Best Online Medical Billing and Coding Schools of 2025

Medical and billing coders translate medical diagnoses and treatments into codes they can use to bill insurance companies. Many of these professionals have the flexibility to work from home. And you can complete your medical billing and coding certificate program online.

Once you earn your medical billing and coding certificate — and pass one of the certification exams — you can find career opportunities with medical insurance companies, outpatient billing services, clinics, and medical offices. You can also pursue a college degree.

Source: NCES PowerStats

As you explore online medical billing and coding programs, consider important factors like program cost and financial aid, program length, accreditation, and possible career paths.

The cost of a medical billing and coding certificate can vary between institutions.

For example, Southern New Hampshire University charges $990 (or $330 per credit) for their online medical billing and coding course. The University of Cincinnati charges around $3,600 for in-state tuition and around $3,800 for out-of-state tuition for its program.

In the 2019-2020 school year, online certificates in healthcare fields typically cost around $7,000 in tuition and fees without financial aid, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Financial aid, including grants and scholarships, cut the average cost down to around $5,000. This reduction of about $2,000 shows how much financial aid can offset the cost of tuition and fees.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for financial aid.

You can expect to spend between four and 15 months in your online medical billing and coding certificate program. Depending on your specific program, you’ll need to earn 8-30 credits to graduate.

The University of Cincinnati’s medical coder certificate program requires you to earn 30 credits, for example. At Sinclair Community College, however, you’d need to earn 24 credits.

Our rankings include accredited programs that meet high educational standards. The Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accredits medical billing and coding certificate and associate programs.

While a certificate is not required to sit for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or Certified Professional Biller (CPB) exam, completing a CAHIIM-accredited program builds the skills needed for these certifications and may increase your chances of becoming certified the first time.

The amount of money you can earn as a medical biller or coder depends, in part, on how many certifications you have. Those without certifications earn an average salary of around $61,000 per year, according to the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

If you earn one AAPC certification, you can see a pay bump to nearly $67,000. Earn two AAPC certifications, and you can earn wages of nearly $80,000 per year. Those with three or more AAPC certifications can earn nearly $85,000.

As a certified medical coder, you can work in various settings, including healthcare facilities, billing companies, government agencies, and law, tax, and insurance firms.

Source: AAPC

Consider the key benefits and drawbacks of a medical billing and coding certificate to determine whether it’s worth the effort and resources.

Benefits include low cost when compared to a traditional healthcare degree, a brief program (4-15 months), and career stability in a growing field. You can also find online programs that let you learn remotely, and the industry is full of remote roles.

One drawback you might consider is that the job market is competitive. Also, the field requires continuous learning to keep up with regulations.

Once you earn your medical billing and coding certificate, you have a variety of further educational options. You can pursue an associate degree in health information technology and healthcare administration.

You can go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in health information management and healthcare administration. Once you have your bachelor’s you can enroll in a master of science in health informatics or a master of healthcare administration program.

Advanced degrees can deepen your knowledge and awareness of healthcare systems, management, and data analytics, giving you a competitive edge in a growing industry.