University of Washington

Master Degree in Health Informatics in Seattle, WA

CAHIIM Initial Accreditation Campus Based Enrollment: Active

Program information

Address: 1959 NE Pacific St, H-670, Box 357660, Seattle, WA, 98195-7660
State: Washington (WA)
Degree level: Master Degree
Subject area: Health Informatics
Content delivery: Campus Based
Program Director: Karima Lalani , PhD, MBA, RHIA, FACHE
Phone: (206) 543-8810
Email: klalani@uw.edu
Last accreditation date: 08/17/2016
Next review cycle: 2027-2028
Progress report status: Progress Report satisfactory and completed

What this means

University of Washington is accredited and your degree counts.

University of Washington holds Initial CAHIIM accreditation in health informatics. Informatics programs point at analytics, EHR, and clinical data roles rather than the traditional RHIA-track HIM ladder; graduates often pursue specialty credentials like AHIMA's CHDA once they have analytics experience. If your goal is the RHIA and HIM department management, compare this against the CAHIIM health information management programs in Washington.

"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 Washington picture

Where University of Washington sits among Washington's 6 CAHIIM-accredited programs.

Washington has 6 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, and this is the only one at the master's degree level. 4 of the 6 offer online delivery, and this one is campus based.

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

WA programs

At this level

Online capable

5,010

HIM jobs in WA

What the work pays

Medical records specialist pay in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro.

The core HIM occupation is Medical Records Specialist (SOC 29-2072). In the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro the median is $62,270 a year, 22% above the national median. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro

Median annual: $62,270
90th percentile: $99,240
Employed: 3,210

National (for reference)

Median annual: $51,140
Washington state median: $62,270
90th percentile: $81,150

Accreditation history

Recent CAHIIM actions on this program

August 2016

Grant ten years of Initial Accreditation with a Progress Report. The following Standards are Partially Met: Standard 9. Program-Specific Curriculum. The Program continues to uphold the two courses focused on healthcare databases as they exist, but seeks to discuss this further during a summer retreat. A final decision has not been made in compliance with the site visit comment. The Program response indicates that one course title has been changed to 'Information Governance' but it is unclear wha

Source: CAHIIM Program Directory listing for University of Washington. Refreshed quarterly.

FAQ

University of Washington health informatics program: common questions.

Is the University of Washington health informatics program CAHIIM-accredited?

Yes. The master's degree in Health Informatics at University of Washington holds Initial accreditation from CAHIIM, most recently affirmed 08/17/2016, with its next review scheduled for the 2027-2028 cycle.

Is the University of Washington program online?

No. CAHIIM lists this program as campus based, delivered in person in Seattle, WA.

What do medical records specialists earn in Seattle?

Medical records specialists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro earn a median of $62,270 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025), 22% above the national median. The national median is $51,140.

How many CAHIIM-accredited programs are in Washington?

Washington has 6 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, 1 at the master's degree level. 4 of them offer online delivery. See our full Washington ranking for how they compare.

Keep going

Next steps.

Best HIM programs in Washington, ranked

How University of Washington stacks up on our seven-factor methodology.

Health informatics degree guide

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

HIM careers and certifications

Where the degree leads: roles, credentials, salaries.

Also in Washington

Other CAHIIM-accredited programs in Washington

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