Sonographer In The Making
The True Cost of Your Degree
Tuition is only part of it. The years you are not working, the rent you still pay, the wages you give up - that is where the real number lives. Plug in your own figures and see what each path actually costs.
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Associate's Degree - 2 Years
Total tuition
$9,000
Total living costs
$36,000
Total lost wages
$66,560
Grand total
$111,560
Compare both paths
Associate's Degree
2 years
Grand total$111,560
Bachelor's Degree
4 years
Grand total$223,120
Break-even on the Bachelor's
If a Bachelor's earns you $5,000 more per year, you break even in 22.3 years.
I did not quote salary figures here - those are your own numbers to research. Check the Bureau of Labor Statistics or ask working sonographers in your area what new grads actually make. The difference between paths varies a lot by region and specialty.
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