Health Information Management Schools

Big data drives decision-making in healthcare. Health information managers oversee the flow of information between patients, providers, and third-party payers. Health information management (HIM) is a growing field, and professionals in this field organize and analyze health data collected in clinical settings. Health information managers work closely with information technology staff and clinical staff to maximize data collection, preservation, and transmission workflow efficacy. Health information managers weigh in on improving patient outcomes and clinical efficiency by applying their organizational knowledge to data sets.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most health information management professionals obtain at least a bachelor’s degree education specifically focused on HIM or a related discipline. Many of these programs are available around the U.S. and teach a foundation of medical knowledge and administration, forming the basis of an enriching career.

Professional certification is available from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Most health information managers have at least a bachelor’s degree accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) which qualifies them for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential.

Health information managers and directors work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practice offices, mental health care facilities, and other clinical settings. However, they are also increasingly employed in non-clinical settings, including insurance companies, software companies, and government positions.

Keep reading to learn more about on-campus, hybrid, and online HIM programs in the United States and how to earn an RHIA certification.

On-Campus Health Information Management Programs

A post-secondary degree is necessary to pursue a career in health information management. There are no specific legal requirements to pursue this career, but obtaining a degree at the undergraduate level, at minimum, is highly recommended to have access to the widest variety of job opportunities.

Luckily several health information management programs cater to students wanting to learn more about this growing field. Most of the programs offered culminate in a bachelor of science (BS) degree, although associate’s degrees, master’s degrees, and certification programs are also available. To become a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement.

Here’s a list of featured on-campus health information management programs, including CAHIIM-accredited bachelor’s, certificate, and master’s degree programs.

Southern University at New Orleans (BS) – Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) offers a bachelor of science degree in health information management systems. To complete this campus-based program, students must satisfy all general education requirements for the school and the specified HIM degree requirements, which include a professional practicum experience.

Students choose to complete their practicum experience in a hospital, behavioral health facility, ambulatory facility, or nursing home local to the New Orleans area.

  • Location: New Orleans, LA
  • Duration: Four years
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
  • Tuition: $1,041 per credit

Ohio State University (BS) – The Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus has a campus-based bachelor of science program in health information management and systems in the school of health and rehabilitation sciences.

To complete the program, OSU offers a four-year schedule, including general education requirements, prerequisites, and the two-year HIMS curriculum. The 63-hour HIMS curriculum culminates in a six-week management professional practice affiliation that students can complete in Ohio or another state. Before applying to the program, students must schedule an informational tour or interview with a HIMS professional to determine the student’s suitability and desire to commit to the program.

  • Location: Columbus, OH
  • Duration: Two to four years
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
  • Tuition: $12,859 per year (in-state); $38,365 per year (out-of-state)

University of Central Florida (BS) – The University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando offers a 66-credit on-campus and online bachelor of science degree program in health informatics and information management.

In their final year, students in this program spend five weeks in a professional, hands-on experience at a location in the state of Florida. This full-time internship can thoroughly prepare graduating seniors for the rigors and practicalities of a career in health information management.

  • Location: Orlando, FL
  • Duration: Four years
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
  • Tuition: $213 per credit hour (in-state); $749 per credit (out-of-state)

University of Washington (MS) – The University of Washington in Seattle is one of the few schools in the country that offers a master of science degree in health informatics and health information management as part of their school of public health. The program uses a hybrid delivery model for working professionals, with classes meeting on-campus just once per month.

Courses include organizational behavior & human resource management, health data analytics, and project management. A capstone project is required for graduation and allows students to solve a practiced-based problem related to health information management.

  • Location: Seattle, WA
  • Duration: 18 months
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
  • Tuition: $930 per credit

SELECT * FROM `mts_online_offline_data` WHERE `page_url` = '/health-information-management' AND ( `table_type` = 'Offline' OR `table_type` = 'BOTH (Online + Offline)' ) ORDER BY `grads` DESC

