Why This Matters

  • MOST U.S. HOSPITALS USE EHR TECHNOLOGY

    Thanks to federal mandates, hospitals are increasingly implementing Electronic Health Records (EHR) technology to manage information about patients’ care.

  • THE U.S. NEEDS 136,200 MORE OF YOU BY 2031

    Changes in technology, government policy, and patient populations are contributing to a 28% increase in the need for healthcare administrators in the next decade.

  • EARN $50,000+ MORE PER YEAR WITH A MASTER’S

    High-level positions like medical and health services managers earn $101,340 per year on average, compared to $46,660 for bachelor’s-level positions.

Our Research

This list features some of the best online Master’s in Health Informatics programs at top colleges across the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. Many of the schools on our list have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education, which assesses the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of health informatics programs.

We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student 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 Master’s in Health Informatics programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the 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.

The Top 53 Master’s in Health Informatics Programs

Best Master's in Health Informatics Programs 2023
01
Intelligent Pick
Boston University
01
Best Interdisciplinary Program
Drexel University
01
Best Student Support Services
George Mason University
01
Best Concentration Options
University of Illinois at Chicago
01
Best Curriculum
University of Central Florida
01
Best Private Institution
Northwestern School of Professional Studies
01
Best Scholarships
East Carolina University
01
Most Customizable
University of Alabama at Birmingham
01

University of Cincinnati
01
Best Faith-Based School
The College of St. Scholastica
01

Dakota State University
01

Regis University
01

DePaul University
01

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
01

Logan University
01

University of Missouri
01

Brandeis University
01

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
01

Nova Southeastern University
01

Medical University of South Carolina
01

IUPUI School of Informatics and Computing
01

FIU College of Business
01

Stanford University
01

University of Findlay
01

George Washington University
01

University of Scranton
01

University of Mississippi Medical Center
01

Northeastern University
01

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
01

Liberty University
01

Michigan Technological University
01

Arizona State University
01

University of Cincinnati
01

Samford University
01

The University of Utah
01

University of Denver
01

Kent State University
01

Mercer University
01

Slippery Rock University
01

University of Minnesota at Twin Cities
01

Northern Kentucky University
01

Temple University

What You Should Know About This Degree

When considering this career path, it’s important to understand the difference between health informatics and health information management. While similar, they are two distinct professions.

Health informatics focuses more on developing, maintaining, and securing the systems used to record and track patient healthcare information. Health information management uses the data collected within these systems to manage and plan patient care and has more of an administrative emphasis. Consider your interests and career goals when deciding which type of program is right for you.

Professional credentials are not currently mandatory for jobs in health informatics. However, as this is a relatively new field within healthcare management, many employers seek job candidates with credentials as an endorsement of an individual’s skills and education.

The two primary credentials for health informatics professionals are the Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS) and the Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS), both of which are awarded by the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). Both levels of credentialing require successful completion of a certification exam.

The American Medical Informatics Association is also developing the Advanced Health Informatics Certification for health informatics professionals who are practicing or seek to practice at an advanced level.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Master’s in Health Informatics programs:

  • Am I eligible for this program? Many health informatics master’s programs accept students from all educational backgrounds. However, some require students to have degrees or coursework in related fields like health administration or computer science. Check the program’s admissions requirements before applying to confirm that you meet their qualifications.
  • Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? For online programs, there are two course delivery options. Synchronous courses meet at designated times, but students attend remotely. Asynchronous courses do not meet at set times; instead, students access lessons and submit assignments on their own schedule. If you are selecting an online program, make sure you choose one with a delivery format that works best for your availability.

As you research programs, you should keep track of when application deadlines are and what application materials you must submit for each program. You can usually find this information on the school’s website or by contacting their admissions department.

Financing your graduate education is another important consideration. Be sure to submit financial aid applications on time, and research other sources of funding including scholarships, assistantships, and tuition benefits from your employer.