Online MS in Health Informatics (MSHI) & Health Information Management
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“My master’s degree in healthcare informatics and my board certification in nursing informatics have empowered me to continue approaching nursing through an innovative lens. With the evolving technology, I have been able to champion clinical solutions and their ability to collect, analyze, and apply patient data, thereby optimizing care and giving time back to nurses. This innovative mindset has propelled my career beyond nursing, enabling me to act as a liaison between nurses and technology, helping health systems understand the value of clinical solutions for care teams and the patients they serve.”
Tammy Beaulieu, MSHI
Health informatics and health information management professionals use technology to help hospitals and medical workers deliver quality healthcare efficiently. With a master’s degree in health informatics, graduates can excel in this non-patient-facing IT-based healthcare career.
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing sectors, with an estimated 2.6 million new jobs in demand in the coming decade. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), the United States will need approximately 1.8 million new positions for all healthcare careers in the coming decade.
While this occupational category includes patient-facing roles ranging from medical records specialists, physical therapists, nurses, and physicians, the explosive growth of this field equates to an increase in information technology (IT) services to support patients and professionals in healthcare settings.
Health informatics refers to collecting, securely storing, and using healthcare information to help providers deliver services or care. These professionals manage information technology or serve in managerial roles. The job typically requires computer skills, information technology expertise, and specialized healthcare knowledge.
As an interdisciplinary field, IT healthcare management also requires a background in healthcare management and administration and technology and information science skills. The BLS does not track specific occupational data for IT healthcare management but does show that the general field of computer and information systems managers positions will increase by 15 percent between 2022 and 2032, adding 86,000 new jobs (BLS 2024).
As more and more medical practices use electronic health records, the field of informatics becomes increasingly essential. Patients are concerned about privacy and security regarding their personal information online, and medical providers rely on these records to deliver care that may save or extend patients’ lives. In these ways, skilled health informatics professionals save people and organizations money and time.
A master’s degree in health informatics can prepare graduates for opportunities working for hospitals, insurance companies, primary care facilities, pharmacies, physician offices, and healthcare consulting firms. To improve the healthcare industry’s safety, efficiency, and effectiveness, healthcare informatics degree holders accept a range of healthcare IT positions. Examples include healthcare IT consultants, nurse informatics, medical records technicians, chief medical information officers, clinical data analysts, and multiple senior management roles.
Universities offer several programs that build health informatics skills. The two primary degree options include a master of science in health informatics (MSHI) and a master of science in health information management (MSHIM). These degrees are similar but emphasize different aspects of the field. For example, health informatics focuses on using applied information technology to improve healthcare. In contrast, health information management emphasizes using technology to store and retrieve patient data and comply with institutional and governmental regulations.
This guide highlights reputable and accredited online master’s degree programs that prepare students for managerial roles in health informatics.
Meet the Expert: Tammy Beaulieu, MSHI, BSN, NI-BC
Tammy Beaulieu is a global product manager and clinical decision support at Philips. She has more than 15 years of bedside nursing experience and 26 years total in the healthcare field.
In her day-to-day work, Beaulieu applies her clinical background and expertise to her role in health tech, looking through the lens of nursing, clinical services, and product management to truly understand customer insights.
MHAOnline: How has graduating from a health information management program enhanced your career?
Beaulieu: My nursing informatics background has been a transformative force in my career, shaping how I embrace and advocate for health technology and clinical solutions. As an emergency nurse, I witnessed firsthand the life-saving impact of technology in healthcare.
My master’s degree in healthcare informatics and my board certification in nursing informatics have empowered me to continue approaching nursing through an innovative lens. With the evolving technology, I have been able to champion clinical solutions and their ability to collect, analyze, and apply patient data, thereby optimizing care and giving time back to nurses. This innovative mindset has propelled my career beyond nursing, enabling me to act as a liaison between nurses and technology, helping health systems understand the value of clinical solutions for care teams and the patients they serve.
MHAOnline: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective health information management student?
Beaulieu: For prospective health management students, I recommend joining your local chapter of the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) and taking advantage of training programs, informatics bootcamps, and other resources involving clinical technologies.
As healthcare continues to undergo a massive transformation, we will see new forms of technology being used in the field. By bringing yourself up to speed on properly using these solutions, you can save time, lessen your workload, and help your teams understand their intended benefits. This level of expertise can reduce potential resistance and expedite the adoption of these technologies.
