The Best Online MSN in Health Informatics Programs

If you are passionate about healthcare and love data and analytics, you might consider a career as an informatics nurse. Informatics nurses analyze medical data from various sources to identify improvement areas and find solutions.

Nurses who receive their master of science in nursing (MSN) degree gain advanced training in diagnostics and prescribing medication as well as “soft skills” like critical thinking. Many MSN programs provide a special focus on nursing informatics.

This guide explores the best online nursing informatics programs, along with how to choose and apply to a program. We use a data-driven methodology to rank the best online MSN in health informatics programs, making it easy for you to choose the best option for you.

Our methodology is based on metrics that we believe matter most to students, including academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings.

When you’re ready to apply for an online MSN in health informatics program, check the program’s curriculum, accreditation, graduation rate, and admission requirements. These factors help determine whether the program is right for you and are key elements in our program rankings.

The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accredits health informatics programs. CAHIIM’s Health Informatics Accreditation Council (HIAC) is made of subject matter experts who review programs to determine whether they meet accreditation requirements.

Accreditation shows that a program prepares students for a profession by meeting rigorous education standards. Ensure your program is accredited by the CAHIIM because attending an accredited program can make it easier to receive financial aid, transfer credits, continue your education, and find a job. Other benefits of accreditation include:

Most accredited online MSN programs in health informatics take 24 months to complete if you enroll full time. The full-time schedule may require summer semesters. If you choose not to take summer classes or take fewer classes per semester than recommended, you will take longer to finish.

Programs have between 35-40 credit hours and between 130-150 practicum hours. Unlike in-person classes, online courses can be:

Practicums can be completed online or in-person at a clinical site near you. Most programs require you to earn an RN license in the state where you live or work to help you complete practicum hours locally.

Check with your program to see if they’ll help you find a clinical site, or if you have to find your own clinical site and get it approved.

While applying to an MSN informatics program might seem daunting, early preparation can help you succeed and make the process less stressful. Discuss the program with your mentors and be sure your references are ready to speak to your strengths.

The same financial aid options apply to distance learners as on-campus students. Most schools offer scholarships and loans to help pay for your nursing degree. You can also get scholarships and grants from government programs, nonprofit associations, corporations, and foundations.

Some students take out private loans, or apply for federal student loans. Your employer may also cover some of your program costs; often if you agree to work for them for a certain period after graduation.

A master’s in health informatics teaches you how healthcare and information technology intersect. This degree prepares you to collect, analyze, manage, and report on data. You’ll take courses such as managerial health finance, systems analysis and design, and a health informatics practicum.

Then, you’ll learn how to use that knowledge to implement programs, manage projects, or suggest changes to current practices. Your work will improve workflow, healthcare costs, and patient care.

After graduation, you may find a position at a hospital or healthcare system as a nursing informatics specialist, clinical analyst, or director or manager of clinical informatics.

The average salary for nursing informatics specialists is $84,109, according to 2024 estimates from Payscale. Nursing informatics specialists can earn more if they have an informatics certification, 11 or more years of experience, and a doctoral degree.

According to the 2023 Nursing Informatics Workforce survey from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, 60% of nursing informaticists reported earning a base annual salary of $100,000 or more. This includes:

Students pursuing an MSN in informatics analyze and apply medical data to improve patient outcomes. They gain the skills needed to gather, analyze, and report on nursing data and make recommendations based on their combined nursing and analytics expertise.

The average annual salary for nurse informaticists is $84,109, according to current Payscale data. Further, 60% of nurse informaticists reported earning at least $100,000 annually.

Graduates can pursue jobs as nurse informaticists, clinical informaticists, and chief medical officers. These people collect, analyze, manage, and report data. They need communication, problem-solving and identification, and data management skills. Hospitals and healthcare systems usually hire these roles.

Nurse informaticists are in demand at hospitals and health systems, insurance companies, consultancies, nurse temporary agencies, and government offices. Demand for nurse informaticists is likely to grow as organizations seek to improve safety, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

Last Reviewed on April 8, 2024. Note: The ranking list and school descriptions on this page were created and reviewed independently by our Rankings Team.