Why This Matters
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UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF JUST 2.7%
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate is 2.7% for workers with an associate degree, 4.0% for those with just a high school diploma, and 5.5% for those with less than a high school diploma.
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POTENTIAL TO EARN OVER $100,000
The median annual wage for health information technologists is $58,250 per year, with the top 10% of workers in this field making more than $103,380.
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JOBS IN HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ARE PROJECTED TO GROW 16%
The widespread use of electronic health records will continue to create demand for health information technology professionals, with a projected 6,200 new job openings over the next 10 years.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online associate in health information technology degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education. Many of the programs on our list have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM), which assesses the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of health information technology-related programs.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online associate in health information technology degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
- 80 hours to write this article
- 200 universities and colleges we assessed
- 390 education programs we compared
The Top 50 Online Associate in Health Information Technology Programs
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What You Should Know About This Degree
A degree in health information technology provides the foundation to enter various roles in the evolving health information industry. The most common careers for those who earn this degree include Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and medical biller/coder.
Although health information professionals are not directly involved in patient care, they are a critical part of the healthcare system. If you’re interested in working more directly with patients, you may want to consider related career paths, such as clinical laboratory technologist, which typically require a bachelor’s degree in medical technology or life sciences.
In addition to RHIT certification, earning professional credentials such as Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP) and Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) may also help you advance your career.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online associate in health information technology programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? A high school diploma or equivalency is typically enough to qualify a student for an associate program in health information technology. Some colleges and universities may also require prospective students to demonstrate college-level placement in reading, writing, and math.
- How long does it take to complete this degree? For full-time students, it typically takes two years to earn an associate degree in health information technology. Some programs can be completed in as few as 18 months.
Keep track of application deadlines and the materials you must submit for each program. You can usually find information about the application process by reviewing the school’s website or contacting the admissions department.
Financing your education is another important consideration. Be sure to submit financial aid applications in a timely manner and explore options such as grants, scholarships, and tuition reimbursement from your employer.