Featured Online MSHI and MIHM Programs
Adelphi University offers an online master of science in healthcare informatics (MSHI) through its College of Nursing and Public Health. This flexible program, based in Garden City, New York, prepares students for careers in healthcare informatics by equipping them with skills in electronic medical record (EMR) systems, remote health monitoring, and data communications.
The program is designed with a small class size, averaging a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and utilizes advanced online learning technologies. Students can complete the 39-credit curriculum entirely online, including a practicum in their local area, without any campus visits.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA, and no prior experience in healthcare or IT is necessary. The program supports working professionals by offering part-time study options and multiple start dates throughout the year.
- Location: Garden City, New York
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Program length: Three years
ASU offers a master’s degree in online health informatics through its Department of Biomedical Informatics. The program combines knowledge management and information technology applied to the healthcare field. Graduates learn skills to help prevent disease, provide better care to patients, and make healthcare safer.
The program prepares students for career roles as data scientists, health informatics analysts, and EHR information systems analysts. The 30-credit program covers population health management and analysis, clinical decision support and evidence-based medicine, leadership and change in clinical environments, and health informatics database modeling and applications.
This program requires a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The school prefers applicants to have degrees in biology, computer science, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, or public health.
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Program length: 12 to 18 months
The 100 percent online master of international health management (MIHM) offered by the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University (ASU) prepares graduates to generate a social impact in healthcare through transdisciplinary, globally-minded problem-solving.
The MIHM program is a part of the PLuS alliance—a partnership of Arizona State University, King’s College in London, and the University of South Wales in Sydney—allowing students to collaborate with and learn from peers and specialists across the globe. ASU’s MIHM is a 30-credit program that offers participants the ability to choose between four different emphases, including quality improvement in healthcare, health informatics, health economics, and hospital management.
Core courses in the program include healthcare management and finance and comparative health systems, and elective coursework includes topics such as healthcare systems and design and high-value patient-centered care. Applicants do not need to submit GRE or GMAT scores. However, MIHM admissions recommend applicants have a bachelor’s or master’s in a related science or service field (public health, nursing, biomedical informatics, etc).
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Program length: One year (full-time); two years (part-time)
Boston University’s Metropolitan College offers an online master’s program in computer information systems with a concentration in health informatics. This program was designed by BU professors of medicine, computer science, and biomedical engineering to offer a holistic education on health informatics.
The interdisciplinary curriculum includes business data communication and networks courses, information systems analysis and design, enterprise cybersecurity, biomedical sciences, and health IT. Students can complete the program online, on-campus or in a blended format.
This 40-credit degree is ranked eighth-best online graduate computer IT program by the U.S. News & World Report. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited school and have completed college-level courses in IT.
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
- Program length: Two years
Creighton University’s College of Arts and Sciences offers a fully online master of science in health informatics (MSHI) program designed to be completed in as few as two years. Catering to working professionals, the program delivers courses asynchronously, allowing students flexibility while covering essential topics such as health data use, analysis, management, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
The 36-credit curriculum includes 30 credits of core courses and 6 credits of electives, culminating in a capstone project where students apply their knowledge to real-world problems. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, along with official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. No GMAT or GRE scores are needed.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Creighton’s program is ideal for individuals aiming to advance in roles such as chief medical information officer, nursing informatics specialist, and clinical research data analyst.
- Location: Omaha, Nebraska
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Program length: 24 months
The University of Central Florida’s College of Community Innovation and Education offers a 100 percent online master of science in health care informatics (MS-HCI), consisting of ten courses (38 credits). Students learn about the fundamentals of HCI through a capstone and internship and instruction in areas such as project management in healthcare informatics; epidemiology, analytics, and quality management; biostatistics and decision analysis; health care data architecture and modeling; and system analysis and design.
Please note that students without the qualifying undergraduate classes or experience in health care are required to complete three foundational courses prior to beginning the program. Also, graduates with the requisite knowledge and qualifications are prepared to sit for the Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) certification exam.
- Location: Various cities in Florida
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Program length: Two years
George Mason University’s College of Health and Human Services offers an online master of science in health informatics (MSHI) degree. This immersive program prepares candidates for positions in health information technology firms, healthcare organizations, and public health services. The online 39-credit program is taught by the same faculty that teaches the on-campus program. Coursework includes an introduction to health informatics, computational tools in health informatics, health data integration, and data mining in healthcare.
