Waubonsee Community College

Associate Degree in Health Information Management in Aurora, IL

CAHIIM Continuing Accreditation Campus Based, Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 18 S. River Street, Aurora, IL, 60506
State: Illinois (IL)
Degree level: Associate Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Campus Based, Online
Program Director: Patricia Saccone , RHIA, CDIP, CCS-P, CPB
Phone: (630) 906-4194
Email: psaccone@waubonsee.edu
Last accreditation date: 11/29/2023
Next review cycle: 2031-2032

Our take

The far-west Chicago suburbs’ AAS, led by a four-credential coding specialist.

Waubonsee’s program director, Patricia Saccone, holds the RHIA, CDIP, CCS-P, and CPB, a documentation-and-coding credential stack that most associate programs cannot offer. The AAS runs on campus in Aurora and online, and holds Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with its next review in 2031-2032.

Aurora sits at the edge of the Chicago metro, which employs over 3,000 medical records specialists. Rush Copley Medical Center is in Aurora itself, with Endeavor Health and Advocate Health Care hospitals across the western suburbs. Community-college district tuition makes this one of the cheapest RHIT-eligible paths in Illinois.

What this means

Waubonsee Community College is accredited and your degree counts.

Because Waubonsee Community 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 2031-2032.

The Illinois picture

Where Waubonsee Community College sits among Illinois's 22 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

Illinois has 22 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 15 of them at the associate degree level. 19 of the 22 offer online delivery, and this one is available online or on campus.

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

IL programs

At this level

Online capable

5,740

HIM jobs in IL

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in Illinois.

The occupation most RHIT-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In Illinois the median is $56,440 a year, 10% above the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Illinois

Median annual: $56,440
10th percentile: $38,890
90th percentile: $77,520
Employed: 5,740

National (for reference)

Median annual: $51,140
90th percentile: $81,150

FAQ

Waubonsee Community College HIM program: common questions.

Is the Waubonsee Community College health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The associate degree in Health Information Management at Waubonsee Community College holds Continuing accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 11/29/2023, with its next review scheduled for the 2031-2032 cycle.

Does Waubonsee Community 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 Waubonsee Community College program online?

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

What do medical records specialists earn in Illinois?

Medical records specialists in the Illinois earn a median of $56,440 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 10% above the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in Illinois?

Illinois has 22 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 15 at the associate 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 Waubonsee Community 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 Illinois

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in Illinois

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 Waubonsee Community College, last refreshed May 13, 2026, and BLS OEWS May 2025. Accreditation status can change between refreshes. Always verify directly with CAHIIM before enrolling.