Key takeaways
- Available degrees in health information management include associate, bachelor’s, and master’s.
- A doctoral degree in health information management is not available but students can pursue a PhD in Health Informatics or a similar field.
- The health information management bachelor’s degree is the ideal entry point into the field, providing access to a wide range of high-paying jobs.
- Health information management jobs include Medical Registrar, Medical Coding Specialist, Health Information Manager, Data Analyst, and more.
- Grand Canyon University, Western Kentucky University, and the University of Kansas are some institutions offering an on-campus HIM degree.
- Capella University, American Public University, and Purdue Global University are among those offering a health information management degree online.
- The average salary of a health information manager in the United States is $50,669 and that of a healthcare data analyst is $98,195.
Health Information Management (HIM) is a growing field presenting many high-paying job opportunities for qualified professionals. The demand for professionals in the healthcare sector is to grow 2X faster than other occupations in the United States as per reports by the United Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Whether you are an aspiring health information manager or are searching for lucrative career pathways to pursue after high school, a health information management degree is an excellent choice. Here, you will find program details on health information management degrees, career opportunities, and more.
What is health information management?
Healthcare professionals receive massive amounts of health information daily. It comes in the form of a patient’s medical history, lab results, X-ray, symptoms, diagnosis, demographic information, and more. Health information management is the process of receiving, storing, organizing, and analyzing this information.
This data represents not only each patient’s individual health information but also allows medical professionals to track a patient’s medical history to see how their health has changed for better or worse. Health information is also sorted by age or race to identify health trends in the population or different demographic groups. Medical professionals use this health information for research, and to identify how medical interventions and treatments impact overall health outcomes.
Health information professionals deal with sensitive information and are in charge of ensuring safe and secure data storage, use, and transmission. Thus, the job opportunities in the field are vast, and qualified professionals have a high earning potential. Some high-paying job opportunities in the field include Chief Privacy Officer, Health Information Manager, Health Data Analyst, and so on.
Health information management degrees that you can pursue
Safe and secure reception, recording, and analysis of patient health information includes a wide range of operations, including coding, information management, data analysis, encryption, and more. Aspiring professionals hoping to become Health Information Managers or pursue other career paths in health information must obtain a formal education in the field.
You can pursue an HIM degree at varying levels from an associate to a masters. A doctorate in health information management is not available. However, those interested in the advanced degree can explore alternative options such as a doctorate in health informatics or other related fields.
Associate’s degree in health information management
Associate degrees span two years, featuring a 60-credit hour curriculum. After graduating with an associate degree, you can pursue a bachelor’s degree or entry-level positions in the field, but the number and type of opportunities available to associate degree holders are limited.
Health information management bachelor’s degree
A bachelor’s degree in health information management lasts four years for those joining the program after high school graduation, and two years or more for those joining after graduating from an associate degree. The program features a comprehensive curriculum preparing students for a variety of job opportunities in the field, and an advanced degree such as a master’s degree.
Master’s degree in health information management
A master’s degree lasts one to three years and focuses on building niche-specific and managerial skills in health information management. With a master’s degree, you become eligible for upper managerial level and even top-tier executive level positions in HIM, or you can also pursue a doctorate in a relevant field such as Health Informatics.
Health information management Bachelor degree – Program details
A health information management bachelor’s degree is an interdisciplinary degree featuring a blended curriculum with courses in management, data analytics, coding, Management Information Systems, and more. Through the program, students develop critical thinking, data analysis, and data-backed decision-making abilities, allowing them to aid in operations and management in the HIM field.
The core focus of the program is to develop innovative and adaptable problem-solvers, able to leverage existing systems, procedures, and technologies to find solutions to pressing problems in the field of health information. At the bachelor level, colleges offer a Bachelor of Science (BS) in health information management.
Typical program curriculum
A Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management features a minimum of 180 credits distributed between courses in general education, major-specific, and electives. In a BS program, the general education component generally features science and mathematics courses as they focus on developing technical skills.
Additionally, you can expect to take courses in arts and humanities, social sciences, professional communication, and more. However, it is important to note that the exact program curriculum varies depending on several factors, including college, state rules and regulations, and faculty experience. Though the names may vary, major-specific courses in HIM may include the following:
- Human Resources for Health Care Organizations
- Automation of Health Information
- Medical Coding
- Healthcare Administration
- Operational Analysis and Quality Improvement
- Strategic Planning and Change Management for Healthcare
- Current Trends and Future Directions in Healthcare Management
- Strategic Leadership and Workforce Planning in Healthcare
- Evolution of Healthcare Delivery in the United States
- Leadership and Communication in Healthcare Management
- Introduction to Healthcare IT Systems
- Healthcare Ecosystems
- Healthcare Statistics and Research
- Healthcare Information Systems Management
- Principles of Management in Health Information Management
Concentration areas in HIM
While students will take a variety of courses with a heavy focus on information management in healthcare, they will also develop additional competencies such as financial management, accounting, and more. Additionally, they will develop niche-specific skills by choosing courses in relevant concentration areas or by choosing the relevant electives.
