The world's trend toward healthcare, self-care, and preventative care has created an expansive market for those looking to contribute to the innovation being created by the needs for more health services. Health Information Management programs combine business, technology, and healthcare to create a challenging and rewarding degree track. Students who complete their degree at one of these programs launch themselves to the head of the pack of those looking for careers specifically in the healthcare information field.
Why Become a Health Service Manager?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Services Managers earned a median salary of $98,350 in 2017. A bachelor's degree is listed as the typical level of education for these positions. The job growth for this sector is expected to jump by 20 percent between 2016 and 2026 from 352,200 jobs to 424,300 available.
The reason for such tremendous growth in this field is due to the advances being made in the way medical data is collected and transferred. Professionals need more technical skills than ever to advance their careers. Each of the programs on this list instills the skill-set needed for graduates to jumpstart their careers with focus and intent. Students enrolled in these programs will receive support for success in their respective online communities.
Methodology
Top Management Degrees uses seven data points to rank college programs. Here they are in order of importance:
- A Reputation Aggregate Score from other rankings
- Graduate Average Salary
- Alumni Reviews
- Percentage of Admitted Students Who Graduate
- Price
- Admitted Students' Test Scores
- Acceptance Rate
Here are the 15 Best Online Bachelors in Health Information Management for 2019!
#15. Capella University – Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Online – Health Information Technology Specialization
Capella University offers a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Online – Health Information Technology Specialization degree program. This online program requires a minimum of 50 courses to be taken during the curriculum along with a capstone project. The Capella online bachelor's program prepares students to manage electronic medical records while staying compliant within the heavily regulated system. The program also emphasizes patient privacy and confidentiality when handling patient information. Students will come away from this degree program with the ability to impact the entire cycle of healthcare data capturing, the ability to lead the health information management system in a given organization, and are fluent in the language of health information management. Along with certifications in the technical skills learned through the programs, students will find engaging coursework with hands-on experience using tools in the virtual labs lead by faculty.
Net Price: $14,579
Score: 74.82
#14. Saint Joseph's College of Maine – Standish, ME
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Saint Joseph's College of Maine offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management to prospective students. This BS program assists students by setting them up for in-demand healthcare positions upon completion of the degree. Saint Joseph's boasts a close-knit, online learning community that is available whenever students have time to study. The faculty that leads the online coursework all have professional experience directly within or related to the field of health information management. Students will need to complete 128 total credits to achieve their online HIM degree. Students will find themselves able to enroll in courses that cover industry-specific topics such as patient health information, administrative requirements and regulations, and patient data analysis. In addition to the online coursework, students are required to participate in the advanced practicum component of the program where students will complete 60 hours of work on a healthcare site and 60 hours of practice in a virtual lab.
Net Price: $35,650
Score: 76.10
#13. Davenport University – Grand Rapids, MI
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Davenport University awards a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree program to students looking for the flexibility an online curriculum offers. This BS degree requires a minimum of 120 credits for completion. Students in this program will receive training by utilizing a state-of-the-art electronic health record system, comparable to what they will find in their careers. The program focuses on technological infrastructure for the handling, transfer, and collection of patient data. Students who successfully complete this BS program will find careers in fields such as software vending, pharmaceuticals, and consulting services awaiting them. The most significant expansion of the health information management field is in the non-patient side. Some of the courses students are able to enroll in include Health Care Finance, ICD Coding, and Information Governance.
Net Price: $18,414
Score: 79.74
#12. Granite State College – Concord, NH
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Granite State College offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and accepts applications on a rolling basis. This allows prospective students the flexibility to commence their undergraduate career during any term throughout the year. Some of the courses highlighted by Granite State include Health Care Policy, Managing Information Technology, and Managing Diversity. There is a minimum requirement of 120 units for completion of the program while maintaining a minimum 2.0 GPA. Students at GSC will build a strong foundation of skills during this goal-oriented program. Some of those proficiencies include the application of concepts, theories, and methods of inquiry related to health information management, process management, and performance initiatives. Students will find that their hands-on training will set them up for career opportunities in the health information management field.
Net Price: $$7,761/$8,745
Score: 81.41
#11. Dakota State University – Madison, SD
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration
Dakota State University awards a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration degree program to interested students. This program is designed to train students and guide them toward becoming successful health information administrators. Students can choose to take courses online or on campus in Madison, South Dakota. There is a minimum of 121 credits required for completion. Some of the courses offered to students include Healthcare Data Analysis, Practical Coding Application, and Basic Medical Terminology. This curriculum prepares students to manage records departments and serve on administrative committees. Along with the leadership skills needed, students will develop skills in collecting and analyzing patient data under ethical standards.
Net Price: $9,276/$12,249
Score: 81.61
#10. Western Kentucky University – Bowling Green, KY
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Western Kentucky University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree program. Students looking to apply for admission to WKU's HIM program will need to submit high school transcripts, ACT and SAT scores, and pay a $45 application fee. Applicants will also need to possess an A.A.S. or an A.S. in HIM or HIT from a non-CAHIIM accredited school. The 4-year BS in HIM degree requires a minimum of 133 credit hours. Some of the more interesting courses students will find available to them include Clinical Evaluation and Outcomes, Biostatistics in Health Sciences, and Data Mining. Students who complete the degree program come away with professional tools and are ready for employment.
Net Price: $10,512/$26,280
Score: 82.41
#9. Indiana University – Bloomington – Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Indiana University – Bloomington offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree program. This online undergraduate degree is designed with those looking for an immediate career path after graduation in mind. Students who complete the program are ready to enhance the patient experience by helping them navigate complex medical choices. These skills are learned during enrollment in such courses as Clinical Information Systems, Health Information Exchange, and Practicum in Medical Coding. Students of IUB's BSHIM are also eligible to apply their earned credits toward the Online Medical Coding Certificate. The degree requires a minimum of 120 units for completion.
