Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics 2025

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN HEALTH INFORMATICS
By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski
Published:
Updated:

Find top-ranked online master’s in health informatics degree programs in the US to prepare students to hold advanced positions as data analysts, chief information officers, health informatics directors, health information system application designers, and compliance officers.

Key Takeaways

  • Top online master’s in health informatics programs provide access to healthcare informatics platforms and tools like EHRs (Electronic Health Records), allowing students to gain hands-on experience with systems widely used in the healthcare industry.
  • The best online master’s in health informatics programs blend coursework in healthcare, IT, and data analytics, offering students a holistic approach to understanding how informatics impacts clinical decision-making and organizational efficiency.
  • Many of the program in our ranking feature partnerships with healthcare organizations and prepare students for industry-recognized certifications, such as those from the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), enhancing job readiness and professional development.

Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics in 2025

  1. Johns Hopkins University
  2. University of Southern California
  3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  4. Brandeis University
  5. University of Cincinnati
  6. University of Maine
    +10
  7. DePaul University
    +5
  8. Florida International University
    +3
  9. University of Central Florida
    –3
  10. University of Alabama at Birmingham
    –2

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best online master’s in health informatics saw a fair amount of movement. The University of Maine gained the most ranking positions as the university has enhanced its online Master of Science in Spatial Informatics program to better serve students interested in health informatics. The program now offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes courses in geographic information systems (GIS), spatial database systems, and spatial analysis, providing a solid foundation in spatial informatics principles.

Additionally, the university has expanded its online course offerings, allowing students to complete the degree entirely online, providing greater flexibility for those balancing work and personal commitments. The program also offers academic support services, including online tutoring and access to digital resources, to help students succeed in their courses.

Featured Programs

Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics Degree Programs

  1. #1

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore , MD
    #11 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #11 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #11 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #14 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    40K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1545/34

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Johns Hopkins University

    Cost of Degree: $65,956
    Expenses: $22,725
    Starting Salary: $140,348
    Salary after 4 years: $167,405
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Bioinformatics
    • Required Credits: 33
    • Completion time: 16-24 months
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  2. #2

    University of Southern California

    Los Angeles , CA
    #9 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #14 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #14 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #17 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $65K

    Acceptance

    12%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Southern California

    Cost of Degree: $68,128
    Expenses: $22,216
    Starting Salary: $139,562
    Salary after 4 years: $166,468
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Biomedical Engineering

    Concentrations

    • Medical Imaging and Imaging Informatics
    • Required Credits: 29
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  3. #3

    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill , NC
    #9 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #9 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #12 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #13 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    17%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1440/32

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Cost of Degree: $12,527
    Expenses: $17,120
    Starting Salary: $122,496
    Salary after 4 years: $157,573
    Cost Recoup Time: 3 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MPS in Master’s of Science

    Concentrations

    • Biomedical And Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 35
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  4. #4

    Brandeis University

    Waltham , MA
    #21 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #23 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #25 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #4 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    39%

    Graduation

    87%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1450/32

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Brandeis University

    Cost of Degree: $61,578
    Expenses: $21,296
    Starting Salary: $108,443
    Salary after 4 years: $129,350
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health And Medical Informatics
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    MS in Bioinformatics
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  6. #5

    University of Cincinnati

    Cincinnati , OH
    #10 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #2 Best Public Colleges in Ohio 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Ohio 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    86%

    Graduation

    72%

    Student body

    48K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1260/26

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Cincinnati

    Cost of Degree: $14,902
    Expenses: $19,772
    Starting Salary: $88,489
    Salary after 4 years: $113,828
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MHI in Master of Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 33
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  7. #6

    University of Maine

    Orono , ME
    #1 Best Public Colleges in Maine 2025 #1 Best Colleges in Maine 2025 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Maine 2025 #1 Best Grad Schools in Maine 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    55%

    Student body

    15K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1200/26

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Maine

    Cost of Degree: $10,446
    Expenses: $15,966
    Starting Salary: $85,996
    Salary after 4 years: $110,622
    Cost Recoup Time: 3 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    PSM in Bioinformatics
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    MS in Spatial Informatics
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  8. #7

    DePaul University

    Chicago , IL
    #3 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #19 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #2 Best Christian Colleges in Illinois 2025 #5 Best Private Colleges in Illinois 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $43K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1185/27

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at DePaul University

    Cost of Degree: $22,525
    Expenses: $22,338
    Starting Salary: $94,613
    Salary after 4 years: $112,853
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 52
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  9. #8

    Florida International University

    Miami , FL
    #6 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2025 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2025 #4 Best Public Colleges in Florida 2025 #5 Best Colleges in Florida 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    64%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    72K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1155/23

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Florida International University

    Cost of Degree: $11,334
    Expenses: $19,406
    Starting Salary: $92,584
    Salary after 4 years: $119,096
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health Informatics And Analytics
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  10. #9

