2027 Accredited Online Radiology Technician Degree Programs That Accept the Most Transfer Credits
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Choosing an online radiology technician degree is often a transfer-credit decision, not just a school-choice decision. The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median pay of $78,980 for radiologic and MRI technologists, making degree completion valuable for many imaging professionals.
This guide is for students with prior college credits, an associate degree, military training, or ARRT-related credentials who want to finish faster and spend less. You'll learn which program types tend to accept the most credits, how evaluations work, and how to compare real savings instead of advertised transfer limits.
Key Things You Should Know
- Online bachelor's completion programs in radiologic or imaging sciences usually accept the most transfer credit, often up to about 90 semester credits when students already hold an accredited associate degree and professional imaging credential.
- A high transfer cap does not always mean a shorter degree; the most important number is how many credits apply to major, general education, and residency requirements rather than only elective credit.
- Cost savings can be substantial because College Board's 2024 Trends in College Pricing reported average published tuition and fees of $11,610 for in-state public four-year institutions and $43,350 for private nonprofit four-year institutions, making each avoided credit financially meaningful.
Which Accredited Online Radiology Technician Degree Programs Accept the Most Transfer Credits?
The accredited online radiology technician degree programs that accept the most transfer credits are usually not first-time associate degrees. They are bachelor's completion programs in radiologic sciences, imaging sciences, radiation science technology, or health sciences for students who have already completed a radiography program and, in many cases, hold ARRT certification or eligibility.
Use the table below as a decision-support comparison of transfer-friendly online options. Published transfer limits and residency requirements can change, so the practical next step is always to request an official transfer evaluation before enrolling.
| Program | Online degree type | Who it fits best | Transfer-credit position | Key decision point |
| Boise State University | Online Bachelor of Science in Imaging Sciences | Credentialed imaging professionals seeking bachelor's completion | Commonly structured for students bringing substantial prior college and imaging coursework, with up to about 90 credits often used toward a 120-credit degree | Strong fit if your associate degree and registry-related coursework apply directly to the major rather than only electives |
| University of Cincinnati | Online Bachelor of Radiation Science Technology | Registered radiologic technologists and other imaging professionals | Transfer-friendly bachelor's completion model, often leaving roughly the final 30 credits when prior coursework aligns well | Best for students who want a completion degree tied closely to imaging leadership, advanced practice, or career mobility |
| AdventHealth University | Online Bachelor of Science in Imaging Sciences | Students with an imaging credential and previous college coursework | Designed for advanced-standing students; many degree-completion pathways allow a large block of previous credits toward the bachelor's degree | Check whether transfer credit satisfies specific concentration, general education, and upper-division requirements |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana | Online Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences | Radiologic technologists completing a bachelor's degree | Typically transfer-oriented for credentialed radiologic science students with associate-level preparation | Compare remaining institutional credits and whether clinical or registry credit is recognized |
| University of Louisiana Monroe | Online Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology | Registered technologists who want an online completion route | Built for students entering with prior radiologic technology education and college credit | Ask how many technical radiography credits transfer into degree requirements, not just total credits accepted |
| Pima Medical Institute | Online Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences | Working radiologic technologists with an associate degree | Degree-completion format generally assumes significant transfer or block credit from prior radiography education | Evaluate total program price after transfer because private tuition can change the ROI calculation |
| Oregon Institute of Technology | Online radiologic science or imaging-related bachelor's completion pathway | Registered technologists seeking an applied bachelor's pathway | Often favorable for students with completed radiography education and professional registration | Quarter-credit systems can make transfer estimates look different from semester-credit programs, so convert credits carefully |
In general, a program that accepts up to 90 credits can be faster than one that accepts 60, but only if those credits meet the degree plan. A student with a completed JRCERT-accredited associate degree in radiography may be in a stronger transfer position than a student with 90 unrelated credits in electives or non-healthcare courses.
How Do Online Radiology Technician Degree Programs Evaluate Transfer Credits?
Online radiology technician degree programs evaluate transfer credits by matching your previous coursework against the new degree's curriculum. Schools usually review official transcripts, course descriptions, credit hours, grades, accreditation of the sending institution, and whether the coursework is recent enough for the subject area.
Most evaluations follow a sequence that determines not only whether credit transfers, but also where it fits in the degree. That distinction matters because elective credit may increase your total transfer count without reducing the number of required courses left.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or technical school attended, including schools where you withdrew or earned only a few credits.