List of Health Information Management Schools

Filter by state :
School City State Website grads
Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Indiana https://www.ivytech.edu 408
Institute of Technology Clovis California https://www.iot.edu 95
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Washington https://www.washington.edu 69
CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York New York https://www.gc.cuny.edu 60
Texas State University San Marcos Texas https://www.txst.edu 53
Albany Technical College Albany Georgia https://www.albanytech.edu 51
Grand Valley State University Allendale Michigan https://www.gvsu.edu 37
West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia https://www.wvu.edu 35
Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Kentucky https://www.eku.edu 33
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus Ohio https://www.osu.edu 27
University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette Louisiana https://louisiana.edu 25
Arkansas Tech University Russellville Arkansas https://www.atu.edu 22
Coppin State University Baltimore Maryland https://www.coppin.edu 20
Career College of Northern Nevada Sparks Nevada https://www.ccnn.edu 18
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Pennsylvania https://www.pitt.edu 17
Camden County College Blackwood New Jersey https://www.camdencc.edu 17
Duquesne University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania https://www.duq.edu 15
University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences San Juan Puerto Rico https://rcm2.rcm.upr.edu 15
University of Mississippi University Mississippi https://olemiss.edu 14
College of Coastal Georgia Brunswick Georgia https://www.ccga.edu 14
Rasmussen University-Florida Ocala Florida https://www.rasmussen.edu 14
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee Florida https://www.famu.edu 13
Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick New Jersey https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu 12
Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro Georgia https://www.ogeecheetech.edu 12
William Rainey Harper College Palatine Illinois https://www.harpercollege.edu 12
University of Toledo Toledo Ohio https://www.utoledo.edu 12
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Chicago Illinois https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/malcolm-x 12
Augusta University Augusta Georgia https://www.augusta.edu 11
Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph Missouri https://www.missouriwestern.edu 11
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida https://www.fau.edu 10
Chicago State University Chicago Illinois https://www.csu.edu 10
Alabama State University Montgomery Alabama https://www.alasu.edu 9
Academy of Allied Health Careers Chattanooga Tennessee https://aahctn.edu 9
Mid-State Technical College Wisconsin Rapids Wisconsin https://www.mstc.edu 8
Spoon River College Canton Illinois https://www.src.edu 7
Kean University Union New Jersey https://www.kean.edu 7
Texas Southern University Houston Texas https://www.tsu.edu 7
McHenry County College Crystal Lake Illinois https://www.mchenry.edu 7
Rasmussen University-Minnesota St. Cloud Minnesota https://www.rasmussen.edu 6
Indiana University-Southeast New Albany Indiana https://southeast.iu.edu 6
Kaskaskia College Centralia Illinois https://www.kaskaskia.edu 6
Manchester Community College Manchester New Hampshire https://www.mccnh.edu 6
Saint Louis University Saint Louis Missouri https://www.slu.edu 6
Middlesex Community College Middletown Connecticut https://mxcc.edu 6
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Michigan https://www.udmercy.edu 5
Rasmussen University-Illinois Rockford Illinois https://www.rasmussen.edu 4
The University of Montana Missoula Montana https://www.umt.edu 3
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus Teaneck New Jersey https://www.fdu.edu 3
Manchester Community College Manchester Connecticut https://www.manchestercc.edu 3
Southern University at New Orleans New Orleans Louisiana https://www.suno.edu 2
Oak Point University Oak Brook Illinois https://oakpoint.edu 2
Rasmussen University-Wisconsin Green Bay Wisconsin https://www.rasmussen.edu 2
Bellevue College Bellevue Washington https://www.bellevuecollege.edu 2
Utah Valley University Orem Utah https://www.uvu.edu 2
Northwestern University Evanston Illinois https://www.northwestern.edu 2
Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines Iowa https://www.mchs.edu 1
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg Texas https://www.utrgv.edu 1
Saint Peter's University Jersey City New Jersey https://www.saintpeters.edu 1
Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo North Dakota https://www.rasmussen.edu 1
Rasmussen University-Kansas Topeka Kansas https://www.rasmussen.edu 1
University of Rhode Island Kingston Rhode Island https://www.uri.edu 1
Eastern Washington University Cheney Washington https://www.ewu.edu 1
Bay de Noc Community College Escanaba Michigan https://www.baycollege.edu 1
School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in September, 2023)

Hybrid & Online Health Information Management Programs

Many HIM degree programs are offered as online or hybrid – a blend of on-campus and online programs. These programs allow working professionals to pursue an advanced degree to further their health information management careers without leaving their current position or relocating to take classes. The programs featured here will prepare students to take the RHIA exam just as thoroughly as classroom-based programs.

