National HIM ranking

Best health information management programs in the United States, ranked (2026)

by , founder & editor

updated

Every active CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in the United States and Puerto Rico, across every degree level, scored against the same seven-factor methodology and ranked head-to-head. The Top 25 cohort gets full data cards. The complete national table covers all 329 programs. Sub-rankings break out the best AAS, the best BSHIM, the best master's, and the best fully online programs at each level.

329

Active CAHIIM programs

222

Continuing CAHIIM

196

Fully online

$51,140

Median entry wage

Key Takeaways

  • 329 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are active across the United States and Puerto Rico. 205 associate, 61 bachelor's, 48 master's, and 15 certificate programs.
  • 222 programs hold Continuing CAHIIM accreditation; the remaining 107 are on Initial accreditation. Both qualify graduates for the corresponding AHIMA exam.
  • 196 programs run fully online, 108 hybrid, and 25 campus-only. AHIMA does not annotate modality on the credential transcript.
  • The seven factors and their weights: accreditation 25%, director credentials 15%, stacked pathways 15%, delivery 15%, employer pipeline 15%, cost 10%, reputation 5%. No paid placements.
  • Top three programs nationally: Clarkson College (Nebraska, BSHIM), The College of St. Scholastica (Minnesota, Master's), Davenport University (Michigan, BSHIM).
  • Pick by degree level first. The credential the program qualifies you for is gated by degree: AAS for RHIT, bachelor's for RHIA, master's for advanced informatics roles.
  • For state-specific employer pipelines and hospital-system fit, see the matching state ranking page linked under each card and in the By-state section.

How we ranked

The seven-factor methodology.

The fundamental problem with college rankings is that they reward what's easy to measure: USNWR weights peer reviews heavily, which favors schools that have always been famous over schools that produce better graduates. We took a different approach. The seven factors we weigh are the inputs that actually determine whether a CAHIIM-accredited HIM program gets you to the AHIMA credential you want and into the workforce. We pulled every factor from CAHIIM directory data, the BLS OEWS dataset, or the program's own published curriculum. Nothing is opinion.

Accreditation carries the heaviest single weight at 25% because the credential the program qualifies you for is gated by CAHIIM. A program that loses accreditation mid-degree can leave you ineligible for the corresponding AHIMA exam, so the difference between Continuing accreditation extending through 2030 and Initial accreditation due for review in 2026 is the single biggest risk-adjustment in the ranking.

This national ranking covers every CAHIIM-accredited HIM program at every degree level: AAS, BSHIM, master's, and certificate. Each program competes head-to-head on the same factors. The same scoring rubric is applied to a community-college AAS and a public-university master's. Cross-level comparisons surface a real signal: well-run AAS programs at strong community colleges often outscore middling master's programs at large universities, because the AAS is hitting all seven factors and the master's is only hitting some of them.

Factor Weight What it measures
Accreditation25%Continuing vs Initial CAHIIM status, next review horizon, accreditation continuity history.
Director credentials15%Program director's AHIMA credentials (RHIA, CCS, CDIP), terminal degree, and FAHIMA status.
Stacked pathways15%Number of CAHIIM credentials at the same institution. More levels equals easier in-house ladder.
Delivery format15%Fully online, hybrid, or campus-only. HIM audience skews working-adult, so flexibility matters.
Employer pipeline15%Hospital systems and registries the program feeds. National rankings use neutral default; state pages override.
Cost10%In-district CC at the floor, out-of-state public in the middle, private at the ceiling.
Reputation5%Accreditation history, AHIMA recognition, R1 designation, academic medical center proximity.

National-ranking scores apply baseline values (5 of 10) for employer pipeline and reputation because both factors are state-specific. State ranking pages override those defaults with hospital system rationale tied to in-state employers. See the full methodology for the scoring rubric on each factor.

The seven factors

What each factor actually measures.

1. Accreditation (25%)

CAHIIM accredits HIM and health informatics programs at the AAS, certificate, bachelor's, and master's levels. CAHIIM accreditation is what AHIMA uses to determine RHIA and RHIT exam eligibility. A program that is not CAHIIM-accredited cannot route graduates to AHIMA credentials. So accreditation gets the heaviest single weight because losing it is the single most catastrophic outcome. We score Continuing accreditation higher than Initial because the program has already survived at least one renewal cycle, and we give a small bonus for programs with the next review extending past 2030.

2. Director credentials (15%)

The program director is the senior HIM educator at the institution. Their credential string in the CAHIIM directory tells you which AHIMA credentials they've earned, which terminal degrees they hold, and whether they have additional specialty recognition. We score directly from the credential string: an RHIA-credentialed director is the baseline, additional credentials like CCS, CDIP, CHDA, and CHPS add depth, terminal degrees (PhD, EdD, DHA, DrPH) add academic weight, and FAHIMA designation signals top-tier professional recognition.

3. Stacked credential pathways (15%)

Some institutions run only one CAHIIM credential. Others run AAS plus BSHIM plus master's at the same campus. The latter is meaningfully better for students who anticipate laddering up, because in-house transfer is tighter than cross-institution transfer. The pathways factor counts the number of CAHIIM credentials at the same institution.

4. Delivery format (15%)

The HIM audience skews working-adult, especially at the AAS and BSHIM level. Fully online delivery is the highest-flexibility option. Hybrid delivery is a middle ground. Campus-only delivery is the lowest-flexibility option. AHIMA does not annotate modality on the credential transcript, so online and on-campus graduates compete on the same terms after graduation.

5. Employer pipeline (15%)

This factor measures how strongly a program is connected to the local employer market. National rankings cannot score this well because employer strength is geography-specific, so we use a neutral default of 5 of 10. State ranking pages override this with hospital-system rationale (which AAS feeds UPMC, which BSHIM ties to Kaiser, which master's program runs out of a Texas Medical Center academic medical center).

6. Cost (10%)

Tuition varies widely. Public community college in-district tuition runs $3K to $6K for the full AAS. Public university bachelor's tuition runs $30K to $80K across four years. Master's tuition ranges from $20K to $80K depending on public vs private. Cost matters most at the AAS level where in-district CC is the floor and Pell Grant often covers it entirely.

7. Reputation (5%)

Reputation is mostly downstream of accreditation history at the AAS level and somewhat more meaningful at the master's level (where institutional research output and academic medical center affiliation matter). We weight reputation at 5% to capture institutional signals without letting prestige drive scores that should be driven by accreditation and director credentials.

Top 25 nationally

The 25 highest-scoring HIM programs in the United States.