This program requires applicants to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 3.25. Prior experience and coursework in healthcare, information technology, and statistics are also considered. Students may complete this program entirely online. However, there is an option to choose between a master’s thesis or an in-person practicum.
- Location: Fairfax, Virginia
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
- Program length: 2.5 years
The University of Scranton offers two graduate-level options for those interested in furthering their career in health informatics: a master of science (MS) and an online certificate in health informatics. The school’s faculty offers real-world experience and shares a passion for teaching new healthcare professionals.
The MSHI program fuses communication, information science, business, computer science, and leadership skills. Students can expect to take 33 credits of core and elective courses, including computer information technology for health professionals, community health for health informatics, medical practice management, and project and change management. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree to apply and are not required to submit GMAT test scores.
- Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Program length: Two years
The University of Cincinnati’s College of Allied Health Sciences offers an online master’s of science in health informatics, designed in partnership with the school’s College of Business. Students benefit from a flexible and well-rounded interdisciplinary curriculum focused on analytics, healthcare, IT training, and leadership development. Some courses are taught by the Lindner College of Business faculty.
The 36-credit program covers health informatics, information systems and technology, health information legislation, privacy and security, project and program management, and leadership and strategic management in health settings. This program requires a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Program length: Two years
The University of Illinois at Chicago offers two graduate options in health informatics, including a master’s and a post-master’s certificate. Both programs prepare graduates to meet the growing demands for professionals to manage clinical systems, electronic health records, and patient safety. Some career prospects include becoming a healthcare chief information officer, director of clinical informatics, database analyst, and health information systems manager.
Critical courses for the 39-credit master’s program include healthcare data, healthcare information systems, management of healthcare communication systems, and health information systems analysis and design.
Admission to the school requires a bachelor’s degree and a master’s for the certificate and a minimum 3.0 GPA. No GRE is required.
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
- Program length: Two to 2.5 years
Grand Canyon University provides an online master of science in health informatics (MSHI) that can be completed in two years. This 11-course, 42-credit program features instruction in electronic health records; the foundations of informatics; applied business probability and statistics; health data analytics; healthcare data management; healthcare information systems and technology; user interface design for informatics; health information systems security; leadership in healthcare; and a health informatics applied project and practicum.
- Location: Phoenix Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Program length: Two years
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) offers a 100 percent online master of science in health informatics (MHI) program, designed to address the evolving needs of the healthcare industry, including artificial intelligence (AI), mobile health (mHealth), data visualization, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
This 33-credit program can be completed in as few as 12 months and includes courses on systems analysis design, database management, healthcare operations, IT project management, and evidence-based healthcare methods. A standout feature is the experiential capstone project, where students collaborate with local healthcare organizations to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings. NKU’s MHI program leverages the Canvas learning management system for course delivery and offers comprehensive support services, including academic advising and career counseling.
Admission requirements include a professional resume, official transcripts, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, with no GMAT or GRE needed.
- Location: Highland Heights, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Program length: 12 months
Purdue Global offers a comprehensive online Master of Health Informatics (MHI) program through its School of Health Sciences, designed to be completed in 18 months or more on a full-time basis, with part-time study options available.
This 48-credit program is entirely online and requires no campus visits or internships, although students can opt for an elective internship. The curriculum includes courses such as leadership in healthcare, health information applications and systems, and healthcare data analytics, preparing graduates for certifications like CAHIMS, CPHIMS, CDH-L, and CPDHTS.
Purdue Global, an Approved Education Partner (AEP) and Academic Organizational Affiliate (OA) of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), ensures that MHI graduates are well-equipped for careers in various healthcare settings, including medical clinics, research facilities, and government organizations. Students benefit from asynchronous courses supplemented by weekly synchronous seminars and robust student services, including academic advising and career advancement resources.
- Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Program length: 18 months
Regis University offers a fully online master of science in health informatics (MSHI) program through the Anderson College of Business and Computing, featuring both a general path and a data science specialization.
The 36-credit curriculum includes core courses in information systems concepts, workflow and change management in health IT, IT system design and selection, healthcare performance evaluation, and IT research methods. Students also complete two healthcare informatics practicum experiences to gain practical, hands-on experience. Those pursuing the data science track will delve into data analytics, statistical methods, experimental design, and data visualization, while the general track offers electives in nursing informatics, e-HIM management, and business intelligence.