Here are some concentration areas within the field of health information management.
Health Sciences
To be able to record, store, and manage health information, you must develop an understanding of a variety of medical procedures. A health sciences specialization allows you to do exactly that. Here, you will take courses focused on providing an in-depth understanding of pharmacology, clinical data, pathology, and so on. Courses in the field can include:
- Pathophysiology
- Clinical Data Improvement
- Introduction to Pharmacology
- Advanced Medical Coding
Healthcare Data
Data analytics is the backbone of healthcare systems. Through it, professionals find problems, recurring patterns, and solutions, devise their effectiveness, and more. Healthcare data analytics allows for informed decision-making, which drives innovation, improvement, and growth in the healthcare industry. Additionally, it is what allows for efficient management, and operational efficiency across all fields of healthcare. Courses you can expect to take in this specialization include:
- Data Analytics and Information Governance
- HER Systems
- Healthcare Financial Resource Management
- Data Visualization
Health Information Technology
Through this specialization, you will develop the skills and knowledge needed to design, implement, and maintain information management systems in healthcare, commonly known as electronic health records (EHRs). Additionally, students develop data analysis, data management, and coding skills along with healthcare regulations needed for the development of information systems. Courses you can expect to take in this specialization include:
- Data Analysis and Reporting
- Foundations in Healthcare Information Management
- Data Security and Privacy (HIPAA Regulations)
- Introduction to Medical Coding
Admission requirements
The admission requirements for a bachelor’s degree vary by college and program type. While some colleges take a holistic approach to the admission process, others lay stringent requirements to take only a selected pool of students they deem fit and able to take on the educational curriculum at the institute.
However, generally, the admission requirements for students applying after high school graduation are as follows:
- High school diploma with minimum GPA and specific course requirements such as 2 years of foreign language or 3 years of math.
- High school transcripts
- General Education Development (GED) test scores can be substituted for high school diplomas and transcripts.
- Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) may include minimum score requirements in math, critical reasoning, and more.
- Recommendation letters – usually 2 or 3
- Personal Essay
- English Language Proficiency test scores for international students
Additionally, students will have to submit a filled-out application form along with an application fee. Moreover, some colleges also require background and drug screening tests such as the Texas State University.
Admission requirements for associate degree graduates
The admission requirements for those applying after graduating with an associate degree vary. They can include:
- Associate degree transcripts
- Completion of at least 60 transferable credits with specific course requirements such as minimum credit limits for college levels math, and other foundational proficiencies.
- Personal essay
- Recommendation letters – 2 to 3
Before you consider enrolling in a bachelor’s program after graduating from an associate degree, you must check whether you have the required amount of transferable credits or not, and if not then whether the college offers a foundational program allowing you to earn the required credits within the bachelor’s degree.
Graduation requirements
A bachelor HIM degree features around 120 to 180 credit hours depending on the program and college. However, colleges offering a 120-credit hour degree usually have professional experience requirements. For example, to graduate with a BS in Health Information Management, students must complete a five-week professional work experience course in the final semester of their bachelor program.
Those with an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree and significant work experience need to complete two weeks of professional work experience to graduate. While these are some specific graduation requirements, additional requirements may include:
- Minimum GPA in each course or the overall program
- Completion of professional workplace experience required
- Completion of capstone project.
- Fulfillment of required credits in each component
Colleges offering a bachelor’s degree in health information management
A bachelor’s degree in HIM prepares students for careers in health information in different capacities from management, data analytics, informatics, performance improvement, and more. It is fast becoming a popular field and the demand for qualified professionals is rising. Thus, an increasing number of US colleges and universities are offering the program on-campus and online.
