Why This Matters

  • 96% OF 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 71,600 MORE OF YOU BY 2028

    Changes in technology, government policy, and patient populations are contributing to an 18% increase in the need for healthcare administrators in the next decade.

  • EARN $59,380 MORE PER YEAR WITH A MASTER’S

    High-level positions like medical and health services managers earn $99,730 per year on average, compared to $40,350 for bachelor’s-level positions

Our Research

This list focuses on graduate programs in health informatics, including master’s degrees, and graduate certificate programs. As a science-related field, health informatics programs typically award a Master of Science degree. We reviewed programs that are offered online, in-person, and in blended formats.

The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accredits health informatics master’s programs that meet high standards of quality in health informatics education. In addition to CAHIIM-accredited programs, this list also includes programs offered by regionally accredited schools as another measure of quality. Credits and degrees from regionally accredited schools are typically more transferable to other institutions, and required for professional credentials.

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. Our top picks for the best master’s in health informatics program are affordable, respected, and flexible.(For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.)

  • 53 hours to write this article
  • 156 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 383 education programs we compared

The Top 50 Master’s in Health Informatics Programs

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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.