Health Information Management Degrees: A Guide

Key takeaways

Health information management (HIM) handles health care data, and you can choose from several types of degrees to prepare for a role in the field. 

• Degree options include an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree in health information management, or a master’s degree in the field. 

• Potential job roles after earning your degree include medical records coder, HIM specialist, compliance officer, or health services manager. 

• You can explore related health care careers, including roles in public health, social work, and pharmacy tech.

Learn more about HIM bachelor’s and master’s degrees, the importance of choosing a CAHIIM-accredited program, and other health-related degrees that might be worth exploring based on your interests and goals. 

Health information management degree types 

Health information management careers require understanding clinical or medical diagnoses to effectively work with data. Well-qualified health information management degree holders are important, especially because the 2020 US Census found that 1 in 6 of the population is patients over the age of 65 and older [1], and this aging population increases the demand for health care services.

You can earn your associate degree in health information management, or complete a certification, such as the Certified Coding Associate (CCA), to gain that knowledge and pursue entry-level roles, such as a health information specialist. 

However, you may find that you qualify for a greater breadth of HIM roles with a bachelor’s in health information management, and many advanced roles prefer a master’s degree. Let’s take a closer look at each of those degrees. 

Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management 

A HIM career touches on many aspects of health, business, technology, data analysis, and finance. A BS in Health Information Management is designed to introduce you to those subjects as they relate to the health care industry. By earning this degree, you can not only build a strong interdisciplinary subject matter foundation, but you can also prepare for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification exam. In fact, some degree programs may expect you to complete your certification exam before graduating.

Length of time

A BS in Health Information Management takes around 120 credits to earn, which can span four to five years if you attend full-time, though some online programs are designed to accelerate that timeline. Some programs also require students to take an externship as part of their graduation requirements, applying their knowledge in a practical setting. 

Read more: Externship vs. Internship: What’s the Difference?

Types of coursework 

You’ll take courses that cover subjects in health, medical coding, business, finance, data, and technology. They may include:

• Health care administration 

• Medical coding

• Medical terminology 

• Epidemiology

• Biostatistics 

• Financial management in health care

• Reimbursement systems 

Importance of health information management program accreditation 

Because of the highly specific and highly technical nature of health information management, it’s important to find a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accredited program if you are interested in RHIA certification. The exam requires you to complete a CAHIIM-approved school in order to take it. Search the organization’s program directory to learn more about your options at each degree level. 

Master of Science in Health Information Management

Whether you earn your bachelor’s in HIM or another area, you can pursue your Master of Science in Health Information Management to qualify for advanced roles, such as senior director of health information management. In fact, many students enroll in a master’s program after they’ve gained some professional experience. 

At the master’s level, you can expect to learn more about effective strategies around data collection, analysis, and management, as well as leadership. 

Length of time

The MS in Health Information Management takes around two years to complete when you’re able to attend full-time, and that timeframe may include a capstone project, though each school has different requirements. 

Types of coursework 

You’ll take advanced courses that cover subjects in health, data analysis, databases, ethics, and more. They may include:

• Health care financial management

• Health care law and ethics

• Health care project management

• Electronic records systems

• Health care database design

• Health care data analytics

Is a degree in health information management worth it?

With the positive job outlook trends for health care management positions, a degree in health information management is worth it. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects that health service management jobs will grow by 23 percent from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average [2]. A range of job opportunities exists in the field with varying job titles and roles. The growing technological requirements for this role make earning a degree an important step to getting into the field. 

What jobs can you get with a health information management degree? 

Health information management is a general term that refers to many different types of careers related to organizing, managing, and securing health care-related data. You may end up working in project management, governance, or data analysis at a number of different health care facilities. The BLS projects health care occupations to grow at a much faster-than-average pace between 2024 and 2034, with a projected 1.9 million job openings annually [3]. Some typical titles and salaries are:

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of December 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Health care degree alternatives 

Health care isn’t limited to information management. If you’re interested in a health care career, there are a number of alternatives to explore. These include:

Health administration involves the intersection of business and medicine, ensuring that medical facilities run smoothly. With a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration, you can explore careers in office management and health care consulting or advance to hospital administrator or clinical director with a Master of Health Administration (MHA). 

Public health involves working with the general population to promote better health and resources and educate communities. With a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Master of Science in Public Health (MPH), you can explore careers in public health education, epidemiology, public policy, and more.

Social work involves working with the general population to identify and resolve issues. A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) can prepare you to begin an entry-level administrative role, though many BSW graduates go on to earn their Master of Social Work (MSW) to pursue more advanced positions involving counseling and therapy.

Pharmacy tech involves assisting in running an efficient and organized pharmacy, which often requires keeping patients’ medical records organized, communicating with insurance companies, and maintaining inventory. With a high school diploma and some training, you can contribute to the organization and management of a pharmacy.

Discover free resources for your health care career

Stay informed of health care industry trends by subscribing to Career Chat, our LinkedIn newsletter. Then, explore additional resources for career trends and tips:

• Consider emerging trends: AI in Health Care: Uses, Benefits, and Concerns

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career Is Right for Me? Quiz 

• Prepare for your degree: Going Back to School as an Adult: A Guide to Success 

Consider your career options, and discover graduate degrees from our esteemed university partners on Coursera.