Dallas College, El Centro (cardiac) sonography program costs $5,940. Here is how its graduates do.
An AAS, cardiac sonography program in Dallas, About 2 years full time. 30 of its 30 graduates passed their credentialing exams over 2022 to 2024.
Dallas College also runs a general track (96.7% credential exam rate).
The short version
- Its credential exam rate (100%) is above the Texas program median of 93.3%.
- 100% of graduates looking for work in the field found a job, by JRC-DMS's measure.
- Its published cost is at or below the median for Texas sonography programs that publish one ($8,743).
- At 10% of the local median wage for diagnostic medical sonographers, the program cost is paid back in about 0.6 years.
These lines are generated from the numbers on this page and change when the data does.
How graduates do
JRC-DMS requires every accredited program to publish the same outcome measures, so they can be compared program to program. 4
| Year | Passed | Took the exam | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 12 | 100% |
| 2023 | 8 | 8 | 100% |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 | 100% |
Graduates who passed the ARDMS or CCI credentialing exams for their concentration, as the program reports it to JRC-DMS. Job placement: graduates employed in sonography, as the program reports it to JRC-DMS.
Where the money goes
The school's estimate. Page says tuition is based on program hours and most required learning materials are included, but some programs have added costs.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Estimated total tuition (Dallas County resident) | $5,940 |
| Total 1 | $5,940 |
* How we calculated this: Tuition only; the school's estimate does not list fees, exam or clinical costs.
Not included: prerequisite courses and living costs. Estimated total tuition, Dallas County resident (undated, live page).
What diagnostic medical sonographers earn around Dallas
The median yearly wage for diagnostic medical sonographers in the Dallas metro area is $98,810. 3 Payback time sets aside 10% of that each year toward the program cost.
Other sonography programs in the Dallas area
Compare all 6 sonography programs in the Dallas area
| Program | credential exam rate | Job placement | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas College, El Centro (this page) AAS, cardiac sonography, Dallas | 100% | 100% | $5,940 |
| Dallas College, El Centro AAS, general sonography, Dallas | 96.7% | 90.0% | $5,940 |
| Collin College, McKinney AAS, general sonography, McKinney | 94.7% | 95.0% | Not published |
| Parker University AAS, general sonography, Dallas | 79.0% | 93.0% | Not published |
| Collin College, McKinney AAS, cardiac sonography, McKinney | Not reported | Not reported | Not published |
| Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital Plano Certificate, adult echocardiography, Plano | Not reported | Not reported | $18,100 |
After you graduate: getting to work in Texas
Texas does not license sonographers. Employers typically require a national credential: ARDMS (the SPI exam plus a specialty exam, for RDMS, RDCS or RVT) or CCI (such as RCS).
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| Pass the ARDMS Sonography Principles and Instrumentation (SPI) exam.5 | $275 |
| Pass a specialty exam within five years of the SPI, for example Abdomen for the RDMS (AB).6 | $300 |
| Alternative for cardiac graduates: take the CCI Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) exam as a graduate of an accredited cardiac ultrasound program.7 | $365not counted |
Typical fees to start working: $575. Counts the ARDMS route to the RDMS in abdomen: SPI ($275) plus the abdomen exam ($300). The CCI cardiac route ($365) is an alternative. There is no state fee. ARDMS credentials renew annually ($105 for RDMS, RDCS, RVT) with CME over a three-year cycle; CCI credentials renew for $165 with 36 CEUs per three-year cycle after the first renewal. Full guide: how to become a sonographer in Texas
With Dallas College's published cost, the total to finish school and get credentialed is about $6,515, before prerequisites and living costs.
Program facts
- Credential
- AAS, cardiac sonography
- Length
- About 2 years full time
- Schedule
- In person and hybrid (both listed on program page), with clinicals
- Before you apply
- Separate health admissions process; viewing the information session is required to get the application link, and a background check and drug test are required.
- Accreditation
- CAAHEP, on the recommendation of JRC-CVT, Accredited by CAAHEP on recommendation of JRC-CVT (adult cardiac)
- Leads to
- ARDMS or CCI credentialing exams
Sources and dates
- Dallas College Cardiac Sonography program page, Estimated total tuition, Dallas County resident (undated, live page).
- Dallas College, El Centro program outcomes page, Program page tables for 2022 to 2024, no as-of date. Retention 31 of 36 enrolled graduated; positive placement 30 of 30 graduates. Page shows 9 graduates in 2023 for retention but 8 for placement and exam, without explanation. Figures are for the Cardiac Sonography program overall..
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (29-2032), May 2025 estimates.
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (programs accredited by CAAHEP) (JRC-DMS), checked Nov. 2026.
- Inteleos/ARDMS SPI Exam, checked Nov 2026.
- ARDMS AB Exam, checked Nov 2026.
- CCI Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS), checked Nov 2026.
Every number was checked against its source on Nov. 4, 2026. Spot an error? Report it. Program Outcomes is independent and not affiliated with any school or JRC-DMS. Our independence policy