Here is a list of some colleges and universities offering an on-campus HIM degree at the bachelor’s level.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Texas State University | 88% | 54% | $12,220 in-state
$24,520 out-of-state |
| Loma Linda University | 50% | 92% | $33,552 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | 79% | 61% | $18,180 in-state
$33,726 out-of-state |
| University of Kansas | 88% | 66% | $11,700 in-state
$29,412 out-of-state |
| Parker University | 100% | 88% | $660.00 per credit |
| East Carolina University | 92% | 66% | $7,516 in-state
$23,793 out-of-state |
| Grand Canyon University | 78% | 47% | $8,250 per semester |
| Western Kentucky University | 97% | 48% | $11,436 in-state
$27,000 out-of-state |
List of health information management schools online
For those looking for virtual learning programs in the field of HIM, here is a list of colleges offering a BS in HIM online.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| St. Joseph College of Maine | 81% | 25% | $42,834 |
| American Public University | 100% | 10.9% | $8,400 |
| Rutgers University | 58% | 84% | $11,619 in-state
$27,560 out-of-state |
| Western Governors University | 100% | 54% | $8,300 |
| Purdue Global University | 100% | 20% | $371.00 per credit |
| Capella University | 100% | 26% | $14,436 |
| University of Cincinnati | 88% | 38% | $6,988 |
| Loma Linda University | 50% | 92% | $33,552 |
Is an online health information management degree a good idea?
During your search for colleges offering a bachelor’s degree in health information management, you will come across several offering an online program. Post-COVID, the educational landscape has changed substantially and the preference for online learning is one of them. In fact, as per a report by Statista, 47% of college students believe that the learning quality of online education is better than that of traditional programs.
Online degrees do offer substantial advantages over traditional programs. However, virtual learning isn’t all cakes and flowers. Make sure you carefully consider the following pros and cons before applying to an online program.
Advantages of an online degree
Online programs offer students enhanced flexibility, especially if enrolled in an asynchronous program where real-time participation is not required. Even if enrolled in a synchronous program where students need to stick to a campus schedule, they don’t need to travel to campus saving them time and money spent traveling.
International students can join the program without worrying about visa restrictions, shifting to another country, travel costs, and arranging accommodation. Thus, the overall cost of attending an online program is significantly cheaper even if the tuition is the same as that for on-campus programs.
Students enjoy more free time in online programs and greater flexibility enabling them to take advantage and pursue part or full-time jobs, depending on whether they are enrolled in a synchronous or asynchronous program.
Disadvantages of an online degree
The biggest disadvantage of an online program is the lack of access to campus resources and technical assistance. Some online colleges do go above and beyond to ensure that online learners get technical support from the college, and they do charge a fee for it, but it is not a common practice as yet.
Additionally, those enrolled in an asynchronous program lack structure and discipline in their daily lives and will have to create their learning schedule. If a student is not self-motivated or an excellent time manager, they will suffer in their higher education. Moreover, the lack of social interaction can make virtual classes a task rather than something to look forward to.
What health information management jobs can you get with a Him degree?
With a degree in health information management, you develop a comprehensive set of skills needed for a diverse range of job roles in the health information field. You not only learn technical skills, but also develop professional competencies such as communication, problem-solving, innovation, and so on. Here are some jobs you can qualify for with a HIM bachelor’s degree.
| Job title | Average alary |
| Medical Coder | $52,152 per year |
| Health Information Manager | $54,901 |
| Clinical Data Manager | $103,307 |
| Healthcare Data Analyst | $98,195 |
| Coding Compliance Auditor | $72,081 |
| Privacy Officer | $133,006 |
| Medical Research Analyst | $76,897 |
| EHR Manager | $87,807 |
| Health Information Technologists | $62,990 |
| Medical Registrars | $62,990 |
Health Information Management industry overview and hiring trends
A number of factors have resulted in the growing demand for healthcare services and professionals. Research indicates some major factors contributing to the growing demand include an aging population and increasing obesity. Additionally, changing trends, the digital shift, and increasing medical advancements, in technology and procedures, are changing the healthcare industry.
Occupational outlook reports published by the United Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that jobs in health and medical services management are growing at 29%, which is significantly faster than the national average for all occupations of 4%. Other jobs in the field such as Medical Records Specialist, Health Information Technicians, and Medical Registrars have a job growth rate of 9%, which too is higher than the national average of all occupations.
The platform’s projected analysis shows that from 2023 to 2033, jobs such as healthcare information technicians and medical registrars will see a 16% change in employment. Compared to the 11% of other roles in healthcare such as healthcare practitioners and technical specialists, health information management appears to have a brighter job outlook even in healthcare. When compared to the national average of all occupations at 4%, HIM clearly emerges as a great field to pursue professionally.
Hiring trends in HIM
Graduates with an HIM degree can pursue jobs in hospitals, clinics, other healthcare organizations, insurance companies, and research institutions to name a few. The competencies students develop are vast and highly transferable so the job opportunities available are diverse.
