Best programs to become a radiologist
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education for radiologists. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Medicine (IPEDS completions).
2 college programs at 184 schools train radiologists, graduating 30,267 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $420,860 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About radiologists
Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasounds. May perform minimally invasive medical procedures and tests.
Best programs to study to become a radiologist
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 51.1201 | 21,453 | 70.9% | 151 | $33,290 | $23,488 |
| 2 | CIP 51.1202 | 8,814 | 29.1% | 36 | $33,290 | $23,488 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Blacksburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 642 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 2 | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Erie, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 623 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 3 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · 2 feeder programs | 485 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | 81% | — | 85% |
| 4 | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 452 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 5 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 445 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | 63% | $31,672 | 73% |
| 6 | Kansas City University Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 417 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 7 | New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 404 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | 59% | $22,158 | 81% |
| 8 | Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 368 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | 50% | $18,981 | 63% |
| 9 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 354 | Medicine | 54% | — | 76% |
| 10 | Rocky Vista University Parker, CO Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 333 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 11 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · 1 feeder program | 328 | Medicine | 84% | — | 58% |
| 12 | Western University of Health Sciences Pomona, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 318 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 13 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Public · 2 feeder programs | 316 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | 67% | — | 78% |
| 14 | Wayne State University Detroit, MI Public · 1 feeder program | 309 | Medicine | 58% | — | 81% |
| 15 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 299 | Medicine | 78% | $36,004 | 79% |
| 16 | A T Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 284 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 17 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 279 | Medicine | 62% | — | 77% |
| 18 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 266 | Medicine | 69% | $26,034 | 81% |
| 19 | Touro University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 260 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | 72% | $27,110 | 61% |
| 20 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · 1 feeder program | 253 | Medicine | 85% | — | 39% |
| 21 | Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 249 | Medicine | — | — | — |
| 22 | Augusta University Augusta, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 247 | Medicine | 49% | — | 86% |
| 23 | Midwestern University - Glendale Glendale, AZ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 245 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 24 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 242 | Medicine | — | — | — |
| 25 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 237 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | 65% | — | 85% |
| 26 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 236 | Medicine | 68% | — | 86% |
| 27 | University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 226 | Medicine | — | — | — |
| 28 | The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Galveston, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 222 | Medicine | — | — | — |
| 29 | University of North Texas Health Science Center Fort Worth, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 222 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 30 | Creighton University Omaha, NE Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 217 | Medicine | 83% | $27,353 | 80% |
| 31 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · 1 feeder program | 217 | Medicine | 85% | — | 80% |
| 32 | Des Moines University - Osteopathic Medical Center West Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 214 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 33 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 209 | Medicine | — | — | — |
| 34 | Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science North Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 206 | Medicine | — | — | — |
| 35 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 204 | Medicine | 87% | $27,976 | 37% |
| 36 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 201 | Medicine | 84% | — | 57% |
| 37 | Tufts University Medford, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 201 | Medicine | 94% | $23,570 | 11% |
| 38 | Midwestern University - Downers Grove Downers Grove, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 200 | Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy | — | — | — |
| 39 | New York Medical College Valhalla, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 200 | Medicine | — | — | — |
| 40 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 200 | Medicine | 69% | — | 93% |
| 41 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · 1 feeder program | 199 | Medicine | 75% | — | 80% |
| 42 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 199 | Medicine | 84% | $26,589 | 19% |
| 43 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 196 | Medicine | 88% | — | 61% |
| 44 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · 1 feeder program | 195 | Medicine | 79% | — | 60% |
| 45 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans New Orleans, LA Public · 1 feeder program | 193 | Medicine | — | — | — |
| 46 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 192 | Medicine | 71% | — | 93% |
| 47 | Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 191 | Medicine | — | — | — |
| 48 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 188 | Medicine | 91% | — | 15% |
| 49 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 188 | Medicine | 92% | $26,873 | 10% |
| 50 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · 1 feeder program | 187 | Medicine | 63% | — | 93% |
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What radiologists earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $441,580 | 2,010 | 1.20× | 16 | 2,555 |