- Provide course descriptions or syllabi for radiography, anatomy, physics, patient care, and imaging courses if the evaluator cannot determine equivalency from the transcript alone.
- Ask whether registry, licensure, military, CLEP, AP, or professional training credits are evaluated separately from traditional college coursework.
- Request a degree audit showing which credits meet general education, major, upper-division, elective, and residency requirements.
- Confirm the number of credits remaining, not just the number accepted, before comparing cost or completion time.
A common mistake is assuming that "90 credits accepted" means "only 30 credits left." If a bachelor's program requires specific upper-division imaging courses, leadership courses, or research courses, you may still need more than the minimum residency credits to graduate.
How Can Transfer Credits Shorten an Online Radiology Technician Degree?
Transfer credits shorten an online radiology technician degree by replacing courses you would otherwise need to retake. The largest time savings usually occur when a school grants block credit for an accredited radiography associate degree, recognizes professional registry-based learning, or accepts completed general education coursework.
The table below shows how transfer credits can affect a typical 120-credit bachelor's completion pathway. Actual timelines vary by course availability, part-time enrollment, clinical requirements, and whether the program uses semester, quarter, or accelerated terms.
| Credits accepted toward degree | Credits remaining in a 120-credit bachelor's degree | Typical student profile | Likely completion pattern |
| 30 credits | 90 credits | Student with some prior general education but no completed radiography associate degree | Often closer to a traditional multi-year path |
| 60 credits | 60 credits | Student with an associate degree or substantial lower-division coursework | May complete in roughly half the time of a full bachelor's path if courses are offered consistently |
| 75 credits | 45 credits | Radiography graduate with additional general education or healthcare coursework | Often feasible as a focused degree-completion pathway |
| 90 credits | 30 credits | Credentialed technologist whose prior credits align with the bachelor's plan | Potentially the fastest completion route, subject to residency and upper-division requirements |
Students comparing speed should also look at term structure. An eight-week online course schedule may seem faster, but working technologists should balance pace with shift work, clinical responsibilities, and family obligations. If your main goal is a quick healthcare credential rather than a radiologic sciences bachelor's degree, a shorter allied health route such as the fastest way to become a medical assistant may fit a different career objective better.
Transfer credits can reduce the cost of an online radiology technician degree by lowering the number of credits you must pay for at the new school. The financial impact is especially important because published tuition is only one part of total cost; technology fees, online course fees, books, graduation fees, and lost work time can also affect ROI.
College Board's 2024 pricing data shows why credit reduction matters: average published tuition and fees were $11,610 at public four-year in-state institutions and $43,350 at private nonprofit four-year institutions. For transfer students, this means the same 30 accepted credits may produce very different savings depending on the school's per-credit cost.
The table below illustrates the basic tuition-only effect of reducing required credits. It is a model, not a quote, because each school sets its own tuition and fees.
| Per-credit tuition | Credits avoided through transfer | Estimated tuition not paid | What to verify |
| $350 | 30 credits | $10,500 | Whether transferred credits satisfy required courses |
| $450 | 45 credits | $20,250 | Whether fees are charged per course or per term |
| $600 | 60 credits | $36,000 | Whether the program has a minimum tuition or cohort charge |
| $750 | 90 credits | $67,500 | Whether the school requires at least 30 institutional credits |
Cost comparison should focus on the total price to graduation, not the sticker price or transfer cap alone. A more expensive school that accepts 90 useful credits may cost less overall than a lower-tuition school that accepts only 45 credits. Conversely, a low-cost public program with a stricter transfer review may be the better investment if its remaining courses are affordable and well aligned with your career goals.
Yes, some accredited online radiology technician degree programs review military, professional, exam-based, or prior learning credits, but policies vary widely. These credits are usually most useful in bachelor's completion programs, where the student already has college-level radiography education and professional experience.
Students with nontraditional learning should ask how each credit type is evaluated and whether it applies to degree requirements. The following categories are commonly reviewed, but they are not treated the same way by every school.
- Military credits: Schools may review Joint Services Transcript recommendations, especially for medical, patient care, leadership, safety, or technical training.
- Professional registry or certification credit: Some programs may award block or advanced-standing credit for ARRT registration or approved imaging credentials.
- Credit by exam: CLEP, DSST, and AP scores may satisfy some general education requirements if they meet the school's minimum score policy.
