A master’s in health informatics program prepares students for careers in health-related technologies, including clinical, technical, and administrative services in government health agencies, global health organizations, research, and medical centers.
Graduates can become medical and health services managers, earning an average annual salary of $104,830. Board-certified or board-eligible physicians need a master’s in health informatics to move to the executive position of chief medical information officer (CMIO). The annual salary of a CMIO ranges from $274,920 to $630,750.
A master’s in health informatics can take 18 to 24 months to complete, with 36 to 55 required credits, depending on the program. In 2022, the national average annual cost to complete a master’s in health informatics across all institutions was $20,513.
How to Choose a Health Informatics Degree Program
Choose your area of study
As you begin researching a master’s in health informatics degree program, consider your career and personal goals, as these will influence your program choice. A bachelor’s degree in a related field is a prerequisite for all master’s of health informatics degree programs. Fields of study with related course material include health sciences and medicine, medical administration, computer sciences, and STEM programs, including biomechanics and engineering.
Students can focus their studies on administration, research, and entrepreneurial pursuits. They can attain a Master of Science in digital health informatics, a Master of Science in health informatics, or a similar designation.
Research schools and programs
As you consider your options, focus on accredited institutions and programs. Accrediting bodies vet a program’s curriculum and education to determine its quality and validity — it also helps students secure financial aid and transfer credits between other accredited institutions. For example, most regionally accredited schools only accept transfer credits from other regionally accredited schools.
Contact the program representative or admissions counselor to review transfer credit opportunities and learn more about the program’s specifics, including course selection, internship support, and post-graduate opportunities.
To better understand the institution, you can visit the school in person, attend an in-person or virtual open house or information session, and meet the faculty and alumni.
Prepare for tests and applications
The admissions process varies by school and program. Applicants for a master’s in health informatics must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and provide official transcripts, a personal essay, a resume, and letters of recommendation. The personal essay should detail how this program helps you achieve your career goals and why you’d be a good candidate.
Contact the admissions counselor or program administrator to ensure you meet application requirements and deadlines.
Select your program
As you refine your choices, review your personal and career goals again — this is especially important if you are accepted to more than one program. This decision can determine the trajectory of your career and impact your success.
To maximize your chances of success, consider additional factors like lifestyle and available time. Research options such as in-person or online learning, full-time or part-time attendance, and synchronous or asynchronous study.
Determine how you’ll pay for your degree
Applicants to any program should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA). Schools use the information to determine need-based funding eligibility.
Many master’s in health informatics degree programs offer eligible students merit and need-based scholarships, grants, and fellowships. Inquire with each potential institution about your funding options.
You can also inquire whether your current employer provides tuition assistance, grants, or scholarships. Employer tuition programs are often performance-based and require a post-graduation work-term commitment.
Best 50 Accredited Master’s in Health Informatics Degree Programs
Discover More Options
How we rank schools
Our list evaluates graduate-level programs in health informatics that prepare students for careers as health service managers, health information technicians, and chief medical information officers. Degree types offered include Master of Science in healthcare informatics, Master of Science in health informatics, Master of Science in medical informatics, and Master of Science in biomedical informatics. Students can choose among on-campus, in-person, and hybrid learning formats.
Health informatics programs that uphold a high academic standard are recognized with accreditation. All of the schools on this list are regionally accredited institutions, and some of these options also have programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.
What Can You Expect From a Master’s in Health Informatics Degree Program?
A master’s degree in health informatics prepares students for diverse career options, including healthcare administration and management, health information technology, clinical IT leadership, research, and academia.
Graduates can manage digital healthcare data and patient records, analyze, evaluate, and research healthcare-related data, oversee research, and consult for healthcare technology developments and start-ups. Undergraduates with computer science, medical, and STEM backgrounds add a master’s in health informatics degree to create technology-based solutions in domestic and global healthcare paradigms.
Completing the requisite 36 to 52 credits for a master’s in health information degree takes between 18 and 24 months. During your studies, you can expect at least one internship and one capstone project or master’s thesis.
Potential courses you’ll take in a master’s in health informatics degree program
- Introduction to Health Informatics. Students receive a general introduction to the concepts and methods of health informatics. They learn about new opportunities and emerging trends, commercial vendors and major applications, and healthcare information system design, analysis, implementation, and evaluation.
- Evaluation and Research Methods for Health Informatics and Learning Systems. Students learn the empirical methods applicable to health informatics, learning systems, and evaluation and research studies. By analyzing published studies, population health, personal health, and applications of information technology applied to health care, students learn new research and evaluation methods with a heavy emphasis on measurement.
- Designing Consumer-Health Technologies. This course teaches methods and processes involved in designing consumer health technologies stemming from human behavior and behavior change theories, including self-monitoring and goal setting.
- Exploratory Data Analysis for Health. This course focuses on foundational topics in healthcare data. Students learn statistical computing language and other tools used to analyze healthcare data. The two main themes of the course are understanding healthcare data and making inferences based on data.
- Digital Health Entrepreneur. Students in biomedical science, informatics, and healthcare learn skills specific to the world of healthcare startups. They apply business knowledge to complement clinical and technical skills to design and create a business plan.
Master’s of Health Informatics Degree Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to a master's in health informatics degree program?
The admissions process for each school and program will vary. For the most accurate information, visit the program website for guidance or speak to an admissions counselor.
Apply for a master’s in health informatics using the institution’s online admissions system. Your essay, letters of recommendation, and resume should be in PDF format and ready to upload.
There is usually a cost associated with all applications, though some programs apply the fee to tuition once you are accepted and registered.
Provide a list of all previous schools so that the master’s program of your choice can request and receive your official transcripts — you may need to contact each institution directly to obtain your transcripts.
How much does a master's in health informatics degree cost?
The average tuition and fees for a master’s of health informatics degree were $20,513 in 2022. This estimate does not include your books, transportation, housing, and personal expenses. Tuition and living expenses rise each year, usually in line with inflation, which was 3.4% in 2023. Merit and need-based funding, grants, and scholarships will also impact your total out-of-pocket costs.
How long does it take to earn a master's in health informatics degree?
A master’s in health informatics programs requires 36 to 52 credits, which usually takes up to three years for full-time students to complete. Program length will vary depending on hybrid, online, or in-person delivery modes.
Students can expect one to three internships to experience real-world challenges in health informatics. In some programs, capstone or thesis projects replace internship requirements. Internships and thesis projects can lengthen the completion time since they replace time spent in classes.