Mixed degree levels. The Top 25 cohort spans AAS, bachelor's, and master's programs that all scored at or near the top of the methodology. Each card shows the program director's credentials, the institution's full CAHIIM credential ladder, the accreditation horizon, and the contact info from the CAHIIM directory.

#1

Clarkson College

Best fully online BSHIM

80.8/10

Overall score

BSHIM Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2033-2034 Nebraska · Omaha

Why it ranks #1

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Gretchen Jopp , MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC holds the RHIA + CCS combination. Clarkson College also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Associate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director

Gretchen Jopp , MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC

Location

101 S. 42nd Street, Omaha, NE, 68131

Contact

(402) 552-3406
joppgretchen@clarksoncollege.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)7.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall80.8/10

Visit program at clarksoncollege.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#2

The College of St. Scholastica

Best fully online HIM/health informatics master's

80.8/10

Overall score

Master's Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2032-2033 Minnesota · Duluth

Why it ranks #2

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Katie Kerr , EdD, RHIA holds the EdD + RHIA combination. The College of St. Scholastica also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Baccalaureate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director

Katie Kerr , EdD, RHIA

Location

1200 Kenwood Ave., Duluth, MN, 55811

Contact

(218) 464-3569
kkerr@css.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)7.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall80.8/10

Visit program at css.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#3

Davenport University

Best fully online BSHIM with full credential ladder

80.0/10

Overall score

BSHIM Online CAHIIM Continuing Stacked 3 CAHIIM credentials Next review 2030-2031 Michigan · Grand Rapids

Why it ranks #3

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2030-2031. Director LaShunda Smith , PhD, RHIA, CHC, CHDA, CPC carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (PhD + RHIA + CHDA). Davenport University runs 3 CAHIIM-accredited credentials at the same institution (Associate Degree, Baccalaureate Degree, Master Degree), allowing in-house progression across degree levels. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director

LaShunda Smith , PhD, RHIA, CHC, CHDA, CPC

Location

6191 Kraft Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49512

Contact

(334) 549-7514
lsmith291@davenport.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9.0/10
Director (15%)9.0/10
Pathways (15%)9.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)5.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall80.0/10

Visit program at davenport.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#4

CUNY School of Professional Studies

Best fully online BSHIM

79.8/10

Overall score

BSHIM Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2033-2034 New York · New York

Why it ranks #4

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Memory Ndanga , PhD, RHIA holds the PhD + RHIA combination. CUNY School of Professional Studies also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Master Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director

Memory Ndanga , PhD, RHIA

Location

119 West 31st Street, New York, NY, 10001

Contact

(646) 344-7324
memory.ndanga@cuny.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)6.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall79.8/10

Visit program at sps.cuny.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#5

Indiana Institute of Technology

Best fully online AAS

79.8/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2033-2034 Indiana · Fort Wayne

Why it ranks #5

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Megan Patton , EdD, RHIA holds the EdD + RHIA combination. Indiana Institute of Technology also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Baccalaureate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director

Megan Patton , EdD, RHIA

Location

1600 E. Washington Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN, 46803

Contact

(260) 422-5561
mepatton@indianatech.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)6.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall79.8/10

Visit program at academics.indianatech.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#6

Davenport University

Best fully online AAS with stacked credential ladder

79.5/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Stacked 3 CAHIIM credentials Next review 2029-2030 Michigan · Grand Rapids

Why it ranks #6

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2029-2030. Director LaShunda Smith , PhD, RHIA, CHC, CHDA, CPC carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (PhD + RHIA + CHDA). Davenport University runs 3 CAHIIM-accredited credentials at the same institution (Associate Degree, Baccalaureate Degree, Master Degree), allowing in-house progression across degree levels. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director

LaShunda Smith , PhD, RHIA, CHC, CHDA, CPC

Location

6191 Kraft Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49512

Contact

(334) 549-7514
lsmith291@davenport.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9.0/10
Director (15%)9.0/10
Pathways (15%)9.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)5.0/10
Reputation (5%)5.0/10
Overall79.5/10

Visit program at davenport.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#7

The College of St. Scholastica

Best bachelor's degree in HIM (BSHIM)

79.3/10

Overall score

BSHIM Hybrid CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2033-2034 Minnesota · Duluth

Why it ranks #7

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Pam Oachs , MA, RHIA, CHDA, FAHIMA carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (FAHIMA + RHIA + CHDA). The College of St. Scholastica also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Master Degree program at the same school. Hybrid delivery combines synchronous campus sessions with asynchronous online coursework.

Program director

Pam Oachs , MA, RHIA, CHDA, FAHIMA

Location

Department of Health Informatics and Information Management - S1123, 1200 Kenwood Avenue, Duluth, MN, 55811

Contact

(218) 723-6409
poachs@css.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)9.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)8.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)7.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall79.3/10

Visit program at css.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#8

Charter Oak State College

Best fully online BSHIM

79.3/10

Overall score

BSHIM Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2032-2033 Connecticut · New Britain

Why it ranks #8

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Cindy Glewwe Edgerton , MHA, MEd, RHIA holds the RHIA credential. Charter Oak State College also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Undergraduate Certificate program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director

Cindy Glewwe Edgerton , MHA, MEd, RHIA

Location

185 Main Street, New Britain, CT, 06051

Contact

(860) 515-3833
cedgerton@charteroak.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)7.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)7.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall79.3/10

Visit program at charteroak.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#9

Davenport University

Best online master's with a full credential ladder

79.3/10

Overall score

Master's Online CAHIIM Continuing Stacked 3 CAHIIM credentials Next review 2032-2033 Michigan · Grand Rapids

Why it ranks #9

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Joseph Brown , DHA, MS, CHDA holds the DHA + CHDA combination. Davenport University runs 3 CAHIIM-accredited credentials at the same institution (Associate Degree, Baccalaureate Degree, Master Degree), allowing in-house progression across degree levels. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director

Joseph Brown , DHA, MS, CHDA

Location

6191 Kraft Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49512

Contact

(586) 620-4088
joseph.brown@davenport.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)6.5/10
Pathways (15%)9.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)5.0/10
Reputation (5%)7.0/10
Overall79.3/10

Visit program at davenport.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#10

Central Arizona College

Best fully online AAS

78.5/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2032-2033 Arizona · Coolidge

Why it ranks #10

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Sandra Brightwell , EdD, RHIA, FAHIMA carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (EdD + FAHIMA + RHIA). Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director

Sandra Brightwell , EdD, RHIA, FAHIMA

Location

8470 North Overfield Road, Coolidge, AZ, 85128

Contact

(480) 677-7798
sandra.brightwell@centralaz.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)10.0/10
Pathways (15%)4.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)7.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall78.5/10

Visit program at centralaz.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#11

Ferris State University

Best fully online AAS

78.5/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2030-2031 Michigan · Big Rapids

Why it ranks #11

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2030-2031. Director Julie Alles , DHA, RHIA, FAHIMA carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (DHA + FAHIMA + RHIA). Ferris State University also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Baccalaureate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director

Julie Alles , DHA, RHIA, FAHIMA

Location

1201 S. State St., Big Rapids, MI, 49307

Contact

(231) 591-2395
juliealles@ferris.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9.0/10
Director (15%)10.0/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)5.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall78.5/10

Visit program at ferris.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#12

State Fair Community College

Best fully online AAS

78.0/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2032-2033 Missouri · Sedalia

Why it ranks #12

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Beverly Marquez , M.S., RHIA, FCAHIIM, FAHIMA holds the FAHIMA + RHIA combination. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public community-college tuition keeps the total program cost in the $3K to $6K in-district range.