University of Illinois at Chicago (BS) – The College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago offers a bachelor of science degree in health information management, which students can complete on campus or online. The program is designed for those with two years of college coursework and can take two years to complete for students who can dedicate themselves to a full-time schedule or three years part-time.

Professional practice experience, by way of the school’s relationships with local healthcare facilities, is integrated into the 63-credit program. Certificate programs are also available to those with a bachelor’s degree, such as the post-baccalaureate certificate in health informatics.

  • Location: Chicago, IL
  • Duration: Two to three years
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
  • Tuition: $18,134 per year (in-state); $32,742 per year (out-of-state)

University of Wisconsin (BS) – The University of Wisconsin offers a bachelor of science completion degree in health information management and technology. The 60-credit program is offered entirely online with flexible scheduling, making it perfect for those students who want to earn a degree while working full-time. There are no on-campus requirements for this program, although students can still take advantage of services such as career placement, advising, and libraries.

  • Location: Madison, WI
  • Duration: Two years
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
  • Tuition: $450 per credit

Rutgers University (BS) – The Rutgers School of Health Professions offers a hybrid bachelor of science degree in health information management. The academic reputation of Rutgers is quite prestigious, so graduates from this nationally-ranked program can expect to be well prepared for the RHIA exam.

Students in this 61-credit program can choose to complete a bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s of science joint degree with an affiliated college. Post-baccalaureate certificates in health information management and certificates in medical coding are also available. Upon completing this CAHIIM-accredited program, graduates are prepared for more than 75 unique careers in health information management.

  • Location: Newark, NJ
  • Duration: Three to four years
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
  • Tuition: $6,837 per semester (in-state); $ 16,218 per semester (out-of-state)

University of Kansas (BS) – The University of Kansas School of Health Professions offers a bachelor of science degree in health information management. The two-year degree completion program is open to undergraduates and community college students who have completed the necessary general education requirements. Many courses are offered in a hybrid format with classroom and online elements.

There is also an online RHIT-to-RHIA option for those who have already earned their Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential. At the end of the student’s senior year, the program requires a four-week professional internship for the BS program. For particularly ambitious students, the school also offers a track to complete both a BS and a master’s degree in health services administration in just five years.

