All six programs accepting Texas residents are structured around ARRT certification eligibility, meaning clinical hours and curricula meet the competency standards you need to sit for the exam and pursue state licensure. Programs run two to three years and tuition ranges from roughly $5,940 to $11,000, so cost and time commitment vary enough that comparing programs closely matters.
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Which radiology tech programs should Texas students compare first?
Six Texas radiology tech options cover JRCERT-accredited, ARRT-focused, and state-approved pathways. The table below ranks them by total cost. Click a name to jump to the detailed write-up.
| Program | Length | Tuition | Credential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas College — Radiologic Technology AAS | 2 yr | $5,940–$11,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| Tarrant County College — Radiologic Technology AAS | 2 yr | $8,000–$12,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| San Jacinto College — Medical Radiography AAS | 2 yr | $9,000–$15,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| North Central Texas College — Radiological Technology AAS | 2 yr | $10,000–$16,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| UT MD Anderson School of Health Professions — Diagnostic Imaging B.S. - Radiography Track | 3 yr | $24,000–$45,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
| Pima Medical Institute — Radiography Associate Degree | 2 yr | $47,000–$56,000 | ARRT Radiography prep |
Dallas College — Radiologic Technology AAS
- Cost:
- $5,940–$11,000
- Length:
- 2 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- JRCERT-accredited radiologic sciences program
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
Dallas College is the Texas price leader in this set when Dallas County tuition applies, and the program publishes JRCERT accreditation plus ARRT/Texas licensure language. It should be one of the first comparisons for north Texas students who can compete for a Brookhaven seat.
View program at Dallas College →Tarrant County College — Radiologic Technology AAS
- Cost:
- $8,000–$12,000
- Length:
- 2 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- JRCERT-accredited radiologic technology program
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
TCC is the Fort Worth public option: a two-year full-time sequence, about 30 seats per cycle, and a published program-cost estimate around $8,000 before living expenses. It is a strong value if you can clear the HESI/application bar.
View program at Tarrant County College →San Jacinto College — Medical Radiography AAS
- Cost:
- $9,000–$15,000
- Length:
- 2 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- JRCERT-accredited medical radiography program
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
San Jacinto is the Houston-area public AAS route with every-semester application windows and published ARRT/Texas Medical Board language. It is the right first comparison for students near the Gulf Coast who want local clinical sites.
View program at San Jacinto College →North Central Texas College — Radiological Technology AAS
- Cost:
- $10,000–$16,000
- Length:
- 2 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- JRCERT-accredited radiography program
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
NCTC is useful for north Texas students outside the immediate Dallas-Fort Worth core, with Gainesville classes and clinical placements across the region. Its official page is unusually specific about ARRT, Texas Medical Board licensure, and clinical-site obligations.
View program at North Central Texas College →UT MD Anderson School of Health Professions — Diagnostic Imaging B.S. - Radiography Track
- Cost:
- $24,000–$45,000
- Length:
- 3 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- JRCERT-accredited diagnostic imaging radiography program; SACSCOC institutional accreditation
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
MD Anderson is the higher-bar Houston bachelor's option, built inside a major cancer center's School of Health Professions. It is not the cheapest path, but it is the strongest fit if you want academic medical-center training and a BS credential rather than an AAS.
View program at UT MD Anderson School of Health Professions →Pima Medical Institute — Radiography Associate Degree
- Cost:
- $47,000–$56,000
- Length:
- 2 yr
- Format:
- Campus-based
- Accreditation:
- JRCERT-accredited radiography program; ABHES institutional accreditation
- Credential prep:
- ARRT Radiography
- FAFSA eligible:
- Yes
Pima is the private-school comparison for Texas students who want multiple metro campus choices and a career-college schedule. It is much more expensive than the public colleges, so the key question is whether its cohort structure and campus location solve a real access problem.
View program at Pima Medical Institute →Which radiology tech credential should you pursue?
Radiology tech programs should prepare you for ARRT radiography certification and any state licensure step required where you plan to work.
| Credential | Issuing body | Exam cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RT(R) Registered Technologist in Radiography | ARRT | $225 application fee | The core credential most entry-level radiologic technologist jobs expect. |
| JRCERT Programmatic accreditation | JRCERT | No student exam fee | Students who want a radiography program reviewed specifically against radiologic technology standards. |
| State license Radiologic technologist license | State agency | Varies by state | Required in many states after ARRT certification or as part of the same application path. |
| Postprimary CT, MRI, mammography, and other specialties | ARRT | Varies by exam | Radiographers who want to specialize after earning the core RT(R) credential. |
Credential and program-accreditation sources: ARRT, and JRCERT.
How much do radiology tech programs cost in Texas?
Radiology tech program costs in this comparison range from roughly $5,940 at a subsidized Texas community college to $56,000 at a nationally accredited career institute, a gap driven almost entirely by institutional type, accreditation body, and whether the school receives state tax support.
