If you’re looking for high-paying jobs in specialized, in-demand fields, a health informatics bachelor’s degree might be just what you need to get started with a lucrative career.
It can prepare you for multiple types of work, and if you choose an online program, your studies can be completed right at home.
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Augusta University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration that blends studies in healthcare, business, and information systems. This 124-credit, fully online program equips students with the skills needed to manage health data and healthcare technology systems.
Augusta University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Colorado Technical University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Health Informatics. This 180-credit program focuses on healthcare data management, information technology, and systems analysis.
Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Davenport University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management designed to equip students with skills in health data management, coding, and IT systems. This 120-credit online program covers health informatics, legal aspects of healthcare, and information governance.
Davenport University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
East Carolina University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, focusing on managing health information and data systems. This 120-credit online program covers health informatics, data analytics, and legal aspects of healthcare, offering preparation for RHIA certification.
East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Ferris State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree completion program. Applicants must have an associate degree in health information technology and RHIT certification.
Ferris State is accredited by Higher Learning Commission.
Franklin University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, featuring hands-on learning in healthcare scenarios. This 124-credit program covers health information management, electronic health records, and healthcare analytics.
Franklin is fully-accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Grand Canyon University offers an online BS in Health Information Management that focuses on health data, information systems, and regulatory compliance. This 120-credit program emphasizes accuracy, confidentiality, and analytics, offering preparation for careers in health information management.
Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Indiana University’s online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management blends studies in healthcare, business, and IT skills. The program covers health informatics, data governance, and medical coding. Graduates are eligible for RHIA certification.
Indiana University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
King University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration with a focus on health informatics designed for adult learners with prior college coursework. The program emphasizes ethical decision-making, analytical skills, and the impact of populations on healthcare.
King University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Liberty University offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Informatics. This 120-credit program integrates studies in healthcare, technology, and data analysis with courses on healthcare information systems, medical coding, and informatics.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Louisiana Tech University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management that blends studies in healthcare, business, and information technology. The program includes courses in health data systems, coding, and healthcare law. Graduates are eligible to pursue RHIA certification.
Louisiana Tech University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Oregon Institute of Technology offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics, focusing on the intersection of healthcare, technology, and data. The program features flexible online classes designed for career advancement.
Oregon Institute of Technology is regionally accredited by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Purdue University Global offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management. The program covers medical coding, data analysis, and healthcare regulations, focusing on planning, designing, and managing electronic health information systems.
Purdue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Rasmussen University offers an online BS in Health Information Management, designed to develop expertise in healthcare data, coding, and IT systems. This 180-credit program covers health informatics, compliance, and data governance. It offers preparation for leadership roles in health information management and RHIA certification.
Rasmussen College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Southern New Hampshire University offers an online BS in Health Information Management emphasizing healthcare technology, data management, and compliance.
This program covers medical coding, health informatics, and information governance. With a flexible format, it offers preparation for RHIA certification and healthcare data management careers.
Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University offers a 100% online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management focusing on managing healthcare data, coding, and IT systems. This program offers preparation for RHIA certification and diverse career opportunities.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
The University of Central Florida offers an online BS in Health Informatics and Information Management focusing on healthcare data, informatics, and IT systems. With coursework in medical coding, data analytics, and healthcare compliance, the curriculum offers preparation for RHIA certification.
The University of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Cincinnati offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management focusing on health data management, information systems, and healthcare administration.
Courses cover health informatics, coding, and data analytics offering well-rounded preparation for careers in health information management.
The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Mississippi offers an online BS in Health Informatics and Information Management that combines studies in healthcare, technology, and data management. The program provides hands-on training in database management, coding, clinical software, and project management.
The University of Mississippi is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The University of South Carolina offers an online BS in Health Informatics through Palmetto College. The program covers medical coding, data analytics, and healthcare policy, offering preparation for careers in information management and data systems. It requires 121 to 122 credit hours
The University of South Carolina is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Southern Indiana offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management degree completion program. It focuses on healthcare data management, coding, and informatics, offering preparation for careers in health information systems and RHIA certification.
