Maryland / Health information management programs

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

Maryland has 11 CAHIIM-accredited HIM and health informatics programs. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: Coppin State University's BSHIM, scoring 83.5/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Baltimore, Maryland Inner Harbor
11

Programs ranked

83.5

Top score

$54K

MD median HIM wage

2,440

HIM jobs in MD

Key Takeaways

  • Coppin State University BSHIM ranks #1 in Maryland (83.5/100). The only HBCU + only CAHIIM BSHIM in MD, led by FAHIMA + PhD director Dr. Mona Calhoun.
  • Maryland is one of two states with a CAHIIM-accredited Johns Hopkins program. Hopkins MS in Health Informatics has the highest institutional reputation score on our methodology, paired against above-market tuition.
  • Maryland has 11 active CAHIIM-accredited programs: 6 AAS, 1 bachelor's (Coppin State), 2 master's, 1 graduate certificate, 1 undergraduate certificate.
  • Montgomery College's director Dr. Corinne Smith holds 5 AHIMA credentials (PhD + RHIA + CCS + CDIP + CHDA), one of the strongest AAS director credential stacks in the country.
  • College of Southern Maryland's director Candi Hume holds 9 credentials (MHA + RHIA + CCS + CCS-P + CIRCC + CPMA + CCC + CPC + RCC), the longest credential string of any MD program director.
  • Median HIM salary in Maryland is 54,220 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 82,090. 2,440 working in this occupation.
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical System anchor Baltimore. MedStar Health, Adventist, Holy Cross, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic, and Luminis Health anchor the DC metro.
  • CRISP (Chesapeake Regional Information System for Patients) is Maryland's state-designated HIE, serving MD, DC, WV, and parts of VA and DE. One of the most mature regional HIEs in the country.

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 →

Programs taking applications in Maryland now

HIM, health informatics, and medical coding programs currently accepting students.

The ranked programs

The 11 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in Maryland, ranked.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Coppin State University BS Baltimore 83.5/100 Continuing
#2 Montgomery College AAS Takoma Park 82.5/100 Continuing
#3 University of Maryland Global Campus MS Adelphi 81/100 Continuing
#4 Community College of Baltimore County AAS Baltimore 81/100 Continuing
#5 Hagerstown Community College AAS Hagerstown 80/100 Continuing
#6 Baltimore City Community College AAS Baltimore 79.5/100 Continuing
#7 Johns Hopkins University MS Informatics Baltimore 78/100 Initial
#8 Prince George's Community College AAS Largo 76.5/100 Continuing
#9 College of Southern Maryland AAS Hughesville 71/100 Initial
#10 University of Maryland Global Campus Grad Cert Adelphi 68/100 Initial
#11 University of Maryland Global Campus UG Cert Adelphi 65/100 Initial
#1
83.5/100

Overall score

Coppin State University

Best in-state BSHIM (HBCU, FAHIMA + PhD director)

BSHIM Baltimore, MD Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #1

Coppin State University is the only HBCU-affiliated CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Maryland and the only CAHIIM BSHIM in the state. Director Dr. Mona Calhoun holds PhD + MS + MEd + RHIA + FAHIMA, one of the strongest BSHIM director credential stacks in the country. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Fully online. Located in Baltimore, the heart of the MD HIM employer market (Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System, MedStar, LifeBridge).

Program Director

Mona Calhoun , PhD., MS, M.Ed, RHIA, FAHIMA

Address

2500 W. North Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21216-3698

Contact

(410) 951-2622
mcalhoun@coppin.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)6/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)7/10
Reputation (5%)8/10
Overall83.5/100

Visit program at coppin.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
82.5/100

Overall score

Montgomery College

Best DC-metro AAS (5-credential PhD director)

AAS Takoma Park, MD Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #2

Montgomery College in Takoma Park (DC suburb). Director Dr. Corinne Smith holds PhD + RHIA + CCS + CDIP + CHDA, the strongest credential stack of any MD AAS director and one of the strongest in the country. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Fully online. Direct adjacency to MedStar, Adventist HealthCare, Holy Cross Health, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic, and the broader DC-metro employer network.

