Radiology, Ultrasound Scholarships and More

The Federal Student Aid programs are the largest source of financial assistance for medical imaging schools and other college programs, each year providing billions of dollars in funding through a variety of methods: as gift aid in the form of grants (money that does not have to be repaid), as self-help aid in the form of work study (job earnings) and loans (money that must be paid back at interest).

Here are the types of financial aid available for medical imaging students:

• Pell grants
• Stafford loans, available either through the Direct Loan (DL) program or the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program
• PLUS loans for parents (also available through the DL or FFEL programs)
• Consolidation loans (DL or FFEL)
• Federal Work Study (FWS)
• Perkins loans
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)

Pell Grant

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded usually only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Pell Grant.) Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added.

Stafford Loans (Student Loans)

Stafford loans are also known as the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) program. Under the Direct Loan program, the funds for your loan come directly from the federal government. Funds for your FFEL will come from a bank, credit union, or other lender that participates in the program.

PLUS Loans (Parent Loans)

Parents can borrow a PLUS Loan to help pay education expenses if the student is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half time in an eligible program at an eligible school. PLUS Loans are available through the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program.

The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Educational Foundation is the only organization awarding scholarships to ultrasound students attending programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

The Foundation was established to help attract and assist bright, committed students to the field of ultrasound while also supporting research endeavors of practicing sonographers. Each year the SDMS Educational Foundation offers scholarships to students who demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need.

Individual schools may also offer scholarship opportunities.