Best Online MSN in Health Informatics Programs
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Nursing informatics can be a great career path for nurses interested in using data and information to improve the healthcare industry. They manage important medical records including patient data, medical histories, and lab and imaging reports. This information is highly sensitive and private, which means that nurse informaticists take on important roles within healthcare facilities. The added responsibilities are reflected in their salaries; nursing informatics specialists earn an average annual salary of $84,804, according to data gathered by PayScale.
In order to follow this career path, individuals should earn a master of science in nursing (MSN). Graduate degrees in nursing offer several different specializations, including nursing or healthcare informatics. During these programs, students learn about storing and managing electronic information systems within medical settings. Several schools offer online nursing informatics programs for individuals who prefer flexibility or who live far from campus.
If you're interested in online MSN informatics programs, you can find a list of the best nursing informatics degrees below.
View ranking methodologyApplying to an Online MSN in Health Informatics Program
Online nursing informatics programs generally expect students to meet the same basic admission requirements: an undergraduate degree and a registered nursing (RN) license.
Beyond that, prerequisites vary for nursing informatics programs. Many schools require applicants to possess a bachelor's degree in nursing, while others allow RNs with associate degrees to enroll in RN-to-MSN bridge programs. Often prospective students must meet a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement, usually ranging from 2.5-3.2. Some schools also require applicants to possess at least 1-2 years of nursing experience as well.
Typically students need to submit recommendation letters — either professional or academic, and sometimes both — and write a personal essay. They may need to submit GRE or MAT scores, although many schools put more weight on other admission factors. Finally, the application process often involves an interview with faculty.
Featured Online Programs
Explore the Best Online MSN in Health Informatics Programs and School Info
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers an online master of professional science in biomedical and health informatics program, designed for students to gain managerial, leadership, and analytical skills in clinical and public health care. This MPS non-thesis program requires students to complete 35 credits of coursework to earn their degree.
UNC-Chapel Hill's MPS degree also provides students with the option to finish their degree in one year, 1.5 years, or 2-4 years. Along with the required coursework, students in this program must also complete a 400-hour internship.
- Program: Master of professional science in biomedical and health informatics
- Campus: Boone, North Carolina
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $1,319 for 0 - 2.9 credits for North Carolina residents; $3,534 for 0 - 2.9 credits for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Unofficial transcript from each university attended; current letters of recommendation; statement of purpose; updated resume; TOEFL or IELTS score
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 94% first-time pass rate
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Northwestern University offers an online master's in health informatics program through the school's partnership with the Feinberg School of Medicine. Northwestern's MHI program allows students to choose from areas of concentration in clinical informatics, health technology informatics, and health administration informatics.
Students must successfully complete a total of 12 courses to earn their degree. Towards the end of the program, students must also develop and implement a health informatics project in a real-world workplace or other academic organization.
- Program: Master's in health informatics
- Campus: Evanston, Illinois
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $4,693 per course
- Admission Requirements: Official transcripts of records; letters of recommendation; statement of purpose; updated resume; writing sample
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 56% first-time pass rate
- School Site: Tuition | Financial aid
Recognized as Virginia's largest public research university, George Mason University offers an online master of science in health informatics degree, with concentrations in health data analytics and health informatics management.
This MS program delivers a fully online curriculum and requires students to complete a total of 39 credits to earn their degree. Students of this program study in-depth courses in health informatics, including IT tools, data standards, information systems, and databases.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics
- Campus: Fairfax, Virginia
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $9,446 per academic year for in-state students; $25,430 per academic year for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Minimum 3.0 GPA in baccalaureate study; Transcripts of records from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: N/A
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
Brandeis University offers an online master of science in health informatics program designed for students interested in diverse career options in the health informatics industry. Brandeis' health informatics MS program requires students to finish 30 credits to earn their degree.
This MS program features small class sizes and a fully online, asynchronous course delivery. Graduates of Brandeis' health informatics MS degree go on to work as pharmacy technicians, health systems specialists, life sciences analysts, research scientists, and clinical data managers.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics
- Campus: Waltham, Massachusetts
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
- Tuition: $3,535 per course
- Admission Requirements: Official academic transcripts of records; statement of goals; letters of recommendation; updated resume
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: N/A
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
East Carolina University offers an online master of science in health informatics and information management program designed for students interested in an advanced career in healthcare technology. Students in this program must complete 30 credits of core courses to earn their degree.
ECU's HIIM program allows students to take courses on-campus or fully online. Students take a wide array of intensive health care technology courses, including decision support systems, database systems in health care, health information privacy and security, and evaluation methods in health informatics.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics and information management
- Campus: Greenville, North Carolina
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $433 per credit for North Carolina residents; $1,164 per credit for non-residents
- Admission Requirements: Official transcripts of records; minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate study; three letters of recommendation; updated resume
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 98% first-time pass rate
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
DePaul University offers an online master of science in health informatics degree to provide students with in-depth knowledge in information technology solutions for health sector organizations. Students can choose to take courses entirely online or on-campus.
Students of this online MS degree must complete 52 graduate credit hours and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. DePaul's MS in health informatics graduate also provides professional skills in the areas of health information processing and exchange, healthcare analytics, enterprise management, and information storage and security management.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics
- Campus: Chicago, Illinois
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $882 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5; test of English proficiency for international students
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 91% first-time pass rate
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
The University of Cincinnati-Main Campus offers an online master of health informatics program to prepare graduates to utilize information technology and systems to improve patient care and safety. This MHI program requires students to complete 36 course credits within the span of two years.
UC's MHI graduates now assume advanced health informatics roles as system analysts, software developers, information scientists, system administrators, and information security analysts. UC offers six enrollment periods every year, providing students with an affordable and flexible program.
