25 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Health Informatics

Online Master’s Degrees in Health Informatics

Over the past decade, the use of information systems to keep track of healthcare information has exploded within the public and private sector. The explosion has led to the need for individuals trained not only in how to use such systems but individuals who can contribute to designing systems for larger institutions. As a result, healthcare, insurance, and business information can all be integrated, allowing for a more efficient health care system. 

Typical careers for students who pursue a Master’s degree in Health Informatics include health service managers, healthcare IT project managers, and chief medical information officers, among others. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment under the umbrella of Medical and Health Service Managers are expected to grow by a whopping 20%, which far outstrips the six percent average. And many of these jobs come with significant benefits, like a much higher salary.

If you have the time on your hands, then an online Master’s Degree in the field of Health Informatics might be just what the doctor ordered. Check out Best College Reviews' 25 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Health Informatics for 2020!

Methodology

Best College Reviews provides degree rankings, such as the 25 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics, from carefully researched data sets published from government and non-profit organizations across the United States. Five primary factors affect how we rank degrees: 

– 25% Student Satisfaction  

– 30% Earning Potential 

– 15% Retention Data 

– 20% Affordability 

– 10% Acceptance Rates

For an in-depth breakdown of how we calculate each ranking, check out our Methodology page.  

#25 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

MASTER OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
Website
Score: 86.4

The University of South Carolina is a large public research university located in Columbia, SC. USC offers a fully online Master of Health Information Technology. The degree takes between 18-24 months to complete and consists of 36 credits. The average class size in the program is around 20 students. The University designed its MHIT to equip graduates with the skills to streamline various processes and data storage systems in the healthcare industry. Classes in the program include Telecommunications for Health Information Systems, Large Scale Health Information Systems, and Health Systems Analysis and Design. The program requires an internship which is meant to give students a hands-on experience where they can learn from professionals in the field. 
Net Price: $12,650 in-state; $29,196 out-of-state

#24 FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS & ANALYTICS 
Website
Score: 86.7

Florida International University’s College of Business offers an online Master of Science in Health Informatics & Analytics. The program is designed for healthcare managers, clinicians, nurses, doctors, and others who want to increase their health information systems knowledge. Students are grouped in cohorts and can complete the program in as few as 14 months. Classes include Information Security & Compliance, Healthcare Project Management, and Healthcare Database Systems. Students who are interested and able can also participate in the Global Travel Program, which takes place during the summer term. Completion of this program results in an Advanced Certificate in Global Healthcare Analysis. 
Net Price: $8,912 in-state; $21,393 out-of-state

#23 DEPAUL UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 86.8

DePaul University is the largest Roman Catholic university in the country and is located in Chicago, IL. DU offers a fully online Master of Science in Health Informatics. The degree consists of 52 credits, and DU runs on a quarter system. Depaul expects students to maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher to remain in good standing for the program. Classes include Fundamentals of IT Project Management, Data Analysis and Regression, and Data Visualization. While completing electives, MSHI students can specialize in topics such as Innovations in Healthcare, Health Information Management, and Health Analytics. There are four different start times for the program, and applicants must hold a bachelor's degree with a 2.5 GPA to be considered for admission.
Net Price: $19,032

#22 UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 87

Part of the state’s university system, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is a large public research university which offers an online Master of Science in Health Informatics through their School of Health Professions. The program does require two three-day residential requirements per year. There are two tracks in the program to choose from, the User Experience track, and the Data Analytics track. 

The UE track focuses on the healthcare information interface experience, ensuring user-friendly systems in a healthcare environment. The DA track focuses on training graduates who know how to deal with, analyze, interpret, and combine the massive amounts of data produced in healthcare settings. Both programs can be completed within two years.  
Net Price: $8,100 in-state; $18,540 out-of-state

#21 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 87.4

The University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, KS, and is a large public research university with an annual enrollment of over 28,000 students. Individuals can obtain an online Master of Science in Health Informatics through the KU Medical Center. The program focuses on applied health informatics, and applicants don't need to have a background in healthcare. Overall, students take three required courses and before selecting a focus, such as Health Policy & Management, Clinical, Public Health, and Project Management. The program ends with a research project and a practicum, which gives students direct hands-on experience in a healthcare setting. 
Net Price: $9,989 in-state; $23,366 out-of-state

#20 EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS & INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Website
Score: 87.5

East Carolina University is a large public research university located in Greenville, NC. The Department of Health Services & Information Management offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management online. The MSHII consists of a thesis and a non-thesis option, where non-thesis students complete an internship as their capstone experience. 

