The best schools for healthcare informatics are essential for effective and efficient healthcare treatment. According to the National Center for Biological Information, proper health information systems and infrastructures optimize decisions made by healthcare professionals. These systems improve the communication between medical centers so that all professionals have patient information at their fingertips.
You can start a career as a health informatics specialist by attending one of the best health informatics universities. Similar careers in this area include clinical informatics analysts, health informatics consultants, or EHR implementation managers. These are well-paying careers in the healthcare field. Read on to find out about the best health informatics colleges and jobs.
Best Health Informatics College and University Rankings: Top 10 Health Informatics Schools at a Glance
| School | State | Formats Available | US News Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston University | Massachusetts | Online, in-person | 42 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York | New York | In-person | 2 |
| Drexel University | Pennsylvania | Online | 103 |
| East Carolina University | North Carolina | In-person | 213 |
| Indiana University | Indiana | Online, in-person | 68 |
| Medical University of South Carolina | South Carolina | Online | 56 (best medical schools) |
| University of San Diego | California | Online, in-person | 93 |
| University of South Florida | Florida | Online | 103 |
| Stanford University | California | Online | 6 |
| Vanderbilt University | Tennessee | In-person | 14 |
Health Informatics School Rankings: Best Health Informatics Colleges and Universities
The best health informatics colleges and universities are Boston University, Columbia University, Drexel University, East Carolina University, Indiana University, and the Medical University of South Carolina. Other top schools providing health informatics programs are University Of San Diego, University of South Florida, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University. Our guide lists the graduation rate, degree offerings, acceptance rates, and US News and World Report rankings of each school.
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The Best Schools for Health Informatics: Types of College Degrees and University Programs Offered
The best schools for health informatics provide accredited high-quality education for students in an online, in-person, and hybrid format.
Health Informatics Community College Certificate
Certificates are training programs that prepare students for various job opportunities. Students who earn a community college certificate can transfer academic credits to associate degree programs. They are excellent for building a solid foundation in health informatics.
Health Informatics Associate Degree
Associate degrees are two-year degree programs offered by colleges and universities to students who have completed high school. The degree requirements of each program vary from school to school. You should determine whether you qualify by checking the official site of the college or university offering the program.
Associate degrees start students off with foundational courses. Students often use an associate degree to transfer credits to join a four-year degree. If you do not qualify for a four-year degree program, you can enroll in a health informatics associate degree program to gain entry.
Health Informatics Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree is earned through a four-year degree program with specialization tracks. It gives students relevant experience to land entry-level jobs in well-paying positions. Most employers hire graduates with four-year degrees. If you plan to study further, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree to pursue advanced degrees, like a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics.
Health Informatics Master’s Degree
Once you graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Informatics, you can look into studying for a health informatics master’s degree. A master’s degree is essential to gain a competitive edge and advance your knowledge and skill set.
Health Informatics Graduate Certificate
A health informatics graduate certificate demonstrates you have completed a particular training at a university or college. It is a specialized qualification that professionals use to exhibit their high-level skills and knowledge.
Health Informatics Doctorate
A health informatics doctorate is a tertiary degree that requires in-depth research or a thesis project. Those who pursue a doctorate have aspirations in the field of academia. This degree showcases a high level of mastery in a particular area of study.
There are two types of health informatics doctorate degrees, including a PhD, or a professional doctorate. A PhD involves original research and writing a dissertation. A professional doctorate is a practical degree that applies concepts in real-world scenarios.
Comparing Popular Degree Options
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Best Health Informatics Schools: Other Health Informatics University Rankings
To give you a clearer view of the best health informatics schools, we classified them into different education levels. Below you will find the best health informatics universities online and on campus.
Best Online Health Informatics Schools
- Liberty University. You can use this bachelor’s degree to start your career as a clinical informatics specialist, healthcare project manager, or informatics systems analyst. The school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 19-to-one for the online programs. This ratio ensures each student receives the attention they need to begin health informatics careers.
- Regis University. The Christian university understands that behind every patient record is a patient that needs care. The master’s program is ideal for working professionals to boost their earning potential.
- University of Cincinnati. This campus provides students with in-person and online healthcare informatics programs. You can use the degree program to become an information scientist, data analyst, or system administrator in the healthcare industry.
