Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics can be an uphill battle, especially if you are working with a tight budget. However, thanks to scholarship awards and other financial aid options, it’s more doable than you might think.
You can study at one of the best universities and earn a master’s degree to break into the health informatics industry. Don’t know how to begin your master’s degree program? This guide takes you through the different steps towards obtaining a scholarship for your graduate degree education.
What Is a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics?
Health informatics is the collection, storage, and evaluation of health information in a digital format. It combines informatics, engineering, communication systems, and medical knowledge to create procedures to enhance healthcare and health reforms.
When you earn a degree in health informatics, you can expect to manage and explore patients’ electronic records to pinpoint different trends in diseases and treatment.
How Much Does a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics Cost?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of tuition for a graduate program is $18,416. However, the cost for a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics varies depending on the program you take and the institution you attend.
You can also find affordable graduate programs at different institutions depending on where you are located. The University of San Diego offers this graduate degree at $925 per credit. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte also offers affordable tuition with a minimum of $1,973 for three credit hours.
Master’s Degree in Health informatics Salary: How Much Can You Earn?
According to Payscale, a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics will earn you an average salary of $73,000. However, depending on the career path you choose, you may receive more or less. For instance, as a health informatics specialist, you will earn a salary between $45,000 and $104,000.
As a clinical informatics specialist, you will receive between $59,000 and $108,000. Some of the highest-paying career opportunities you can enjoy after earning a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics include working as a senior data analyst, with a salary of up to $119,000, or a director of clinical services, with a salary of up to $132,000.
Is a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics Worth It?
A Master’s Degree in Health Informatics is worth the grind and financial investment for most people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it has a projected job growth rate of nine percent over the next 10 years. You’ll be able to work as a data analyst, project manager, administrator, or computer system specialist.
How to Pay for Your Health Informatics Graduate Degree with Master’s Degree in Health Informatics Scholarships
A Master’s Degree in Health Informatics scholarship is a financial aid award that helps you pursue an advanced degree in health informatics. Unlike with student loans, you don’t have to pay any of this money back.
Need-based scholarships are awarded based on financial hardship while merit-based scholarships are based on exceptional academic performance. You will either be awarded a full scholarship or a partial scholarship.
Best Master’s Degree in Health informatics Scholarships: Overview
| Organization | Scholarship Name | How Much It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| AHIMA Foundation | Geraldine Smother Memorial Scholarship | $2,000 |
| American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) | ANIA Health Informatics Scholarships | $3,000 |
| DFW HIMA Scholarship | Dallas Fort Worth Health Information Management Association | Varies |
| Florida Health Information Management Association (FHIMA) | Charlotte Stockton Memorial Scholarship | Varies |
| Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Foundation | HIMSS Foundation Master’s Scholarship | $5,000 |
| HIMSS New England Chapter | Dvora Brodie Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Louisiana Health Information Management Association (LHIMA) | Lou Davison Graduate Scholarship | $2,000 |
| Medical Group Management Association | Barbara B Watson National Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Northern California HIMSS Chapter | Northern California HIMSS Scholarship | $5,000 |
| South Florida HIMSS Chapter | South Florida HIMSS Chapter Scholarship | $7,500 |
Best Master’s Degree in Health informatics Scholarships: In Detail
Geraldine Smother Memorial Scholarship | AHIMA Foundation
The AHIMA Foundation provides a scholarship award of up to $2,000 to current members who have enrolled in a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics or Information Management. This foundation also sponsors medical students pursuing associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and doctoral degrees with $1,000, $1,500, and $2,500 of financial assistance, respectively.
Eligible students must be registered for at least six credits, attend a college accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), have a 3.5 GPA or higher, and be a sophomore. The candidate cannot have been an AHIMA health informatics scholarship award recipient in the past.
ANIA Health Informatics Scholarship | American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA)
The American Nursing informatics Association offers a $3,000 scholarship to four people each year. To secure one of these opportunities, you have to be a master’s or doctoral student pursuing health informatics or an accredited nursing degree in the US.
Qualified applicants are required to have good academic standing, demonstrate potential to enhance the health informatics systems, be ANIA members for two or more years, and be US citizens. The American Nursing Informatics Association announces the winners during its annual conference in San Francisco.
DFM HIMA Scholarship | Dallas Fort Worth Health Information Management Association
The Dallas Fort Worth Information Management Association offers scholarship awards to undergraduate and graduate students. You must be an outstanding student living in the Dallas, Fort Worth area currently enrolled in a recognized HIT/HIM program to apply for this award.
You should have a GPA of 3.5 or higher as a graduate student. You should also be continuing with your graduate education in the academic year following your scholarship application. Always ensure you complete the process before the application deadline.
Charlotte Stockton Memorial Scholarship | Florida Health Information Management Association (FHIMA)
The Florida Health Information Management Association offers the Charlotte Stockton Memorial Scholarship. Eligible candidates must be students enrolled full-time in a CAHIIM-accredited health information technology or health informatics program at the graduate or undergraduate level.
To apply for this award, you must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0, reside in Florida, and be a disadvantaged student. To complete the online application process, you must submit two references and a 500-word personal essay demonstrating how you plan to achieve your educational goals in informatics.
