Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics

Q: What can I expect from an online college course?

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

Q: Is online college easier than campus-based college?

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way? If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps. In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Q: Why does accreditation matter in online college?

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation. Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

Q: Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

Q: Will employers respect my online degree?

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction. Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

BEST ONLINE ASSOCIATE'S IN HEALTH IT & INFORMATICS

By James Barham and Dr. Winston Ewert

Published: Jul 2, 2021
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

Find top-ranked online associate in health information technology degree programs for students wanting to enter the workforce as a medical biller, coder or registered health information technician, or transition into a four-year bachelor’s degree program.

Key Takeaways

Health information technology and health informatics associate degree programs are a blend of technology and healthcare concepts, starting with an associate degree.
Insurers, doctors, administrators, and patients benefit from skilled health information technology associate’s degree graduates who are adept in information systems.
Information technology and data management skills are required for health information technology jobs. Basic office duties and clerical work will also be required.

Top 10 Online Associate Degree in Health Information Technology Programs

University of Cincinnati
Idaho State University
Santa Barbara City College
St. Petersburg College
Albany State University
University of Alaska Southeast
Blinn College
Camden County College
Jamestown Community College
Pima Community College

Davenport University 98%
University of Cincinnati 85%
Alfred State College 82%
Albany State University 73%
Fisher College 72%
University of Alaska Southeast 56%

Blinn College 36 to 1
Bakersfield College 29 to 1
Saddleback College 27 to 1
Santa Barbara City College 25 to 1
Rowan College at Burlington County 24 to 1
St. Petersburg College 23 to 1
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College 22 to 1
Camden County College 20 to 1
Nash Community College 20 to 1
University of Cincinnati 19 to 1

Fisher College $33,500
Davenport University $20,964
University of Cincinnati $10,099
Harper College $9,372
Lake Land College $7,139
University of Alaska Southeast $7,121
Alfred State College $7,070
Idaho State University $5,928
Community College of Baltimore County $5,784
Jamestown Community College $5,200

Fisher College $26,712
Davenport University $16,308
University of Cincinnati $13,224
University of Alaska Southeast $10,876
Idaho State University $8,380
Albany State University $3,438

Nash Community College
Ogeechee Technical College
State Fair Community College
Cleveland State Community College
Henderson Community College
Lake Land College
Rowan College at Burlington County
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Great Falls College Montana State University

University of Alaska Southeast 56%
Fisher College 72%
Albany State University 73%
Alfred State College 82%
University of Cincinnati 85%
Davenport University 98%

University of Alaska Southeast 10 to 1
Fisher College 11 to 1
Great Falls College Montana State University 11 to 1
Davenport University 13 to 1
Idaho State University 13 to 1
Georgia Piedmont Technical College 13 to 1
Henderson Community College 15 to 1
Jamestown Community College 15 to 1
Community College of Baltimore County 16 to 1
Lake Land College 16 to 1

Santa Barbara City College $1,104
Saddleback College $1,288
Bakersfield College $1,380
St. Petersburg College $1,943
Pima Community College $2,088
Johnson County Community College $2,304
Ogeechee Technical College $2,400
Georgia Piedmont Technical College $2,400
Western Nebraska Community College $2,556
Nash Community College $2,600

Albany State University $3,438
Idaho State University $8,380
University of Alaska Southeast $10,876
University of Cincinnati $13,224
Davenport University $16,308
Fisher College $26,712

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Biological sciences, computer technology, and healthcare management can be combined to produce a rewarding career in health information technology. The healthcare industry is booming. In particular, the need for health information technology professionals is projected to grow by as much as 7% between 2021 and 2031 as the health information management field moves towards electronic records.

As healthcare digitalizes, a registered health information technician can streamline processes and offer more options to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. Informed decisions can also improve patient health and treatment outcomes. Health information professionals manage patient’s electronic health records and analyze medical data to improve and research healthcare.

You can become a health information management professional by earning an online associate degree in this field! If you’re starting and want to test out the healthcare sector, enrolling in an online associate degree in health information technology and informatics is a concrete step.

As a registered health information technician or health informatics graduate, you may be able to find employment in hospitals, insurance companies, research centers, clinics, and pharmaceutical companies.

Career Outlook for Health Information Technicians with an Associate Degree Online

Health records and information specialists, as well as registered health information technician jobs, have a fairly good career outlook. Professionals who manage health information are in high demand. Medical records specialists who perform medical coding, among other tasks, are projected to have 14,900 openings per year over the next decade.

According to Payscale, health information professionals who obtain work following completion of associate degree online programs in health information technology earn an average of $55,000 annually.

Possible Jobs for Graduates of an Associate Degree in Health Information Technology and Informatics

Medical Coder

Having obtained an associate degree in health information management, medical coders analyze patient health records and assign codes to patient data so that payments can be calculated and assigned easily. A medical coder helps insurance companies, hospitals, and government programs bill patients with their coding systems.

Medical Transcriptionist

Medical transcriptionists create written reports from audio recordings made by physicians and health officials. It involves listening to recordings of a patient’s symptoms and treatment, then typing out the details for storage in the patient’s medical record. An autopsy report, patient progress report, or notes from a medical meeting may be transcribed by a medical transcriptionist.

Transcriptionists must be adept at understanding medical terminology and health information technology to be successful in their careers.

Computer Support Specialist

Computer support specialists evaluate issues raised by customers and troubleshoot them. A tech support communication chat or phone line is often used for this.