Program director

Beverly Marquez , M.S., RHIA, FCAHIIM, FAHIMA

Location

3201 W. 16th Street, Sedalia, MO, 65301

Contact

(660) 596-7259
bmarquez@sfccmo.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)9.0/10
Pathways (15%)4.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)8.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall78.0/10

Visit program at sfccmo.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#13

University of Cincinnati - Clermont

Best fully online AAS

78.0/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2032-2033 Ohio · Batavia

Why it ranks #13

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Karen Lankisch , RHIA, CHDA, CPC, MHI, CPPM, CEHRS holds the RHIA + CHDA combination. University of Cincinnati - Clermont also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Baccalaureate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director

Karen Lankisch , RHIA, CHDA, CPC, MHI, CPPM, CEHRS

Location

4200 College Drive, Batavia, OH, 45103

Contact

(513) 558-6971
karen.lankisch@uc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)8.0/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)5.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall78.0/10

Visit program at online.uc.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#14

Metropolitan Community College - Omaha

Best fully online AAS

77.3/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2033-2034 Nebraska · Omaha

Why it ranks #14

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Dawn Goodsell , RHIA, CCS, CPC-I, CPC, COC holds the RHIA + CCS combination. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public community-college tuition keeps the total program cost in the $3K to $6K in-district range.

Program director

Dawn Goodsell , RHIA, CCS, CPC-I, CPC, COC

Location

PO Box 3777, Omaha, NE, 68103-0777

Contact

(531) 622-2633
dmgoodsell1@mccneb.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)4.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)8.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall77.3/10

Visit program at mccneb.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#15

Mountain Empire Community College

Best fully online AAS

77.3/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2032-2033 Virginia · Big Stone Gap

Why it ranks #15

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Sabrina Ward , RHIA, CPC, CCS-P holds the RHIA + CCS combination. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public community-college tuition keeps the total program cost in the $3K to $6K in-district range.

Program director

Sabrina Ward , RHIA, CPC, CCS-P

Location

3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, VA, 24219

Contact

(276) 523-9060
sward@mecc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)4.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)8.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall77.3/10

Visit program at catalog.mecc.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#16

Tacoma Community College

Best fully online AAS

77.3/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2029-2030 Washington · Tacoma

Why it ranks #16

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2029-2030. Director Corinne Jarvis , MEd, RHIA holds the RHIA credential. Tacoma Community College also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Baccalaureate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public community-college tuition keeps the total program cost in the $3K to $6K in-district range.

Program director

Corinne Jarvis , MEd, RHIA

Location

6501 S 19th St., Tacoma, WA, 98466

Contact

(253) 566-5077
cjarvis@tacomacc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9.0/10
Director (15%)7.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)8.0/10
Reputation (5%)5.0/10
Overall77.3/10

Visit program at tacomacc.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#17

East Central College

Best fully online AAS

77.0/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2033-2034 Missouri · Union

Why it ranks #17

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Kimberly Daman-Scheel , BSN, RN, RHIA, CCS, CDIP carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (RHIA + CCS + CDIP). Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director

Kimberly Daman-Scheel , BSN, RN, RHIA, CCS, CDIP

Location

1964 Prairie Dell Road, Union, MO, 63084

Contact

(636) 584-6662
kim.daman-scheel@eastcentral.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)9.0/10
Pathways (15%)4.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)7.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall77.0/10

Visit program at eastcentral.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#18

University of Maryland Global Campus

Best online master's with a full credential ladder

77.0/10

Overall score

Master's Online CAHIIM Continuing Stacked 3 CAHIIM credentials Next review 2031-2032 Maryland · Adelphi

Why it ranks #18

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2031-2032, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. University of Maryland Global Campus runs 3 CAHIIM-accredited credentials at the same institution (Master Degree, Undergraduate Certificate, Graduate Certificate), allowing in-house progression across degree levels. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director

Liliya Roberts , MD, MS

Location

3501 University Blvd. East,, Adelphi, MD, 20783

Contact

(571) 488-2535
liliya.roberts@umgc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)5.0/10
Pathways (15%)9.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)5.0/10
Reputation (5%)7.0/10
Overall77.0/10

Visit program at umgc.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#19

Clarkson College

Best fully online AAS

76.5/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2027-2028 Nebraska · Omaha

Why it ranks #19

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2027-2028. Director Gretchen Jopp , MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC holds the RHIA + CCS combination. Clarkson College also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Baccalaureate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director

Gretchen Jopp , MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC

Location

101 S. 42nd Street, Omaha, NE, 68131

Contact

(402) 552-3406
joppgretchen@clarksoncollege.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8.5/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)7.0/10
Reputation (5%)5.0/10
Overall76.5/10

Visit program at clarksoncollege.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#20

Midland College

Best fully online AAS

76.3/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2033-2034 Texas · Midland

Why it ranks #20

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Leonora Lambert , EdD, MS, BS, RHIA, CHTS-tr holds the EdD + RHIA combination. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director

Leonora Lambert , EdD, MS, BS, RHIA, CHTS-tr

Location

3600 N. Garfield, Midland, TX, 79705

Contact

(432) 685-6891
llambert@midland.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)4.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)7.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall76.3/10

Visit program at midland.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#21

Indiana University Northwest

Best bachelor's degree in HIM (BSHIM)

75.8/10

Overall score

BSHIM Hybrid CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2032-2033 Indiana · Gary

Why it ranks #21

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Patricia Johnson , MS Ed, RHIA, CCS-P holds the RHIA + CCS combination. Indiana University Northwest also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Associate Degree program at the same school. Hybrid delivery combines synchronous campus sessions with asynchronous online coursework. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director

Patricia Johnson , MS Ed, RHIA, CCS-P

Location

3400 Broadway, Gary, IN, 46408

Contact

(219) 980-6924
johnspat@iu.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)8.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)5.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall75.8/10

