William Carey University

Master Degree in Health Information Management in Hattiesburg, MS

CAHIIM Initial Accreditation Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 710 William Carey Parkway, Wcu Box 8, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401
State: Mississippi (MS)
Degree level: Master Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Online
Program Director: Alicia Watts , PhD, MBA, CPHIMS,RHIA
Phone: (601) 318-6714
Email: awatts@wmcarey.edu
Last accreditation date: 02/09/2026
Next review cycle: 2033-2034

What this means

William Carey University is accredited and your degree counts.

Because William Carey University 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 Mississippi picture

Where William Carey University sits among Mississippi's 6 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

Mississippi has 6 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 2 of them at the master's degree level. 6 of the 6 offer online delivery, and this one is fully online.

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

MS programs

At this level

Online capable

2,310

HIM jobs in MS

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in Mississippi.

The occupation most RHIA-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In Mississippi the median is $41,500 a year, 19% below the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Mississippi

Median annual: $41,500
10th percentile: $31,010
90th percentile: $61,580
Employed: 2,310

National (for reference)

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

FAQ

William Carey University HIM program: common questions.

Is the William Carey University health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The master's degree in Health Information Management at William Carey University holds Initial accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 02/09/2026, with its next review scheduled for the 2033-2034 cycle.

Does William Carey University 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 William Carey University program online?

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

What do medical records specialists earn in Mississippi?

Medical records specialists in the Mississippi earn a median of $41,500 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 19% below the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in Mississippi?

Mississippi has 6 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 2 at the master's degree level. 6 of them offer online delivery. See our full Mississippi ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in Mississippi, ranked

How William Carey University 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 Mississippi

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in Mississippi

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