The University of Southern Indiana is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Toledo offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration focusing on healthcare data, IT systems, and regulatory compliance. This 120-credit, interdisciplinary program offers preparation for the RHIA exam.
The University of Toledo is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Weber State University offers a BS in Health Information Management online, focusing on healthcare data, coding, and information systems. The program covers healthcare technologies and data analytics, offering preparation for roles in healthcare management. Graduates are eligible to sit for the RHIA exam.
Weber State is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Western Governors University offers an online, self-paced BS in Health Information Management focusing on healthcare data, IT systems, and regulatory compliance.
The curriculum includes 36 courses covering medical coding, data management, and informatics. It offers preparation for health information management careers and RHIA certification.
Western Governors University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Western Kentucky University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management.
The program focuses on managing information, personnel, and operations, including budgeting and overseeing computerized health information systems, offering preparation for leadership roles in healthcare.
Western Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Also known as “health information systems” or “health information technology,” health informatics is a tech-based field that’s devoted to the data of the medical industry. From patient records to hospital insurance forms, it can cover all of the administrative processes of a 21st century healthcare business.
As you might expect from a field that uses a lot of IT, business is booming. The world grows more digital by the day, and there’s an increasing demand for professionals who understand computer systems and networks.
Just how much demand is there? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare jobs are estimated to grow by 15 percent in the next decade. This includes analysts, informaticists and record keepers as well as doctors and nurses. It translates to a total of 2.4 million new jobs.
There are several ways that you can earn a healthcare informatics bachelor’s degree:
Different universities have different programs, so if you’re seeking a very specific degree, make sure that your school has it in the catalogue. They rarely offer all of these options at once.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) reports that the average Health informatics bachelor degree salary is $63,000 per year for nonmanagerial positions.. This is just an average, however, and some jobs pay better than others.
As for the type of work that you’ll do, it depends on your interests. You can take an informatics degree and apply it to just about every sub-field of healthcare, including finance, administration, insurance, marketing and human resources.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some careers that you might consider with an informatics degree include:
Careers | Annual Median Salary |
Compliance Director | $116,350 |
Health Information Management (HIM) Director | $104,280 |
Clinical Data Manager | $98,230 |
Software Applications Analyst | $96,040 |
Information Systems (IS) Analyst | $93,730 |
Data Analyst in Hospitals | $85,190 |
Project Management Specialist | $77,420 |
Revenue Cycle Manager | $66,130 |
Health Informatics Specialist in Hospitals | $46,880 |
Medical Coder | $43,890 |
There are many more, so don’t feel limited by the suggestions on this list. A health informatics bachelor’s degree can open doors in a variety of medical, technical and clinical fields.
In addition, pursuing a traditional or online master’s in health informatics would most likely see an increase in the average annual salary.
There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to an informatics degree. Every school is different, especially since they classify healthcare informatics under various names and categories. A health information systems degree might not have the same prerequisites as a healthcare administration degree with an informatics concentration.
In a broad sense, however, many healthcare informatics programs cover the same topics:
If you’re looking at online schools, you should also be aware that some informatics degrees have a face-to-face component. For example, you might need to complete an internship or capstone project in your final year. Talk to your college to see if their program is truly 100 percent online.
Which college has the best program for a healthcare informatics degree? It depends on what you’re looking for as a prospective student. The right choice for you might not be the right choice for someone else, so instead of having a rigid, inflexible set of criteria, approach the decision while keeping various things in mind.
You might also want to look at things like tuition rates, acceptance rates, credit requirements and teacher-to-student ratios.
Before you can get started with a bachelor’s degree in health informatics, you’ll need to be accepted by a college. This process can take anywhere from weeks to months, so don’t wait. Gather all of the necessary documents, including:
You’ll also want to check out the admissions deadlines of your chosen school. Some colleges have rolling admissions where they accept students year round, but it’s much more common for there to be set schedules for upcoming semesters.
You’ve probably heard warnings about unaccredited schools, but you might be wondering what they are and why they matter.
Accreditation is a way for colleges to prove that they meet the educational standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Education. It’s a voluntary process, but if they don’t do it, they aren’t eligible to receive federal financial aid like FAFSA. This means that you can’t use it, either.