    University of Central Florida

    Orlando , FL
    #7 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #7 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2025 #19 Most Affordable Graduate Schools Ranked for 2025 #4 Best Grad Schools in Florida 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Acceptance

    41%

    Graduation

    76%

    Student body

    82K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1280/27

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Central Florida

    Cost of Degree: $8,872
    Expenses: $18,300
    Starting Salary: $91,160
    Salary after 4 years: $117,264
    Cost Recoup Time: 3 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Healthcare Informatics
    • Required Credits: 38
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  12. #10

    University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham , AL
    #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Alabama 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Alabama 2025 #3 Alabama's Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025 #3 Best Research Universities in Alabama 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    26K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1305/26

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Cost of Degree: $8,424
    Expenses: $20,547
    Starting Salary: $86,174
    Salary after 4 years: $110,851
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 45
    • Completion time: 24 months
    • Format: Online
    MS in Nursing

    Concentrations

    • Nursing Health Systems Leadership Specialties
    • Nursing Informatics
    • Clinical Nurse Leader
    • Required Credits: 36, 40, 37
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Hybrid
    Compare school
  13. #11

    Duquesne University

    Pittsburgh , PA
    #6 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #6 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #2 Best Christian Colleges in Pennsylvania 2025 #8 Best Research Universities in Pennsylvania 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $45K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    9K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1245/28

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Duquesne University

    Cost of Degree: $26,568
    Expenses: $21,018
    Starting Salary: $107,186
    Salary after 4 years: $127,851
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MHA in Health Administration

    Concentrations

    • Health Informatics and Data Analytics
    • Healthcare Compliance and Risk Management or Population Health
    • Required Credits: 42
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  14. #12

    Rochester Institute of Technology

    Rochester , NY
    #1 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025 #1 Best Online Master’s in Executive MBA #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in New York 2025 #2 Best Online MBA Programs in New York 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $55K

    Acceptance

    67%

    Graduation

    72%

    Student body

    19K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1360/31

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Rochester Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $57,764
    Expenses: $18,316
    Starting Salary: $106,557
    Salary after 4 years: $127,101
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  15. #13

    Adelphi University

    Garden City , NY
    #1 Best Online Colleges for Students Who Work Part-Time 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in New York 2025 #7 Best Online Master's in Sports Management 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $44K

    Acceptance

    73%

    Graduation

    67%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1210/25

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Adelphi University

    Cost of Degree: $48,075
    Expenses: $24,544
    Starting Salary: $99,014
    Salary after 4 years: $118,102
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Healthcare Informatics
    • Required Credits: 48
    • Completion time: 2.5-3.5 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  16. #14

    University of San Diego

    San Diego , CA
    #6 Best Christian Colleges in California 2025 #8 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Master's Degrees 2025 #10 Best Online Master's Programs in California 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $55K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    10K

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of San Diego

    Cost of Degree: $29,328
    Expenses: $23,000
    Starting Salary: $111,744
    Salary after 4 years: $133,287
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health Care Informatics
    • Required Credits: 37
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  18. #15

    Mercer University

    Macon , GA
    #5 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 2025 #6 Best Research Universities in Georgia 2025 #6 Best Grad Schools in Georgia 2024 #8 Best Colleges in Georgia 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $40K

    Acceptance

    75%

    Graduation

    74%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1275/28

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Mercer University

    Cost of Degree: $17,865
    Expenses: $18,592
    Starting Salary: $91,470
    Salary after 4 years: $109,104
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Medical

    Concentrations

    • Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 30
    • Completion time: 18 months
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  19. #16

    Samford University

    Birmingham , AL
    #5 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2024 #12 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Alabama 2025 #2 Best Small Colleges in Alabama 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $37K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    78%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1175/26

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Samford University

    Cost of Degree: $22,604
    Expenses: $19,312
    Starting Salary: $93,984
    Salary after 4 years: $112,104
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Education in Health Informatics & Analytics
    • Required Credits: 39
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  20. #17

    Loma Linda University

    Loma Linda , CA
    #7 Top 8 Best Online Public Health PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) #10 Best Online Colleges in California 2024 #13 Best Online Master's Programs in California 2025

    Tuition + fees

    $37K

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Loma Linda University

    Cost of Degree: $32,900
    Starting Salary: $147,106
    Salary after 4 years: $175,466

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 48
    • Completion time: 2.5-3.5 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  21. #18

    Michigan Technological University

    Houghton , MI
    #7 Best Colleges in Michigan 2025 #7 Best Research Universities in Michigan 2025 #7 Most Affordable Colleges in Michigan 2025 #7 Best Public Colleges in Michigan 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $19K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    68%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1240/27

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Michigan Technological University

    Cost of Degree: $24,929
    Expenses: $16,366
    Starting Salary: $118,935
    Salary after 4 years: $152,993
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Integrated Geospatial Technology