HIMSS Foundation Master’s Scholarship | Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Foundation
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society offers a scholarship to graduate students enrolled in recognized US institutions. It’s specifically offered to those majoring in health informatics, health information management, health administration, computer science, or a related field of study.
Eligible recipients must be HIMSS members with good academic standing, health IT career potential, and have completed a bachelor’s degree. The scholarship also provides a free trip to the Annual HIMSS Conference. This award provides its winners with a $5,000 scholarship.
Dvora Brodie Memorial Scholarship | HIMSS New England Chapter
The New England Chapter of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society established the Dvora Brodie Memorial scholarship program in honor of a devoted professional in the healthcare field after she passed away due to ovarian cancer. This scholarship offers $5,000 yearly to the winners.
To apply for this scholarship, you must be from New England, a HIMSS member, and attend an accredited institution in New England. You must also declare a bachelor’s or master’s major related to health information systems or health informatics.
Lou Davison Graduate Scholarship | Louisiana Health Information Management Association (LHIMA)
The Louisiana Health Information Management Association (LHIMA) provides a $2,000 stipend to scholarship awardees. The association supports outstanding master’s and doctoral students pursuing recognized degrees in health informatics.
To apply for this scholarship award, you must be an AHIMA/LHIMA member in good standing, demonstrate dedication to the health informatics profession, be a Louisiana resident, have RHIA/RHIT credentials, and be a full-time student in the US. You should also finish a 12-hour graduate course before applying.
Barbara B Watson National Scholarship | Medical Group Management Association
The Medical Group Management Association offers a scholarship award of $2,500 To apply for this scholarship, you must be an outstanding student pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Health Administration, Public Health, Health Informatics, or a related field.
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Other application requirements you must fulfill include attending an accredited US university, having a cumulative GPA of 3.0, and having career goals in medical practice. The Medical Group Management Association also offers other scholarships such as the Richard L Davis Scholarship and the Andrea M Rossiter Scholarship.
Northern California HIMSS Scholarship | Northern California HIMSS Chapter
The Northern California HIMSS Chapter offers scholarship awards to outstanding students from Northern California colleges. This scholarship aims to help the winners develop leadership skills to enhance the health information management systems industry.
With an award of $5,000, the chapter supports different majors including health informatics, computer science, mathematics, business, hospital administration, and hospital administration. To apply for this scholarship, you must demonstrate excellent academic performance, be an active HIMSS member, and be a first-term junior.
South Florida HIMSS Chapter Scholarship | South Florida HIMSS Chapter
Launched in 1988, the South Florida HIMSS Chapter Scholarship awards its winners with $5,000. To apply for this award, you must be an exceptional student pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree related to health informatics or information management systems.
Eligible applicants must be members of the South Florida Chapter of the HIMSS. You must demonstrate excellent academic achievement and display great potential for leadership in the healthcare industry.
How to Pay for Your Health Informatics Graduate Degree Without Scholarships: Alternative Financial Aid Options
Not every passionate student gets a scholarship. You may want to consider different options in the event that you don’t win the award. Below are a few alternative financial assistance options you may consider.
Work for a University
Most higher learning institutions provide free tuition to their employees. While you may have to work there for a specified period of time, you will ultimately get a master’s degree without paying anything. Before applying for work at any university, you should research whether their policy on tuition benefits offers this. If the university hires you, you will have to work full-time while going to school.
Employer’s Higher Education Benefits
Your employer may have a higher education benefit that can cater to your health informatics degree. You may need to maintain a certain GPA and you’ll only receive a specific amount per year. When job hunting, ensure you inquire about their tuition benefits package to confirm if it’s suitable for you.
Federal Direct Loans
A federal direct loan is the lowest cost loan available to students and can offer up to $12,500 per academic year. To apply for this loan, you must be a US citizen or a permanent resident, take a minimum of six credits every semester, and apply for FAFSA. You may need to inquire about the University’s FAFSA code for your application.
Federal Graduate PLUS Loans
You can also apply for a Federal PLUS loan. To complete your online application, you have to submit your federal direct loan application before applying for the PLUS.
Should You Apply for a Master’s Degree in Health Informatics Scholarships?
The field of health informatics offers numerous career opportunities for master’s graduates in this discipline. It also has a high job growth rate that offers you multiple options you can choose from.
You can apply for a scholarship, use employer higher learning benefits, or work for the university, depending on your financial need. Begin your Master’s Degree in Health informatics and enjoy great pay as you impact the healthcare industry.
Master’s Degree in Health informatics Scholarships FAQ
Most health informatics jobs are typically done in the office. However, you can find remote positions such as supportive administrative jobs in healthcare. You can also explore other opportunities in this field in hospitals, health care organizations, and medical offices.
Health informatics has branches such as clinical informatics, nursing informatics, pharmacy informatics, consumer health informatics, and public health informatics.
Health informatics examples include electronic medical records (EMRs), telehealth, patient portals, data reporting tools, and healthcare apps.
Some of the thesis topics you should focus on as a master’s student include elearning in healthcare settings, health information safety and security, clinical-based issues, and healthcare management and technology.
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