Another danger of unaccredited colleges is that they might not be recognized by employers, state boards, licensing programs or scholarship agencies. You’ll also have trouble transferring credits from an unaccredited school to an accredited one.
All things considered, it’s worth the effort of doing a little research and making sure that your university is accredited. There are three kinds in total:
If you aren’t sure whether your school holds any of these accreditations, plug it into the searchable database at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Professional organizations are a great way to connect with others in your field. Many of them even have student memberships so that you can take advantage of their resources without having to pay full price.
Here are just a few names that might interest you as a student pursuing a health information technology degree:
In addition to these IT groups, you might also be interested in organizations devoted to healthcare administration or healthcare management. They usually welcome informatics specialists within the healthcare field.
A certification in health informatics can be a big help to your career. It isn’t a requirement, but it can prove your readiness for jobs that need special skills or work experiences, and it can add a little something to your resume when you’re competing against other job seekers.
Here are just a few certifications that can complement a bachelor’s degree in health informatics:
For more information on these certifications, contact the organizations that issue them.
With the rising cost of college, financial aid is a necessity for many students. The good news is that you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to assistance.
The first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It’s a one-stop application that will determine your eligibility for several types of aid, including:
In addition to federal grants and loans, you might also qualify for state-based grants and loans. These are usually limited to state residents, so even if you’re attending an online university, you’ll need to live in the state where they’re offered.
Last but not least, consider scholarships to help you fund your college education. You don’t have to be an honor roll student to apply. There are many “need-based” scholarships for low-income students of all GPAs, and you can also find scholarships meant specifically for a bachelor’s in healthcare informatics.
You might also look for information technology scholarships that accept healthcare informatics as a viable area of study.
You’ll have several options for a degree in healthcare informatics, including:
You can also look for something like a health information systems degree if you already have a specialized area of focus.
Since it’s an administrative field, most health informatics jobs will put you behind a desk. However, you’ll have plenty of choices for where that desk is and what you do with it.
For example, if you’re good with numbers, you might pursue a finance-related career in risk management or revenue cycles. If you’re comfortable working with large amounts of information, you might become a data analyst. If you’re highly efficient in office settings, you might become an administrator or department director.
There are even creative jobs for health informatics specialists. You might become a software developer or content marketer who works in the healthcare industry and creates, sells or distributes new products.
Everyone has their own definition of a “good” major, but the study of health informatics can definitely pay off. It’s a fast-growing field with a lot of opportunity, especially for those who have a multidisciplinary interest in things like business, healthcare, administration, computer science and technology.
A healthcare informatics degree can allow you to study all of these things at once.
A health informatics bachelor degree salary starts at $63,000 per year on average, according to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). The exact size of your paycheck will depend on your job, location and credentials.
For example, if you’ve been certified as a healthcare systems technician, you might make more money than someone without that designation.
There are many affordable online programs for healthcare informatics. In fact, when you get your degree online, you can often avoid student fees that don’t apply to distance learners. For example, you won’t need to pay for housing or parking.
Another thing to consider is residency rates. Some universities will charge in-state rates for online students regardless of where they actually live, so that’s an additional way to save.
It typically takes four years to get a bachelor’s degree. This is assuming that you’re a full-time student who attends school year round.
If you want to speed up your graduation date, look into accelerated programs that will allow you to earn a bachelor’s degree in three years or less. They offer things like evening and summer classes to help you earn credits faster.
If you’re interested in getting a master’s degree someday, you might also consider a dual degree program that will combine your bachelor’s and master’s studies into a single, five-year program.
A bachelor’s degree usually requires 120 credits to graduate. Since colleges charge by the credit, the cost of your degree will depend on how expensive the credits are when multiplied by 120.
However, the trick to choosing a high-value degree program is to consider the overall worth of the degree rather than just its cost. How much is tuition? How much is the average salary for the career that you’re considering? What will be your return on investment (ROI) after five years of working?
If you’re curious about the intersection of healthcare and technology, consider a healthcare informatics bachelor’s degree.
Not only can it prepare you for work in a dynamic, ever-changing field, but thanks to the growing demand for computer-savvy healthcare administrators, it can offer many career possibilities for the future.