- Prior learning assessment: A portfolio review may be available for documented professional learning, but it is less common for tightly regulated clinical imaging requirements.
- Employer or continuing education training: These credits may help only if evaluated through an approved college-credit recommendation process.
Do not assume professional experience will replace radiography courses required for licensure or registry eligibility. If you are still choosing among healthcare pathways and want a licensed practical nursing route instead of imaging, an LPN 6 month program comparison can help clarify how different allied health credentials handle timelines and clinical training.
The previous credits that transfer best to online radiology technician degrees are credits that match the new program's curriculum and come from accredited institutions. In most cases, a completed radiography associate degree, science prerequisites, and general education courses are more valuable than unrelated electives.
The table below summarizes which credit types are most likely to reduce remaining coursework. It also shows where students often overestimate transfer value.
| Previous credit type | Transfer strength | Why it helps | Common limitation |
| Accredited associate degree in radiography | Very strong | Often aligns with lower-division imaging, patient care, and clinical foundations | May still leave upper-division major and residency courses |
| Anatomy and physiology with lab | Strong | Frequently required in imaging and health science curricula | Some schools apply course-age rules for science courses |
| College algebra, statistics, or quantitative reasoning | Moderate to strong | Can satisfy general education or research preparation requirements | May not transfer if remedial or below college level |
| English composition and communication | Strong | Common general education requirements across bachelor's programs | Grade minimums may apply |
| Radiographic positioning and imaging procedures | Strong for degree completion | May support block credit for registered technologists | May not transfer into an entry-level program if clinical competencies differ |
| Unrelated electives | Weak to moderate | May raise total transfer credits | Often does not reduce major requirements |
Students with strong science backgrounds may also compare imaging pathways with broader health or science options, including online biology degrees, especially if they are considering graduate study, laboratory careers, or pre-professional tracks rather than radiologic technology advancement.
Transfer agreements can make online radiology technician degree completion faster and more predictable because they define how credits move from one institution to another. These agreements are often called articulation agreements, transfer pathways, 2+2 agreements, or block-transfer agreements.
The strongest agreements do more than state that credits are accepted. They show exactly how an associate degree maps into the bachelor's curriculum, which remaining courses are required, and whether students enter with junior standing.
- Program-to-program agreements are usually the most useful because they connect a specific radiography associate degree to a specific bachelor's completion plan.
- Statewide transfer agreements can help with general education, especially at public institutions, but may not cover radiologic science major requirements.
- Block-transfer agreements can save time when the receiving school accepts the completed associate degree as a package rather than reviewing every technical course separately.
- Informal "transfer-friendly" language is less reliable than a written degree map that lists remaining courses.
A transfer agreement is not a substitute for accreditation review. For entry-level radiography programs, students should verify whether the program meets ARRT eligibility expectations and any state licensure rules. For bachelor's completion programs, institutional accreditation and alignment with professional goals are usually the key quality checks.
Before choosing an online radiology technician degree, compare transfer policies that affect actual completion time and cost. The best policy is not always the one with the highest maximum; it is the one that applies the most of your credits to the courses you still need.
Use the following checklist when speaking with admissions, registrars, department advisors, or transfer-credit evaluators. These questions help separate useful transfer credit from credit that looks good on paper but does not shorten the program.
- What is the maximum number of transfer credits accepted toward this exact degree?
- How many credits must be completed at your institution to meet the residency requirement?
- Will my radiography associate degree transfer as a block, course by course, or both?
- Which transferred credits satisfy major requirements, and which count only as electives?
- Are there minimum grade requirements for transferred courses?
- Do science, math, or imaging courses expire after a certain number of years?
- Do you award credit for ARRT certification, military medical training, CLEP, DSST, AP, or prior learning assessment?
- Will I receive a written degree audit before I commit to enrollment?
- Are online students eligible for the same transfer policies as campus students?
- What is the total estimated cost after my credits are applied?
Students who are drawn to leadership, operations, compliance, or management roles may find that a healthcare administration degree online accredited pathway provides better career alignment than an imaging-specific bachelor's degree. Transfer efficiency matters, but it should support the job you actually want.
Transfer-friendly online radiology technician degree programs benefit students who already have meaningful, applicable credits. They are especially useful for working radiologic technologists who need a bachelor's degree for advancement, modality specialization, leadership roles, education roles, or preparation for graduate study.
The students below tend to gain the most from generous transfer policies because their previous learning is more likely to match degree requirements.
