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An online master’s in health informatics (MHI) or master of science in health informatics (MSHI) can be a strong option for professionals who wish to advance or redirect their careers into data‑driven roles in healthcare. These programs typically attract students from clinical, IT, and other analytical backgrounds, but many also admit applicants with any accredited bachelor’s degree who are motivated to work at the intersection of healthcare and information systems.
Demand for skilled health informatics professionals remains robust. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025) projects that employment of health information technologists and medical registrars—key roles that rely on advanced informatics skills—will grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations (3 percent). This growth reflects healthcare organizations’ ongoing investments in electronic health records, data analytics, cybersecurity, and digital tools that improve patient care and operations.
Because of this momentum, accredited graduate programs in health informatics continue to expand. The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) now accredits hundreds of health informatics and health information management programs across the United States, including master’s degrees in health informatics offered in online and hybrid formats. For prospective students, this means more choices than ever to find a flexible, reputable program that fits their career goals.
Is an Online MHI or MSHI Degree for Me?
As healthcare providers rely more heavily on data, analytics, and digital tools to improve care quality and efficiency, a wide range of new and evolving roles continues to emerge. A master of science in health informatics (MSHI) can help graduates pursue positions such as chief information officers, clinical data analysts, health information managers, informatics project managers, and other leadership or specialist roles that connect clinical practice with information systems.
These jobs often blend clinical, managerial, and technical responsibilities, and titles can vary significantly by organization. Many roles did not exist a generation ago and continue to change as health systems adopt new electronic health record platforms, patient‑facing apps, and emerging technologies such as advanced analytics and decision‑support tools.
Health informatics professionals work in far more settings than hospitals alone. Graduates may find opportunities with insurance companies, health systems, consulting firms, health IT vendors, government agencies, and startups that design or support digital health products and services.
Admissions Requirements
Applications for online health informatics degrees vary by school, but general requirements include completion of an application, attainment of a four-year degree (sometimes in healthcare or IT, but not always), and submission of official transcripts. Some schools also may require:
- A minimum GPA of 3.0
- One to three letters of recommendation
- GRE scores, although some schools may waive these when there is a higher cumulative GPA at the undergraduate level; other schools may not require a GRE at all
Other requirements can include a personal essay or resume. Often, these materials can be submitted online by uploading PDFs or other attachments, along with the initial application. Other materials, like transcripts, may need to be submitted by regular mail since schools usually want original copies.
Colleges and universities offering both campus-based and online education seem to follow a more traditional start calendar, often just in the fall or spring semester, or sometimes additionally in the summer. However, other schools fully enmeshed in online learning have programs with several start dates throughout the year. Because these change year to year, however, it is best to look at the school website to confirm when the next opportunity for application and enrollment will be. Still others may offer continual enrollment opportunities throughout the year for acceptance into any of its ongoing graduate terms.
Typical Course Curriculum and Specialization
A master’s degree in health informatics is interdisciplinary in nature, combining both the fundamentals of the healthcare and computer IT worlds. Students can build out foundational skills by taking classes, such as:
- Biostatistics
- Foundations of Information Systems
- Healthcare Informatics
- Healthcare Assurance
- HIT Standards
- The American Healthcare System
A student’s program also may vary based on their bachelor’s level of education and subject matter. For example, after completing the basic required courses in an online health information degree, students may take elective courses in different tracks, depending on whether they already have a background in the healthcare field.
Schools also offer a variety of ways to cement learning with real-life experiences. Although clinical experiences may not be required, many schools offer them through three-credit courses. In fact, some schools may even make their practicum experience optional (as a 3-credit add-on course), but they do require students to complete a three-credit scholarly project, which entails in-depth research and a presentation in an area of health informatics. On the other hand, schools like Southern New Hampshire University do not require practicum hours, but may have students complete a capstone project to bring all of their learning and knowledge together in the form of a final project.
As a final note, many of the online master’s in health informatics programs require completion of 33 to 36 graduate credits, allowing students to complete a degree in two to three years of full-time study.
Highly Regarded Online MSHI Programs
There are many schools offering online education at the master’s level in health informatics, particularly since the field is in such high demand. Five of these schools are highlighted below, but there certainly are more degree programs available online to suit an individual’s needs:
DePaul University offers an online master of science in health informatics program equipping students with hands-on and technical experience for a world where digital technologies and AI are increasingly being used to improve human health. The program will prepare graduates for a variety of careers, from health IT and health information management to health-focused data science & analytics, as well as careers focused on creating new digital therapeutics and launching tech startups around novel innovations in digital health.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. International students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency.