Net Price: $10,681/$35,456
Score: 86.53
#8. Ferris State University – Big Rapids, MI
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Ferris State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree program. The program bills itself as an interdisciplinary field where computing, business, and healthcare all converge. While many of the program's graduates are employed in hospitals, the university expects the largest growth of jobs to be in places like clinics, physicians' offices, nursing homes, and home health agencies. While enrolled in the online program, students must maintain a 2.25 minimum GPA. The curriculum is unique in that it focuses on certain competencies rather than the traditional compartmentalized groupings of courses. For example, students must complete two courses in the Natural Sciences Competency, three courses in the Culture Competency, and three courses in Self and Society Competency. For more information on courses involved in the curriculum, prospective applicants can email the department contact.
Net Price: $11,788
Score: 86.99
#7. Louisiana Tech University – Ruston, LA
Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics & Information Management
Louisiana Tech University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics & Information Management. This 45-year-old program requires 120 credit-hours for completion and provides courses such as Classification of Procedures, Health Care Systems, and Health Data Infrastructure. The leaders of this program emphasize the importance of those who enter the world of health information. Doctors, nurses, physicians, and all other healthcare workers rely upon skilled HIM professionals to collect and communicate data. This is at the core of the HIM job function. The university's students are disciplined to be able to meet and fulfill this need for competent workers and emerging leaders in the field. Students will hone their skills in the classroom with experienced faculty. They will also apply their skills from the classroom with hands-on lab experience.
Net Price: $9,645/$18,558
Score: 88.30
#6. Rutgers University – Newark, NJ
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Rutgers University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree program. The fully-online curriculum prepares students for the business side of the healthcare world. Students who complete this degree are eligible to take the Registered Health Information Administrator exam. This certification, in combination with the BSHIM, qualifies students to pursue positions in data management, compliance, health record management, and finance. Rutgers boasts how at least 90 percent of its graduates are employed in Health Information Management-related careers within six months of graduation. The degree requires a minimum of 120 credits to be completed. Students are able to enroll in courses that include Healthcare Analytics, Introduction to Coding, and Health Care Finance Systems. This program is tailored for students to attend at their leisure, with both full-time and part-time options available.
Net Price: $14,409/$30,717
Score: 89.91
#5. Regis University – Denver, CO
Bachelor's Degree in Health Information Management
Regis University offers a Bachelor's Degree in Health Information Management degree program. Regis highlights the importance of the HIM professional with how quickly the need for accurate patient information is during emergency situations. Health information managers must be level-headed, concise, and timely. Regis boasts an impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, as well. The online program is even more specialized with students allowed to customize their program to fit their schedule. Students will take classes that include Directed Practice, Medical Terminology, and Healthcare Data Analytics. This certificate program requires 54 units of credit and can be completed in 24 to 30 months.
Net Price: $36,810
Score: 91.75
#4. East Carolina University – Greenville, NC
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
Eastern Carolina University offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management to prospective students. This program requires a minimum of 126 credits for completion. Some of the courses available to students accepted into the program include Health Data Structures, Writing about Disciplines: Health Sciences, and Human Diseases. Completion of the online HIM program grants students the ability to sit in on the Registered Health Information Administrator certification exam. ECU students who have taken the exam between August of 2016 and July of 2017 have a first-time pass rate of 100 percent. ECU students graduate the program with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the world of healthcare data collection. ECU's mission in its online program is to create leaders of discipline to support and improve patient care.
Net Price: $7,188/$23,465
Score: 92.76
#3. University of Cincinnati – Cincinnati, OH
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
The University of Cincinnati offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree program. Students can complete this bachelor's degree in as few as six semesters. The credentialed faculty that drives the curriculum has more than 70 years of combined experience as professionals and instructors. UC's BSHIM graduates are also prepared to take the Registered Health Information Administrator exam. UC students who completed their BS in HIM had a 90 percent pass rate in the 2016-2017 academic year as compared to the national pass rate of 71 percent. Some of the courses that students will take that prepare them for success include Reimbursement System, Health Information Systems, and Human Resources in Health Care. Students will also be responsible for piecing together a presentation that integrates their studies for the application of knowledge to problems and issues that health information management professionals face during their careers.
Net Price: $11,000/$27,334
Score: 93.75
#2. University of Central Florida – Orlando, FL
Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management
The University of Central Florida offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Information Management degree program. UCF's program boasts a curriculum robust with training in cutting-edge technology and updated practices in capturing patient data. The online curriculum is a crossroads where business management, systems analysis, and medical coding converge. Students who complete this program will stand apart from the crowd of applicants looking for employment. UCF graduates walk away from this program with the skills necessary to deliver effective and efficient data in the world of modern healthcare. Classroom theory is directly connected to practical experience in an online forum. Students will find opportunities available in database administration, IT coordination, and medical records administration.
Net Price: $6,368/$22,467
Score: 96.15
#1. University of Wisconsin – Madison, WI
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management & Technology
The University of Wisconsin offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management & Technology degree program. Along with the HIM component, the program also delves into health IT and teaches skills students will need to supplement their information management abilities. This program requires 61 units for completion and instills a toolbox of skills that are useful to students looking to stay on the cutting-edge of technology. The program boasts that skills learned today will set students up to be leaders in the healthcare industry. The online format encourages student and faculty interaction via online discussion boards. The same rigorous standards applied in UW's classrooms are the same that carry over into the online forum. Students will receive a quality education at their own pace. This degree offers careers in HIM management, clinical data management, and compliance coordination just to name a few.