Maine / Health information management programs

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

Maine has 3 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: Kennebec Valley Community College's AAS, scoring 82/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Maine
3

Programs ranked

82

Top score

$52K

ME median HIM wage

1,000

HIM jobs in ME

Key Takeaways

  • Kennebec Valley Community College BSHIM ranks #1 in Maine (82/100). The only CAHIIM-accredited bachelor's in HIM in Maine. AAS + BSHIM stacked under one director (Patty Gillespie, MBA + RHIA) in Bangor.
  • Maine has 3 active CAHIIM-accredited programs: 2 associate (Beal University, Kennebec Valley CC), 1 bachelor's (Beal University). No CAHIIM-accredited MS in ME.
  • Median HIM salary in Maine is 52,090 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 76,660. 1,000 working in this occupation.
  • MaineHealth is the largest Maine system, anchored by Maine Medical Center (Portland), with member hospitals across southern and midcoast Maine.
  • Northern Light Health (formerly Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, rebranded 2018) is the dominant northern and eastern Maine system. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center (Bangor) is the academic teaching hospital.
  • HealthInfoNet is Maine's statewide HIE and one of the longest-running state HIEs in the country (founded 2006). It connects nearly all Maine hospitals and most physician practices.
  • Maine medical record retention is 7 years for adult records (32 MRSA § 3300-G), with minor records held until age 21. Standard New England retention duration.
  • Maine does not license HIM staff. AHIMA credentials (RHIT, RHIA, CCS) function as the de facto standard. MEHIMA is the Maine AHIMA component.

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 3 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in Maine, ranked.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Kennebec Valley Community College AAS Fairfield 82/100 Continuing
#2 Beal University (AAS) AAS Bangor 79.5/100 Continuing
#3 Beal University (BSHIM) BS Bangor 77/100 Initial
#1
82/100

Overall score

Kennebec Valley Community College

Best low-cost AAS (Maine CC system, MaineGeneral + MaineHealth corridor)

AAS Fairfield, ME Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #1

Kennebec Valley Community College AAS in Fairfield, Maine (Kennebec County, central Maine). Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Fully online. Director Michelle A. Edwards holds MS + IT + RHIA, a useful HIM-plus-informatics credential blend. Maine Community College System tuition is significantly below Beal. KVCC sits between MaineGeneral Medical Center (Augusta), MaineGeneral Thayer (Waterville), and the Maine Health Portland/Lewiston corridor.

Program Director

Michelle A. Edwards , MS, IT, RHIA

Address

92 Western Avenue, Fairfield, ME, 04937

Contact

(207) 453-5148
medwards@mainecc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9/10
Director credentials (15%)8/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall82/100

Visit program at kvcc.me.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
79.5/100

Overall score

Beal University (AAS)

Best in-state AAS with direct BSHIM ladder (same Beal director)

AAS Bangor, ME Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #2

Beal University AAS in Bangor. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031 (more mature accreditation than Beal's BSHIM). Fully online. Director Patty Gillespie holds MBA + RHIA. The Beal AAS-to-BSHIM ladder is unique in Maine; you can stack both credentials inside the same institution without a transfer. Strong reach into Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center (Bangor) and northern Maine employers.

Program Director

Patty Gillespie , MBA, RHIA

Address

99 Farm Road, Bangor, ME, 04401

Contact

(207) 307-3900, Ext. 390
pgillespie@beal.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)8/10
Pathways (15%)8/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)8/10
Cost (10%)6/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall79.5/100

Visit program at beal.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#3
77/100

Overall score

Beal University (BSHIM)

Best (only) in-state BSHIM in Maine (AAS + BSHIM ladder under same director)

BSHIM Bangor, ME Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2031-2032

Why it ranks #3

Beal University BSHIM in Bangor, Maine. The only CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM in the state. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2031-2032. Fully online. Program director Patty Gillespie holds MBA + RHIA. Beal also operates the CAHIIM AAS at the same institution under the same director, giving you a clean AAS-to-BSHIM ladder. Beal is independent (formerly Beal College), focused on healthcare and business career programs.

Program Director

Patty Gillespie , MBA, RHIA

Address

99 Farm Road, Bangor, ME, 04401

Contact

(207) 307-3900, Ext. 390
pgillespie@beal.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)7/10
Director credentials (15%)8/10
Pathways (15%)8/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)8/10
Cost (10%)6/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall77/100

Visit program at beal.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Maine HIM programs by category.

Best (only) in-state BSHIM

Beal University BSHIM

Bangor. The only CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM in Maine. Fully online. AAS-to-BSHIM ladder under the same director.

Best AAS-to-BSHIM ladder

Beal University (AAS + BSHIM)

Both AAS and BSHIM under director Patty Gillespie. No external transfer; same institution, stacked credentials.

Best low-cost AAS

Kennebec Valley Community College

Fairfield. Maine Community College System tuition (significantly below Beal). Continuing CAHIIM, MS + IT + RHIA director.

Best Northern Light pipeline

Beal University

Bangor location is co-located with Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center (the academic teaching hospital for Northern Light Health).