Frequently Asked Questions About Health Information Technology Degrees

Why get an associate’s degree in health information technology?

An associate degree in health information technology (HIT) will provide students with the training to analyze data and enter patient’s health information into electronic healthcare systems.

How long does it take to get an associate in health information technology?

This roughly 60-credit degree can be earned in as little as 18 months, and health information programs are available both online and on campus.

What classes are needed to get an associate in health information technology?

In addition to courses like medical coding, health information ethics, and health insurance and billing, students may also take general healthcare classes covering topics such as human anatomy, physiology, and pathology.

What can you do with an associate in health information technology?

Upon graduation and completion of the registration exam from the American Health Information Management Association, students can enter the workforce as medical billers, coders and health information technicians, or transition into a four-year bachelor’s degree program.

Learn more about how to major in medicine.

Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology Degree Programs

How do we determine the best online health information technology associate degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

54650Athletic Trainers

59170Surgical Assistants

61410Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars

64880Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other

86640Genetic Counselors

25 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology Degree Programs

The 5 Best Online Programs for Associate in Health Informatics Degree Programs

Health information technology programs vs health informatics programs

Health information technology focuses more on the information systems and typical IT needs of hospital and healthcare centers. It is sometimes confused with informatics, however, they’re very different. Health information technology degrees teach you to build, manage, and/or use the data systems, storing and retrieving data securely and professionally. Health informatics is a data analytics career. In informatics, you learn to use the data to improve patient care by analysizing data.

#1
Community College of Baltimore County
Baltimore , MD
#6 Best Schools for Becoming an Air Traffic Controller in 2023 #5 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2023 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Maryland 2023 #5 Best Online Associate in Human Services
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
16%
Student body
10K
Online Degrees
AAS in Health Informatics And Information Technology

Required Credits: 62
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
Henderson Community College
Henderson , KY
#3 Best Online Associate in Agribusiness Degree Programs #3 Best Online Associate in Game Development #5 Best Online Associate in Software Development #15 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kentucky 2023
Other Rankings
- #19 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
- #20 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
32%
Student body
<1K
Online Degrees
AAS in Computer and Information Technologies

Concentrations

Informatics
Business Software and Support
Cloud Computing
Technologies
Data Center Technologies
General
Geospatial
Technologies
Information Security
Internet Technologies
Network Administration
Network Technologies
Programming
and
Video Game Design

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#3
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington , KY
#2 Best Community Colleges in Kentucky 2023 #5 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #8 Best Online Associate in Game Development #9 Best Online Associate Degrees in Kentucky 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
35%
Student body
6K
Online Degrees
AAS in Computer & Information Technologies

Concentrations

Informatics

Required Credits: 60-62
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
Nash Community College
Rocky Mount , NC
#6 Best Online Associate in Web Design #16 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management #19 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs #20 Best Online Associate in Finance
Other Rankings
- #22 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
30%
Student body
2K
Online Degrees
AAT in Business And Information Technology

Concentrations

Healthcare Informatics

Required Credits: 74
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown , KY
#5 Best Community Colleges in Kentucky 2023 #3 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design #4 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #5 Best Online Associate in Game Development
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
41%
Student body
3K
Online Degrees
AAS in Computer and Information Technologies

Concentrations

Informatics
Network Administration

Required Credits: 60-62
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#6
Cleveland State Community College
Cleveland , TN
#9 Best Community Colleges in Tennessee 2023 #7 Best Online Associate in Political Science #13 Best Online Associate Degrees in Tennessee 2023 #15 Best Online Associate in Finance
Other Rankings
- #23 Best Online Associate in Marketing
- #24 Best Online Associate in History Degrees
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
31%
Student body
2K
Online Degrees
AAS in Medical

Concentrations

Medical Informatics

Required Credits: 61
Completion time: 24 months
Format: Online
Compare school

Online Health Information Technology Programs Looking for You

Finding Sources of Financial Aid to Pay for Associate in Health Information Technology and Informatics Degrees

Paying for an associate degree in health information technology can be difficult. Luckily, if you choose an accredited degree program, it is often possible to find financial aid to help pay for it.

The Federal Student Aid website is a great resource for important information regarding how to apply for financial aid. The first step in being awarded financial aid is to fill out the FAFSA.

Many students qualify for loans, but those don’t have to be your only source for financial aid, especially if you’re concerned about paying back the loan once finished with your degree in health information technology. Financial aid can also come in the form of scholarships and grants.

Bottom Line: Getting financial aid to pay for your online associate in health information technology doesn’t have to be difficult. The Federal Student Aid website breaks down the process into manageable steps.

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Associate Degree in Health Information Technology Programs

Featured Programs

Career Outlook for Health Information Technicians with an Associate Degree Online

Possible Jobs for Graduates of an Associate Degree in Health Information Technology and Informatics

Medical Coder

Medical Transcriptionist

Computer Support Specialist

Frequently Asked Questions About Health Information Technology Degrees

Why get an associate’s degree in health information technology?

How long does it take to get an associate in health information technology?

What classes are needed to get an associate in health information technology?

What can you do with an associate in health information technology?

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

25 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology Degree Programs

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

The 5 Best Online Programs for Associate in Health Informatics Degree Programs

Health information technology programs vs health informatics programs

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Health Information Technology Programs Looking for You

Finding Sources of Financial Aid to Pay for Associate in Health Information Technology and Informatics Degrees

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier than campus-based college?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+

What are the disadvantages of online classes?+

What are the advantages of online classes?+

Resources for Online College-Bound Students

Image Attributions