University of Illinois at Chicago

Master Degree in Health Information Management in Chicago, IL

CAHIIM Initial Accreditation Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: Department of Biomedical and Health Information Sciences, 1919 W. Taylor, Room 232 (MC 530), Chicago, IL, 60612
State: Illinois (IL)
Degree level: Master Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Online
Program Director: Lois Hitchcock , MHA, RHIA, FAHIMA
Phone: (866) 772-2268
Email: lmhitch@uic.edu
Last accreditation date: 12/07/2022
Next review cycle: 2029-2030
Progress report status: Progress Report satisfactory and completed

What this means

University of Illinois at Chicago is accredited and your degree counts.

Because University of Illinois at Chicago holds Initial accreditation from CAHIIM, graduates of this master's degree are eligible to sit for AHIMA's RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator) exam. That eligibility is the whole reason CAHIIM accreditation matters: without a CAHIIM-accredited degree, the exam is closed to you.

"Initial Accreditation" means the program received CAHIIM accreditation recently and is on a shortened review cycle to confirm continued compliance. Graduates are fully eligible for AHIMA exams. The status simply signals a newer program.

The Illinois picture

Where University of Illinois at Chicago sits among Illinois's 22 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

Illinois has 22 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 3 of them at the master's degree level. 19 of the 22 offer online delivery, and this one is fully online.

We score every Illinois program on a seven-factor methodology covering accreditation maturity, director credentials, pathways, delivery, employer pipeline, cost, and reputation. See how University of Illinois at Chicago compares in our ranking of the best HIM programs in Illinois, or browse all 5 accredited programs in Chicago.

IL programs

At this level

Online capable

5,740

HIM jobs in IL

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro.

The occupation most RHIA-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro the median is $49,790 a year, 3% below the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro

Median annual: $49,790
10th percentile: $38,680
90th percentile: $79,190
Employed: 3,220

National (for reference)

Median annual: $51,140
Illinois state median: $56,440
90th percentile: $81,150

FAQ

University of Illinois at Chicago HIM program: common questions.

Is the University of Illinois at Chicago health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The master's degree in Health Information Management at University of Illinois at Chicago holds Initial accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 12/07/2022, with its next review scheduled for the 2029-2030 cycle.

Does University of Illinois at Chicago qualify me to sit for the RHIA exam?

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

Is the University of Illinois at Chicago program online?

Yes. CAHIIM lists this program as fully online, so you can complete it from anywhere in Illinois or out of state.

What do medical records specialists earn in Chicago?

Medical records specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro earn a median of $49,790 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 3% below the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in Illinois?

Illinois has 22 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 3 at the master's degree level. 19 of them offer online delivery. See our full Illinois ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in Illinois, ranked

How University of Illinois at Chicago stacks up on our seven-factor methodology.

Health information management degree guide

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

RHIA certification guide

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

Also in Illinois

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in Illinois

Same degree level

Other master degree programs in health information management

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