Best MaineGeneral / central Maine pipeline

Kennebec Valley CC

Fairfield sits between MaineGeneral Medical Center (Augusta), MaineGeneral Thayer (Waterville), and the MaineHealth corridor running south to Portland.

Best informatics-flavored AAS

Kennebec Valley CC

Director Michelle A. Edwards holds MS + IT + RHIA, an HIM-plus-IT credential blend rare at the AAS level.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in ME

Kennebec Valley CC

Maine Community College System resident tuition. Pell + Maine State Grant eligible.

If you want a CAHIIM MS in ME

No CAHIIM MS in Maine

There is currently no CAHIIM-accredited MS in HIM or Health Informatics in Maine. Online out-of-state CAHIIM MS programs accept ME students.

Credentials

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

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

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical ME Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AASRecords, ROI, coder at MaineHealth / Northern Light Health / MaineGeneral
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIM (Beal in-state, others online)HIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Maine.

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

  • Median: $52,090 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $56,670
  • 10th pct: $42,210 · 90th pct: $76,660
  • Statewide employment: 1,000

The Portland-South Portland metro and Bangor anchor the upper end of the Maine HIM wage distribution; Maine Medical Center, Northern Light EMMC, and MaineGeneral are the largest single employers. The 90th-percentile gap to the national 90th pct is narrower in Maine than the median gap, indicating Maine's wage compression at the senior level.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K Maine MED $52K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Maine health information management job market and top hospital employers.

MaineHealth. The largest Maine health system, anchored by Maine Medical Center (Portland) with member hospitals across southern and midcoast Maine: Mid Coast Hospital (Brunswick), Maine Behavioral Healthcare, Pen Bay Medical Center (Rockport), Waldo County General Hospital (Belfast), Memorial Hospital (Conway, NH), and Stephens Memorial Hospital (Norway).

Northern Light Health. Formerly Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, rebranded 2018. The dominant northern and eastern Maine system. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center (Bangor) is the academic teaching hospital. Northern Light Mercy Hospital (Portland), Northern Light AR Gould Hospital (Presque Isle), Northern Light Inland Hospital (Waterville).

MaineGeneral Health. Augusta and Waterville. MaineGeneral Medical Center (Augusta, the Alfond Center for Health) is the main hospital; MaineGeneral Thayer (Waterville) is the outpatient anchor.

Central Maine Healthcare. Lewiston-Auburn. Central Maine Medical Center (Lewiston) is the regional anchor. Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital are critical access affiliates.

Mid Coast Hospital. Brunswick. MaineHealth member.

York Hospital. York. Independent community hospital on Maine's southern coast.

Health information exchange

HealthInfoNet (Maine's statewide HIE).

HealthInfoNet is Maine's statewide health information exchange, founded in 2006, making it one of the longest-running state HIEs in the country. HealthInfoNet connects nearly all Maine hospitals (MaineHealth, Northern Light Health, MaineGeneral, Central Maine Healthcare, and most independents) and the majority of Maine physician practices. Services include clinical messaging, longitudinal patient summaries, ADT notifications, and population-health analytics.

State regulation

Maine state laws affecting health information management.

  • Medical record retention (32 MRSA § 3300-G; Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine rules). Adult patient records: retain at least 7 years from the last date of service. Minor patient records: retain until the patient is at least 21.
  • Patient access (22 MRSA § 1711). Maine's patient records statute grants patients access to medical records with statutory copying-fee caps.
  • Maine Notice of Risk to Personal Data Act (10 MRSA §§ 1346-1349). Breach notification within a reasonable time. Specific timing requirements for affected residents.
  • No state HIM licensure. Maine's licensing boards (Board of Licensure in Medicine, Board of Nursing) regulate clinical professions; HIM credentials are AHIMA-issued (RHIT, RHIA, CCS).

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 ME estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. HealthInfoNet (Maine statewide HIE).
  6. Maine Revised Statutes: 22 MRSA § 1711, 32 MRSA § 3300-G, 10 MRSA §§ 1346-1349.
  7. Maine Community College System: resident tuition and Maine State Grant.

FAQ

HIM programs in Maine: frequently asked questions.

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

On our methodology, Kennebec Valley Community College AAS ranks #1 (82/100). Beal University AAS #2. Beal University #3.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in ME?

3 active. 2 associate (Beal + Kennebec Valley CC), 1 bachelor's (Beal). No CAHIIM MS in ME.

What is the average HIM salary in ME?

Median $52,090 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $76,660.

Does ME require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which Maine hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

MaineHealth (Maine Medical Center, Portland), Northern Light Health (Northern Light EMMC, Bangor), MaineGeneral Health (Augusta), Central Maine Healthcare (Lewiston-Auburn).

What is HealthInfoNet?

Maine's statewide HIE, founded 2006. Connects nearly all Maine hospitals.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in ME?

Yes. All three Maine CAHIIM programs are fully online.

How long must Maine hospitals retain medical records?

Adult records: at least 7 years from last date of service. Minor records: until the patient is at least 21 (32 MRSA § 3300-G).