Denver, CO – Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs—one of the fastest-growing fields in healthcare imaging—will face new financial aid challenges beginning in 2026. While most full sonography programs operate as accredited associate or bachelor’s degrees, the revised federal rules directly affect certificate-level ultrasound pathways, fast-track programs, and post-primary specialization modules.
According to federal guidance, ultrasound certificate programs that are unaccredited, non-credit, or under 150 instructional hours cannot receive Title IV student aid. Programs between 150 and 600 hours must qualify under Workforce Pell, requiring a 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate, and tuition that does not exceed graduates’ verified value-added earnings measured three years after completion.
Beginning July 1, 2026, certificate-based sonography programs must also satisfy the federal “low earnings outcomes” test. Under this rule, programs will lose Direct Loan eligibility if graduates earn the same or less than adults with only a high school diploma for two out of three measured years. Although sonography salaries are among the strongest in allied health, smaller clinics, rural regions, and narrowly focused specialty certificates may still face compliance issues.
Students in full degree programs will also encounter stricter annual and lifetime federal loan caps.
