Yes, radiology is classified as a STEM field by multiple U.S. federal agencies. Whether you’re pursuing radiologic technology at the associate or bachelor’s level, medical physics at the graduate level, or a radiology residency as a physician, these programs fall under official STEM designations. That said, the answer has some nuance depending on which specific degree you’re pursuing and which agency’s definition you’re using.
How Federal Agencies Classify Radiology
Three major federal bodies recognize radiology-related programs as STEM. The Department of Homeland Security includes Industrial Radiologic Technology (CIP code 41.0204) on its official STEM Designated Degree Program List. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (SOC code 29-2034) as a STEM occupation. And the National Science Foundation counts health-related technical fields like radiologic technology under its broader STEM umbrella as “S&E-related degree fields,” a category that sits alongside traditional science and engineering and is included in the NSF’s full definition of STEM.
The VA’s Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship explicitly approves several radiology-related fields of study, including Radiologic Technology/Science, Medical Radiologic Technology (Radiation Therapist), Mammography Technology, and MRI Technology. Diagnostic radiology residency and fellowship programs in neuroradiology and nuclear radiology also qualify.
Why the Coursework Is Heavily STEM
Radiologic technology programs are built on a foundation of science and math. A typical associate degree requires two semesters of anatomy and physiology, college algebra, and specialized courses in radiation biology and radiation protection. These aren’t light survey courses. You need to understand how electromagnetic radiation interacts with human tissue, how imaging equipment produces and captures X-rays, and how to calculate safe exposure levels for patients and staff.
At the graduate level, the science gets considerably deeper. A master’s program in medical physics, like the one at Johns Hopkins, requires coursework in radiological physics and dosimetry, radiation therapy physics, radiation protection, medical imaging systems, and nuclear medicine imaging. Electives can include machine learning for medical applications, advanced image reconstruction, and biostatistics. This curriculum overlaps heavily with physics and biomedical engineering, placing it firmly in STEM territory by any reasonable definition.
Radiologic Technologist vs. Radiologist
People searching this question are often thinking about one of two very different career paths, and both count as STEM, but they require vastly different levels of education.
A radiologic technologist is the person who operates imaging equipment like X-ray machines, CT scanners, and MRI units. You can enter this field with a two-year associate degree in radiologic technology. A radiologist, by contrast, is a physician who reads and interprets those images, diagnoses conditions, and recommends treatment. Becoming a radiologist requires a bachelor’s degree, four years of medical school, and a residency. Both paths are STEM-classified, but the educational commitment ranges from about two years to over a decade.
What This Means for Scholarships and Visas
The STEM classification carries real practical benefits. If you’re a veteran or military-connected student, radiology programs qualify for the Rogers STEM Scholarship through the VA. This can provide up to nine additional months of GI Bill benefits for students in approved STEM fields.
For international students, the DHS STEM designation is particularly valuable. Graduates of STEM-designated programs can apply for a 24-month extension of their Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization, on top of the standard 12 months. Industrial Radiologic Technology appears on the 2024 DHS STEM list. However, the clinical radiologic technology programs under CIP code 51 (Health Professions) are part of a broader set of related CIP series that DHS also includes, so eligibility can depend on the specific CIP code your school assigns to your degree. Check with your school’s international student office to confirm which CIP code is on your diploma.
The One Caveat Worth Knowing
Not every organization draws the line in the same place. The NSF distinguishes between “S&E degree fields” (the traditional sciences and engineering) and “S&E-related degree fields” (which includes health technologies and technical fields). Radiologic technology falls into the second category at the bachelor’s level. At the doctoral level, medical and health sciences get folded into the core S&E category because those degrees are research-focused. This distinction rarely matters in practice, since both categories are included under the NSF’s full STEM definition, but it explains why you might occasionally see someone argue that clinical radiology programs are “STEM-adjacent” rather than pure STEM. For purposes of federal scholarships, immigration benefits, and workforce data, the programs count as STEM.