Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Master Degree in Health Information Management in Weatherford, OK

CAHIIM Initial Accreditation Online Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: Department Of Allied Health, 100 Campus Dr, Weatherford, OK, 73096
State: Oklahoma (OK)
Degree level: Master Degree
Subject area: Health Information Management
Content delivery: Online
Program Director: Dana Lloyd , DHA, RHIA, ODS, CHDA
Phone: (580) 774-7149
Email: dana.lloyd@swosu.edu
Last accreditation date: 12/17/2020
Next review cycle: 2027-2028
Progress report status: Progress Report satisfactory and completed

What this means

Southwestern Oklahoma State University is accredited and your degree counts.

Because Southwestern Oklahoma State 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 Oklahoma picture

Where Southwestern Oklahoma State University sits among Oklahoma's 3 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

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

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

OK programs

At this level

Online capable

2,480

HIM jobs in OK

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in Oklahoma.

The occupation most RHIA-track graduates enter is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In Oklahoma the median is $53,460 a year, 5% above the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Oklahoma

Median annual: $53,460
10th percentile: $36,610
90th percentile: $74,710
Employed: 2,480

National (for reference)

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

Accreditation history

Recent CAHIIM actions on this program

December 2020

Grant seven years of Initial Accreditation with a Progress Report. The following Standard is Partially Met: Standard 9. Program-Specific Curriculum. The following Curriculum Competencies are Partially Met until implemented: I.2., I.5., IV.1., V.2., VI.2., VI.8. New Degree Program Search New Certificate Program Search

Source: CAHIIM Program Directory listing for Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Refreshed quarterly.

FAQ

Southwestern Oklahoma State University HIM program: common questions.

Is the Southwestern Oklahoma State University health information management program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The master's degree in Health Information Management at Southwestern Oklahoma State University holds Initial accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 12/17/2020, with its next review scheduled for the 2027-2028 cycle.

Does Southwestern Oklahoma State 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 Southwestern Oklahoma State University program online?

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

What do medical records specialists earn in Oklahoma?

Medical records specialists in the Oklahoma earn a median of $53,460 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 5% above the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma has 3 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 1 at the master's degree level. 3 of them offer online delivery. See our full Oklahoma ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in Oklahoma, ranked

How Southwestern Oklahoma State 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 Oklahoma

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in Oklahoma

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