The degree consists of 30 credits and classes include Social and Organizational Issues of Health Information Technologies, Health Informatics Project Design and Management, and Quality Management in Health Care. All students are required to take a comprehensive exam during their final semester. The program can be completed in two to two and a half years. 
Net Price: $4,749 in-state; $17,898 out-of-state

#19 THE COLLEGE OF SAINT SCHOLASTICA

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 88

The College of Saint Scholastica is based in Duluth, MN, and is a small private Roman Catholic college. CSS offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics online. The program is designed to be completed in two years, and students take required courses like Health Information Technology in Practice, Human Factors and Usability Assessment, and Health Information Security Systems. 

Applicants must submit their transcripts and complete an online application. Entrance to the program does require coursework in statistics. Because CSS is a small school, the online classes are small, which means that students will get more individualize attention from professors, and will have the opportunity to forge lasting bonds with their classmates. 
Net Price: $13,479

#18 UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT WITH HEALTH DATA INFORMATICS & ANALYTICS
Website
Score: 88.8

A private research university, the University of Denver annually enrolls over 5,500 students and is the oldest private higher education institution Rocky Mountain Region. UD offers an online Master of Science in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Health Data Informatics and Analytics. The degree consists of 12 courses and can be completed within 18 months. 

Classes include Healthcare Project Management and Professionalism, Healthcare Data Mining, Integration, and Interpretation, and Healthcare Methods and Programming. Classes run for ten weeks, and courses are asynchronous, which makes them ideal for people who need high flexibility given work or other responsibilities. Prospective students are asked to hold an undergraduate degree with a 2.5 GPA already and do not need to submit GRE or other standardized test scores.
Net Price: $49,392

#17 MERCER UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 89.1

Mercer University is located in Macon, GA, and is a private university with an annual enrollment of over 8,500 students. MU offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics online. The program is designed for professionals who are already working in a clinical or IT setting and who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. The degree consists of 30 credits of core and elective courses and includes a research project as the capstone experience. Classes in the program include Human-Computer Interaction and Usability in Health Informatics, Evidence-Based Decision Making and Clinical Knowledge Management, and Healthcare Data Management. 
Net Price: $14,374

#16 UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 89.4

Located in Columbia, MO, the University of Missouri is a large land-grant research university. UM offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics online which consists of 33 credits, six of which is dedicated to a research project. The degree can be completed within two years, and matriculating students need to have completed an undergraduate-level course in statistics and algebra. 

Students can take classes like Health Data Analytics, Biomedical and Health Vocabularies and Ontologies, and Information Security, Evaluation and Policy. All students are required to pass an oral examination at the end of the program. Admission requires at least three years of clinical, administrative, or technical experience in healthcare, as well as a completed bachelor with a 3.0 GPA. 
Net Price: $8,822 in-state; $24,156 out-of-state 

#15 UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH CARE INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 89.7

The University of San Diego offers a Master of Science in Health Care Informatics online. The program integrates disciplines like business and management, with information technology, and healthcare leadership in providing a unique interdisciplinary degree for professionals working in the field. The program offers three learning tracks, including Health Care Analytics, Health Care Leadership, and Health Care Informatics. Courses in the program include Healthcare Leadership, Values and Social Justice, Management of Health System Care Delivery and Outcomes, and Financial Management in Health Systems. The degree is 37 credits and can be completed in 24 months. 
Net Price: $26,712

#14 DREXEL UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 89.9

Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA, with an annual enrollment of over 24,000 students. DU offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics online, which is designed especially for healthcare professionals who need to deepen their knowledge of healthcare information systems, or others interested in entering the profession. The degree consists of 45 credits and classes run for ten weeks each. Students can take courses like Information Systems Analysis and Design, Software Engineering Economics, and Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare Management and Policy. The program also has a required health informatics project which individuals can develop in consultation with an advisor. 
Net Price: $34,155

#13 NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY—CHARLOTTE 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 90.3

Northeastern University-Charlotte is an extension campus of NU which is based in Boston, MA. NU is a private research university and offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics online through the Bouve College of Health Sciences. The degree is 33 credits and is interdisciplinary, combining technical, clinical, and business practices to address current transformations of the healthcare industry.