    Concentrations

    • Earth Observation Systems And Remote Sensing
    • Geodesy And Geodetic Sciences
    • Geoinformatics
    • Geospatial Intelligence
    • Giscience And Geoinformatics
    • Geospatial Visualization Ad Cartography
    • Photogrammetry And Geospatial Imaging
    • Surveying
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    MS in Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  22. #19

    University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

    Edinburg , TX
    #1 Best Online MBA in Healthcare Management Ranked for Students in 2025 #2 Top 10 Best Online Bachelor's of Nursing (BSN) Programs 2025 #5 Best Online Master's in Healthcare Administration 2025 #5 Best Online Master’s in Health Science 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    88%

    Graduation

    53%

    Student body

    44K

    Median SAT/ACT

    960/19

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

    Cost of Degree: $8,443
    Expenses: $14,618
    Starting Salary: $78,696
    Salary after 4 years: $101,232
    Cost Recoup Time: 3 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health Sciences

    Concentrations

    • Health Care Informatics
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    MS in Health Information Management

    Concentrations

    • Healthcare Informatics
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  24. #20

    Nova Southeastern University

    Fort Lauderdale , FL
    #3 Best Private Colleges in Florida 2024 #9 Best Research Universities in Florida 2025 #10 Best Grad Schools in Florida 2024 #1 Best Online Master’s in Forensics Degree Programs 2025
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $36K

    Acceptance

    76%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1175/23

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Nova Southeastern University

    Cost of Degree: $24,140
    Expenses: $22,596
    Starting Salary: $87,383
    Salary after 4 years: $104,230
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Biomedical Informatics
    • Required Credits: 44
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    MSN in Nursing – Non-Clinical

    Concentrations

    • Nursing Informatics
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  25. #21

    University of Massachusetts Lowell

    Lowell , MA
    #3 Best Public Colleges in Massachusetts 2024 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts Ranked for Students in 2024 #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in Massachusetts 2025 #2 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    86%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    22K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1259/28

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Massachusetts Lowell

    Cost of Degree: $16,050
    Expenses: $17,994
    Starting Salary: $101,842
    Salary after 4 years: $131,006
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health Information Management: Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 36
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  26. #22

    Idaho State University

    Pocatello , ID
    #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Idaho 2025 #3 Best Public Colleges in Idaho 2024 #3 Best Research Universities in Idaho 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Idaho 2024
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Graduation

    37%

    Student body

    15K

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Idaho State University

    Cost of Degree: $11,268
    Expenses: $14,854
    Starting Salary: $78,162
    Salary after 4 years: $100,545
    Cost Recoup Time: 4 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MS in Health Informatics
    • Required Credits: 39
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  28. #24

    Queens University of Charlotte

    Charlotte , NC
    #5 Best Small Colleges in North Carolina 2024 #9 Best Christian Colleges in North Carolina 2024 #5 Best Online Master’s in Executive MBA #14 Best Online MBA Programs in North Carolina
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $41K

    Acceptance

    71%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1167/25

    Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Queens University of Charlotte

    Cost of Degree: $15,270
    Expenses: $24,105
    Starting Salary: $77,639
    Salary after 4 years: $92,607
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    MSN in Nursing

    Concentrations

    • Nursing Informatics
    • Required Credits: 37
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school

Career Outlook for Students with Informatics Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Informatics

Degree Level: Master's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $15,001
  • Avg. Expenses*: $18,054
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $95,225
  • Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 4 years
  • Job Growth: 16.85%
  • Number of Jobs: 2,062,300
  • * denotes ‘annually’
  • ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers17.42%$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists25.68%$145,080
Database Architects10.75%$134,700
Software Developers17.94%$132,270
Computer Network Architects13.44%$129,840

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists$145,080
Database Architects$134,700
Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Health Informatics Degrees

Why get a master’s in health informatics?

A master’s degree in health informatics is an excellent advanced degree for working professionals with an interest in both health and technology.

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What will I learn while getting a master’s in health informatics?

Combining information technology with patient health is critical for current healthcare systems, and students in this graduate program will learn how to design and maintain data systems to best serve patients. Courses can be taken online or on campus and will cover topics like the American healthcare system, data analytics, and consumer digital health.

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How long does it take to get a master’s in health informatics?

This 32-credit program typically takes about two years to complete, and a capstone project is often required.

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What can I do with a master’s in health informatics?

After program completion, graduates will be prepared to hold advanced positions as data analysts, chief information officers, health informatics directors, health information system application designers, and compliance officers.

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Learn more about what you can do with a master’s in computer science.

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Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build 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 is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And 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 or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new 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 institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. 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 which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students 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.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, 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. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

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 resume 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.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will 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 require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, 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 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.

Resources for Prospective Grad Students

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.

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