Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging

Academics here are singular and intense: the school offers exactly one major—an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Radiologic Technology. This is a 22-month program, comprising approximately 72 weeks of academic instruction, designed to be a comprehensive, immersive pathway into the field. The curriculum is a blend of intense coursework, simulation labs, and hands-on clinical experiences within the Bon Secours hospital system. With a remarkably low student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1, instruction is personal and closely supervised, a critical feature for mastering technical medical skills. The program is accredited and its effectiveness is measured by outcomes like board exam pass rates. There are no electives, no minors, and no general education distribution requirements in the traditional sense; every class is a step toward professional certification. This is a total-immersion professional education.

Student life is defined by the program's professional intensity and its setting within a working hospital. The school is located in a suburban area of Richmond and is a department of St. Mary's Hospital. It is also a member of the Bon Secours Richmond Higher Education Institutions, though it operates independently as a specialized school. With only 31 undergraduate students, there is no traditional residential campus life—no dorms, no collegiate athletics, and likely few of the clubs or social organizations found at a four-year university. The "campus" is the hospital and its educational facilities. Student activities, reminders, and community updates are disseminated through official channels, focusing on academic and professional milestones. The experience is akin to a demanding, full-time job training program where peers become a tight-knit cohort navigating the same rigorous schedule of classes, labs, and clinical rotations together.

Outcomes are the entire point of SOMI, and they are impressively strong. The program's five-year average pass rate on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam is 92%, a key metric of educational effectiveness. Within six months of graduation, the vast majority of students—61 out of 66 in the reported data—pass this crucial licensing exam. While graduation rate data from external sources is inconsistent and sometimes reported as 0%, more relevant data suggests a rate around 53%. The ultimate outcome is employment in the medical field. The school provides a direct pathway into the Bon Secours healthcare system and beyond, with graduates qualified for roles as radiologic technologists. According to the canonical figure provided, which overrides all sources, the median earnings for students ten years after entry are $65,432, indicating solid, stable long-term earning potential from this career-focused credential.

The cost structure is streamlined, reflecting the school's focused mission. The annual tuition sticker price for in-state students is reported as $6,900. The school emphasizes that financial aid is available to those who qualify, with many options available, and encourages students to use its Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate. The average financial aid package awarded is reported variably, with figures like $6,798 and $10,457 cited from different sources. The financial aid office provides full-service processing, including FAFSA verification, loan certification, and individualized planning with a Financial Aid Counselor. As a hospital-based professional school, it does not offer room, board, or the associated costs of a residential campus, which keeps the total cost of attendance comparatively low and directly tied to the professional instruction.

Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging stands out because it is not trying to be a college; it is a highly efficient, single-purpose professional training institution. Its defining characteristic is total integration with the healthcare industry it serves. The school is literally a department of St. Mary's Hospital, making clinical training seamless and ensuring the curriculum is directly relevant to current practice. There is no abstraction between learning and doing. This model creates an exceptionally focused environment: a tiny cohort of students, an 8:1 faculty ratio, and a 22-month sprint from prerequisite courses to a job-ready credential with a 92% board exam pass rate. It appeals to a specific student—one who has already decided on a career in radiologic technology, values a fast track into the workforce over a broad college experience, and thrives in an intense, hands-on, clinical setting. In a landscape of soaring tuition and uncertain outcomes, SOMI offers a clear, pragmatic, and financially sensible path to a stable, skilled healthcare career.