Students take core courses, as well as classes in business management, health informatics, and technical courses like Data Management in Health Care, Strategic Topics in Programming for Health Professionals, and Database Design, Access, Modeling, and Security. Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA by the time of enrollment. Even if students don't have a background in healthcare, they are still encouraged to apply as NU offers alternative pathways for such individuals. 
Net Price: $24,027

#12 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 90.5

George Mason University is located in Fairfax Virginia and enrolls around 35,000 students every year. GMU offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics, which is meant to prepare students to work in data analytics and information systems in various healthcare settings. Overall the program consists of 39 credits, which includes six credits in prerequisites that can potentially be waved depending on student background and education.

Students can take classes like Data Mining in Health Care, Comparative Effectiveness Analysis using Observational Data, and Statistical Process Control. Students also have a capstone experience which is designed as an internship to give individuals hands-on experience in the field. Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.25 GPA and should have some basic knowledge of computer science, mathematics, and statistics. 
Net Price: $11,736 in-state; $32,322 out-of-state

#11 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH CARE INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 91.8

The University of Central Florida is located in Orlando, FL, and currently holds the nation's largest student enrollment at over 68,000 students annually. UCF offers an online Master of Science in Health Care Informatics. The degree consists of 41 total credits of foundational and required courses and students are expected to have taken undergraduate level courses in statistics and writing before enrollment into the program. Classes include Biostatistics and Decision Analysis, Epidemiology, Analytics, and Quality Management, and Health Care Data Architecture and Modeling. The program offers start dates year-round and applicants are asked to submit a transcript, personal statement of goals, and a resume for consideration for admission. 
Net Price: $6,916 in-state; $25,759 out-of-state

#10 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS AND HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Website
Score: 91.8

The University of Washington's Master of Health Informatics & Health Information Management. The program is competency-based and organized around five distinct pillars, including Health Information Systems, Health Systems Leadership, Information Privacy and Security, Information Governance, and Health Care Data Analytics. The program is completable within 18 months, and courses are offered online or face-to-face. Courses include Law, Policy & Ethics in Health Information, Confidentiality, Privacy & Security of Health Information in an e-Environment, and Managing Health Care Organizations. The program also includes a capstone experience. 
Net Price: $15,510 in-state; $27,801 out-of-state

#9 UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS — LOWELL 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS AND MANAGEMENT WITH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 92.1

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a large public research university with an enrollment of over 18,000 students each year. UML offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics and Management with a concentration in Informatics which can be taken online. The degree is 36 credits and includes a capstone project to finish out the student experience. Classes in the program include Operations Analysis for Quality Improvement, Organizational Behavior in Health Care, and Electronic Health Record Systems. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Students with a 3.2 GPA or higher are not required to submit GRE scores. 
Net Price: $14,590 in-state; $26,370 out-of-state

#8 MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 92.3

Located in the city of Houghton, Michigan Technological University offers a Master of Science in Medical Informatics. The program brings students into contact with both faculty, and local physicians and students can focus on areas like Imagining Informatics, Health Information Systems, and Electronic Health Records. Students can choose a thesis option, a coursework option, and an opportunity with a research project and report. Classes in the program include Introduction to Medical Sciences, Human Pathophysiology, and Healthcare, and Human-Computer Interaction in Healthcare, and Statistical Methods for Intrusion Detection. 
Net Price: $19,350

#7 ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF ADVANCED STUDY IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 93.4