Best Community Colleges for Health Informatics
- Community College of Baltimore County. This associate of applied science degree will equip students to analyze and interpret health data to improve patient healthcare. The degree requires the completion of 62 credits to graduate.
- Community College of Denver. This is a fully online healthcare informatics bachelor’s degree that gives students real-world assignments and problems to solve. Students learn to interpret legal issues and health policies to make needed changes.
- Shoreline Community College. This college maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio of 19 to one. This ensures each student receives enough attention from the instructor to succeed. Given its high education standards, the school has a 73 percent retention rate.
Best Undergraduate Schools for Health Informatics
- Northern Kentucky University. This bachelor’s degree program combines knowledge of the healthcare industry with information technology. Students learn about big data and how to analyze and interpret it to help decision-makers improve health care.
- University of Southern Indiana. This university wants its bachelor’s degree to be accessible to all, including those who want a career change. The degree is ideal if you’d like to further your education and continue to study for a master’s program.
- University of Washington. You can expect high-quality education from this university’s four-year health informatics degree program. The program offers proper training in patient data systems, computer systems, information management, health data analysis, and data privacy.
Best Graduate Schools for Health Informatics
- Northeastern University. You can complete the master’s degree program in health informatics at Northeastern University within two or three years. Students learn to improve health care outcomes by effectively using technology and information management.
- University of Illinois, Chicago. This accredited institution offers top-of-the-line education to advanced learners in health informatics. The school provides technical support, access to the university library, writing center, and career services. Its master’s degree program can land you a well-paying job in the healthcare industry.
- University of Michigan. The health informatics master’s program at University of Michigan develops creative ways of using information to improve health care. It promotes an in-depth study of health systems alongside computational mastery.
Best Health Informatics Schools With Dual Degree Programs
- Jacksonville University | Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Health Informatics. You’ll gain a new perspective in this dual degree that combines business and healthcare. Students learn accounting, economics, cyber security, database management, global economy, and strategic thinking. These are essential concepts for a career in healthcare information management.
- Lipscomb University | Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Science in Health Care Informatics. This dual degree program takes you through in-depth health informatics, project management, predictive analysis, data management, and ethical issues. You can also expect to cover information systems management.
- Temple University | Master of Science in Health Informatics, Master of Public Health (MPH). The dual degree program allows you to earn an MPH and a Master of Science in Health Informatics. You can choose an MPH in Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Best Schools With Accelerated Health Informatics Programs
- George Mason University | Accelerated Bachelor of Science to Master of Science in Health Informatics. To acquire a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and Master of Science in Health Informatics, you must complete 147 to 159 credits. The accelerated program teaches development psychology, healthcare accounting, public health informatics, mobile health, security in health informatics, and healthcare databases.
- Michigan Tech | Accelerated Master’s Program. You can work for an insurance company, government organization, or research laboratory with this degree. The program focuses on consumer health informatics, health development, data privacy, ethics, and translational research informatics. You can attend this program online or on campus.
- University of Cincinnati | Accelerated Health Informatics Program. This program allows you to study for a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Health Informatics. To qualify for this program, you will need to have a GPA score of 3.0 and above.
Easy Colleges to Get Into
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Is Graduate School for Health Informatics Worth It?
Yes, graduate school for health informatics is worth it. The field of medicine and information is competitive. You will need experience, skills, and education to navigate the job market and advance your career. A graduate school will open up well-paying health informatics careers.
What Jobs Can You Do With a Health Informatics Degree?
Jobs you can do with a health informatics degree are healthcare data analyst, health services manager, pharmacy informatics specialist, healthcare IT project manager, or health informatics specialist. There are many job opportunities for professionals with extensive skills in health informatics. To acquire in-demand skills in health informatics, you should consider pursuing a degree. Degree programs equip you with essential skills on various levels.
How Much Can I Earn With a Degree in Health Informatics?
You can earn $65,000 per year with a bachelor’s degree in health informatics, according to PayScale. The salary you receive depends on the degree level, experience, and the company. Health informatics professionals often choose to study further to increase their earning potential.
