The search for the right grad school can be terrifying. What programs are available, and where? How do you enroll in them? What’s the best program for your intended career? How can you finance your education as a grad student?
If you’re looking for a great radiology program and don’t know where to start, we’ve done some of the work for you. Here’s a list of some of the best colleges for radiologists in the US.
What is a Radiologist?
Radiologists specialize in interpreting medical imaging from tests performed by X-rays, MRIs, and other equipment. These images can allow radiologists to diagnose patients with injuries and diseases. Radiologists may also consult with doctors and patients on what the best treatment may be for a specific ailment, or even administer treatment for certain conditions directly with radiation.
This field requires extensive schooling. Most radiologists start out in a STEM or pre-med field for their undergraduate degrees before continuing on to a medical school with a radiology-related program. Radiology programs are divided into diagnostic radiology-- which focuses on diagnosing and treating patients-- and osteopathic radiology, which focuses on preventing medical conditions and improving patients’ overall health. After completing med school and getting their MDs, doctors must complete a residency program before they can be certified as radiologists.
Many colleges offer both radiology curriculums and residency programs, and sometimes they even offer monetary incentives to encourage students to remain in their chosen field. Read on for a list of the best radiology programs in the country.
The Best Colleges for Radiologists
1. Harvard University
First on the list of radiology programs to look into is the radiology track at Harvard Medical School. Harvard is well known for several of its other graduate programs, but in 2023, its medical school ranked #1 among American medical schools for research. Beyond that, it also has the best radiology program in the country.
The first year of enrollment at Harvard Medical School is spent gaining familiarity with core scientific concepts relevant to students’ chosen field and building up an arsenal of clinical skills. These skills get plenty of practice, because students begin to get principal clinical experience in their second year.
Tuition at Harvard Medical School is $66,284 as of 2023, but its outstanding radiology program might very well be enough to justify the steep cost.
2. New York University
The Grossman School of Medicine at New York University is one of the top ten best medical schools for research in the country and boasts the second best radiology program. In addition to the school’s regular radiology track, it offers a great Honors Program, wherein students spend 18 weeks or more doing intense research on a thesis related to their field.
Tuition costs are made relatively easy at the Grossman School of Medicine. New York University offers full-tuition scholarships to all MD students in order to encourage those who are interested in medicine to pursue their degree. While there are still fees that the full-tuition scholarship does not cover, this certainly is a great step toward making New York University’s radiology program more affordable.
3. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is the second best medical school for research in the country in 2023, and boasts the third best radiology program. The School of Medicine’s Genes to Society Curriculum allows medical students to gain simulated clinical experience alongside their academic classes, integrating practical and theoretical learning so that students can get comfortable using their skills as they learn them.
The cost of admission to the School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins in 2023 is $59,700.
4. University of California- San Francisco
UCSF’s School of Medicine has been a highly-ranked medical school for over a decade, and in 2023, its radiology program is on par with Johns Hopkins’.
UCSF uses a three-phase curriculum called the Bridges Curriculum to ensure that its students leave fully competent in the skills required of an MD. After two phases of foundational learning, students choose what clinical experiences to pursue and begin a project focused on their specific career goals.
UCSF is careful to instill a mind of scientific inquiry in its students-- this inquiring mindset makes it easier for students to adapt to a constantly-changing and constantly-growing medical field.
The School of Medicine at UCSF has an in-state full-time tuition cost of $38,073 and an out-of-state cost of $50,318 as of 2023.
5. Duke University
In 2023, Duke University Medical School has the fifth best radiology program in the US. Duke University offers its students the opportunity to gain practical experience earlier than their counterparts at other schools. Students study the basics of their field during their first year, spend their second year taking care of patients, and spend their third year focusing on a research project.
Duke University Medical School has a yearly full-time tuition cost of $63,310.
6. UCLA
The UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine boasts a prestigious radiology program. For all of its medical students, UCLA offers a three-phase curriculum. Students start their studies with a focus on Human Biology and Disease, continue by participating in a Core Clinical Clerkship, and finish by enrolling in one of the school’s 4th Year Colleges. There are also plenty of opportunities to conduct research as an elective in students’ fourth years. UCLA is affiliated with several hospitals in the area, including the highly-ranked Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
UCLA Geffen School of Medicine has a tuition cost of $43,843 for the 2023-2024 school year. For out-of-state students, this may go up to about $52,800. Grad students may live on or off-campus; the school offers a breakdown of the estimated cost of living off-campus here. In order to help with the cost of attendance, UCLA Geffen School of Medicine offers a wide variety of scholarships and grants.
7. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan Medical School has an excellent radiology program and prioritizes active learning. Students begin getting practical experience taking care of patients in their first month at the University of Michigan, and after one year of focusing on a preclinical curriculum, they have the opportunity to participate in core clinical clerkships. The school does not require students to complete a research project, but research is a big part of what it does-- almost 70% of the university’s National Institute of Health (NIH) research funding every year is dedicated to the Medical School, and there are plenty of opportunities for students to participate in that research.
The University of Michigan Medical School has an in-state full-time tuition cost of $50,265 and an out-of-state cost of $69,714.
8. Yale University
Yale School of Medicine offers a great four-year radiology program, followed by opportunities for a residency in either diagnostic or interventional radiology. Yale provides a uniquely personal education to each of its students. In order to encourage students to take their education into their own hands, students do not receive grades or class ranks for the first two years of their four years at the School of Medicine, and many classes don’t even take attendance. However, there are plenty of small-group workshops in which professors have the chance to interact with students one-on-one, evaluate their progress, or identify ways in which they need help.
Yale does require students to complete a thesis based on their own research in order to graduate. But-- continuing the trend of one-on-one instruction-- each student is assigned a librarian in their first year. This librarian can serve as an excellent resource to help students develop research skills and work through their theses.
Yale School of Medicine has a full-time tuition cost of $67,484. The school’s financial aid program seeks to help students of all backgrounds access a medical education, with the goal of building a field of medical professionals that reflect the communities that they serve.
9. Washington University
One of the top NIH-funded research colleges in the country, Washington University offers tracks in diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, or a combined track in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. For the first year of students’ time at the Washington University School of Medicine, they don’t receive grades, and they have access to a variety of electives and research projects from the beginning of their medical education.
The Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology is affiliated with Washington University and offers a four-year residency program. For the first three years of residency, doctors rotate through a core curriculum. In their final year, they have the opportunity to more closely investigate one or several subspecialties-- which include musculoskeletal radiology, pediatric radiology, and neuroradiology, among others.
The full-time tuition cost for Washington University School of Medicine is $65,001.
10. University of Pennsylvania
The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania was the first medical school in the country. As such, it’s had a long time to develop an excellent medical curriculum and radiology program. Perelman follows a medical curriculum built around three main themes: Integrated Medicine, Patient Care, and Transitions.
Like several other colleges on this list, the Perelman School of Medicine tends to gravitate toward small-group learning environments in order to promote cooperation between students. There are plenty of electives available for students to take, as well as an abundance of research opportunities-- Perelman is the top school in the country for NIH research funding.
The full-time yearly tuition for Perelman School of Medicine is $61,586.
Those are our Best Colleges for Radiologists
Thinking about attending med school and launching your medical career can be terrifying. But once you know what relevant programs are available and where, things start to fall into place. We’ve listed some of the best radiology schools in the country, but there are many more prestigious programs out there, too-- and there are plenty of financial aid opportunities available to help make those programs accessible.