Arizona State University is a large public research university and is located in the greater Phoenix area. ASU offers a Master of Advanced Study in Health Informatics online. The degree consists of 30 credits which are a mix of core classes, electives, and a final applied project. Courses are offered in a condensed format for seven and a half weeks. Classes that students can take in the program include Health Informatics Database Modeling and Applications, Workflow Analysis & Redesign in Health Systems Engineering, and Clinical Decision Support and Evidence-Based Medicine. Applicants must possess a bachelor’s from an accredited program with a 3.0 GPA.
Net Price: $11,406 in-state; $25,160 out-of-state

#6 LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 93.4

Located in Ruston, LA, Louisiana Tech University’s Department of Health Informatics and Information Management awards a 45-credit Master of Health Informatics. Overall, the MHI consists of 45 credit hours and includes classes such as Evaluation of Information System, Computerized Decision Support, and Evaluation of Information System. 

While prospective students need to possess a bachelor's degree, they are not required to submit GRE scores for consideration. Students with a GPA can be accepted unconditionally, while students with a lower GPA are accepted on a limited basis. The DHIIM encourages students to join professional organizations like the American Health Information Management Association so that students can benefit from additional co-curricular and professional development opportunities. 
Net Price: $6,592 in-state; $13,333 out-of-state

#5 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 94.5

The University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public research university located near the Loop in downtown Chicago. UIC offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics. The program is designed to prepare graduates to design and implement healthcare information systems so that both practitioners and patients have access to health information. 

Classes include Health Information Systems Analysis & Design, Management of Healthcare Communication Systems, and Ethics & Legal Issues in Health Informatics. Overall the program is 38 credits, and students can choose to use their electives to concentrate on Health Data Science or can tailor their coursework to fit other interests or needs. Admission requires a bachelor’s with a 3.0 GPA.
Net Price: $13,612 in-state; $23,299 out-of-state

#4 UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 94.5

A large public research university, the University of Cincinnati is the second-largest school in the state. UC offers a Master of Health Informatics online. The degree consists of 36 credits and can generally be completed in 24 months. Interested individuals can also secure a Health Information Security Certificate by taking an additional three courses. 

Students can take classes like Workflow Process Analysis, System Development, Human Factors, and Usability, or Leadership and Strategic Management in Health Settings. Students also take a practicum which places them in a health care setting, giving them tangible experience in the field. Admission does not require a prior background in healthcare, and students do not need to take the GRE. 
Net Price: $12,790 in-state; $24,532 out-of-state

#3 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 96.1

The University of South Florida is located in Tampa, FL, and is a large public research university. USF offers a Master of Science in Health Informatics online. The Morsani College of Medicine, which oversees the program, has been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Medical Schools for 2018. Overall, the degree is 32 credits and can be completed in two years. 

Classes are a mixture of core courses and electives and include options like Healthcare Project Management, Case Studies in Health Information Management, and Legal Aspects of Health Information Systems. Applicants should hold a bachelor’s in the biological, management, chemical, computer, or related field with a 3.0 GPA. Individuals should also submit two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose. 
Net Price: $8,350 in-state; $19,048 out-of-state

#2 BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH AND MEDICAL INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 97.4

Brandeis University is a private research university located in Waltham, MA just outside of Boston. BU offers a Master of Science in Health and Medical Informatics. The program is primarily geared to prepare graduates to develop IT solutions for healthcare delivery. The degree consists of ten courses, three of which are electives. Required classes in the program include Perspectives on Health/Medical Information Systems, Data Analytics and Decision Support for Health Informatics, and Clinical Business Issues in Health Informatics. There are two start dates for the program, and applicants must submit their transcripts, a statement of goals, and one letter of recommendation. 
Net Price: $50,184

#1 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
Website
Score: 100

Located in Evanston, IL, just north of Chicago, Northwestern University offers an online Master of Science in Health Informatics. The degree consists of 12 courses and students can specialize in three different areas, including Clinical Informatics, Health Technology, or Health Administration. Students can choose between a thesis or a capstone project option to complete the degree.

Classes in the program include Health Care Organization Operations, Telecommunications and Computer Networks, and Information System Acquisition & Lifecycle. Applicants should submit a statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, a current resume, and transcripts from their bachelor’s degree. International students must also verify their English language proficiency. 
Net Price: $54,120