San Jacinto College, Central sonography program costs $8,645 to $12,610. Here is how its graduates do.
An AAS, general sonography program in Pasadena, 5 semesters, including one summer. 23 of its 32 graduates passed their credentialing exams over 2022 to 2024.
The short version
- Its credential exam rate (71.9%) is below the Texas program median of 93.3%.
- 85.0% of graduates looking for work in the field found a job, by JRC-DMS's measure.
- 73.0% of students stayed in the program, by JRC-DMS's retention 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 0.9 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 | 10 | 12 | 83.3% |
| 2023 | 9 | 12 | 75.0% |
| 2022 | 4 | 8 | 50.0% |
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, in 13 parts. High is the out-of-district total. Out-of-state students pay additional fees. The page does not say whether course costs include college fees. Clinical travel is extra.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite courses (in-district) | $996 |
| Required general education course (in-district) | $747 |
| Program core courses (in-district) | $3,652 |
| Books | $700 |
| Additional course materials | $375 |
| Background check and drug/alcohol screening | $180 |
| Immunizations and physical | $700 |
| CPR for healthcare providers | $100 |
| Uniforms | $140 |
| ARDMS SPI registry exam | $275 |
| ARDMS Abdomen registry exam | $275 |
| ARDMS OB/GYN registry exam | $275 |
| Clinical management system | $230 |
| Total 1 | $8,645 |
Not included: living costs. Undated page, live Nov 5, 2026.
What diagnostic medical sonographers earn around Houston
The median yearly wage for diagnostic medical sonographers in the Houston metro area is $95,100. 3 Payback time sets aside 10% of that each year toward the program cost.
Other sonography programs in the Houston area
Compare all 8 sonography programs in the Houston area
| Program | credential exam rate | Job placement | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin College AAS, cardiovascular sonography, Alvin | 100% | 98.4% | $8,743 |
| Pima Medical Institute, Houston Associate degree, general sonography, Houston | 93.3% | 95.6% | $50,193 |
| San Jacinto College, Central (this page) AAS, general sonography, Pasadena | 71.9% | 85.0% | $8,645 to $12,610 |
| Galveston College AAS, general sonography, Galveston | Not reported | Not reported | Not published |
| Harris Health School of Diagnostic Medical Imaging Certificate, general sonography, Bellaire | Not reported | Not reported | $4,950 |
| Houston City College, Coleman AAS, general sonography, Houston | Not reported | Not reported | Not published |
| Lone Star College, CyFair AAS, general sonography, Cypress | Not reported | Not reported | Not published |
| Lone Star College, CyFair AAS, cardiac sonography, Cypress | Not reported | Not reported | Not published |
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 San Jacinto College's published cost, the total to finish school and get credentialed is about $9,220, before prerequisites and living costs.
Program facts
- Credential
- AAS, general sonography
- Length
- 5 semesters, including one summer
- Starts
- Once a year (fall)
- Before you apply
- Finish Anatomy and Physiology I with lab, College Algebra, a physics course and Introduction to Sonography (DMSO 1110) with a C or better.
- Entrance exam
- HESI A2
- Accreditation
- JRC-DMS, Accredited by CAAHEP on recommendation of JRC-DMS; current award 5 years
- Leads to
- ARDMS or CCI credentialing exams
Sources and dates
- San Jacinto College Sonography Admission Info, Approximate Program Costs, Undated page, live Nov 5, 2026.
- San Jacinto College, Central program outcomes page, No as-of date; page's own 3-year average is 69%. OB/GYN 3-year average 94%. Retention 73%, placement 85%..
- 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