Online HIM Master's
Best Online Master's in Health Information Management for Working Professionals, Ranked (2026)
An online master's in health information management lets you move toward leadership, privacy, or data roles without leaving your job. These 7 CAHIIM-accredited programs each state on their own pages that the schedule is flexible, part time, asynchronous, or built for working professionals. Compare pace, credits, and admission rules below.
- Programs Ranked
- 7
- Institutions
- 7
- Online Programs Reviewed
- 12
What to Know Before You Apply
- 7 online master's programs qualify. Each one is an active CAHIIM-accredited program with a flexible-schedule statement on the school's own page.
- Order comes from accreditation data. Award status, review horizon, delivery access, and credential pathways set the order, computed when the page is built.
- Check the pace before you apply. Part-time options, start dates, and practicum requirements differ by school.
How We Ranked These Programs
A program qualifies when it is an active CAHIIM-accredited master's in health information management, CAHIIM lists its delivery as online, and the school's own program page states flexible, part-time, asynchronous, or working-professional scheduling. 12 online programs were reviewed, and 7 meet all three tests.
Programs are ordered by the directory-only CAHIIM score: current award status (50 points), next-review horizon (25), delivery access (15), and credential pathways at the institution (10). Schedule facts decide who is included, not the order. Reviewed on 2026-10-02. Read the directory-only ranking method.
Side by Side
Compare 7 Online Programs Side by Side
| # | School | State | CAHIIM Score | CAHIIM Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Maryland Global Campus | MD | 90.9 / 100 | Continuing |
| 2 | The College of St. Scholastica | MN | 90.4 / 100 | Continuing |
| 3 | University of Tennessee Health Science Center | TN | 79.3 / 100 | Continuing |
| 4 | Rutgers University | NJ | 71.9 / 100 | Initial |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts - Lowell | MA | 64.3 / 100 | Initial |
| 6 | University of Illinois at Chicago | IL | 60.7 / 100 | Initial |
| 7 | Dakota State University | SD | 53.6 / 100 | Initial |
Program by Program
Each Program and Its Schedule for Working Professionals
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#1 · CAHIIM Score 90.9 / 100
University of Maryland Global Campus: Master's in Health Information Management
Maryland · Online · Continuing CAHIIM Accreditation · Review 2031-2032
UMGC designs this 36-credit degree around working health care professionals, and the school reports that most students in the program hold full-time jobs. It prepares you for the RHIA and Certified Digital Health Leader exams, and an accelerated pathway from its bachelor's program can trim up to 6 credits. You have five consecutive years to finish.
Schedule Source: UMGC describes the 36-credit program as designed with the needs of working health care professionals in mind and fully online.
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#2 · CAHIIM Score 90.4 / 100
The College of St. Scholastica: Master's in Health Information Management
Minnesota · Online · Continuing CAHIIM Accreditation · Review 2032-2033
St. Scholastica serves two groups: practicing HIM professionals moving up and bachelor's degree holders from other fields moving in. The 40 credits are fully online over about two years, at $700 per credit for 2026 to 2027, and the program prepares you for RHIA eligibility. CAHIIM chose it to pilot the 2026 accreditation standards.
Schedule Source: St. Scholastica says its 100% online format lets students continue working while advancing their expertise, and is designed for practicing HIM professionals and bachelor's degree holders from other fields.
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#3 · CAHIIM Score 79.3 / 100
University of Tennessee Health Science Center: Master's in Health Information Management
Tennessee · Online · Continuing CAHIIM Accreditation · Review 2030-2031
UTHSC builds the degree around a personalized plan of study and asynchronous coursework, so you choose when to work. Two tracks, entry-level and post-graduate, let people new to the field and experienced professionals each start at the right place. The GRE is not required, and classes stay small at 25 students or fewer.
Schedule Source: UTHSC says the program is 100 percent online, allowing working professionals the flexibility to earn the degree when and how they choose, with an asynchronous design and personalized plan of study.
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#4 · CAHIIM Score 71.9 / 100
Rutgers University: Master's in Health Information Management
New Jersey · Online · Initial CAHIIM Accreditation · Review 2031-2032
Rutgers gives you two clear pacing choices. Full-time students can finish in about 18 months to two years, and part-time students take three to five years, which suits a heavy work schedule. The 36 credits are fully online, the GRE is not required, and applicants need a bachelor's degree and college-level statistics.
Schedule Source: Rutgers says the program is offered 100% online, full-time and part-time, and that part-time students may take three to five years.
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#5 · CAHIIM Score 64.3 / 100
University of Massachusetts - Lowell: Master's in Health Information Management
Massachusetts · Online · Initial CAHIIM Accreditation · Review 2030-2031
UMass Lowell offers a 36-credit, twelve-course online degree that you can take part time or full time, finishing in as little as 18 months. The GRE is not required. Graduates are pointed toward roles such as health information manager, clinical data analyst, and compliance and privacy, so it fits people who want a mix of data and management work.
Schedule Source: UMass Lowell says the program is 100% online, available part time or full time, and designed for working professionals.
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#6 · CAHIIM Score 60.7 / 100
University of Illinois at Chicago: Master's in Health Information Management
Illinois · Online · Initial CAHIIM Accreditation · Review 2029-2030
UIC's master's in health information management is fully online and asynchronous, so you read, post, and submit work around your shifts instead of logging in at set times. The program takes about 20 months and prepares you to sit for the RHIA exam, which makes it a direct route if the management credential is your goal.
Schedule Source: UIC describes the program as 100% online and asynchronous, with a 20-month length.
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#7 · CAHIIM Score 53.6 / 100
Dakota State University: Master's in Health Information Management
South Dakota · Online · Initial CAHIIM Accreditation · Review 2027-2028
Dakota State leaves a lot of room on timing. You can start in fall, spring, or summer, finish in as little as six semesters, or stretch the 33 credits over as long as five years if work and family come first. Everything is online, so relocating or commuting to campus is never part of the plan.
Schedule Source: Dakota State describes the program as 100% online and on your time, finishable in as little as six semesters or part time within five years.
How to Choose an Online HIM Master's While Working
Decide first whether you want the RHIA credential, since not every program is built around it. Then compare pace: full-time and part-time timelines differ by years. Check admission requirements such as statistics coursework or the GRE, ask about start dates, and confirm total cost per credit and fees before you apply.
Keep exploring with the master’s in health information management degree guide, online master’s in health informatics programs, the RHIA certification guide, and the full rankings hub.
Questions About Studying Online While Working
Official Sources
- CAHIIM Program Directory: program, subject, level, status, delivery, and review cycle.
- University of Maryland Global Campus program page: schedule and format statements.
- The College of St. Scholastica program page: schedule and format statements.
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center program page: schedule and format statements.
- Rutgers University program page: schedule and format statements.
- University of Massachusetts - Lowell program page: schedule and format statements.
- University of Illinois at Chicago program page: schedule and format statements.
- Dakota State University program page: schedule and format statements.