- Registered radiologic technologists with an associate degree from an accredited radiography program
- Students who completed general education courses such as English, anatomy and physiology, psychology, communication, algebra, or statistics
- Military-trained healthcare personnel with documented college-level medical or technical training
- Working imaging professionals seeking a bachelor's degree without repeating lower-division clinical coursework
- Students changing schools after completing most prerequisites but before finishing a bachelor's degree
Students who benefit least are those with many unrelated electives, low grades in key courses, credits from unaccredited institutions, or a career goal that does not require radiologic sciences. Students planning for advanced nursing practice, for example, may eventually need a nursing pathway rather than an imaging bachelor's; in that case, researching online MSN PMHNP programs may be more relevant after completing the appropriate nursing prerequisites and licensure steps.
How Should Students Choose an Online Radiology Technician Degree Based on Transfer Efficiency?
Choose an online radiology technician degree based on transfer efficiency, not transfer volume alone. Transfer efficiency means the credits accepted reduce your remaining required courses, total tuition, time to graduation, and opportunity cost while still leading to a credible, accredited degree that fits your career goal.
A practical comparison process should move from broad screening to written confirmation. Follow these steps before applying or depositing.
- Identify your goal first, such as bachelor's completion, modality advancement, imaging management, education, pre-graduate preparation, or general healthcare career mobility.
- Limit your search to institutionally accredited schools and verify programmatic accreditation or ARRT alignment when you are pursuing entry-level radiography eligibility.
- Separate associate-entry programs from bachelor's completion programs because they serve different students and have different transfer realities.
- Collect official transcripts, unofficial transcripts, course descriptions, syllabi, military records, exam scores, and proof of professional certification.
- Request a written preliminary or official transfer evaluation from each finalist school.
- Compare credits accepted, credits applied to requirements, credits remaining, per-credit tuition, fees, course schedule, and expected graduation date.
- Ask whether any transferred courses are at risk because of age, grade, accreditation, or quarter-to-semester conversion.
- Choose the program with the best combination of remaining cost, realistic timeline, accreditation fit, academic support, and career relevance.
The main red flag is a school that promotes a high maximum transfer limit but cannot show how your credits apply to the degree. A stricter program may be the better choice if it offers clearer advising, stronger employer recognition, lower remaining cost, or a curriculum more closely tied to your intended imaging career.
Other Things You Should Know About Radiology Technician
Fully online entry-level radiography degrees are uncommon because students need supervised clinical training with imaging equipment and patients. Many programs offer online general education or didactic courses, but clinical rotations usually occur in person at approved sites.
It depends on the program type. Entry-level radiography students should verify that the program meets ARRT educational eligibility requirements and state licensure rules. Bachelor's completion programs are often designed for people who are already certified or registry-eligible.
Employers typically focus on accreditation, ARRT certification or eligibility, state licensure when required, clinical competence, and relevant experience. For bachelor's completion roles, an online format from an accredited institution is commonly acceptable, but employer preferences can vary.
Many bachelor's completion programs are designed for working technologists, but course load matters. Students working full time may prefer part-time enrollment, asynchronous courses, and predictable term schedules to avoid burnout.
- Online Radiology Tech Programs: Finding the Right School https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/radiology-tech-programs/
- Frequently Asked Questions https://pasadena.edu/academics/divisions/health-sciences/radiologic-technology/faq.php
- UofL Health Radiologic Technology Program | Two-Year Certificate Program | Louisville KY https://uoflhealth.org/radiologic-technology-program/
- General Requirements - RAD https://www.schs.edu/programs/associate-degree-programs/radiologic-technology/general-requirements
- Affordable Online Bachelor's in Radiology Programs 2021 https://www.healthcare-administration-degree.net/best/affordable-online-bachelors-radiology-degree-programs/
- Radiologic Technology Associate in Applied Science https://www.lakemichigancollege.edu/academics/imaging/radiologic-technology-associate-applied-science
- Radiologic Technology https://www.century.edu/programs/radiologic-technology/
- Radiography | Ozarks Tech (OTC) https://ozarkstech.edu/programs/health-services/radiography/
- JRCERT Accreditation for Radiologic Technology Program https://www.gurnick.edu/news/jrcert-accreditation-radiologic-technology-program/
- Radiologic Technology | Riverside College of Health Sciences https://www.riverside.edu/en/programs/allied-health/radiologic-technology
