Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics Degrees of 2024
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Editor & Writer
Editor & Writer
Editor & Writer
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During the pandemic, we learned just how powerful and necessary it is to handle health data properly. This is why people who study health informatics are so important. They play a major role in tracking, collecting, and analyzing health data in order to optimize healthcare solutions and improve patient care.
If you want to work at the intersection of healthcare, data analysis, and technology, an online health informatics degree offers a strong job outlook and good pay.
Featured Online Health Informatics Degrees
Best Online Master's in Health Informatics Degrees
We use trusted sources like
Peterson's Data
and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, TX - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
Cost per Program:
In-state | $18,900
Out-of-state | $42,663
Credits to Graduate: 39
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston's master of science in biomedical informatics program offers two online tracks: research or applied biomedical informatics. Students learn skills related to electronic health records, security protocols, project management, and applying biomedical data to clinical decision-making. Each enrollee completes a practicum/capstone under the supervision of a biomedical informatics preceptor.
Admission requirements include a baccalaureate or higher degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA, a resume or CV, three letters of recommendation from educators or employers, and a goal statement.
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $900
Out-of-State | $900
Credits to Graduate: 40.5
University of Utah's master of science in nursing informatics program prepares nurses for careers such as nurse informaticist, clinical systems analyst, and chief clinical informatics officer. For admission, each candidate must provide a 3.0 GPA, resume/CV, references, and goal statement.
Students can complete this full-time program in five semesters, with summer terms available. Learners participate in group projects, peer review activities, online forum discussions, Zoom meetings, and experiential internships. Coursework explores informatics, systems analysis, leadership skills, and systems thinking.
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $800
Out-of-State | $800
Credits to Graduate: 36
George Mason University's online master of science in health informatics prepares students to pursue careers in business-focused healthcare roles.
The health data analytics concentration focuses on theoretical and practical skills in data science and machine learning. Enrollees in the health informatics management concentration learn to manage health information systems and consider the increased use of electronic health records in 21st-century healthcare.
Prior experience in healthcare or IT is not required but can strengthen students' applications.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $961
Out-of-State | $1977
Credits to Graduate: 35
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's master of professional science in biomedical and health informatics program prepares graduates for roles in developing, managing, and analyzing health information systems. Courses focus on core informatics knowledge, biomedical informatics, and business skills.
Students may complete the program in 1-4 years. The program includes a 400-hour internship, which provides hands-on experience in analytics, machine learning, and software development under the supervision of preceptors from local IT and biotech companies.
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $925
Out-of-State | $925
Credits to Graduate: 37
The master of science in healthcare informatics at the University of San Diego is a STEM-designated 24-month course with students from the healthcare and IT sectors. Enrollees can specialize through healthcare informatics or healthcare data analytics tracks. All learners must complete a 12-16 hour orientation course and a 14-week capstone project during the final term.
Admission requirements include a personal statement, interview, resume/CV, letters of reference, and official transcripts.
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $907
Out-of-State | $907
Credits to Graduate: 32
University of South Florida's master's in health informatics is a two-year online program. Each applicant must submit transcripts demonstrating completion of a bachelor's degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA, a resume, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Students can provide GRE, MCAT, or VAT test scores to strengthen their applications.
USF's Morsani College of Medicine has the first fully online master's in health informatics program in a medical school with healthcare and IT faculty. Coursework explores integrated electronic medical records, health data management, data management laws and ethics, and e-healthcare business models.
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Course:
$4,981 per course
Credits to Graduate: 36
Northwestern University's master's in health informatics offers specializations in clinical informatics, health technology, and health administration. After the core curriculum, each student completes a mandatory hands-on capstone project averaging 50-100 hours during their final quarter.
Admission requirements include a resume/CV, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. The university reports a 95% graduation rate, with graduates earning a mean annual salary of $71,900 six years following graduation.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $1,040
Out-of-State | $1,523
Credits to Graduate: 37
Rutgers University's master of science in nursing informatics includes 37 credits and 225 in-person clinical hours, which each enrollee must complete with an approved preceptor in New Jersey. After completing nine credits of core coursework, the curriculum covers areas such as consumer healthcare informatics, nursing database design, and informatics project management.
Admission requirements include a BSN, minimum 3.2 GPA, current New Jersey RN license, two letters of reference, and two scholarly papers of which the applicant is the main author.
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT - 4 years
- Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Cost per Term:
$4,795 per term
Western Governors University's nursing informatics RN-to-MSN program offers rolling admissions with all courses available at any time. Students pay a flat rate per six-month period, take one course at a time, and can complete as many courses as they choose within that period based on their mastery of the given subject area.
Admission requirements include an associate degree or diploma in nursing, along with an unrestricted nursing license. Courses focus on data modeling, data science, database management, informatics system design and analysis, and the uses of informatics for transforming healthcare and care delivery.