The minimum education requirement for some roles in HIM such as Medical Transcriptionist, Medical Registrar, and Health Information Technician is an associate degree in the field. However, for the majority of roles with high earning potential, the minimum required education is a bachelor’s degree in the field. Examples include Healthcare Data Analyst, Health Information Manager, Medical Research Analyst, and so on.
Typical employers of HIM professionals include:
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Medical research Institutions
- Technology companies
- Insurance companies
- Nursing homes
- Home health agencies
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Private doctor’s offices
- Healthcare consultancy firms
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about HIM degrees
Before enrolling in a program, make sure you seek the answers to all the questions you can think of about the program. Here are some FAQs about health information management degrees.
Why health information management?
As per the United Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare jobs are set to grow 2X faster than jobs in other occupations. Several factors contribute to the growing demand for professionals in the health industry among which aging and obesity rank the highest. A study published by the National Library of Medicine quotes that between 2000-2030, the number of people aged 65 and above is set to double.
The rising rate of obesity in the United States and the slow pace of medical advancements to help those suffering from obesity are major causes of rising demand for healthcare services as stated in the study. While it is a possibility that if advanced medical treatments for those who are overweight arise, or professionals find ways to prevent obesity in the next generation the demand for healthcare services may decline, there isn’t substantial evidence as of yet to make claims for sure.
The growing demand for healthcare services is directly related to the demand for jobs in health information management, indicating that the demand for qualified HIM professionals is set to rise. Additionally, the program leads to several high-paying jobs such as Healthcare Data Analyst, Health Information Manager, and more.
If you are seeking a program leading to high-paying in-demand careers, a bachelor’s in health information management is the ideal program for you.
What is the average health information management salary?
The average salary for health information management jobs varies. For roles such as Medical Registrars, Medical Coders, and Medical Transcriptionists, the average salary ranges from $50,000 to $63,000. However, these are the figures for entry-level roles where the minimum educational requirement for these roles is an associate degree.
Specialized job roles such as Health Information Manager, Healthcare Data Analyst, Medical Research Analyst, and more are high-paying jobs with average salaries well over the national average of $65,470.
The figures go as high as over $130,000 per year for some occupations in health information management. However, the salary offered is heavily dependent on the health information management job skills an applicant possesses.
What can you do with a health information management degree?
The job opportunities available to graduates with an HIM degree are diverse as are the skills developed in the program. You will learn how to code, manage data, manage information management systems, create these systems, and analyze the data received to aid informed decision-making.
The exact jobs you will be eligible for depend on the health information management job skills you develop. These can vary depending on the concentration areas students pursue and the electives chosen. Some career paths available with an HIM degree include:
- Data Analytics
- Management of EHR systems
- Medical Coding
- Health Information Technologists
- Medical Billers and Registrars
What do health information managers do?
The job responsibilities of health information managers generally vary depending on the organization they are working in. However, the typical responsibilities for HIM managers include:
- Designing information management systems
- Ensuring maintenance of data quality
- Ensuring data privacy and security
- Evaluate reports
- Communicate with others in the field
- Monitor data reception, storage, and organization
Is health information management a good career?
Health information management is an excellent program leading to a diverse range of careers in health information. Through the program, students not only develop a comprehensive range of skills in HIM but also transferable skills they can use to seek employment in other information management roles. These skills include data analytics, data visualization, coding, and more.
Moreover, students have the opportunity to pursue an associate degree and begin working as Medical Registrars, Medical Coders, or in billing to gain professional work experience and earn before completing a bachelor’s degree to advance their career opportunities. The jobs students become eligible for with an associate degree have average salaries near the national average for all occupations in the United States.
Given that the demand for HIM professionals is set to continue to rise, and the career paths the degree leads to have high earning potential, it is definitely a good degree and career to pursue.
What is the American Health Information Management Association?
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a certifying body that offers certifications in different subfields within HIM. It is a non-profit organization, the goal of which is to support existing and aspiring health information professionals. Obtaining a certification by AHIMA substantially increases a job applicant’s eligibility as these are considered the gold standard within health information. Available certifications include:
- Certified Professional Coder
- Certified Coding Associate
- Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based
- Certified Coding Associate
Pursue health information management as a career with a bachelor’s degree!
Aspiring or existing professionals hoping to access high-paying job opportunities should pursue a bachelor’s degree in HIM. The program equips students with the knowledge and competencies needed to advance in the field. Whether you want to go into information management, data analytics, coding, or any other field within health information, a bachelor’s degree is the ideal gateway.
At All Bachelor Degrees, you will find a range of education tools and resources to help college planning and selection easier. Whether you are struggling to generate a college essay, or finding colleges by state, you will find the answers to all your college planning woes on the platform.