Program Director

Corinne Smith , PhD, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CHDA

Address

7600 Takoma Avenue, Takoma Park, MD, 20910

Score breakdown

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

Visit program at montgomerycollege.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#3
81/100

Overall score

University of Maryland Global Campus (MS)

Best mature CAHIIM MS in HIM

MS Adelphi, MD Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2031-2032

Why it ranks #3

University of Maryland Global Campus MS in HIM. Director Liliya Roberts holds MD + MS. Continuing CAHIIM (mature accreditation, one of only two Continuing master's accreditations in MD alongside Johns Hopkins not yet Continuing), next review 2031-2032. Fully online. UMGC is the online arm of the University System of Maryland, so the public-university tuition is favorable.

Program Director

Liliya Roberts , MD, MS

Address

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

Contact

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

Score breakdown

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

Visit program at umgc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#4
81/100

Overall score

Community College of Baltimore County

Best Baltimore AAS (Hopkins, UMMS, MedStar, LifeBridge pipeline)

AAS Baltimore, MD Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #4

Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). Director Dr. Irby Hunter holds MD + RHIA + MHA + CPC. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Hybrid delivery. The cleanest entry into the Baltimore HIM employer market, which contains the largest concentration of academic medical centers in MD.

Program Director

Irby Hunter , MD, RHIA, MHA, CPC

Address

Community College of Baltimore County, 7201 Rossville Blvd., Baltimore, MD, 21237

Contact

(443) 840-4989
ihunter@ccbcmd.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall81/100

Visit program at ccbcmd.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#5
80/100

Overall score

Hagerstown Community College

Best Western Maryland AAS (longest CAHIIM review cycle in MD)

AAS Hagerstown, MD Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2033-2034

Why it ranks #5

Hagerstown Community College in western MD. Director Tanda Emanuel holds MSEd + MBA + RHIA + CPC-I + CPC + CPB. Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle of any MD program, next review 2033-2034. Hybrid delivery. Feeds Meritus Medical Center, WVU Medicine (Berkeley Medical Center cross-border), and the Tri-State HIM market.

Program Director

Tanda Emanuel , RHIA, MSEd, MBA, CPC-I, CPC, CPB

Address

11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, MD, 21742-6514

Contact

(240) 500-2439
taemanuel@hagerstowncc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)9/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)7/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall80/100

Visit program at hagerstowncc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

More HIM programs accepting students

#6
79.5/100

Overall score

Baltimore City Community College

Best Baltimore fully-online AAS

AAS Baltimore, MD Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2028-2029

Why it ranks #6

Baltimore City Community College. Director Kathryn Singleton holds MS + RHIA. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2028-2029. Fully online. Located directly in Baltimore with full adjacency to the Hopkins / UMMS / MedStar / LifeBridge employer network.

Program Director

Kathryn Singleton , MS, RHIA

Address

2901 Liberty Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21215

Contact

(410) 462-7722
ksingleton@bccc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall79.5/100

Visit program at bccc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#7
78/100

Overall score

Johns Hopkins University

Best top-reputation MS in Health Informatics

MS Health Informatics Baltimore, MD Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2031-2032

Why it ranks #7

Johns Hopkins University MS in Health Informatics. Director Dr. Paul Nagy holds a PhD. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2031-2032. Fully online. Johns Hopkins carries the highest institutional reputation in the field, but tuition is the trade-off: this is the priciest MS option in Maryland. Direct pipeline to Johns Hopkins Medicine and the broader Hopkins research ecosystem.

Program Director

Paul Nagy , PhD

Address

2024 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205

Contact

(443) 600-9064
pnagy2@jhmi.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
Director credentials (15%)9/10
Pathways (15%)7/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)4/10
Reputation (5%)10/10
Overall78/100

Visit program at bids.jhmi.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#8
76.5/100

Overall score

Prince George's Community College

Best Prince George's County / DC-east-metro AAS

AAS Largo, MD Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #8

Prince George's Community College in Largo. Director Dana Carcamo holds MS + RHIA + CCS. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Hybrid delivery. Feeds the DC-east-metro employer market (Luminis Health, MedStar Southern Maryland, UM Capital Region).