  • Location: Lawrence, KS
  • Duration: Two to four years
  • Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
  • Tuition: $359 per credit (in-state); $936 per credit (out-of-state)
School City State Website grads
Western Governors University Salt Lake City Utah https://www.wgu.edu 292
University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Illinois https://www.uic.edu 145
Purdue Global West Lafayette Indiana https://www.purdueglobal.edu 117
University of Central Florida Orlando Florida https://www.ucf.edu 94
Park University Parkville Missouri https://www.park.edu 91
The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth Minnesota https://www.css.edu 79
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati Ohio https://www.uc.edu 61
CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York New York https://www.gc.cuny.edu 60
Texas State University San Marcos Texas https://www.txst.edu 53
Albany Technical College Albany Georgia https://www.albanytech.edu 51
Mercer University Macon Georgia https://www.mercer.edu 48
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis Tennessee https://www.uthsc.edu 44
American Public University System Charles Town West Virginia https://www.apus.edu 43
Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross Georgia https://coastalpines.edu 43
Davenport University Grand Rapids Michigan https://www.davenport.edu 39
University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix Arizona https://www.phoenix.edu 39
Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome Georgia https://www.gntc.edu 39
Capella University Minneapolis Minnesota https://www.capella.edu 38
Southwest University at El Paso El Paso Texas https://southwestuniversity.edu 37
Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford Oklahoma https://www.swosu.edu 35
Weber State University Ogden Utah https://www.weber.edu 35
Charter Oak State College New Britain Connecticut https://www.charteroak.edu 33
Louisiana Tech University Ruston Louisiana https://www.latech.edu 31
West Georgia Technical College Waco Georgia https://www.westgatech.edu 31
Stephens College Columbia Missouri https://www.stephens.edu 27
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay Wisconsin https://www.uwgb.edu 27
Columbus State Community College Columbus Ohio https://www.cscc.edu 23
Herzing University-Madison Madison Wisconsin https://www.herzing.edu 23
Arkansas Tech University Russellville Arkansas https://www.atu.edu 22
SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica New York https://www.sunypoly.edu 22
University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler Arizona https://www.uagc.edu 21
The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest Houston Texas https://www.chcp.edu 21
Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque New Mexico https://www.cnm.edu 19
Tacoma Community College Tacoma Washington https://www.tacomacc.edu 19
Augusta Technical College Augusta Georgia https://www.augustatech.edu 17
University of Alaska Southeast Juneau Alaska https://uas.alaska.edu 16
University of Kansas Lawrence Kansas https://ku.edu 16
Richland Community College Decatur Illinois https://www.richland.edu 16
Central Arizona College Coolidge Arizona https://centralaz.edu 16
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indianapolis Indiana https://www.iupui.edu 16
Illinois State University Normal Illinois https://illinoisstate.edu 15
University of Mississippi University Mississippi https://olemiss.edu 14
Tennessee State University Nashville Tennessee https://www.tnstate.edu 14
Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Kentucky https://www.wku.edu 13
Ferris State University Big Rapids Michigan https://www.ferris.edu 13
Jacksonville University Jacksonville Florida https://www.ju.edu/index.php 13
Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick New Jersey https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu 12
University of Toledo Toledo Ohio https://www.utoledo.edu 12
University of Wisconsin-Parkside Kenosha Wisconsin https://www.uwp.edu 12
Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro Georgia https://www.ogeecheetech.edu 12
Augusta University Augusta Georgia https://www.augusta.edu 11
East Carolina University Greenville North Carolina https://www.ecu.edu 11
Northwood Technical College Shell Lake Wisconsin https://www.northwoodtech.edu 11
Gordon State College Barnesville Georgia https://www.gordonstate.edu 10
Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport Pennsylvania https://www.pct.edu 10
Great Falls College Montana State University Great Falls Montana https://www.gfcmsu.edu 10
Villanova University Villanova Pennsylvania https://www.villanova.edu 9
Loma Linda University Loma Linda California https://llu.edu 9
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale Illinois https://siu.edu 9
Fremont College Cerritos California https://fremont.edu 8
Southeastern Technical College Vidalia Georgia https://www.southeasterntech.edu 8
Davidson-Davie Community College Thomasville North Carolina https://www.davidsondavie.edu 7
Indiana University-Northwest Gary Indiana https://northwest.iu.edu 7
Regis University Denver Colorado https://www.regis.edu 7
Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland Wisconsin https://gotoltc.edu 6
Parker University Dallas Texas https://www.parker.edu 6
Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls Oregon https://www.oit.edu 6
Dakota State University Madison South Dakota https://dsu.edu 6
Holmes Community College Goodman Mississippi https://holmescc.edu 5
Fisher College Boston Massachusetts https://www.fisher.edu 5
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit Michigan https://www.udmercy.edu 5
Herzing University-Birmingham Birmingham Alabama https://www.herzing.edu 5
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Martinsburg West Virginia https://www.blueridgectc.edu 5
Clarkson College Omaha Nebraska https://www.clarksoncollege.edu 4
Medaille College Buffalo New York https://www.medaille.edu 4
Johnson County Community College Overland Park Kansas https://www.jccc.edu 4
Herzing University-New Orleans Metairie Louisiana https://www.herzing.edu 4
Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies Fort Wayne Indiana https://online.indianatech.edu 3
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point Wisconsin https://www.uwsp.edu 3
Herzing University-Brookfield Brookfield Wisconsin https://www.herzing.edu 3
Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Pennsylvania https://www.jefferson.edu 3
Herzing University-Kenosha Kenosha Wisconsin https://www.herzing.edu 2
Herzing University-Orlando Winter Park Florida https://www.herzing.edu 2
Herzing University-Atlanta Atlanta Georgia https://www.herzing.edu 2
Peirce College Philadelphia Pennsylvania https://www.peirce.edu 2
Northwestern University Evanston Illinois https://www.northwestern.edu 2
Merrimack College North Andover Massachusetts https://www.merrimack.edu 2
Herzing University-Minneapolis St. Louis Park Minnesota https://www.herzing.edu 1
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Pennsylvania https://www.sru.edu 1
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse Wisconsin https://www.uwlax.edu 1
Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City Oklahoma https://www.occc.edu 1
Carlow University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania https://www.carlow.edu 1
Herzing University-Akron Akron Ohio https://www.herzing.edu 1
D'Youville College Buffalo New York https://www.dyu.edu 1
School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in September, 2023)

Core & Elective Courses in Health Information Management Programs

The curriculum for a Health Information Management degree is not strictly prescribed. However, many courses are standard across most programs as core requirements, including:

  • Coding and classification systems
  • Financial management
  • Health information management and the law
  • Health records
  • Human pathophysiology
  • Human resource management
  • Medical terminology
  • Pharmacology

It is essential to note that though most of these courses will be required as part of an HIM education, they may go by different course titles as decided by the faculty of an individual institution.

