Kentucky / Health information management programs

Best CAHIIM-accredited health information management programs in Kentucky, ranked (2026)

Kentucky has 4 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: Western Kentucky University's BSHIM, scoring 87.5/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Kentucky
4

Programs ranked

87.5

Top score

$48K

KY median HIM wage

4,210

HIM jobs in KY

Key Takeaways

  • Western Kentucky University BSHIM ranks #1 in Kentucky (87.5/100). Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle in KY (2032-2033), five-credential director, fully online.
  • Kentucky has 2 CAHIIM-accredited BSHIMs: Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green) and Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond). Both are KY public universities with strong director credentials.
  • Kentucky has 4 active CAHIIM-accredited programs: 2 AAS (Jefferson CTC + Sullivan University) and 2 bachelor's (WKU + EKU). KY does not currently have a CAHIIM-accredited MS.
  • Jefferson CTC's director Kristi Couch holds 5 credentials (RHIA + CCA + CPC + CHP + CHA). The program sits inside Louisville with direct UofL Health + Norton + Baptist + Jewish Hospital adjacency.
  • Median HIM salary in Kentucky is 48,410 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 74,520. 4,210 working in this occupation.
  • UK HealthCare is Kentucky's academic medical center in Lexington. UofL Health is the academic medical system of the University of Louisville. Baptist Health (Louisville HQ) operates 9 hospitals across KY. Norton Healthcare anchors Louisville. Med Center Health, Ephraim McDowell, and Owensboro Health round out regional KY.
  • KHIE (Kentucky Health Information Exchange) is Kentucky's state-operated HIE, run by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
  • Kentucky medical record retention is 5 years for adult hospital records (902 KAR 20:016), shorter than many states.

How we ranked

Our ranking methodology in one paragraph.

Every program is CAHIIM-accredited. We score each one 0-10 on seven factors: CAHIIM accreditation maturity (25%), program director credentials (15%), degree-level pathways (15%), delivery flexibility (15%), employer pipeline (15%), cost-effectiveness (10%), institutional reputation (5%).

Read the full methodology →

The ranked programs

The 4 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in Kentucky, ranked.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Western Kentucky University BS Bowling Green 87.5/100 Continuing
#2 Jefferson Community and Technical College AAS Louisville 84/100 Continuing
#3 Eastern Kentucky University BS Richmond 81/100 Continuing
#4 Sullivan University AAS Louisville 75.5/100 Continuing
#1
87.5/100

Overall score

Western Kentucky University

Best in-state BSHIM (longest CAHIIM review cycle in KY, five-credential director)

BSHIM Bowling Green, KY Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2032-2033

Why it ranks #1

Western Kentucky University BSHIM in Bowling Green. Director Jan Hunt-Shepherd holds MHA + RHIA + CCS + CDIP + CPHQ, a five-credential stack that pairs HIM, coding, CDI, and quality. Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle of any KY program, next review 2032-2033. Fully online. Public KY university with statewide reach. Direct pipeline to Med Center Health (Bowling Green) and KY hospital systems statewide.

Program Director

Jan Hunt-Shepherd , MHA, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CPHQ

Address

1906 College Heights Blvd., Academic Complex Office 138, Bowling Green, KY, 42101

Contact

(270) 745-3548
jan.hunt-shepherd@wku.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)6/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)8/10
Cost (10%)8/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall87.5/100

Visit program at wku.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
84/100

Overall score

Jefferson Community and Technical College

Best Louisville AAS (UofL / Norton / Baptist / Jewish pipeline, five-credential director)

AAS Louisville, KY Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #2

Jefferson Community and Technical College in downtown Louisville. Director Kristi Couch holds RHIA + CCA + CPC + CHP + CHA, a five-credential AHIMA + AAPC stack. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Sits inside Louisville with direct adjacency to UofL Health (the academic medical center), Norton Healthcare, Baptist Health Louisville, and Jewish Hospital.

Program Director

Kristi Couch , RHIA, CCA, CPC, CHP, CHA

Address

109 E. Broadway, Louisville, KY, 40202

Contact

(502) 213-2221
kcouch0033@kctcs.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall84/100

Visit program at jefferson.kctcs.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#3
81/100

Overall score

Eastern Kentucky University

Best Central / Eastern Kentucky BSHIM (DrPH director, UK HealthCare reach)

BSHIM Richmond, KY Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #3

Eastern Kentucky University BSHIM in Richmond, KY. Director Dr. Heather Tudor holds DrPH + MBA + RHIA + CCRP. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Hybrid delivery. Public KY university just south of Lexington with direct reach into UK HealthCare (the academic medical center of the University of Kentucky) and the Bluegrass Region health employers.

Program Director

Heather Tudor , DrPH, MBA, RHIA, CCRP

Address

521 Lancaster Avenue, 117 Dizney, Richmond, KY, 40475

Contact

(859) 622-8901
heather.tudor@eku.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)6/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)8/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall81/100

Visit program at eku.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#4
75.5/100

Overall score

Sullivan University

Best private fully-online AAS in Louisville

AAS Louisville, KY Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #4

Sullivan University in Louisville. Director Lisa Debroka holds MBA + MPM + RHIT + CCS-P. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Fully online. Private institution: tuition is the trade-off compared to Jefferson CTC's public-tuition option in the same Louisville market.

