San Diego Mesa College

Associate Degree in Health Information Management in San Diego, CA

CAHIIM Continuing Accreditation Campus Based, Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 7250 Mesa College Dr., S-324, San Diego, CA, 92111
State: California (CA)
Degree level: Associate Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Campus Based, Online
Program Director: Connie Renda , RHIA, CHDA
Phone: (619) 388-2606
Email: crenda@sdccd.edu
Last accreditation date: 12/17/2020
Next review cycle: 2027-2028
Progress report status: Progress Report satisfactory and completed

What this means

San Diego Mesa College is accredited and your degree counts.

Because San Diego Mesa College holds Continuing accreditation from CAHIIM, graduates of this associate degree are eligible to sit for AHIMA's RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) exam. That eligibility is the whole reason CAHIIM accreditation matters: without a CAHIIM-accredited degree, the exam is closed to you.

"Continuing Accreditation" is the standard status for established programs. The next scheduled review is 2027-2028.

The California picture

Where San Diego Mesa College sits among California's 13 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

California has 13 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 7 of them at the associate degree level. 13 of the 13 offer online delivery, and this one is available online or on campus.

We score every California program on a seven-factor methodology covering accreditation maturity, director credentials, pathways, delivery, employer pipeline, cost, and reputation. See how San Diego Mesa College compares in our ranking of the best HIM programs in California.

CA programs

At this level

Online capable

18,700

HIM jobs in CA

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro.

The occupation most RHIT-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro the median is $55,980 a year, 9% above the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro

Median annual: $55,980
10th percentile: $40,850
90th percentile: $100,950
Employed: 1,680

National (for reference)

Median annual: $51,140
California state median: $61,810
90th percentile: $81,150

Accreditation history

Recent CAHIIM actions on this program

December 2020

Grant seven years of Continuing Accreditation with a Progress Report. The program remains non-compliant with the following Standards: The following Standards are Partially Met: Standard 24. The Curriculum. Several assignments were not available for review within the courses. Some assignments were not written at the required taxonomy level. Several of the deficiencies remain Partially Met due to the implementation date. These Curriculum Competencies remain Partially Met: I.A.2., I.B.4., I.D.1., I

Source: CAHIIM Program Directory listing for San Diego Mesa College. Refreshed quarterly.

FAQ

San Diego Mesa College HIM program: common questions.

Is the San Diego Mesa College health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The associate degree in Health Information Management at San Diego Mesa College holds Continuing accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 12/17/2020, with its next review scheduled for the 2027-2028 cycle.

Does San Diego Mesa College qualify me to sit for the RHIT exam?

Yes. Graduating from this CAHIIM-accredited associate degree makes you eligible for AHIMA's RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) exam. CAHIIM accreditation is the eligibility gate; without it the exam is not available to you.

Is the San Diego Mesa College program online?

Partly. CAHIIM lists delivery as Campus Based, Online, so you can take it on campus in San Diego or online.

What do medical records specialists earn in San Diego?

Medical records specialists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro earn a median of $55,980 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 9% above the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in California?

California has 13 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 7 at the associate degree level. 13 of them offer online delivery. See our full California ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in California, ranked

How San Diego Mesa College stacks up on our seven-factor methodology.

Associate degree in HIM guide

Curriculum, cost, and what the degree actually gets you.

RHIT certification guide

The exam this degree qualifies you for: structure, prep, wage impact.

Also in California

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in California

Same degree level

Other associate degree programs in health information management

Data on this page is sourced from the official CAHIIM Program Directory listing for San Diego Mesa College, last refreshed May 13, 2026, and BLS OEWS May 2025. Accreditation status can change between refreshes. Always verify directly with CAHIIM before enrolling.