Visit program at northwest.iu.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#22

Rutgers University

Best fully online BSHIM

75.8/10

Overall score

BSHIM Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2029-2030 New Jersey · Piscataway

Why it ranks #22

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2029-2030. Director Dasantila Sherifi , PhD, MBA, RHIA holds the PhD + RHIA combination. Rutgers University also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Master Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director

Dasantila Sherifi , PhD, MBA, RHIA

Location

675 Hoes Lane West, Research Tower Building 8th Floor, Piscataway, NJ, 08854

Contact

(973) 972-4356
dasantila.sherifi@rutgers.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9.0/10
Director (15%)8.5/10
Pathways (15%)7.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)5.0/10
Reputation (5%)5.0/10
Overall75.8/10

Visit program at shp.rutgers.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#23

Marion Technical College

Best fully online AAS

75.7/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2032-2033 Ohio · Marion

Why it ranks #23

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Rachel Darby , RHIT,CCS, Program Director holds the RHIT + CCS combination. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public community-college tuition keeps the total program cost in the $3K to $6K in-district range.

Program director

Rachel Darby , RHIT,CCS, Program Director

Location

1467 Mount Vernon Avenue, Marion, OH, 43302

Contact

(740) 386-4105
darbyr@mtc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)7.5/10
Pathways (15%)4.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)8.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall75.7/10

Visit program at mtc.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#24

McLennan Community College

Best fully online AAS

75.7/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2033-2034 Texas · Waco

Why it ranks #24

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Lesley Plemons , MS, RHIA holds the RHIA credential. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public community-college tuition keeps the total program cost in the $3K to $6K in-district range.

Program director

Lesley Plemons , MS, RHIA

Location

1400 College Drive, Waco, TX, 76708

Contact

(254) 299-8233
lplemons@mclennan.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)7.5/10
Pathways (15%)4.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)8.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall75.7/10

Visit program at mclennan.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

#25

Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Best fully online AAS

75.7/10

Overall score

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Next review 2033-2034 Minnesota · Detroit Lakes

Why it ranks #25

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Bonnie C. Peterson , MS, RHIA holds the RHIA credential. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public community-college tuition keeps the total program cost in the $3K to $6K in-district range.

Program director

Bonnie C. Peterson , MS, RHIA

Location

900 Hwy 34 E, Detroit Lakes, MN, 56501

Contact

(218) 846-3678
bonnie.peterson@minnesota.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10.0/10
Director (15%)7.5/10
Pathways (15%)4.0/10
Delivery (15%)10.0/10
Employer (15%)5.0/10
Cost (10%)8.0/10
Reputation (5%)6.0/10
Overall75.7/10

Visit program at minnesota.edu → CAHIIM directory listing

By degree level

Best HIM programs at each degree level.

Pick the degree level you intend to earn, then see the top five programs in that cohort. Each cohort gets a dedicated national ranking page with full cards and the complete table at that degree level.

Best AAS programs (top 5 of 205)

Full AAS ranking →
  • 1.

    Indiana Institute of Technology

    Best fully online AAS · Indiana

    79.8/10
  • 2.

    Davenport University

    Best fully online AAS with stacked credential ladder · Michigan

    79.5/10
  • 3.

    Central Arizona College

    Best fully online AAS · Arizona

    78.5/10
  • 4.

    Ferris State University

    Best fully online AAS · Michigan

    78.5/10
  • 5.

    State Fair Community College

    Best fully online AAS · Missouri

    78.0/10

Best bachelor's (BSHIM) programs (top 5 of 61)

BSHIM pillar guide →
  • 1.

    Clarkson College

    Best fully online BSHIM · Nebraska

    80.8/10
  • 2.

    Davenport University

    Best fully online BSHIM with full credential ladder · Michigan

    80.0/10
  • 3.

    CUNY School of Professional Studies

    Best fully online BSHIM · New York

    79.8/10
  • 4.

    The College of St. Scholastica

    Best bachelor's degree in HIM (BSHIM) · Minnesota

    79.3/10
  • 5.

    Charter Oak State College

    Best fully online BSHIM · Connecticut

    79.3/10

Best master's programs (top 5 of 48)

Master's pillar guide →
  • 1.

    The College of St. Scholastica

    Best fully online HIM/health informatics master's · Minnesota

    80.8/10
  • 2.

    Davenport University

    Best online master's with a full credential ladder · Michigan

    79.3/10
  • 3.

    University of Maryland Global Campus

    Best online master's with a full credential ladder · Maryland

    77.0/10
  • 4.

    Grand Canyon University

    Best fully online HIM/health informatics master's · Arizona

    72.0/10
  • 5.

    Rutgers University

    Best fully online HIM/health informatics master's · New Jersey

    71.3/10

Best fully online

Top 10 fully online HIM programs.

Across every degree level. Fully online means 100% asynchronous coursework with no campus residency. Clinical practicum is arranged at a CAHIIM-approved facility near the student. AHIMA awards the same credential to online and on-campus graduates with no modality annotation on the transcript.

#1

Clarkson College

Best fully online BSHIM

80.8/10

Overall · #1 nationally

BSHIM Online CAHIIM Continuing 2 CAHIIM credentials at this school Nebraska · Omaha

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Gretchen Jopp , MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC holds the RHIA + CCS combination. Clarkson College also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Associate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director: Gretchen Jopp , MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC

Top factors

Accreditation10.0
Director8.5
Pathways7.0
Delivery10.0
#2

The College of St. Scholastica

Best fully online HIM/health informatics master's

80.8/10

Overall · #2 nationally

Master's Online CAHIIM Continuing 2 CAHIIM credentials at this school Minnesota · Duluth

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Katie Kerr , EdD, RHIA holds the EdD + RHIA combination. The College of St. Scholastica also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Baccalaureate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director: Katie Kerr , EdD, RHIA

Top factors

Accreditation10.0
Director8.5
Pathways7.0
Delivery10.0
#3

Davenport University

Best fully online BSHIM with full credential ladder

80.0/10

Overall · #3 nationally

BSHIM Online CAHIIM Continuing 3 CAHIIM credentials at this school Michigan · Grand Rapids

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2030-2031. Director LaShunda Smith , PhD, RHIA, CHC, CHDA, CPC carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (PhD + RHIA + CHDA). Davenport University runs 3 CAHIIM-accredited credentials at the same institution (Associate Degree, Baccalaureate Degree, Master Degree), allowing in-house progression across degree levels. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director: LaShunda Smith , PhD, RHIA, CHC, CHDA, CPC

