Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics 2026

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN HEALTH INFORMATICS

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Chloe Dembski

Updated: Feb 17, 2026

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.

Table of Contents

Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics in 2026

Johns Hopkins University
University of Southern California
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Brandeis University
University of Cincinnati
University of Maine
DePaul University
Florida International University
University of Central Florida
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Featured Programs

Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Informatics Degree

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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: 19.67%
Number of Jobs: 1,976,600
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	17.42%	$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists	25.68%	$145,080
Database Architects	10.75%	$134,700
Software Developers	17.94%	$132,270
Computer Network Architects	13.44%	$129,840
Information Security Analysts	32.71%	$120,360
Data Scientists	36.03%	$108,020
Computer Occupations, All Other	10.85%	$104,920
Computer Systems Analysts	10.72%	$103,800
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	11.80%	$101,800

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists	$145,080
Database Architects	$134,700
Software Developers	$132,270
Computer Network Architects	$129,840
Information Security Analysts	$120,360
Data Scientists	$108,020
Computer Occupations, All Other	$104,920
Computer Systems Analysts	$103,800
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	$101,800

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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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Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics 2026

Key Takeaways

Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics in 2026

Featured Programs

Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics Degree Programs

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Johns Hopkins University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Southern California

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Concentrations

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

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Brandeis University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Cincinnati

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Maine

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at DePaul University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Florida International University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Central Florida

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Duquesne University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Rochester Institute of Technology

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Mercer University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of San Diego

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Adelphi University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Samford University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Michigan Technological University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Loma Linda University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Nova Southeastern University

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

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at University of Massachusetts Lowell

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Idaho State University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Regis University

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Queens University of Charlotte

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Career Outlook for Informatics degree at Excelsior University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Students with Informatics Degree

Informatics

Degree Level: Master's

Career Salaries

Top Industries

Frequently Asked Questions About Health Informatics Degrees

Why get a master’s in health informatics?

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

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

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

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier?+