Degrees / North Carolina / Associate Degree

Southwestern Community College

Associate Degree in Health Information Management in Sylva, NC

CAHIIM Continuing Accreditation Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 447 College Drive, Sylva, NC, 28779
State: North Carolina (NC)
Degree level: Associate Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Online
Program Director: Penny Wells , MA Ed, RHIA
Phone: (828) 339-4362
Email: pwells@southwesterncc.edu
Last accreditation date: 12/17/2020
Next review cycle: 2027-2028
Progress report status: Progress Report satisfactory and completed

What this means

Southwestern Community College is accredited and your degree counts.

Because Southwestern 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 2027-2028.

The North Carolina picture

Where Southwestern Community College sits among North Carolina's 13 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

North Carolina has 13 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 11 of them at the associate degree level. 12 of the 13 offer online delivery, and this one is fully online.

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

NC programs

At this level

Online capable

6,760

HIM jobs in NC

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in North Carolina.

The occupation most RHIT-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In North Carolina the median is $49,620 a year, 3% below the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

North Carolina

Median annual: $49,620
10th percentile: $36,840
90th percentile: $79,670
Employed: 6,760

National (for reference)

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

FAQ

Southwestern Community College HIM program: common questions.

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

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

Does Southwestern 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 Southwestern Community College program online?

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

What do medical records specialists earn in North Carolina?

Medical records specialists in the North Carolina earn a median of $49,620 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 3% below the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in North Carolina?

North Carolina has 13 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 11 at the associate degree level. 12 of them offer online delivery. See our full North Carolina ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in North Carolina, ranked

How Southwestern 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 North Carolina

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in North Carolina

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 Southwestern 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.