Because most HIM programs culminate in a bachelor of science degree, elective courses can range from anything to additional science courses to courses in the arts and humanities. These elective opportunities are a good chance for students to explore different areas and broaden their educational horizons.

Accreditation of Health Information Management Programs

There are two types of accreditation: programmatic and institutional.

Programmatic Accreditation

To be eligible for the RHIA exam, students must graduate from a program that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for the Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), which keeps a complete list of accredited programs on its website. The CAHIIM accreditation process assures the academic integrity and professional standards of a program. The initial accreditation process includes an application, thorough self-assessment, CAHIIM review, site visit, and final council and board review.

Institutional Accreditation

In addition to CAHIIM accreditation, every institution should have general accreditation from a national organization recognized by the Council for Higher EducationCHEA. For instance, an HIM program can be accredited by the CAHIIM. The school overall should hold accreditation from one of the following regional accreditation agencies:

  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Career Outlook

According to the BLS, the projected demand for medical and health services managers is quadruple the national average for all occupations (8 percent), and is expected to grow 32 percent between 2022 and 2032 (BLS 2023). The BLS does not explicitly track health information manager and director demand, meaning the BLS numbers apply to the broader field of medical records and health information, instead of health information management precisely. The increased demand for these professionals could add 144,700 new jobs by 2032.

There are several reasons for an increased demand for health information management professionals. Firstly, as all medical records continue to take the form of electronic health records (EHR), there is an increased need for people who know how to organize and access these types of records. Further, there is a growing demand among employers for more efficiency. So a more sophisticated understanding of health information systems looks to be important going forward, as does clinical exposure and experience that would enable a medical professional to perform advanced analytics to improve patient outcomes.

Because the health information management profession does require specific education and offers certification, those employed in the career can expect salaries that reflect that dedication. The BLS reports that the position pays a median annual salary of $104,830. Those with the RHIA credential can expect higher wages overall and access to better opportunities for growth and career advancement.

Career Facts Health Informatics
Related CareersComputer and Information Systems Manager, Nursing Information Systems Coordinator
Common Job TitlesClinical Informations Systems Coordinator, Coding Manager, (Registered) Health Information Manager, Manager of HIM
Technology & EquipmentMedical Imaging Database Systems, Medical Software, Medical Picture Archiving Systems, Computers
Sourced from BLS, June 2022

Licensing & Certification of Health Information Managers

Although there is no government licensing process for these professionals, anyone who wishes to sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam must complete a CAHIIM-accredited bachelor's or master’s degree. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers this exam. Students can begin registering for the exam during their final semester in an accredited program to jumpstart their careers upon graduation.

Finally, check out the comprehensive guide to health information management certifications.

Salary for Health Information Managers

The BLS reports the average annual salary for medical and health services managers is $127,980 (BLS May 2022). Salaries vary based on experience, education, and location. The salary percentiles are as follows:

  • 10th percentile: $64,100
  • 25th percentile: $81,430
  • 50th percentile (median): $104,830
  • 75th percentile: $143,200
  • 90th percentile: $209,990

As previously stated, the BLS doesn’t track RHIA-certified health information management professionals. PayScale, an aggregator of self-reported data, shows that RHIA-certified HIM professionals earn average annual salaries of $76,000 based on 842 reported salaries (PayScale October 2023).

Jocelyn Blore
Jocelyn Blore Managing Editor

Jocelyn Blore has interviewed dozens of medical technology and healthcare professionals, and edited hundreds of articles related to this field since 2015. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Jocelyn traveled the world for five years as freelance writer and English teacher. After stints in Japan, Brazil, Nepal, and Argentina, she took an 11-month road trip across the US, finally settling into lovely Eugene, OR. When Jocelyn isn’t writing about college programs or interviewing professors, she satirizes global politics and other absurdities at Blore’s Razor (Instagram: @bloresrazor). Thank you for being so interested.