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $401
Out-of-State | $603
Credits to Graduate: 36
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis' master of science in health informatics includes core health informatics courses, a three-course professional or thesis track, and electives.
Admission requires a bachelor's degree, a 3.0 GPA, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and a resume/CV.
Applicants must have strong backgrounds in biology, computer science, nursing, or biochemistry, along with having completed coursework in programming, databases, medical terminology, and anatomy and physiology.
Graduates can pursue roles like public health informatics analyst, clinical quality analyst, data engineer, and medical informaticist. Companies such as IBM, Anthem, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Meta have hired graduates from this program.
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
Ranking Methodology Summary
To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:
- Affordability (30%)
- Student outcomes (30%)
- Reputation (20%)
- Diversity and social mobility (20%)
In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.
Why Should You Get a Master's in Health Informatics?
Getting a master's in healthcare informatics is a great way to capitalize on the growing demand for healthcare workers of all kinds. It's an excellent career for people who are data-minded and systems-thinkers.
You will also have the satisfaction of going into a field that makes a positive impact in the world. Your training will prepare you to help fix structural and technical problems in healthcare that lead to medical errors, inflated costs, treatment delays, and poor patient outcomes.
Benefits of Getting a Master's in Health Informatics Degree
- Qualify for a number of healthcare and public health careers you can't access without an advanced degree
- Opportunities in higher ed and applied research
- Become an expert in health systems and information technology
- Learn about IT systems and research within a booming industry
- Develop strong interpersonal, analytical, and research skills
- Create positive change in the healthcare system
- Make patients' lives better
Benefits of Getting Your Master's in Health Informatics Online
- Increased flexibility
- Reduced opportunity costs
- Complete coursework remotely
- Ability to learn from anywhere
- Great for career-changers
Read More:
How Much Does an Online Master's in Health Informatics Cost?
Average Annual Cost of Graduate Tuition and Fees, 2021-2022
Public Institution
$12,596
Private Institution
$28,017
Total Average Cost of a Master's Degree (Two Years)
Public Institution
$59,440
Private Institution (Nonprofit)
$85,400
When you're considering the costs of pursuing a master's degree, you need to think beyond tuition. While online students don't have to calculate room and board or most on-campus fees, they may encounter some other unexpected costs, like technology or virtual library fees.
If you want to lower the cost of your graduate degree, there are a few ways to go about it:
- Attend public, in-state institutions
- Apply for grants and scholarships
- Transfer credits from a community college
- Earn credits for work, volunteer, or military experience when applicable
Read More:
Featured Health Informatics Programs
How Long Does an Online Master's in Health Informatics Take?
Typically, an online master's in health informatics will take two years. Working students who attend part-time can expect to take longer. And some online schools offer accelerated programs to get you to the finish line early.
Average Length of Time*
2 years
*Varies depending on your school/program
Required Course Credits*
30-50 credits
*Varies depending on your school/program
Be sure to consider the program format when choosing a school. Choosing an asynchronous rather than synchronous program allows you more control over your schedule.
What Jobs Can You Get with a Master's in Health Informatics Degree?
There are several lucrative career paths you can pursue with a master's in health informatics.
Job | Salary |
---|---|
Health Informatics Specialist | $76,290 |
Health Information Management Director | $79,900 |
Clinical Informatics Specialist | $82,890 |
Nursing Informatics Specialist | $91,280 |
Privacy Manager | $100,870 |
Health IT Project Manager | $100,980 |
Clinical Informatics Manager | $105,650 |
Medical Information Officer | $160,940 |
The career outlook for health informatics grads is strong. The BLS projects a 16% growth rate for health information technologists and medical registrars between 2022 and 2032.
Health informatics students may also pursue careers in IT fields. The BLS projects that growth for all computer and information technology careers will be much faster than the average for all occupations between 2022 and 2032.
Read More:
Is a Master's in Health Informatics Worth It?
Yes. For people who are interested both in technology and healthcare, getting a master's in health informatics will most likely offer a good return on investment.
That's because healthcare organizations generate an overwhelming amount of data. According to RBC Capital Markets, approximately 30% of the world's data is produced by the healthcare industry. As that percentage continues to grow, so will the demand for IT specialists who can translate data into usable information.
Still Looking for the Right Fit in Healthcare? Discover Similar Degree Programs.
Everything Else You Need to Know About an Online Master's in Health Informatics Degree
What are the admission requirements for a master's in health informatics program?
Most online master's in health informatics programs have similar admission requirements:
- Application
- Test scores
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume or CV
- Application essay
- a href="/healthcare/bachelors/health-informatics/">Bachelor's degree in a
Are health informatics careers in demand?
Yes! The BLS projects a "much faster than average" job growth for both healthcare occupations and computer and information technology occupations between 2022 and 2032. The increasing importance of data across the healthcare industry drives the demand for health informatics professionals.
How much money will you make with a master's in health informatics?
According to Payscale, the average base salary of someone with a master's degree in health informatics is $73,000 a year.