Four program tiers exist in this comparison, sorted by total tuition cost. Each tier reflects a different funding model, accreditation type, and credential level.
| Tier | Tuition range | What you get | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-district Texas community college AAS | $5,940–$11,000 | Tuition covers JRCERT-accredited clinical and didactic instruction, ARRT Radiography exam preparation, and FAFSA eligibility for qualifying students; cost varies by credit-hour residency rate. | Dallas College |
| Multi-campus Texas community college AAS | $8,000–$16,000 | Tuition covers JRCERT-accredited radiologic technology coursework and ARRT Radiography prep with FAFSA eligibility; the higher end of the range reflects out-of-district or out-of-state per-credit rates. | Tarrant County College |
| SACSCOC state university bachelor's program | $24,000–$45,000 | Tuition covers a JRCERT-accredited bachelor's-level diagnostic imaging curriculum with ARRT Radiography prep and FAFSA eligibility, conferring a four-year degree rather than an associate credential. | UT MD Anderson School of Health Professions |
| ABHES-accredited national career institute AAS | $47,000–$56,000 | Tuition covers JRCERT-accredited radiography coursework and ARRT Radiography prep with FAFSA eligibility, but the ABHES institutional accreditation and for-profit pricing model produce costs roughly three to eight times higher than in-state community colleges. | Pima Medical Institute |
How do you become a radiology tech in Texas?
- 1
Choose an accredited radiography program
education2-4 weeks · $0 (research only)
Texas has 6 accredited radiography programs to choose from, including options at community colleges and university health systems across the state. Compare tuition costs, clinical site locations, and program length to find the best fit before submitting applications.
- 2
Complete classroom and clinical training
training licensing18-30 mo · Varies by program
Accredited programs combine classroom coursework in anatomy, patient care, and radiation physics with hands-on clinical hours at hospitals or imaging centers. Most programs require around 1,800 clinical hours before you can graduate and sit for the licensing exam.
- 3
Pass ARRT radiography exam and apply for licensure
career1-3 months · $225+ state fees
After graduating, you'll register for the ARRT radiography exam, which costs $225, and pass a background check before applying for your Texas Medical Board license. Most candidates complete this process within 1 to 3 months of finishing their program.
Do you need a license to work as a radiology tech in Texas?
Texas requires radiology techs to hold a state certificate before they can practice. The Texas Medical Board oversees radiologic technologists, and most employers expect candidates to hold both state certification and ARRT credentials before they start work. The ARRT exam in Radiography is the exam that matters most, since passing it satisfies the core requirement for the state certificate application. Current job postings show exactly how Texas hiring managers phrase those requirements, so read on to see what they are actually listing.
What is the Texas job market like for radiology techs?
We pulled the most recent radiology tech postings open to Texas residents from Indeed, employer career sites, and relevant professional job boards. The numbers below summarize roughly 4,380 postings from the last 90 days; the three sample postings further down are representative examples we analyzed to figure out what employers actually require.
Top-level findings: median posted pay is $75,820, 0% of roles are remote or remote-eligible, and the largest employers hiring right now include HCA Healthcare, Houston Methodist, Baylor Scott & White Health.
Sources: posting count from Indeed; median salary from BLS OEWS 29-2034.
Sample postings analyzed below
All three postings share the same credential floor: ARRT certification in radiography, Texas Medical Board Medical Radiologic Technologist (MRT) licensure, and current BLS. Those three items appear in every listing, meaning you cannot get through an application screen without them. Beyond credentials, every employer expects hands-on competency in patient positioning, image quality evaluation, and radiation safety protocols.
The day-to-day expectations are consistent across employers. HCA Healthcare lists duties that include "maintaining radiation safety, and communicating findings workflow needs to radiologists and nurses." Baylor Scott & White spells out tasks like "verifying patient identity, explaining procedures, positioning patients, evaluating image quality, and following radiation safety practices." Neither posting leaves room for on-the-job learning of the basics.
All three roles are onsite, which matches the aggregate picture: 0% of Texas radiology tech postings offer remote work. The aggregate median sits at $75,820 across 4,380 postings in 90 days, signaling a competitive but active market. No posting lists a minimum years-of-experience number in the summaries provided, but the specificity of duties at all three major health systems suggests they expect graduates who can perform independently on day one.
If you are choosing a program, prioritize one that guarantees ARRT exam eligibility and includes Texas MRT licensure preparation, because those two credentials are the hard gate every employer uses.
FAQ
Can I work full-time while enrolled in any of these programs?
Radiologic technology programs typically include full-time clinical rotations during daytime hours, which makes working full-time extremely difficult. None of these programs are listed as part-time or online formats, so plan for a full-time academic and clinical schedule across all six options.
Do these programs accept FAFSA?
Yes, all six programs accept FAFSA. That includes the lower-cost community college programs like Dallas College ($5,940–$11,000) and the higher-cost options like Pima Medical Institute ($47,000–$56,000).
Will an out-of-state program count for Texas employers?
Texas employers hire based on ARRT Radiography certification, not where you attended school. Every program listed leads to ARRT Radiography eligibility, so a graduate from any accredited program can apply for Texas licensure and jobs.
How long until I can sit for the ARRT radiography exam?
Five of the six programs take 2 years to complete before you're eligible to sit for the ARRT Radiography exam. The UT MD Anderson Diagnostic Imaging B.S. takes 3 years.