Program Director

Dana Carcamo , MS, RHIA, CCS

Address

301 Largo Road, Largo, MD, 20774

Contact

(301) 546-0735
carcamdd@pgcc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)8/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall76.5/100

Visit program at pgcc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#9
71/100

Overall score

College of Southern Maryland

Best Southern Maryland AAS (highest-credentialed AAS director in the country at 9 credentials)

AAS Hughesville, MD Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2028-2029

Why it ranks #9

College of Southern Maryland in Hughesville. Director Candi Hume holds MHA + RHIA + CCS + CCS-P + CIRCC + CPMA + CCC + CPC + RCC, a nine-credential stack (the most of any MD program director and one of the longest in the country). Initial CAHIIM, next review 2028-2029. Hybrid delivery. Feeds MedStar St. Mary's, CalvertHealth, and the Southern MD coastal market.

Program Director

Candi Hume , MHA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CIRCC, CPMA, CCC, CPC, RCC

Address

6105 Foster Place, Hughesville, MD, 20637

Contact

(301) 934-7523
cwhume@csmd.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)7/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall71/100

Visit program at csmd.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#10
68/100

Overall score

University of Maryland Global Campus (Grad Cert Digital Health Leader)

Best public-university online Digital Health Leader certificate

Grad Cert Digital Health Leader Adelphi, MD Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #10

UMGC Graduate Certificate in Digital Health Leader. Director Liliya Roberts (MD + MS + ACHE). Initial CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Hybrid delivery. Public university tuition, designed for working professionals in the DC metro.

Program Director

Liliya Roberts , MD, MS Health Systems Management, MS Learnig Design and Technology, ACHE

Address

3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi, MD, 20783

Contact

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

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)6/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)8/10
Cost (10%)6/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall68/100

Visit program at umgc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

More HIM programs accepting students

#11
65/100

Overall score

University of Maryland Global Campus (UG Cert Digital Health Professional)

Best public-university online Digital Health Professional certificate

UG Cert Digital Health Professional Adelphi, MD Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #11

UMGC Undergraduate Certificate in Digital Health Professional. Same director as the graduate certificate (Liliya Roberts, MD + MS + ACHE). Initial CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Hybrid delivery. Short-form undergraduate credential that pairs with the UMGC MS HIM or stands alone for entry-level digital-health roles.

Program Director

Liliya Roberts , MD, MS Health Systems Management, MS Learnig Design and Technology, ACHE

Address

3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi, MD, 20783

Contact

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

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)5/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)7/10
Cost (10%)6/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall65/100

Visit program at umgc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Maryland HIM programs by category.

Best in-state BSHIM (HBCU + FAHIMA)

Coppin State University

Only HBCU CAHIIM HIM in MD. Director Dr. Mona Calhoun (PhD + FAHIMA). Fully online.

Best top-reputation MS in Health Informatics

Johns Hopkins University

Highest institutional reputation in the field. Fully online. Tuition is the trade-off.

Best public-university MS in HIM

University of Maryland Global Campus

Continuing CAHIIM. Online. University System of Maryland tuition.

Best DC-metro AAS (5-credential director)

Montgomery College

Director Dr. Corinne Smith holds PhD + RHIA + CCS + CDIP + CHDA. Fully online.

Best Baltimore AAS (Hopkins / UMMS pipeline)

Community College of Baltimore County

Director Dr. Irby Hunter (MD + RHIA + MHA + CPC).

Best Western Maryland AAS

Hagerstown Community College

Continuing CAHIIM, longest review cycle in MD (2033-2034). Feeds Meritus and the Tri-State market.

Best Baltimore fully-online AAS

Baltimore City Community College

Located directly in Baltimore. Full Hopkins / UMMS / MedStar adjacency.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in MD

Maryland community colleges

All MD community college AAS programs qualify for the MD Promise Scholarship and Pell. Coppin State BSHIM and UMGC programs are eligible for the Maryland Educational Assistance Grant.