Top factors

Accreditation9.0
Director9.0
Pathways9.0
Delivery10.0
#4

CUNY School of Professional Studies

Best fully online BSHIM

79.8/10

Overall · #4 nationally

BSHIM Online CAHIIM Continuing 2 CAHIIM credentials at this school New York · New York

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Memory Ndanga , PhD, RHIA holds the PhD + RHIA combination. CUNY School of Professional Studies also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Master Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director: Memory Ndanga , PhD, RHIA

Top factors

Accreditation10.0
Director8.5
Pathways7.0
Delivery10.0
#5

Indiana Institute of Technology

Best fully online AAS

79.8/10

Overall · #5 nationally

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing 2 CAHIIM credentials at this school Indiana · Fort Wayne

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2033-2034, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Megan Patton , EdD, RHIA holds the EdD + RHIA combination. Indiana Institute of Technology also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Baccalaureate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director: Megan Patton , EdD, RHIA

Top factors

Accreditation10.0
Director8.5
Pathways7.0
Delivery10.0
#6

Davenport University

Best fully online AAS with stacked credential ladder

79.5/10

Overall · #6 nationally

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing 3 CAHIIM credentials at this school Michigan · Grand Rapids

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2029-2030. Director LaShunda Smith , PhD, RHIA, CHC, CHDA, CPC carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (PhD + RHIA + CHDA). Davenport University runs 3 CAHIIM-accredited credentials at the same institution (Associate Degree, Baccalaureate Degree, Master Degree), allowing in-house progression across degree levels. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director: LaShunda Smith , PhD, RHIA, CHC, CHDA, CPC

Top factors

Accreditation9.0
Director9.0
Pathways9.0
Delivery10.0
#7

Charter Oak State College

Best fully online BSHIM

79.3/10

Overall · #8 nationally

BSHIM Online CAHIIM Continuing 2 CAHIIM credentials at this school Connecticut · New Britain

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Cindy Glewwe Edgerton , MHA, MEd, RHIA holds the RHIA credential. Charter Oak State College also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Undergraduate Certificate program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director: Cindy Glewwe Edgerton , MHA, MEd, RHIA

Top factors

Accreditation10.0
Director7.5
Pathways7.0
Delivery10.0
#8

Davenport University

Best online master's with a full credential ladder

79.3/10

Overall · #9 nationally

Master's Online CAHIIM Continuing 3 CAHIIM credentials at this school Michigan · Grand Rapids

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Joseph Brown , DHA, MS, CHDA holds the DHA + CHDA combination. Davenport University runs 3 CAHIIM-accredited credentials at the same institution (Associate Degree, Baccalaureate Degree, Master Degree), allowing in-house progression across degree levels. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director: Joseph Brown , DHA, MS, CHDA

Top factors

Accreditation10.0
Director6.5
Pathways9.0
Delivery10.0
#9

Central Arizona College

Best fully online AAS

78.5/10

Overall · #10 nationally

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing Arizona · Coolidge

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2032-2033, the longer-horizon accreditation tier. Director Sandra Brightwell , EdD, RHIA, FAHIMA carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (EdD + FAHIMA + RHIA). Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level.

Program director: Sandra Brightwell , EdD, RHIA, FAHIMA

Top factors

Accreditation10.0
Director10.0
Pathways4.0
Delivery10.0
#10

Ferris State University

Best fully online AAS

78.5/10

Overall · #11 nationally

AAS Online CAHIIM Continuing 2 CAHIIM credentials at this school Michigan · Big Rapids

Continuing CAHIIM accreditation with the next review at 2030-2031. Director Julie Alles , DHA, RHIA, FAHIMA carries an unusual depth of HIM credentials (DHA + FAHIMA + RHIA). Ferris State University also runs a CAHIIM-accredited Baccalaureate Degree program at the same school. Fully online delivery; the same AHIMA credential as on-campus programs at the same degree level. Public or private university setting with broader institutional infrastructure.

Program director: Julie Alles , DHA, RHIA, FAHIMA

Top factors

Accreditation9.0
Director10.0
Pathways7.0
Delivery10.0

Full national rankings

All 329 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs, ranked.

The complete list. Every active CAHIIM-accredited HIM program at every degree level, scored on the same methodology. Click the state name to see the state-level ranking with employer-pipeline rationale.