- Program: Master of health informatics in health informatics
- Campus: Cincinnati, Ohio
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $746 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution; minimum of a "B" average in undergraduate coursework
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: N/A
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
The University of Scranton offers an online master of science in health informatics program that students can finish within two years. Scranton offers this program fully online, giving students the option to finish courses at their own pace.
Scranton requires health informatics students to complete a total of 33 credits of coursework, including courses in database management, public policy, community health, and information technology for health informatics. Completion of this MS program paves the way for students to take the Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) exam.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics
- Campus: Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Tuition: $757 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution; minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0; official transcripts of records from all previously attended institutions
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 90% first-time pass rate
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
Michigan Technological University offers an online master of health informatics degree for students wanting to assume advanced roles in healthcare organizations. Michigan Tech's online programs do not schedule specific class times, allowing more flexibility for students.
Michigan Tech's health informatics degree offers areas of concentration in health information management, medical decision support systems, medical sciences and management, mobile applications in health, healthcare cybersecurity, and telemedicine and e-health.
- Program: Masters of health informatics
- Campus: Houghton, Michigan
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $1,182 per credit
- Admission Requirements: Official transcripts of records; minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate study; three letters of recommendation; updated resume
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: N/A
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
Drexel University offers an online master of science in health informatics degree that focuses on emerging technology-based roles in the healthcare industry. This accredited online MS program offers courses in healthcare, business intelligence, information technology and systems, and data analytics.
Drexel organizes its health informatics graduate program into four 10-week quarters per year, allowing students to take more courses in a shorter time period. To earn their graduate degree, health informatics students must complete 45 credits of coursework.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics
- Campus: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Tuition: $1,355 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; official transcripts; one letter of recommendation; statement of purpose
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 96% first-time pass rate
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
The University of Mary offers an online master of science in nursing and health informatics program designed for nurses aiming for a career in informatics. Students of this program must complete 38 credits, along with a total of 360 clinical hours.
This fully online MSN program prepares graduates for work as nursing informatics specialists, nursing information systems coordinators, clinical informatics officers, and nursing information project directors. Prospective MSN students should hold a current unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license.
- Program: Master's of science in nursing and health informatics
- Campus: Bismarck, North Dakota
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $450 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Official transcripts showing a Bachelor's degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75; current unencumbered RN license
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100% first-time pass rate
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
Dakota State University offers an online master of science in health informatics and information management degree under the College of Business and Information Systems. Students in this program must demonstrate competency in information systems, health care, and statistics.
In addition, DSU requires MSHIIM students to complete 33 credits of core courses and maintain a GPA of 3.0. Graduates of this program take intensive courses in researching, designing, developing, and managing health information systems.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics and information management
- Campus: Madison, South Dakota
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $470 per credit for South Dakota residents; $580 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7; satisfactory GRE scores
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: N/A
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
The University of Findlay offers a master of science in health informatics program to prepare students for professional roles in emerging healthcare fields. Students in this program also have the option to take courses either fully online or in a hybrid format.
Graduates of UF's health informatics MS degree specialize in the areas of biomedical informatics, genomics, imaging informatics, clinical informatics, population informatics, and telemedicine and mobile computing informatics. This program requires students to complete 33 semester hours of graduate credit to earn their degree.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics
- Campus: Findlay, Ohio
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $815 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; official transcripts of records
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: N/A
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
Regis University offers an online master of science in health informatics program for students aiming for professional career paths using technology in healthcare settings. This online MS program features a fully online course delivered in eight-week terms.
To earn their degree, students must complete 36 credit hours, including six credits of practicum courses. Graduates of this online MS degree now work as health services managers, clinical informaticists, informatics managers, clinical analysts, and medical data managers.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics
- Campus: Denver, Colorado
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $845 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Official degree-bearing transcript; resume; essay; completed online application
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 98% first-time pass rate
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
The University of New England offers an online master of science in health informatics degree with optional focus areas in healthcare leadership, health data analytics, and training and development. Students can finish this program entirely online without needing to visit campus.
This health informatics MS degree requires students to complete 36 credits of coursework within two years. UNE's online students receive unlimited access to the university's support resources, including 24/7 information technology support, access to library services, and academic support via the Student Academic Success Center.
- Program: Master of science in health informatics
- Campus: Biddeford, Maine
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
- Tuition: $750 per credit hour
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited program; 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA; computer with internet connection
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 91% first-time pass rate
- School site: Tuition | Financial aid
Frequently Asked Questions
What is accreditation and why is it important?
Accreditation ensures that higher education institutions offer students a quality education. Accrediting agencies evaluate schools and academic programs. Therefore, if they do not grant accreditation status to a certain college or program, this should register as a red flag. State boards require applicants to possess licensure from accredited schools, and employers also look for candidates with accredited degrees.
What skills are important for nursing informaticists?
Nursing informaticists need many of the skills they learn in school, including information technology foundations, healthcare technology infrastructure, and data analysis management. They also need soft skills, including communication and interpersonal skills. Problem-solving is also a big part of the job, and programming knowledge can give nurse informaticists a competitive edge.
What is a chief nursing informatics officer (CNIO)?
The role of a chief nursing informatics officer varies for each healthcare organization, but they typically lead health informatics initiatives. They manage teams and implement strategies in information technology that can improve clinical efficiencies and operational outcomes.
How long does it take to complete a nursing informatics program?
While master's degrees traditionally last two years, some schools offer accelerated programs that students may complete in 12-18 months. Bridge programs typically last longer, as students need to take bachelor's and master's-level courses. Finally, some students enroll part time, which can also add a year or two to their MSN timeline.
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