The number of students enrolling in radiologic technology programs trended downward in 2019, according to a report released by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT).
The ASRT examined class enrollments and also student capacity and demographics based on its annual survey of educational directors for programs in radiography, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine. In all, 335 programs responded to the survey.
The society found that an estimated 15,972 students entered radiography programs in 2019, compared with 16,374 in 2018. Radiation therapy program enrollments fell to 1,155 in 2019, down from 1,356 in 2018. Nuclear medicine technology programs reported an estimated 1,129 student enrollees in 2019, compared with 1,287 the previous year.
"This is the first year since 2014 that the number of students enrolled in radiography programs slightly decreased, but there have been more fluctuations in radiation therapy and nuclear medicine enrollments over that same period," ASRT Director of Research John Culbertson said in a statement.