Credentials

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

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

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical MD Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AASRecords, ROI, coder at Hopkins / UMMS / MedStar / LifeBridge
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIMHIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor
CDIPCertified Documentation Improvement PractitionerRHIA / RHIT + CDI experienceClinical documentation improvement at academic medical centers

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Maryland.

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

  • Median: $54,220 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $57,930
  • 10th pct: $35,400 · 90th pct: $82,090
  • Statewide employment: 2,440

Baltimore (Hopkins, UMMS, MedStar, LifeBridge) and the DC suburbs (MedStar, Adventist, Holy Cross, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic, federal contractors) anchor the upper end. MD HIM pay sits well above the national median because the state is dense with academic medical centers and federal-adjacent employers.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K Maryland MED $54K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Maryland health information management job market and top hospital employers.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Baltimore. One of the most prestigious health systems in the world, 6 hospitals plus the Johns Hopkins research enterprise.

University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS). Baltimore HQ. Academic medical system of the University of Maryland, 13 hospitals statewide.

MedStar Health. Columbia HQ. 10 hospitals in MD and DC, including MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown.

LifeBridge Health. Baltimore. Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital, Carroll Hospital, Grace Medical Center.

Adventist HealthCare. Montgomery County HQ. DC-metro presence.

Holy Cross Health. Silver Spring. Part of Trinity Health.

Luminis Health. Annapolis. Anne Arundel Medical Center + Doctors Community Medical Center.

Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic. Integrated payer + provider serving MD, DC, and northern VA.

Meritus Health. Hagerstown. Dominant Western MD employer.

Health information exchange

CRISP (Chesapeake Regional Information System for Patients).

CRISP is Maryland's state-designated HIE and one of the most mature regional HIEs in the country. CRISP serves Maryland, DC, West Virginia (CRISP WV), and parts of Virginia and Delaware. Services include clinical messaging, query-based retrieval, ENS encounter notification, prescription drug monitoring, and population-health analytics. CRISP participation is effectively required for any MD hospital, which makes CRISP expertise a meaningful resume signal in the MD HIM job market.

State regulation

Maryland state laws affecting health information management.

  • Maryland Confidentiality of Medical Records Act (Health-General § 4-301 et seq.). The MD-specific statute that governs disclosure of medical records. Tighter than HIPAA on certain points, including mental-health and HIV disclosures.
  • Medical record retention (COMAR 10.07.01.24). MD hospitals must retain adult medical records for at least 5 years after last entry, and for minors until age 21 (or 5 years after the encounter, whichever is longer).
  • Patient access and copy fees (Health-General § 4-304). MD statute caps copy fees with annually-updated MD Health Care Commission tables.
  • CRISP designation (Health-General § 19-143). Statutory designation of CRISP as Maryland's state HIE.

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 MD estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. CRISP HIE.
  6. Maryland Higher Education Commission: state aid programs.
  7. Maryland Statutes: Health-General § 4-301 et seq., § 19-143.
  8. MdHIMA.

FAQ

HIM programs in Maryland: frequently asked questions.

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

On our methodology, Coppin State University ranks #1 (83.5/100). Montgomery College #2. University of Maryland Global Campus #3.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in MD?

11 active. 6 associate, 1 bachelor's (Coppin State), 2 master's, 1 graduate certificate, 1 undergraduate certificate.

What is the average HIM salary in MD?

Median $54,220 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $82,090.

Does MD require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which Maryland hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

Johns Hopkins Medicine, UMMS, MedStar Health, LifeBridge Health, Adventist HealthCare, Holy Cross Health, Luminis Health, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic, Meritus Health.

What is CRISP?

Maryland's state-designated HIE (Chesapeake Regional Information System for Patients). Serves MD, DC, WV, and parts of VA and DE.

Can I get a HIM degree online in MD?

Yes. Coppin State BSHIM, Johns Hopkins MS, UMGC MS, Baltimore City CC AAS, and Montgomery College AAS all run fully online. Others run hybrid.