Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics Degrees of 2024
2024During 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
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, TX- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,841
- Out-of-state$34,020
- In-State$8,524
- Out-of-state$32,673
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled5,796
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment6%
- AccreditationYes
University of Utah
- Salt Lake City, UT
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,749
- Out-of-state$27,201
- In-State$6,970
- Out-of-state$24,607
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate95%
- Students Enrolled34,464
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment66%
- AccreditationYes
George Mason University
- Fairfax, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,510
- Out-of-state$32,970
- In-State$13,035
- Out-of-state$34,347
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled38,628
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,019
- Out-of-state$34,882
- In-State$10,552
- Out-of-state$28,844
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate20%
- Students Enrolled31,641
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationYes
University of San Diego
- San Diego, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$52,120
- Out-of-state$52,120
- In-State$27,936
- Out-of-state$27,936
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate53%
- Students Enrolled9,041
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment11%
- AccreditationYes
University of South Florida
- Tampa, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,559
- Out-of-state$15,473
- In-State$8,350
- Out-of-state$19,048
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate49%
- Students Enrolled49,708
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment66%
- AccreditationYes
Northwestern University
- Evanston, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$60,276
- Out-of-state$60,276
- In-State$56,067
- Out-of-state$56,067
- Retention Rate99%
- Acceptance Rate7%
- Students Enrolled23,409
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment7%
- AccreditationYes
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- New Brunswick, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$12,536
- Out-of-state$29,737
- In-State$18,180
- Out-of-state$30,900
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate68%
- Students Enrolled50,804
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment74%
- AccreditationYes
Western Governors University
- Salt Lake City, UT
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$7,162
- Out-of-state$7,162
- In-State$7,500
- Out-of-state$7,500
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled150,116
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
- Indianapolis, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,883
- Out-of-state$30,940
- In-State$9,228
- Out-of-state$25,368
- Retention Rate69%
- Acceptance Rate84%
- Students Enrolled27,690
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
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.
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 2023 and 2033.
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 2023 and 2033.
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
Most online master’s in health informatics programs have similar admission requirements:
- Application
- Test scores
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume or CV
- Application essay
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field
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