Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics Programs of 2023

Boston University and its Metropolitan College offer a highly selective online Master of Science in Health Informatics program. The school has an admissions rate of 20%. Boston University's health informatics program stands out for being one of the few in the country administered by a computer science department. The program's primary focus is on electronic medical data, and two different specializations are offered: Applied Data Analytics and Health Information Management. Additionally, all students in the online program have access to the school's innovative Health Informatics Research Lab. Boston University is a private research institution founded in 1839 by the United Methodist Church but is now non-sectarian. It has a total student body of about 35,000, 4,000 of whom are enrolled at Metropolitan College. The college offers flexible, part-time study options for non-traditional students looking to work on their degrees in the evening or fully online.

Drexel University is a private research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has about 25,000 students and almost 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including an online Master of Science in Health Informatics. Drexel's online program is designed for working professionals in information technology or healthcare professions who want to learn more about using and protecting electronic health data. The 45-credit hour program is multi-disciplinary and has faculty from the College of Computing and Informatics, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Dornsife School of Public Health, and LeBow College of Business. Required courses include Communication and Self-Awareness for Leadership, Information Assurance, and Advanced Database Management. The program is available online and takes between two to four years to complete depending on whether you are a full-time or part-time student.

George Mason University is the largest public research university in Virginia. The school offers rigorous online programming, including a 36-credit hour Master of Science in Health Informatics. George Mason's health informatics program is administered through its College of Health and Human Services. Students can choose between concentrations in Health Data Analytics or Health Informatics Management. A unique aspect of the program is that it offers a free bridge course for students without prior work experience in healthcare or information technology to create a successful transition into graduate work. George Mason also offers a unique peer-support program for online learners called the Student Ambassador Program. The student ambassadors are all upper-class online learners or alumni available to assist newer students with their educational journey. Other supports for online students include virtual career services appointments and events, resume review by email, a virtual computer lab, and online academic tutoring.

Part of the University of Illinois system, the University of Illinois Chicago is a large public research institution with 34,000 graduate and undergraduate students. It offers a 38-credit hour Master of Science in Health Informatics with three concentration choices: Consumer and Mobile Health, Health Data Science, and Leadership. Most students complete the program within three years, and the school boasts a 95% employment rate within one year of graduation. Job titles of Illinois' online health informatics program graduates include Director of Clinical Operations, Nurse Informaticist, and Pharmacy Informatics Specialist. Core courses include Healthcare Data, Ethics & Legal Issues in Health Informatics, and Communication Skills in Health Informatics.

UCF has more than 70,000 students, making it the largest university in Florida and one of the largest in the country. Students take classes in person at one of nine regional campuses or online. The school offers an online Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics through its College of Community Innovation and Education. This program is 38 credits long and requires an internship in the final semester. Designed to prepare students for careers in the clinical, management, and business aspects of health informatics, this program boasts a 96% job placement rate. This program offers Health Care Informatics and Information Technology courses, System Analysis and Design, and Health Care Database Management. Central Florida's program is unique because faculty work with a community advisory board of leading informatics professionals to ensure the most important and sought-after real-world skills are taught.

A private, powerhouse research university in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern University stands out for having the lowest rate of admission (9%) and highest graduation rate (95%) of all the schools on this list. The university's School of Professional Studies, in collaboration with its Feinberg School of Medicine, offers a rigorous online Master of Science in Health Informatics. Students can choose from three specializations: Clinical Informatics, Health Technology Informatics, and Health Administration Informatics. A real-world capstone in which students develop and implement a health Informatics project in their workplace or other setting is required for graduation. Faculty are leaders in the field of health informatics who hold positions at organizations including Grossmont Healthcare District, IBM Watson Health, AbbVie, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

East Carolina University is a longtime leader in distance learning and online education for adults. This public school offered its first off-campus extension course in 1947 and was one of the first universities in the nation to offer degrees entirely online beginning in the mid-1990s. Today, East Carolina University offers more than 90 degrees and certificate programs online, including a Master of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management. The program takes one to two years to complete and has a 100% job placement rate. Job titles recent graduates of East Carolina's program hold include Data Engineer, Chief of Patient Administration, and Electronic Medical Record System Analyst. Both the university and the Health Services and Information Management department offer scholarships for students completing the health informatics program online or on campus in Greenville, North Carolina.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a medium-sized public research institution that offers an online Master of Science in Health Informatics through its School of Health Professions. While students can complete most of this two-year program online, it requires a three-day visit to campus each fall and spring semester. The program is highly customizable. Three concentrations are available: Data Analytics, User Experience, and Research. The research track is intended for students who wish to pursue research careers in informatics or apply to doctoral programs. Additionally, students can earn a graduate certificate in Healthcare Financial Management or Healthcare Quality and Safety. Several dual-degree options are also available, including a Master of Business Administration through the university's Collat School of Business. Alabama's online health informatics program has one start time each year (fall semester), and no experience in healthcare or information technology is necessary to apply.

Located in Duluth, Minnesota, the College of St. Scholastica is a medium-sized private school with a Catholic Benedictine heritage and mission. The college offers nine graduate degrees online, including a Master of Science in Health Informatics. It's a two-year, 42-credit hour program designed for professionals already working in the information technology or medical fields. The program provides students with a pathway to career advancement in healthcare and eligibility to sit for the Certified Health Data Analyst exam. Required courses include Consumer Health Informatics, Health Care Finance, and Health Information Security Systems. Faculty from the College of St. Scholastica wrote Data Analytics in Healthcare Research: Tools and Strategies, which is used by schools nationwide. Admissions requirements include an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and a course in statistics.