by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Health Information Management involves the study of Health Information/medical Records Administration/administrator. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Plan, Design, And Manage Systems, Processes, And Facilities Used To Collect, Store, Secure, Retrieve, Analyze, And Transmit Medical Records And Other Health Information Used By Clinical Professionals And Health Care Organizations. Includes Instruction In The Principles And Basic Content Of The Biomedical And Clinical Sciences, Information Technology And Applications, Data And Database Management, Clinical Research Methodologies, Health Information Resources And Systems, Office Management, Legal Requirements, And Professional Standards. Continue reading for the key facts every health information management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering health information management programs.
Nationwide, health information management draws strong interest, with 2,781 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Health Information Management Schools ranking analyzes these 131 schools to determine the best overall colleges for health information management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of health information management programs later in this article.
Programs in Health Information Management build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations health information management graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a health information management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a health information management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several health information management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 141 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 240 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,273 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,125 |
People currently working in careers related to health information management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.4% |
| Master’s degree | 21.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.1% |
| First professional degree | 3.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.6% |
| Some college courses | 3.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in health information management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in health information management can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to health information management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to health information management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | 2,200,733 | -4.3% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Medical Records Specialists | 358,946 | 4.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of health information management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $36,041 |
| 4 years | $36,054 |
| 5 years | $40,847 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for health information management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers health information management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Records Specialists | $153,246 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $103,058 |
With 131 different health information management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased health information management school rankings to help you.
Students interested in health information management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
