by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 4 U.S. colleges awarded 51 degrees and certificates in Cardiopulmonary Technology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Cardiopulmonary Technology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing, rising to $77,808 after four years.
A degree in Cardiopulmonary Technology covers Cardiopulmonary Technology/technologist. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Physicians And Nurses, To Perform Both Cardiovascular And Pulmonary Diagnostic And Therapeutic Procedures. Includes Instruction In Cardiopulmonary Pharmacology; Anatomy And Physiology Of The Heart, Peripheral Vascular System, And Lungs; Pulmonary And Cardiovascular Disease And Dysfunction; Peripheral Vascular Doppler Procedures; Invasive And Non-Invasive Cardiology; Pulmonary Function Tests; Blood Gas Analysis; Echocardiograph Procedures; Bronchoscopy; Patient Management; Patient History Taking And Record-Keeping; Applications To Clinical Research; And Emergency Procedures.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., cardiopulmonary technology is a widely-pursued major, with 51 degrees awarded annually. 4 colleges award cardiopulmonary technology degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 14.
By level, the 51 awards include 12 certificates, 14 associate degrees and 25 bachelor’s degrees.
Women earned 80% of cardiopulmonary technology degrees and certificates in the latest year (41 of 51). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (24) and Hispanic or Latino (14).
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Cardiopulmonary Technology Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks cardiopulmonary technology schools within 1 state. In all, 4 colleges offer cardiopulmonary technology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Cardiopulmonary Technology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common cardiopulmonary technology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 25 of the 51 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to cardiopulmonary technology call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Near Vision.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a cardiopulmonary technology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 12 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 14 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 25 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to cardiopulmonary technology, at 24.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 24.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 18.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 17.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.0% |
| Master’s degree | 11.4% |
| Some college courses | 7.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Cardiopulmonary Technology, with an average median salary of $86,649; the strongest outlook belongs to Neurodiagnostic Technologists, at 14.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Medical Technologist, Perfusionist, Vascular Technician and Polysomnographic Technologist.
The occupation related to cardiopulmonary technology with the most projected jobs is Patient Representatives, at 3,368,169.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Representatives | 3,368,169 | 4.8% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 3,206,816 | 12.2% |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 2,908,248 | 9.4% |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 1,852,560 | 14.1% |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 1,630,916 | -0.3% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Cardiopulmonary Technology graduates earn a median $68,190 one year after completing their program, $77,808 after four years and $70,516 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $68,190 |
| 4 years | $77,808 |
| 5 years | $70,516 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to cardiopulmonary technology is Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other, with a median salary of $153,940.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $153,940 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | $153,819 |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | $81,316 |
| Patient Representatives | $47,419 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $36,739 |
Cardiopulmonary Technology has 21 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 98,423 degrees a year; the largest are Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) (32,528), Physician Associate/Assistant (13,743) and Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer (13,037). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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