Program Director

Lisa Debroka , MBA, MPM, RHIT, CCS-P

Address

3101 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY, 40205

Contact

(502) 456-6504, Ext. 4704
ldebroka@sullivan.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)8/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)5/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall75.5/100

Visit program at sullivan.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Kentucky HIM programs by category.

Best in-state BSHIM

Western Kentucky University

Longest CAHIIM review cycle in KY. Five-credential director (MHA + RHIA + CCS + CDIP + CPHQ). Fully online.

Best Louisville AAS

Jefferson Community and Technical College

Director Kristi Couch (5 credentials). Direct UofL Health + Norton + Baptist + Jewish pipeline.

Best Lexington / Central KY BSHIM (UK HealthCare reach)

Eastern Kentucky University

Director Dr. Heather Tudor (DrPH). Direct reach into UK HealthCare academic medical center.

Best private fully-online AAS

Sullivan University

Louisville private. Fully online. Tuition is the trade-off compared with Jefferson CTC.

Best UofL Health pipeline

Jefferson CTC + WKU or EKU BSHIM

Jefferson CTC AAS feeds UofL Health entry-level HIM, then either KY public BSHIM (WKU or EKU) gives the RHIA ladder.

Best UK HealthCare pipeline

EKU BSHIM

EKU sits directly south of Lexington with strong UK HealthCare clinical-affiliation pathways.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in KY

KCTCS (Kentucky Community and Technical College System)

Jefferson CTC is part of KCTCS and qualifies for the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship (free community-college tuition for high-demand fields, including HIM), KEES (Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship), and Pell.

Where's the MS?

Out-of-state online MS

Kentucky does not have a CAHIIM-accredited MS. The WKU and EKU BSHIMs ladder cleanly into out-of-state online CAHIIM MS programs (UTHSC, UMMC, KU Med, Davenport).

Credentials

HIM credentials and certifications in Kentucky (RHIA, RHIT, CCS).

Kentucky does not license HIM staff. The Kentucky Health Information Management Association (KyHIMA) is the state AHIMA component.

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical KY Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AASRecords, ROI, coder at UK HealthCare / UofL Health / Baptist Health / Norton Healthcare
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIMHIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Kentucky.

BLS OEWS May 2025 KY estimates for SOC 29-2072:

  • Median: $48,410 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $53,520
  • 10th pct: $36,290 · 90th pct: $74,520
  • Statewide employment: 4,210

Louisville (UofL Health, Norton, Baptist, Jewish Hospital) anchors the upper end. Lexington (UK HealthCare), Bowling Green (Med Center Health), and Owensboro (Owensboro Health) pay near the KY median. Eastern KY pays below with lower COL.

Salary distribution

Medical records specialist salary in Kentucky vs. national median (BLS OEWS May 2025).

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K Kentucky MED $48K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Kentucky health information management job market and top hospital employers.

UK HealthCare. Lexington. The academic health system of the University of Kentucky, includes UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital, Kentucky Children's Hospital, and Good Samaritan Hospital.

UofL Health. Louisville. The academic health system of the University of Louisville, includes UofL Hospital, Jewish Hospital, Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, and Peace Hospital.

Baptist Health. Louisville HQ. 9 hospitals statewide.

Norton Healthcare. Louisville. 8 hospitals across the Louisville metro and southern IN.

Med Center Health. Bowling Green. Dominant southern KY system.

Ephraim McDowell Health. Danville. Central KY anchor.

Owensboro Health. Owensboro. Western KY anchor.

Kentucky Children's Hospital. Lexington. Part of UK HealthCare.

Health information exchange

KHIE (Kentucky Health Information Exchange).

KHIE (Kentucky Health Information Exchange) is Kentucky's state-operated HIE, run by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. KHIE connects participating KY providers with clinical messaging, query-based retrieval, and ADT alerting. Connection is voluntary, not state-mandated.

State regulation

Kentucky state laws affecting health information management.

  • Medical record retention (902 KAR 20:016). Kentucky hospitals must retain adult medical records for at least 5 years after discharge, and minors' records for at least 5 years past age 18.
  • Patient access (KRS 422.317). KY statute grants patients access to medical records, with statutory copy-fee caps.
  • Kentucky Personal Information Security and Breach Investigation Procedures (KRS 365.732). Breach notification without unreasonable delay after discovery.

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 KY estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. KHIE.
  6. Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority: KEES, Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, CAP grants.
  7. Kentucky Legislature: 902 KAR 20:016, KRS 422.317, KRS 365.732.
  8. KyHIMA.

FAQ

HIM programs in Kentucky: frequently asked questions.

What is the best CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Kentucky?

On our methodology, Western Kentucky University ranks #1 (87.5/100). Jefferson Community and Technical College #2. Eastern Kentucky University #3.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in KY?

4 active. 2 associate and 2 bachelor's (WKU + EKU). No CAHIIM-accredited master's in KY.

What is the average HIM salary in KY?

Median $48,410 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $74,520.

Does KY require a license to work in HIM?

No. AHIMA credentials (RHIT, RHIA, CCS) are the standard.

Which Kentucky hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

UK HealthCare, UofL Health, Baptist Health, Norton Healthcare, Med Center Health, Ephraim McDowell, Owensboro Health, Kentucky Children's Hospital.

What is KHIE?

Kentucky's state-operated HIE, run by the KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in KY?

Yes for WKU BSHIM, Jefferson CTC AAS, Sullivan University AAS. EKU BSHIM is hybrid.