Made up of 48 credits, the program includes courses such as health data science; introduction to health informatics; healthcare systems and data; digital health; database design for information systems; health sector management; database processing for large-scale analytics; fundamentals of data science; accounting and financial management in healthcare; and topics in health informatics, among others. Concentrations are available in innovations in health care; analytics; and databases and systems.
Graduates will be ready to take on positions such as health data analysts, health informatics consultants, clinical informatics analysts, clinical research data managers, clinical decision support specialists, healthcare project managers, and nursing informatics specialists, among many such roles.
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years
The University of South Florida is a pioneer in online health informatics education. It was the first top-tier medical school to offer such a program completely online and includes faculty who are experts and working professionals in the field of informatics. USF is a HIMSS Approved Education Partner and Academic Organizational Affiliate.
The University of South Florida’s CAHIIM-accredited master of science in health informatics degree is offered entirely online. The program addresses the operational and technological aspects of informatics with a focus on the interoperability and integration of technology. The program’s curriculum provides broad technical skills as well as the organizational competencies needed for senior-level positions.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university in the biological, chemical, computer, or management information sciences or other acceptable field, official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0, a current resume, two professional or academic letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. GRE, MCAT, or VAT standardized test scores or evidence of substantial health informatics experience can be submitted to enhance an application, but are not required.
This 32-credit program includes courses such as introduction to health informatics; foundations in management information systems; integrated electronic medical records; health data management; legal aspects of health information management; managerial communications; healthcare project management; introduction to healthcare analytics; and health outcomes research.
- Location: Tampa, FL
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); CAHIIM
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies offers an online master of science in health informatics program in partnership with the Feinberg School of Medicine. Preparing graduates for emerging opportunities and roles across the healthcare enterprise, the program offers specialisation options in clinical informatics, health technology informatics, and health administration informatics.
Applicants to the program must hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent. Application materials include a statement of purpose, a current resume, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Proof of English proficiency is a requirement for international applicants or applicants whose undergraduate degree was awarded outside the United States.
Students in this program complete a total of 12 courses. Students must complete five core courses and seven additional courses corresponding to a chosen area of specialization. Courses include the American health care system; introduction to health informatics; legal, ethical, and social issues; health analytics leadership; decision support systems; health care operations; global health systems; introduction to clinical thinking; and introduction to data and analytics.
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years
Students enrolled in the online master of science in health informatics and information management program at Dakota State University have the opportunity to work with faculty and staff who have more than 50 years of combined experience in the field. Notably, Dakota State University is a HIMSS Approved Education Partner and Academic Organizational Affiliate.
This CAHIIM-accredited online master of science in health informatics and information management program prepares graduates to lead health information governance initiatives, protect patient privacy, and develop electronic health record dashboards. The program also provides experience in the management and research of health information systems. Students will complete their master’s, equipped for executive-level roles, contributing to the design and oversight of health information systems across several healthcare agencies and facilities.
For admission to the program, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in information systems, health information management, statistics (or closely related field) from an institution with full regional accreditation, a minimum GPA of 2.7, and official transcripts. English proficiency scores are required of international applicants.
Notably, applicants must have knowledge or prior experience in areas such as information systems, healthcare, or statistics. If students do not have the appropriate coursework or experience to demonstrate competency in the knowledge areas, they can still be accepted; however, they might be required to take foundational courses as part of their formal plan of study.
Comprising 33 credits, the program includes courses such as healthcare informatics, information systems, and technology; data analytics in healthcare; legal and ethical aspects of data privacy; leadership and management for health informatics; research design in health informatics; exploration of population health data in health informatics; and project and change management.
Graduates will be prepared to take up roles such as chief information officers, corporate health information managers, data analytics specialists, health information application developers, and health information management specialists.
- Location: Madison, SD
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); CAHIIM
- Expected Time to Completion: One to three years
Northeastern University’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences offers an online master of science in health informatics program, preparing students to successfully address the combined technical, business, and clinical needs of health-related professionals. The program enables graduates to examine business implementation and management practices, apply technical and business knowledge to improve the health care system, and study data management and analysis.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0, official transcripts, a completed application, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, a current resume, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students. GRE scores are not required for admission.
Students may opt to select a concentration to deepen their knowledge in a particular area or complete this 33-credit program without a concentration. Concentrations are available in health informatics analytics, and personal health informatics.
Courses include introduction to health informatics and health information systems; the American healthcare system; business application of decision support in healthcare; organizational behavior, workflow design, and change management; business of healthcare informatics; management issues in healthcare information technology; management and leadership in public health and healthcare; and improving the patient experience through informatics.
- Location: Boston, MA
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: 1.5 to two years