# Institution Score
1 Clarkson College 80.8
2 The College of St. Scholastica 80.8
3 Davenport University 80.0
4 CUNY School of Professional Studies 79.8
5 Indiana Institute of Technology 79.8
6 Davenport University 79.5
7 The College of St. Scholastica 79.3
8 Charter Oak State College 79.3
9 Davenport University 79.3
10 Central Arizona College 78.5
11 Ferris State University 78.5
12 State Fair Community College 78.0
13 University of Cincinnati - Clermont 78.0
14 Metropolitan Community College - Omaha 77.3
15 Mountain Empire Community College 77.3
16 Tacoma Community College 77.3
17 East Central College 77.0
18 University of Maryland Global Campus 77.0
19 Clarkson College 76.5
20 Midland College 76.3
21 Indiana University Northwest 75.8
22 Rutgers University 75.8
23 Marion Technical College 75.7
24 McLennan Community College 75.7
25 Minnesota State Community and Technical College 75.7
26 Neosho County Community College 75.7
27 Northwood Technical College 75.7
28 Portland Community College 75.7
29 Spokane Community College 75.7
30 Walters State Community College 75.7
31 Shoreline Community College - Online 75.7
32 Florida SouthWestern State College 75.5
33 Santa Fe College 75.5
34 Louisiana Tech University 75.3
35 Waubonsee Community College 75.0
36 Western Kentucky University 75.0
37 Ferris State University 75.0
38 Roane State Community College 75.0
39 Alfred State College - SUNY College of Technology 74.8
40 Harper College 74.8
41 Peirce College 74.8
42 Mid-State Technical College 74.8
43 Beal University 74.8
44 Herzing University Online 74.8
45 Herzing University Online 74.8
46 Devry University - Online Associate 74.3
47 Keiser University 74.3
48 Northeast Community College (Inactive) 74.3
49 Northwest Arkansas Community College 74.3
50 Onondaga Community College 74.3
51 Southern University at New Orleans 74.3
52 Fox Valley Technical College 74.3
53 Ivy Tech Community College - Fort Wayne 74.3
54 Richland Community College 74.3
55 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College 74.3
56 Greenville Technical College 74.3
57 Pitt Community College 74.3
58 Southwestern Oklahoma State University 74.3
59 Montgomery College 74.3
60 Coppin State University 74.0
61 University of South Carolina - Upstate 74.0
62 Broward College 73.8
63 Palm Beach State College 73.8
64 Ultimate Medical Academy 73.7
65 College of DuPage 73.3
66 Fisher College 73.3
67 San Juan College 73.3
68 St. Johns River State College 73.3
69 St. Petersburg College 73.3
70 Austin Community College 73.2
71 Central Oregon Community College 73.2
72 Georgia Northwestern Technical College (Inactive) 73.2
73 St. Cloud Technical & Community College 73.2
74 Collin College 73.0
75 Dyersburg State Community College 73.0
76 Houston Community College System 73.0
77 Meridian Community College 73.0
78 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College 73.0
79 University of Northwestern Ohio 72.8
80 Bryan University 72.8
81 El Paso Community College 72.8
82 Front Range Community College 72.8
83 Hagerstown Community College 72.8
84 Lanier Technical College 72.8
85 Rasmussen University Online Associate 72.8
86 Rasmussen University Online Baccalaureate 72.8
87 Springfield Technical Community College 72.8
88 University of Alaska Southeast 72.8
89 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay 72.8
90 West Georgia Technical College 72.8
91 Western Governors University 72.8
92 Arapahoe Community College 72.8
93 Baltimore City Community College 72.8
94 Community College of Allegheny County 72.8
95 Edgecombe Community College 72.8
96 Itawamba Community College 72.8
97 Jefferson Community and Technical College 72.8
98 Mohawk Valley Community College 72.8
99 Ogeechee Technical College 72.8
100 Ozarks Technical Community College 72.8
101 Pierpont Community and Technical College 72.8
102 Suffolk County Community College 72.8
103 SUNY Broome Community College 72.8
104 San Diego Mesa College 72.8
105 East Los Angeles College 72.3
106 Seminole State College of Florida 72.3
107 University of Central Florida 72.3
108 Moraine Park Technical College 72.3
109 University of Kansas Medical Center 72.0
110 Lone Star College - North Harris 72.0
111 Santa Barbara City College 72.0
112 St. Philip's College 72.0
113 Grand Canyon University 72.0
114 Purdue University Global 72.0
115 City Colleges of Chicago, Malcolm X College 71.8
116 Macomb Community College - Center Campus 71.8
117 Prince George's Community College 71.8
118 Wiregrass Georgia Technical College 71.8
119 College of The Mainland 71.8
120 Cosumnes River College 71.8
121 Mercy College of Ohio 71.8
122 North Dakota State College of Science 71.8
123 Tyler Junior College 71.8
124 Wharton County Junior College 71.8
125 Texas State University 71.5
126 Central Community College 71.5
127 Hinds Community College 71.5
128 Kennebec Valley Community College 71.5
129 Rochester Community and Technical College 71.5
130 Southwestern Community College 71.5
131 Texas State Technical College - Abilene 71.5
132 Louisiana Tech University 71.5
133 Craven Community College 71.3
134 DeVry University - Online Baccalaureate 71.3
135 Idaho State University 71.3
136 Vincennes University 71.3
137 Wallace State Community College 71.3
138 Washburn University 71.3
139 Indiana University 71.3
140 Indiana University Northwest 71.3
141 Loma Linda University 71.3
142 Weber State University 71.3
143 Weber State University 71.3
144 Brunswick Community College 71.3
145 Hutchinson Community College 71.3
146 Scott Community College 71.3
147 Rutgers University 71.3
148 William Carey University 71.3
149 SUNY Polytechnic Institute 71.0
150 Zane State College 70.8
151 University of Tennessee Health Science Center 70.7
152 Blinn College District 70.5
153 College of Southern Nevada 70.3
154 Albany State University - West Campus 70.3
155 Athens Technical College 70.3
156 Community College of Baltimore County 70.3
157 St. Louis Community College at Forest Park 70.3
158 Waukesha County Technical College 70.3
159 Florida State College at Jacksonville 70.3
160 Southwestern Illinois College 70.3
161 Grand Valley State University 70.0
162 Mountwest Community and Technical College 70.0
163 Northeast Iowa Community College 70.0
164 SUNY Westchester Community College 70.0
165 University of Cincinnati - Clermont 70.0
166 Arkansas Tech University 69.8
167 Bishop State Community College 69.8
168 Chicago State University 69.8
169 Chippewa Valley Technical College 69.8
170 Columbus State Community College 69.8
171 Davidson - Davie Community College 69.8
172 Great Falls College Montana State University 69.8
173 Terra State Community College 69.8
174 Volunteer State Community College 69.8
175 Western Technical College 69.8
176 San Jacinto College North 69.5
177 Del Mar College 69.3
178 Saint Paul College 69.3
179 Tarrant County College 69.3
180 Lamar Institute of Technology 69.3
181 East Carolina University 69.3
182 Beal University 69.3
183 Indiana Institute of Technology 69.3
184 Moraine Valley Community College 69.0
185 Western Nebraska Community College 69.0
186 Eastern Kentucky University 68.8
187 City College of San Francisco 68.8
188 Phoenix College 68.8
189 South Texas College 68.8
190 Stark State College 68.8
191 West Virginia Northern Community College 68.8
192 Charter Oak State College 68.8
193 Charter Oak State College 68.8
194 Charter Oak State College 68.8
195 Shasta College 68.8
196 Shasta College 68.8
197 University of Illinois at Chicago 68.5
198 Borough of Manhattan Community College 68.5
199 Delgado Community College 68.5
200 Metropolitan Community College - Penn Valley 68.5
201 Owens Community College 68.5
202 Sinclair Community College 68.5
203 Sullivan University 68.5
204 Tacoma Community College 68.5
205 Augusta University 68.3
206 University of Washington 68.3
207 McDowell Technical Community College 68.3
208 Northern Virginia Community College 68.3
209 Southwestern Oklahoma State University 68.2
210 University of Kansas Medical Center 68.0
211 Klamath Community College 67.8
212 Louisiana Tech University 67.8
213 The Ohio State University 67.5
214 Oakton College 67.5
215 Rose State College 67.5
216 Illinois Central College 67.5
217 Ivy Tech Community College - Central Indiana 67.3
218 National Park College 67.3
219 Southern New Hampshire University 67.3
220 The College of St. Scholastica 67.3
221 Oregon Health & Science University 67.0
222 Catawba Valley Community College 67.0
223 Alabama State University 66.8
224 Illinois State University 66.8
225 University Of Pittsburgh 66.8
226 Southern New Hampshire University 66.8
227 San Diego Mesa College 66.5
228 CUNY School of Professional Studies 66.3
229 Cuyahoga Community College 66.0
230 Panola College 66.0
231 Grand Canyon University 66.0
232 Purdue University Global 66.0
233 Purdue University Global 66.0
234 Alvin College 65.8
235 Loma Linda University 65.8
236 Atlanta Technical College 65.7
237 Lakeland Community College 65.7
238 Tennessee State University 65.5
239 University of Illinois Chicago 65.5
240 Arkansas Tech University Ozark 65.3
241 University of Louisiana at Lafayette 65.3
242 Danville Area Community College 65.3
243 Southern University at Shreveport 65.3
244 Washington State College of Ohio 65.3
245 William Carey University 65.3
246 Anoka Technical College 65.3
247 Central Carolina Community College 65.3
248 Pueblo Community College 65.3
249 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College 65.3
250 University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College 65.3
251 Dakota State University 65.3
252 University of Illinois at Chicago 65.0
253 Bakersfield College 65.0
254 Texas State University 65.0
255 University of Central Florida 65.0
256 Miami Dade College 64.5
257 University Of Kansas Medical Center 64.5
258 Schoolcraft College 64.3
259 Baker College Online 64.3
260 Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology 64.3
261 Kaskaskia College 64.3
262 Valencia College 64.3
263 Lane Community College 64.0
264 Laurel Ridge Community College 64.0
265 Milwaukee Area Technical College 64.0
266 Shelton State Community College 64.0
267 Florida A&M University 63.8
268 Tidewater Community College 63.8
269 George Mason University Health Informatics 63.8
270 Guilford Technical Community College 63.8
271 Connecticut State Community College Middlesex 63.8
272 Parker University 63.2
273 Johns Hopkins University 63.0
274 Temple University 63.0
275 University of Maryland Global Campus 63.0
276 University of Maryland Global Campus 63.0
277 University of Mississippi Medical Center 63.0
278 Jefferson College 63.0
279 Texas Southern University 62.8
280 University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus 62.8
281 College of Southern Maryland 62.8
282 Dallas College 62.8
283 University of Massachusetts - Lowell 62.8
284 California State University - Long Beach 62.5
285 California State University - Long Beach 62.5
286 The University of Arizona Global Campus 62.5
287 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point 62.5
288 Saint Louis University 62.3
289 University of South Carolina - Columbia 62.3
290 Forsyth Technical Community College 62.3
291 Lakeshore Technical College 62.3
292 University of Wisconsin - Parkside 62.3
293 Indiana University 62.0
294 College of Lake County 61.5
295 Adelphi University 61.5
296 Vanderbilt University School of Medicine 61.5
297 University Of Kansas Medical Center 61.5
298 Laramie County Community College 61.5
299 McHenry County College 61.3
300 University of Cincinnati 61.3
301 University of Pittsburgh 61.0
302 American Public University System 61.0
303 Augusta Technical College 61.0
304 University of Hawaii, Leeward Community College 61.0
305 Georgia Piedmont Technical College 60.8
306 Florida International University 60.5
307 Kent State University 60.5
308 Nova Southeastern University 60.5
309 The University of Scranton 60.5
310 University of Alabama at Birmingham 60.5
311 University of South Florida 60.5
312 State University of New York at Oswego 60.0
313 University of Washington 60.0
314 Joliet Junior College 59.8
315 West Virginia University 59.3
316 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 59.3
317 East Carolina University 59.3
318 American National University 58.5
319 Kennesaw State University 58.0
320 University of Minnesota 57.5
321 University of Texas - Houston 57.5
322 Saint Thomas Aquinas College 57.5
323 Nassau Community College 57.3
324 Boston University 56.3
325 Medical University of South Carolina 56.3
326 University of Missouri - Columbia 56.0
327 Indiana University Southeast 54.8
328 Marshall University 54.0
329 University Of Findlay 51.0