Highest-Paying Health Informatics Careers
| Profession | Minimum Education | Average Salary | US News Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vice President of Clinical Informatics | Bachelor’s degree | $182,337 | 117 |
| Chief Medical Informatics Officer | Bachelor’s degree | $155,642 | N/A |
| Healthcare Data Analytics Director | Bachelor’s degree | $129,636 | 95 |
| Director of Data Analytics | Bachelor’s degree | $129,636 | 103 |
| Health Services Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $101,340 | 299-391 |
| Healthcare IT Project Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $100,881 | N/A |
| Pharmacy Informatics specialist | Doctoral or professional degree | $87,943 | 299-391 |
| Nursing Informatics Specialist | Bachelor’s degree | $84,426 | 91-100 |
| Clinical Informatics Analyst | Bachelor’s degree | $78,186 | 277 |
| Health Informatics Specialist | Postsecondary non-degree award | $45,240 | 299-391 |
Best Jobs With a Health Informatics Degree
You can find the best jobs with a health informatics degree on job boards or official company websites. We categorized the best job positions in health informatics by degree level and listed their average annual salaries.
How Can I Pay for Health Informatics School?
You can pay for health informatics school through loans, scholarships, federal grants, or work-study programs. Below you will find more details of the best health informatics schools’ payment plans.
- Loans. One of the most common ways to pay college tuition is through student loans. You can use federal or private loans. Often, these loans have fixed or variable interest rates. Confirm the parameters with the provider before committing to the loan.
- Scholarships. You can receive a scholarship from an institution based on various factors. Typically, the institutions provide the eligibility list on the official website to help prospective students apply. They often check the GPA score, financial need, residency, and degree program.
- Federal grants. These are funds awarded by the US Department of Education based on a learner’s financial needs. You can apply for a federal grant by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The department will review this form to determine your financial needs.
- Work-study programs. You can make use of work-study programs to cover your tuition fees. These programs allow students to work part-time during their studies to cover their tuition fees. You can work on-campus or off-campus to cover your tuition fees.
How to Pay for Your Chosen School Education Path
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Choosing the Best Health Informatics School for You
Choosing the best health informatics school can be a rigorous process. There are plenty of platforms providing different education pathways for learners. It’s important to have a list of factors to help you determine which school will be most suitable for your education and career advancement.
Career Services
Programs in health informatics offer career services. These services provide proper training to land well-paying positions in the health informatics field. You can rely on the college’s career coaching and mentorship sessions to prepare for job interviews.
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio should not be overlooked. Try to find a school that has relatively fewer students. Smaller classes ensure individual attention and a high graduation success rate.
Curriculum
Each university or college provides a list of courses in its degree programs. You can use this list to find the most suitable program for your career. The curriculum will affect your career path after graduation. It will also help you determine the relevance in the current job market.
How to Get Into the Right School for Your Profession
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Does It Matter What College I Go to for Health Informatics?
Yes, it matters what college you go to for health informatics. There are multiple platforms to gain health informatics skills, but studying at an accredited institution is important. Accredited colleges and universities provide standard quality education. Whether you study on campus or online, you will receive the same quality education and support to succeed in your career.
If you prefer to study online, you should look into various factors to add to your online learning experience. It is important to look into the college’s reputation, curriculum, student services, and graduation rate. These factors are essential in helping you select the best online health informatics degree programs.
Health Informatics University Ranking Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Schools for Health Informatics
We ranked the best health informatics schools by consulting the university rankings conducted by US News and World Report and Times Higher Education. To further refine our Health Informatics university ranking methodology, we gave special consideration to things like reputation, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, and breadth and depth of health informatics degree program offerings.
Additional Reading About Health Informatics
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Best Health Informatics Schools FAQ
The core courses in a health informatics program are health services systems, healthcare ethics, health informatics management, health data management, and programming for health informatics. Besides the required courses, most schools give specialization options with hands-on experience.
Skills you will gain from a health informatics program are systems analysis, data warehousing, data analysis, system security, and programming. Besides these technical skills, you will also gain soft skills to navigate the industry, like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Yes, health informatics is still in demand. A career in health informatics is in high demand since it helps decision-makers to make informed decisions. Health informatics professionals can analyze big data and provide health care solutions.
Yes, you can study health informatics online. There are many full-time and part-time students who attend health informatics online programs. Online education is becoming increasingly popular, and many more students are opting to study online. An online school provides the same level of education as an in-person program.
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