Frequently Asked Questions

The program starts every July and concludes in August of the following year for a total of 13.5 months.

Expect class and clinical hours to begin at 8 am (unless otherwise stated). The day concludes at 4:30 – 5:00 pm. Students are required to attend all classes/clinical rotations during these hours Monday-Friday.

No, all classes are daytime classes that are held on weekdays. There are no flexible course options.

The program is closed for major holidays with breaks around certain holidays. An extended break is scheduled during the Winter session.

No. Our courses are offered with hands-on learning within the classroom and clinical sittings.

The 2026-2027 tuition is $27,820.00

No, the DMSP is not eligible to accept federal aid, nor are Sonography students eligible for payment plans to UMBC. However, you may qualify for a student loan such as a Sallie Mae or College Ave loan.

Online at www.salliemae.com under the “Smart Option Student Loan” option. For qualified students, Smart Option Student Loans are available from Sallie Mae Financial Corporation. These are not financial aid loans provided by the federal or state government but are private loans underwritten and approved by Sallie Mae based on the creditworthiness of the student and/or co-signer. Once approved by Sallie Mae, students may be certified by UMBC for loan amounts up to or exceeding the cost of tuition for courses and programs that are confirmed to run. A signed registration form must be received by the school before a loan is certified and disbursed. Applicants may apply for a Sallie Mae loan at any time, but should not finalize their loan transaction with Sallie Mae unless accepted by UMBC DMSP. UMBC’s Sallie Mae school code is 00210500.

Yes, you would be able to use funds from the GI bill, please use vacertifying@umbc.edu to reach out to our School Certifying Officials with any questions about using your GI Benefits at UMBC.

Students are responsible for additional costs including the parking fees at area hospitals, uniforms, books, CPR, medical exam, background check, drug screen, immunization tracker, lunch, professional organization fees, and registry exam fees. A $300 enrollment fee is due upon acceptance.

Due to the demands of the program, we do not recommend that students work while in the program. However, if you must work, please ensure that your work hours do not interfere with class, clinical days or study time. Work is not a reasonable excuse for an absence or leaving class or clinical early or arriving late.

The UMBC Sonography Program is a Professional Certificate program.  A Certificate of Completion from UMBC is awarded upon graduation from the program.

Students may be accepted into only one track: Abdomen-Extended and OB/GYN (our “General” track), our Adult Cardiac track, or our Vascular track. Upon graduation, there are job opportunities and full careers in any of the three tracks.

Yes, the program has been continuously accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Graduates of a CAAHEP-accredited program such as the UMBC Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program qualify to take the national registry exams and earn a sonography credential in their specialty.

We are delighted to have clinical partnerships with major hospitals and outpatient centers within 75 miles of UMBC in the Baltimore-Metro area.

The dress code for class is casual: jeans, t-shirts, khakis, polo shirts, Bermuda shorts, etc. Mini-skirts, tank tops, halter tops, yoga pants/shorts and crop tops are not allowed, nor anything obscene or offensive. In the clinical sites, a scrubs uniform is required. A complete dress code is published in the Student Handbook.

Yes. While at clinical site rotations, our program requires all students wear a scrub uniform that identifies them as from UMBC DMSP. The student must appear neat, clean and professional at all times.

Yes, all students are required to receive these vaccinations (or boosters, as needed): COVID, TDap, MMR, and Varicella. Flu shots and TB tests are also required. The Hep-B vaccine is strongly recommended.

Typically not. Before you apply, you must have 60 college credits and the specific prerequisite courses listed in the Admissions section of this website.

Students are assigned clinical rotations based on their track, Vascular, Cardiac or Abdomen-Extended/OB-GYN (General).

We are delighted to have clinical partnerships with major hospitals and outpatient centers within 75 miles of UMBC in the Baltimore-Metro area.

In terms of clinical assignments, our clinical coordinators prioritize diverse, but equitable learning experiences.

Students do not select the site placement.

Students are assigned based on students’ strengths and weaknesses to provide a well-rounded clinical experience.

Students are required to obtain comps, which are content-specific ultrasound exams that a student performs which demonstrate that the student is capable of producing diagnostic quality exam images.

Students must complete a minimum of 1070 clinical hours.

No, while UMBC is a great option, prerequisite courses may be completed at any accredited university or community college.

No prerequisites can be waived.

If you’ve completed prerequisite courses at another college or university and want to know if they will transfer, email your unofficial transcripts to Valerie Bardhi, Recruitment, Enrollment, and Student Success Manager at sonography@umbc.edu. You may also send course descriptions and syllabi for courses you plan to take to meet the prerequisite requirements to sonography@umbc.edu for review prior to course registration.

No, we only accept WES evaluations. International students must send their original transcripts from secondary school and college/university to World Education Services (WES) for a course-by-course evaluation to recalculate credits and grades to U.S. equivalents. An official report must be sent directly from WES to the UMBC Sonography Program via sonography@umbc.edu. WES charges a processing fee for credential evaluation.

No, since UMBC DMSP is not an eligible institution under IRS guidelines, we cannot issue 1098-T forms.

Applicants who are not offered a seat in the class and wish to be considered again for the following year must reapply and submit all updated documents as part of a new application.

We do not give preferred admissions consideration for students coming from a particular county or state. The tuition is the same for all students coming into the program.

Yes, the experience must be completed by the application deadline. Proof of the experience must be submitted along with the application. There is no time limit. Applicants employed in patient care in the Allied Health field do not need to perform volunteer hours but will need written proof of current or previous employment. This requirement should be completed before an application is submitted.

We evaluate applicants holistically, based on their academic record, appraisals, and interview performance. Here are some tips to be a competitive applicant:

• Ask two professionals who can speak to your strengths to complete the applicant appraisal forms.
• Be sure to study and retain the knowledge gained in the prerequisite courses.
• Be prepared to clearly communicate why you want to pursue a career in sonography and demonstrate maturity, enthusiasm, and a thoughtful understanding of the profession.