By state

Health information management programs by state.

Each state page covers every CAHIIM HIM program in the state at every degree level, ranked on the same seven-factor methodology and tied to state-specific BLS wage data and hospital-system employer pipelines.

Northeast states

State Programs
Connecticut 5
Maine 3
Massachusetts 4
New Hampshire 2
New Jersey 2
New York 14
Pennsylvania 6

South states

State Programs
Alabama 5
Arkansas 5
Florida 18
Georgia 13
Kentucky 4
Louisiana 7
Maryland 11
Mississippi 6
North Carolina 13
Oklahoma 3
South Carolina 4
Tennessee 7
Texas 26
Virginia 6
West Virginia 6

Midwest states

State Programs
Illinois 22
Indiana 13
Iowa 2
Kansas 7
Michigan 9
Minnesota 11
Missouri 8
Nebraska 6
North Dakota 1
Ohio 19
South Dakota 1
Wisconsin 16

West states

State Programs
Alaska 1
Arizona 6
California 13
Colorado 3
Hawaii 1
Idaho 1
Montana 1
Nevada 1
New Mexico 1
Oregon 5
Utah 3
Washington 6
Wyoming 1

Puerto Rico

State Programs
Puerto Rico 1

The accreditation reality

CAHIIM accreditation: what to verify before enrolling.

CAHIIM accreditation is the single most important detail to verify for any HIM program at any degree level. Without it, you cannot sit for the AHIMA RHIT (associate level), RHIA (bachelor's level), or pursue most advanced HIM credentials. The CAHIIM directory at cahiim.org publishes the authoritative list of accredited programs. Treat any program not listed there with skepticism, regardless of marketing claims.

CAHIIM publishes two statuses: Initial and Continuing. Initial accreditation is granted to programs in their first accreditation cycle, typically valid for two to three years before the first renewal review. Continuing accreditation is granted to programs that have successfully renewed at least once. Both statuses make graduates AHIMA exam-eligible. The difference is that a program with Continuing status has already passed at least one renewal cycle, which is a meaningful signal that the curriculum, faculty, and outcomes meet CAHIIM standards over time.

The next-review-cycle date matters too. CAHIIM publishes the year range when each program is scheduled for its next review (for example, "2030-2031"). Programs with reviews five or more years out are on the longer-horizon tier. Programs with reviews within the next two years are on the shorter-horizon tier. Neither tier is inherently risky, but a program with a near-term renewal review has less buffer if something goes wrong during the renewal process.

One distinction worth keeping straight: institutional accreditation (HLC, MSCHE, SACSCOC, WSCUC, NWCCU, NEASC, ACCJC) is separate from programmatic accreditation (CAHIIM). Institutional accreditation makes the school eligible to receive federal financial aid. Programmatic accreditation makes the HIM program eligible to feed the AHIMA exam. You need both. Almost all CAHIIM-accredited programs are at institutionally accredited schools, but verify both layers when you cross-check.

Director credentials

What the program director's credentials tell you.

The program director is the senior HIM educator at the institution and the person CAHIIM holds accountable for curriculum, faculty, and outcomes. Their credential string in the CAHIIM directory is short but high-signal. It tells you which AHIMA credentials they've earned, which terminal degrees they hold, and whether they have additional specialty recognition.

The RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator) is the senior AHIMA credential held by HIM management. A director with the RHIA is the standard baseline at the BSHIM and master's level. The RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) is the AAS-level credential and is sometimes held by directors at community-college AAS programs without the RHIA. Coding credentials (CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CIC, COC) signal that the director has hands-on production-coding experience.

Terminal degrees (PhD, EdD, DHA, DrPH) carry their own signal, especially at the bachelor's and master's level where the program needs research-active faculty. Terminal-degree directors are more typical at university-based programs than at community-college AAS programs. Neither is inherently better, but the terminal-degree signal usually correlates with stronger stacked-credential pathways.

FAHIMA (Fellow of AHIMA) is the highest professional recognition AHIMA awards. Roughly 2% of AHIMA members hold the FAHIMA designation; finding an FAHIMA-credentialed director is a strong signal of program quality at any degree level.

Salary outcomes

What HIM graduates earn by degree level.

AAS graduates most commonly enter the Medical Records Specialist role (BLS SOC 29-2072). National median annual wage is $51,140 per BLS May 2025. Graduates who add the RHIT credential and move into coding or registry roles typically earn $5K to $15K above the BLS median within two to three years.

BSHIM graduates with the RHIA enter the HIM analyst, supervisor, and management track. Clinical Documentation Specialists (CDS) with the RHIA earn modal salaries of $100K to $120K per ACDIS 2025. Compliance officers and HIM coordinators run $70K to $90K. Senior coders with the RHIA plus CCS often clear $80K.

Master's graduates in HIM and health informatics enter director, analytics lead, and specialty roles. HIM Directors earn $123,860 median per BLS SOC 11-9111 (Medical and Health Services Managers). Health Data Analysts earn averages near $107K. Senior informatics roles at academic medical centers clear $150K with several years of experience.

Across all degree levels, geography matters enormously. The San Francisco Bay Area pays roughly 30 to 40% above the national median for HIM roles. Boston, Seattle, New York, and DC run a tier below the Bay Area but well above the national median. The lowest-paying metros are in rural Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and West Virginia where state median for entry roles is in the high $30Ks. State pages cover this geographic spread in detail.

How to use this ranking

Reading the scores in context.

A score difference of 0.3 points or less is noise. Programs in the same half-point band are functionally interchangeable on the inputs we measure. What separates them is local fit: which hospital system you want to feed into, whether you want online or in-classroom delivery, and which state you can pay in-state tuition in.

Pick by degree level first, not by overall ranking. The AHIMA credential a program qualifies you for is gated by degree level. If you want the RHIT, you need a CAHIIM AAS. If you want the RHIA, you need a CAHIIM bachelor's. If you want senior informatics roles, you need a master's. Once you know the degree level, narrow within that cohort using the rankings.

Pair this national ranking with the state ranking page for your target geography. The state page adds employer pipeline rationale (which AAS feeds which hospital system), state-specific BLS wage data, the state HIE landscape, state laws affecting HIM, and the "best for X" categorization tied to in-state employers. If you are working backward from a city, the metro pages add commute-radius detail.

The accreditation column matters more than the score column. A program with Continuing CAHIIM accreditation extending past 2030 is the lowest-risk path to the AHIMA credential at that degree level because the program is unlikely to lose accreditation mid-degree. Initial accreditation is not a red flag, but it means the program is newer and the renewal cycle is closer.

The pathway score rewards institutions that run multiple CAHIIM credentials at the same place. If you suspect you'll eventually want to ladder up, starting at an institution that runs your starting credential plus the next-level credential saves you the transfer audit downstream.

Score skepticism is healthy. If a community college outranks an academic medical center, that is consistent with our methodology (we reward delivery flexibility, cost, and stacked-credential pathways), but it does not mean the academic medical center's program is worse. It means the academic medical center's program is optimized for a different student profile. Use the degree-level sub-rankings to find the program optimized for your situation.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

How are HIM programs ranked on this site? +

Each program is scored 0 to 10 on seven factors: accreditation (25%), program director credentials (15%), stacked credential pathways (15%), delivery format (15%), employer pipeline (15%), cost (10%), and reputation (5%). The weighted sum produces an overall score out of 10. The Top 25 cohort gets a full data card with rationale generated from the CAHIIM directory data. No paid placements.

What is the best HIM program in the United States? +

Clarkson College in Nebraska (Baccalaureate Degree) currently leads the ranking with a score of 80.8 out of 10. The top tier of the ranking is dominated by programs at institutions that run multiple CAHIIM credentials, hold Continuing accreditation through 2030 or later, and offer online or hybrid delivery.

Should I pick by overall ranking or by degree level? +

By degree level. The AHIMA credential a program qualifies you for is gated by degree: AAS for RHIT, bachelor's for RHIA, master's for advanced informatics roles. Once you know the degree level you need, use the overall ranking or the degree-specific sub-ranking to compare options within that cohort.

Are online HIM programs as respected as on-campus programs? +

Yes when they hold the same CAHIIM accreditation. 196 of the 329 active programs are fully online. AHIMA awards the same credential to online and on-campus graduates and does not annotate modality on the transcript. Employers screen for the CAHIIM credential and the AHIMA credential, not the modality.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs exist nationally? +

329 active CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs operate in the United States and Puerto Rico across all degree levels: 205 AAS, 61 bachelor's, 48 master's, and 15 certificate programs.

What is the median salary for HIM graduates? +

Entry roles (Medical Records Specialist) earn a national median of $51,140 per BLS May 2025. Mid-career credentialed roles (Clinical Documentation Specialist, RHIA-credentialed coder) earn $80K to $120K. Senior roles (HIM Director, Health Data Analyst) earn $107K to $124K median.

Sources

Where the data comes from.

  1. CAHIIM Program Directory. Accreditation status, action history, next-review cycle, program director credentials, content delivery format, and institutional address for every program ranked.
  2. BLS OEWS 29-2072 Medical Records Specialists. National and state wage and employment data for the most common entry role for AAS and BSHIM graduates.
  3. BLS OEWS 11-9111 Medical and Health Services Managers. Salary data for HIM Director and senior management roles typically held by RHIA-credentialed master's graduates.
  4. AHIMA. Eligibility, format, and exam content for all AHIMA credentials (RHIT, RHIA, CCS, CCA, CDIP, CHDA, CHPS).
  5. ACDIS 2025 CDI Salary Survey. Salary data for Clinical Documentation Specialists, the highest-earning credentialed HIM career path.
  6. Our ranking methodology. Full scoring rubric for each of the seven factors.