The program is designed to be completed in about 18 months with start dates available in January, March, May, August, and October. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree and relevant work experience in healthcare or a related field, but no GMAT or GRE scores are needed. Graduates are prepared for various roles in medical group practices, hospitals, health technology firms, and more.
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Program length: 18 months
SNHU created an online master of science in health information management (MSHIM) to satisfy the increasingly technical and data-driven demands of the healthcare industry. The program combines data analysis, business, and computer science topics through the lens of the healthcare industry. In addition, students learn to use innovative industry software like SQLite, Minitab Express, and Neehr Perfect.
The 36-credit curriculum includes health information management, health information governance, managing compliance, and strategic planning and financial management.
- Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
- Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Program length: 15 months
The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) offers a fully online master of science in health informatics and analytics (MSHIA) program through its College of Arts and Sciences. Designed to be completed in approximately 19 months, this program prepares graduates to impact patient outcomes and experiences by analyzing and applying healthcare data.
The curriculum includes 13 courses totaling 39 credits, covering topics such as health informatics foundations, data visualization, clinical practices, and policy evaluation. A distinctive feature is the capstone project, which integrates students’ knowledge and skills in a practical application. UAGC’s MSHIA program emphasizes strategic goals, leadership principles, quality improvement, and the use of advanced software applications, making graduates well-suited for roles like health informatics analyst, clinical informatics manager, and chief medical information officer.
The program requires no campus visits or internships and offers flexible start dates throughout the year. Admission is open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a minimum GPA of 2.0.
- Location: Chandler, Arizona
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
- Program length: 19 months
The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences offers an online Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) with three specialized tracks: General Health Informatics, Data Science, and Healthcare Supervision and Management. This flexible program can be completed entirely online within 16 to 24 months, requiring no campus visits but including a local capstone internship.
Core coursework covers essential topics such as health information systems, data analytics, and project management, while each track provides targeted training for specific career paths. Graduates are prepared for roles in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, research centers, and tech companies, with positions ranging from data analysts to healthcare consultants.
The program emphasizes practical applications of high-dimensional data and the use of advanced bioinformatics tools.
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
- Program length: 16 to 24 months
Purdue Global offers a comprehensive online Master of Health Informatics (MHI) program through its School of Health Sciences, designed to be completed in 18 months or more on a full-time basis, with part-time study options available.
This 48-credit program is entirely online and requires no campus visits or internships, although students can opt for an elective internship. The curriculum includes courses such as leadership in healthcare, health information applications and systems, and healthcare data analytics, preparing graduates for certifications like CAHIMS, CPHIMS, CDH-L, and CPDHTS.
Purdue Global, an Approved Education Partner (AEP) and Academic Organizational Affiliate (OA) of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), ensures that MHI graduates are well-equipped for careers in various healthcare settings, including medical clinics, research facilities, and government organizations. Students benefit from asynchronous courses supplemented by weekly synchronous seminars and robust student services, including academic advising and career advancement resources.
- Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Program length: 24 months
The College of Public Health at Temple University offers a master of science in health informatics. This program is aimed towards current health information management and IT professionals wanting to pivot into healthcare IT management and health professionals with no prior health informatics experience. Graduates from this program are prepared to design, develop, and implement health information technology systems in healthcare settings and typically earn salary increases or leadership positions due to the knowledge and practical experience gained from this program.
Students can choose to complete this 30-credit program on-campus or online at their convenience. Courses include health data standards, IT strategy and management, and database administration. To graduate, students complete a capstone course simulation of a go-live training in a healthcare IT environment.
A dual degree program is also available and awards a master of public health (MPH) degree and the MSHI degree on-campus, online, or in a hybrid setting. In addition, students can choose from three optional specializations in cybersecurity for healthcare professionals, healthcare data analytics, and population health management.
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM)
- Program length: Two years
The Department of Public Health at the University of Massachusetts Lowell offers an online master of science in health information management. Ranked one of the most affordable online colleges, UMass Lowell prepares graduates for healthcare IT management by teaching students how to design, implement, and evaluate health policies and procedures. In addition, specialization options are available in health informatics and health service management.
Students in this program take 12 courses in health data management, storage, retrieval, access, exchange, and analysis to help graduates work with federal regulations and corporate best practices in data security. A GRE waiver is available, and students can complete this program in as few as 18 months.
- Location: Lowell, MA
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
- Program length: 18 to 24 months