| Pennsylvania | $455,380 | 1,360 | 1.31× | 9 | 2,385 |
| Texas | $319,320 | 2,330 | 0.96× | 15 | 2,204 |
| California | $270,560 | 690 | 0.22× | 14 | 2,029 |
| Florida | $417,690 | 1,680 | 0.98× | 8 | 1,429 |
| Illinois | — | — | — | 10 | 1,380 |
| Virginia | $376,270 | — | — | 6 | 1,321 |
| Michigan | $485,920 | 360 | 0.48× | 6 | 1,252 |
| Ohio | $260,000 | 770 | 0.81× | 7 | 1,247 |
| Missouri | — | 280 | 0.56× | 6 | 1,230 |
| New Jerseymoderate | $482,700 | — | — | 3 | 780 |
| Massachusettsmoderate | $426,560 | — | — | 4 | 678 |
| Georgiamoderate | $335,190 | — | — | 4 | 618 |
| Coloradolimited | $344,270 | 500 | 1.01× | 2 | 512 |
| Indianalimited | $430,640 | 680 | 1.24× | 2 | 497 |
| Arizonalimited | $470,640 | — | — | 2 | 481 |
| Kentuckymoderate | $279,990 | — | — | 3 | 474 |
| Washingtonmoderate | — | 1,480 | 2.43× | 3 | 462 |
| District of Columbiamoderate | $182,450 | 80 | 0.64× | 3 | 459 |
| Wisconsinlimited | $392,610 | 980 | 1.94× | 2 | 416 |
| South Carolinalimited | $174,480 | — | — | 2 | 378 |
| Iowalimited | $405,220 | 130 | 0.50× | 2 | 376 |
| West Virginiamoderate | $471,650 | 360 | 2.95× | 3 | 357 |
| Nebraskalimited | — | 160 | 0.91× | 2 | 345 |
| Arkansaslimited | $75,600 | 150 | 0.67× | 2 | 327 |
| Oklahomalimited | — | 110 | 0.36× | 2 | 322 |
| Mississippilimited | — | 100 | 0.48× | 2 | 312 |
| Minnesotalimited | $708,340 | 440 | 0.87× | 2 | 310 |
| Connecticutmoderate | $191,990 | — | — | 4 | 291 |
| Nevadamoderate | $386,210 | 410 | 1.52× | 3 | 290 |
| Marylandlimited | $581,510 | — | — | 2 | 251 |
| New Mexicolimited | $96,170 | 170 | 1.14× | 2 | 244 |
| Kansaslimited | $179,990 | — | — | 1 | 200 |
| Mainelimited | $555,750 | — | — | 1 | 170 |
| Utahlimited | $417,250 | 380 | 1.28× | 1 | 129 |
| Oregonlimited | — | 230 | 0.69× | 1 | 125 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $506,010 | 210 | 1.76× | 1 | 83 |
| Hawaiilimited | — | 80 | 0.70× | 1 | 74 |
| North Dakotalimited | $553,140 | 120 | 1.68× | 1 | 64 |
| South Dakotalimited | $586,010 | 70 | 0.87× | 1 | 60 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.
- Perform or interpret the outcomes of diagnostic imaging procedures including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), nuclear cardiology treadmill studies, mammography, or ultrasound.
- Document the performance, interpretation, or outcomes of all procedures performed.
- Communicate examination results or diagnostic information to referring physicians, patients, or families.
- Obtain patients' histories from electronic records, patient interviews, dictated reports, or by communicating with referring clinicians.
- Review or transmit images and information using picture archiving or communications systems.
- Confer with medical professionals regarding image-based diagnoses.
- Recognize or treat complications during and after procedures, including blood pressure problems, pain, oversedation, or bleeding.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Active Listening4.3
- Speaking4.3
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Writing4.1
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Learning3.9
- Science3.8
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry4.7
- Biology4.5
- English Language4.3
- Computers and Electronics3.9
- Education and Training3.7
- Customer and Personal Service3.6
Abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.5
- Inductive Reasoning4.5
- Oral Comprehension4.4
- Deductive Reasoning4.4
- Oral Expression4.4
- Written Comprehension4.4
Core activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others4.9
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.7
- Getting Information4.6
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.6
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.6
- Working with Computers4.5
How to get in
How to become a radiologist
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 20 majors mapped to Radiologists2 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 51.1201Medicine
- 51.1202Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
- 61.0102Diagnostic Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Combined Specialty Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.1201Nuclear Medicine Residency Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.1299Nuclear Medicine Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other(no graduates reported)
- 61.2501Radiation Oncology Residency Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2599Radiation Oncology Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other(no graduates reported)
- 61.2601Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2602Integrated Interventional Radiology Residency Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2603Abdominal Radiology Fellowship Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2604Diagnostic Radiologic Physics Residency Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2605Medical Nuclear Physics Residency Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2606Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2607Neuroradiology Fellowship Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2608Nuclear Radiology Fellowship Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2609Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2610Radiologic Physics Residency Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2611Therapeutic Radiologic Physics Residency Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2612Vascular and Interventional Radiology Fellowship Program(no graduates reported)
- 61.2699Radiology Residency/Fellowship Programs, Other(no graduates reported)
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a radiologist?+
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education for radiologists. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Medicine (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming a radiologist?+
The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Medicine (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 2 programs to this job, which together graduate about 30,267 people a year.
How much do radiologists earn?+
The median is $420,860 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $89,010 at the 10th percentile to $594,410 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for radiologists growing?+
BLS projects a +2.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 800 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
184 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 2 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do radiologists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Physician, Radiologist, Diagnostic Radiologist, Nuclear Medicine Physician among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 29-1224.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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