMT | — | — | — | $21,280 |
| St. Catherine University | Yes | Yes | No | JRCERT, CAAHEP | 79% | 94% | 92% | $22,519 |
| St. Cloud Technical and Community College | Yes | No | No | CAAHEP | — | — | — | — |
*Completion Rate, Credential Exam Pass Rate, and Job Placement Rate data are from Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology Program Effectiveness Data for JRCERT-accredited programs.
**Net price is the annual cost per year for undergraduate tuition as reported to the National Center for Education Statistics based on the cost of tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, after deducting the average financial aid award.
Accredited Medical Imaging Programs
JRCERT Accredited Radiography Programs
- Century College (White Bear Lake)
- Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis)
- Lake Superior College (Duluth)
- Minnesota State College Southeast (Winona)
- Minnesota State Community and Technical College (Detroit Lakes)
- Minnesota West Community and Technical College (Luverne)
- Northland Community and Technical College (East Grand Forks)
- Riverland Community College (Austin)
- St. Catherine University (Minneapolis)
CAAHEP Accredited Sonography Programs
- St. Catherine University (Minneapolis)
- St. Cloud Technical and Community College (St. Cloud)
JRCNMT Accredited Nuclear Medicine Technology Programs
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (Winona)
Minnesota Radiology Technologist Degree Programs
St. Catherine University
Nicknamed St. Kate’s, St. Catherine University is a private Catholic liberal arts institution in St. Paul that traditionally caters to women but also serves men in some of its programs. Students in the radiography program at St. Kate’s can complete the associate’s degree in two to three years. St. Kate’s differs from most radiography programs in that it provides a holistic approach to radiography; students take coursework in psychology, ethics, social justice, and the liberal arts in order to gain a well-rounded perspective that will help them to empathize with patients. Since only 15 students are admitted to each class, students benefit from close-knit experiences with peers and faculty and individualized attention in classes. At the same time, they benefit from the advantages of the broader college community and have opportunities to collaborate with various departments in the School of Health. Students participate in five semester-long clinical rotations in specialty areas such as diagnostic X-ray, computed tomography (CT), interventional radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They also participate in coursework such as Radiographic Procedures, Radiation Physics, Exposure, Radiation Biology/Protection, Ethical Problems in Healthcare, and Human Disease. Upon graduation, St. Kate’s students are prepared to take the ARRT exam and also have a strong foundation for continuing education in specialties such as radiation therapy and nuclear medicine.
Saint Cloud State University
Students enrolled in the radiologic technology program at Saint Cloud State University work toward a Bachelor of Science degree. During the first two years of the program, students take science courses and general education requirements at the university. In the last two years of the program, students take clinical radiologic courses such as Radiation Physics, Applied Medical Terminology, Ethics and Law in the Radiologic Sciences, Applied Human Structure and Function, Medical Imaging and Processing, Methods of Patient Care, Radiation Protection, Radiation Pathology, and Computers in Radiologic Sciences. Students must also complete a clinical internship and document at least 21 hours in job shadowing. The university is affiliated with seven hospitals in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, including St. Cloud Hospital, Mayo School of Health Sciences, Saint Joseph’s Hospital, and Avera McKennan Hospital. The Saint Cloud State University radiologic technology program focuses on general radiography and does not include clinical training in sonography (ultrasound imaging).
Lake Superior College
Lake Superior College is a two-year community and technical college in Duluth, Minnesota with around 5,800 students. The radiologic technology program at Lake Superior College seeks to train entry-level radiology technologists and equip them with medical image processing skills, clinical competence, critical thinking skills, and communication skills. Students earn an Associate of Applied Science degree upon successful completion of the 82-credit program. Students complete a core curriculum of 19 courses including Human Anatomy and Physiology, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, Radiographic Procedures, Image Production, Clinical Radiography, Radiologic Pathology, Radiation Biology & Protection, Advanced Medical Imaging, and Quality Assurance in Radiology. For the class of 2012, 83% completed the radiologic technology program successfully, 94% found successful job placements, and 100% passed the national ARRT exam.
How to Become a Radiology Technologist in Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Health oversees the licensing and regulation of all practicing radiologic technologists and technicians in the state. Radiology techs in Minnesota must successfully complete the ARRT exam, the ACRRT exam, or an equivalent state examination. Exams taken in other states are reciprocal if the original state has equivalent or higher standards to Minnesota. The application process also includes a $100 fee for the ARRT and a $25 fee for the Minnesota Department of Health. Minnesota also offers a license for limited x-ray operators (LXMOs). LXMOs must pass the Minnesota x-ray operators exam, which consists of a core of positioning modules. They are also prohibited from operating machinery related to fluoroscopy; only a registered radiologic technologist or technician may perform this procedure. The Minnesota license for radiologic techs is valid for a two-year period. Radiology techs may renew their licenses by submitting a renewal application and evidence of completion of the state’s 24-hour continuing education requirement.
Career Opportunities for Radiology Techs in Minnesota
Projected Job Growth
10.8%
Radiology Techs in Minnesota from 2014-20243
Radiologic technologist and technician employment in Minnesota is projected to grow 10.8% in the decade ending in 2024.3 This is slightly above the national projected job growth rate of 9% for rad techs.4 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 4,540 radiologic technologists and technicians working in Minnesota earning an average of $63,830 a year.5 Top hospitals in the state where rad techs can find work include the Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, St. Cloud Hospital, United Hospital of St. Paul, Fairview Southdale Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Fairview Ridges Hospital, Unity Hospital, and North Memorial Hospital. Radiology technologists and technicians in Minnesota may also find job opportunities at diagnostic or imaging centers such as Center for Diagnostic Imaging in Mendota Heights, Consulting Radiologists in Edina, Midwest Radiology in Maplewood, St. Paul Radiology in St. Paul, or West Imaging in Robbinsdale.
Minnesota Radiologic Technologist Salary and Jobs
| City | Number Employed | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Duluth | 230 | $62,660 |
| Fargo | 210 | $52,360 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | 2,560 | $65,060 |
| Rochester | 640 | $70,370 |
| St. Cloud | 370 | $56,000 |
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2016.6
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology Program Effectiveness Data: https://www.jrcert.org/resources/program-effectiveness-data/
3. Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development: https://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/job-outlook/
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Radiologic and MRI Technologists: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/radiologic-technologists.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2016 Occupational Employment and Wages, Radiologic Technologists: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292034.htm
6. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm