Minnesota / Health information management programs

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

Minnesota has 11 CAHIIM-accredited HIM and health informatics programs. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: The College of St. Scholastica's BSHIM, scoring 86.5/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Minneapolis, Minnesota skyline
11

Programs ranked

86.5

Top score

$62K

MN median HIM wage

3,150

HIM jobs in MN

Key Takeaways

  • The College of St. Scholastica BSHIM ranks #1 in Minnesota (86.5/100). Director Pam Oachs is the only FAHIMA-credentialed program director in Minnesota.
  • The College of St. Scholastica (Duluth) is the only MN institution offering a CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM, MS HIM, and MS Health Informatics under one roof: the most complete vertical HIM pathway in the state.
  • Minnesota has 11 active CAHIIM-accredited programs: 6 AAS, 2 bachelor's (St. Scholastica + Rasmussen), 3 master's (St. Scholastica MS HIM, St. Scholastica MS Health Informatics, UMN MS Health Informatics).
  • RCTC (Rochester Community and Technical College) sits in Rochester, the home of Mayo Clinic, and is the cleanest pipeline into Mayo Clinic HIM employment in the country.
  • Median HIM salary in Minnesota is 61,530 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 83,020. 3,150 working in this occupation.
  • Mayo Clinic dominates Rochester. M Health Fairview, HealthPartners, Allina, Children's Minnesota, North Memorial, and Hennepin Healthcare anchor the Twin Cities. CentraCare runs central MN. Essentia Health runs Duluth and northern MN.
  • Minnesota does not operate a single statewide HIE. MN law requires explicit patient consent for HIE participation (Minnesota Statutes § 144.293), so exchange happens through bilateral agreements, Direct Trust messaging, and national networks.
  • Minnesota medical record retention is permanent for hospital records in most cases (Minnesota Rules 4642 and Minnesota Statutes § 145.32), one of the longest retention requirements 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 Minnesota now

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

The ranked programs

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

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 The College of St. Scholastica BS Duluth 86.5/100 Continuing
#2 The College of St. Scholastica MS Duluth 85.5/100 Continuing
#3 Rochester Community and Technical College AAS Rochester 84/100 Continuing
#4 Minnesota State Community and Technical College AAS Detroit Lakes 80/100 Continuing
#5 University of Minnesota MS Informatics Minneapolis 79.5/100 Initial
#6 The College of St. Scholastica MS Informatics Duluth 78/100 Initial
#7 Rasmussen University AAS St. Cloud 76.5/100 Continuing
#8 Rasmussen University BS St. Cloud 76.5/100 Continuing
#9 Saint Paul College AAS St. Paul 76.5/100 Continuing
#10 St. Cloud Technical & Community College AAS St Cloud 74.5/100 Continuing
#11 Anoka Technical College AAS Anoka 72.5/100 Initial
#1
86.5/100

Overall score

The College of St. Scholastica (BSHIM)

Best in-state BSHIM (FAHIMA director, only FAHIMA in Minnesota)

BSHIM Duluth, MN Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2033-2034

Why it ranks #1

The College of St. Scholastica BSHIM in Duluth. Director Pam Oachs holds MA + RHIA + CHDA + FAHIMA, the only FAHIMA-credentialed program director in Minnesota. Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle of any MN program, next review 2033-2034. Hybrid delivery. St. Scholastica is the only MN institution offering a CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM, an MS in HIM, and an MS in Health Informatics under one roof: the most complete vertical pathway in the state.

Program Director

Pam Oachs , MA, RHIA, CHDA, FAHIMA

Address

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%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)9/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)7/10
Cost (10%)6/10
Reputation (5%)9/10
Overall86.5/100

Visit program at css.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
85.5/100

Overall score

The College of St. Scholastica (MS)

Best in-state MS in HIM

MS Duluth, MN Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2032-2033

Why it ranks #2

St. Scholastica MS in HIM. Director Dr. Katie Kerr holds EdD + RHIA. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2032-2033. Fully online. Pairs with the St. Scholastica BSHIM at the same school: the only same-institution BS-to-MS HIM stack in Minnesota.

Program Director

Katie Kerr , EdD, RHIA

Address

1200 Kenwood Ave., Duluth, MN, 55811

Contact

(218) 464-3569
kkerr@css.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9/10
Director credentials (15%)9/10
Pathways (15%)9/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)7/10
Cost (10%)6/10
Reputation (5%)9/10
Overall85.5/100

Visit program at css.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#3
84/100

Overall score

Rochester Community and Technical College

Best Mayo Clinic pipeline AAS

AAS Rochester, MN Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #3

Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) in Rochester, the home of Mayo Clinic. Director Joseph Kroeger holds MHA + RHIA + CHPS + ODS, the strongest credential stack of any MN AAS director. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Fully online. The cleanest entry into Mayo Clinic HIM employment.

Program Director

Joseph Kroeger , MHA, RHIA, CHPS, ODS

Address

851 30th Ave Se, Rochester, MN, 55904

Contact

(507) 285-7525
joseph.kroeger@rctc.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 rctc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#4
80/100

Overall score

Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Best fully-online AAS (longest CAHIIM review cycle of any MN AAS)

AAS Detroit Lakes, MN Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2033-2034

Why it ranks #4

Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) in Detroit Lakes. Director Bonnie C. Peterson holds MS + RHIA. Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle of any MN AAS, next review 2033-2034. Fully online. Serves the western MN / Fargo-Moorhead market and connects to Essentia Health.

Program Director

Bonnie C. Peterson , MS, RHIA

Address

900 Hwy 34 E, Detroit Lakes, MN, 56501

Contact

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

Score breakdown

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

Visit program at minnesota.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#5
79.5/100

Overall score

University of Minnesota

Best research-university MS in Health Informatics (FACMI director)

MS Health Informatics Minneapolis, MN Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #5

University of Minnesota MS in Health Informatics, Minneapolis campus. Director Dr. Constantin Aliferis holds MD + PhD + FACMI. FACMI is the American College of Medical Informatics fellowship, the top distinction in the field. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Hybrid delivery. R1 research university, direct pipeline to M Health Fairview, the Institute for Health Informatics, and the Twin Cities medical-informatics employer market.

Program Director

Constantin Aliferis , MD, PhD, FACMI

Address

8-100 Phillips-Wangensteen Building, 516 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455

Contact

(612) 626-3348
CACAHIIM@umn.edu

Score breakdown

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

Visit program at healthinformatics.umn.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

More HIM programs accepting students

#6
78/100

Overall score

The College of St. Scholastica (MS Health Informatics)

Best fully-online MS in Health Informatics with FAHIMA-led BS feeder

MS Health Informatics Duluth, MN Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #6

St. Scholastica MS in Health Informatics. Director Dr. David Marc holds PhD + CHDA. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Pairs with the St. Scholastica BSHIM and MS HIM to round out a three-degree HIM and Health Informatics stack under one roof in Duluth.

Program Director

David Marc , PhD, CHDA

Address

1200 Kenwood Ave, Duluth, MN, 55811

Contact

(218) 625-4892
dmarc@css.edu

Score breakdown

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

Visit program at css.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#7
76.5/100

Overall score

Rasmussen University

Best private fully-online AAS with same-system BS bridge

AAS St. Cloud, MN Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2032-2033

Why it ranks #7

Rasmussen University Online AAS. Director Laura Nelson holds RHIA. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2032-2033. Fully online. Ladders cleanly into the Rasmussen BSHIM.

Program Director

Laura Nelson , RHIA

Address

226 Park Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN, 56301

Contact

(651) 259-8139
laura.nelson4@rasmussen.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)7/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)7/10
Cost (10%)5/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall76.5/100

Visit program at rasmussen.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#8
76.5/100

Overall score

Rasmussen University

Best private fully-online BSHIM with same-system AAS feeder

BSHIM St. Cloud, MN Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2032-2033

Why it ranks #8

Rasmussen University Online BSHIM. Director Kyra Austin McLoyd holds MA + RHIA. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2032-2033. Fully online. Rasmussen also runs a separately-listed CAHIIM AAS in MN, so the AAS-to-BS stack stays within the Rasmussen system.

Program Director

Kyra Austin McLoyd , MA, RHIA

Address

226 Park Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN, 56301

Contact

(815) 306-2651
kyra.austin@rasmussen.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)7/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)7/10
Cost (10%)5/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall76.5/100

Visit program at rasmussen.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#9
76.5/100

Overall score

Saint Paul College

Best Twin Cities AAS (M Health Fairview / HealthPartners / Allina pipeline)

AAS St. Paul, MN Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #9

Saint Paul College in downtown St. Paul, the heart of the Twin Cities HIM employer market. Director Kelly Dale holds RHIA. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Hybrid delivery. Direct adjacency to M Health Fairview, HealthPartners, Allina Health, Children's Minnesota, and Regions Hospital.

Program Director

Kelly Dale , RHIA

Address

235 Marshall Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55102

Contact

(651) 846-1401
kelly.dale@saintpaul.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall76.5/100

Visit program at saintpaul.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#10
74.5/100

Overall score

St. Cloud Technical & Community College

Best Central Minnesota fully-online AAS (CentraCare pipeline)

AAS St Cloud, MN Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #10

St. Cloud Technical & Community College. Director Lynn Zormeier holds RHIA + MSET. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Fully online. Feeds CentraCare (the dominant central MN system) and the St. Cloud regional market.

Program Director

Lynn Zormeier , RHIA, MSET

Address

1540 Northway Drive, St Cloud, MN, 56303

Contact

(320) 308-5065
LZormeier@sctcc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)7/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall74.5/100

Visit program at sctcc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

More HIM programs accepting students

#11
72.5/100

Overall score

Anoka Technical College

Best north Twin Cities metro fully-online AAS

AAS Anoka, MN Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #11

Anoka Tech in Anoka (north Twin Cities metro). Director Georgina Sampson holds RHIA. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Strong adjacency to the Twin Cities employer network (Allina, M Health Fairview, North Memorial).

Program Director

Georgina Sampson , RHIA

Address

1355 West High 10, Anoka, MN, 55303

Contact

(763) 576-4042
gsampson@anokatech.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall72.5/100

Visit program at anokatech.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Minnesota HIM programs by category.

Best in-state BSHIM (FAHIMA-led)

The College of St. Scholastica

Pam Oachs (FAHIMA) leads the only program in MN with all three CAHIIM tracks under one roof: BSHIM + MS HIM + MS Health Informatics.

Best MS in Health Informatics (research university)

University of Minnesota

Director Dr. Constantin Aliferis is an American College of Medical Informatics (FACMI) fellow, the top distinction in the field.

Best Mayo Clinic pipeline AAS

Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester is Mayo Clinic. Director Joseph Kroeger has the strongest credential stack of any MN AAS director (MHA + RHIA + CHPS + ODS).

Best fully-online AAS

Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Detroit Lakes. Continuing CAHIIM with the longest AAS review cycle in MN (2033-2034).

Best Twin Cities AAS

Saint Paul College

Downtown St. Paul. Direct adjacency to M Health Fairview, HealthPartners, Allina, Regions Hospital.

Best central MN AAS (CentraCare pipeline)

St. Cloud Technical & Community College

Fully online. Feeds CentraCare and central MN.

Best private online BS-to-MS pathway

Rasmussen University Online

Rasmussen runs a CAHIIM AAS and a CAHIIM BSHIM as separately-listed programs in the directory.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in MN

Minnesota State two-year colleges

Anoka Tech, RCTC, Saint Paul College, St. Cloud Tech, and M State are part of Minnesota State and share statewide tuition rates. All are MN State Grant and Pell eligible.

Credentials

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

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

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical MN Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AASRecords, ROI, coder at Mayo / Fairview / HealthPartners / Allina
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIMHIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor
CHDACertified Health Data AnalystRHIA / RHIT + analytics experienceHealth data analyst, reporting, quality

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Minnesota.

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

  • Median: $61,530 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $63,570
  • 10th pct: $48,120 · 90th pct: $83,020
  • Statewide employment: 3,150

The Twin Cities (M Health Fairview, HealthPartners, Allina, Children's MN, Hennepin Healthcare) anchor the upper end. Rochester (Mayo Clinic) and Duluth (Essentia) sit near the MN median, with Mayo Clinic positions paying above market for credentialed HIM roles. Northern and rural Minnesota pay below the median but with lower COL.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K Minnesota MED $62K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Minnesota health information management job market and top hospital employers.

Mayo Clinic. Rochester HQ. One of the most prestigious health systems in the world. Direct adjacency: RCTC.

M Health Fairview. Twin Cities. The integrated health system of the University of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services.

HealthPartners. Bloomington-based. Integrated payer + provider system, 6 hospitals.

Allina Health. Minneapolis. 12 hospitals across MN and western WI.

CentraCare. St. Cloud HQ. Dominant central MN system.

Essentia Health. Duluth HQ. Operates across MN, ND, and WI northern markets.

Children's Minnesota. Twin Cities. One of the largest pediatric systems in the country.

North Memorial Health. Robbinsdale. Twin Cities suburban.

Hennepin Healthcare. Minneapolis public safety-net hospital.

Health information exchange

Minnesota HIE landscape (no single statewide HIE).

Minnesota is an outlier in the HIE landscape. Unlike most states, MN does not operate a single state-mandated HIE. Instead, Minnesota Department of Health coordinates the MN e-Health Initiative, and Minnesota Statutes § 144.293 requires explicit patient consent before any health information is exchanged for treatment, payment, or operations. Most exchange happens through bilateral agreements between health systems, Direct Trust secure messaging, and connections to national networks like eHealth Exchange and Carequality. This consent requirement is a defining feature of MN HIM compliance work.

State regulation

Minnesota state laws affecting health information management.

  • Medical record retention (Minnesota Rules 4642 and Minnesota Statutes § 145.32). Minnesota requires hospital records be retained permanently in most cases (some non-permanent records 7 years), one of the longest retention regimes in the country.
  • Patient consent for HIE (Minnesota Statutes § 144.293). MN requires explicit patient consent before health information is released to providers for treatment, payment, or operations. This is a unique MN-specific HIM compliance requirement.
  • Patient access and copy fees (Minnesota Statutes § 144.292). MN law grants patients access to their medical records with statutory caps on copy fees.
  • Minnesota Health Records Act (Minnesota Statutes § 144.291-298). Comprehensive statutory framework for medical record handling and disclosure.

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 MN estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. Minnesota Department of Health e-Health Initiative.
  6. Minnesota Office of Higher Education: state aid programs.
  7. Minnesota Statutes: §§ 144.291-298 (Minnesota Health Records Act), § 145.32.
  8. MNHIMA.

FAQ

HIM programs in Minnesota: frequently asked questions.

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

On our methodology, The College of St. Scholastica ranks #1 (86.5/100). The College of St. Scholastica #2. Rochester Community and Technical College #3.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in MN?

11 active. 6 associate, 2 bachelor's, 3 master's.

What is the average HIM salary in MN?

Median $61,530 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $83,020.

Does MN require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which Minnesota hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

Mayo Clinic, M Health Fairview, HealthPartners, Allina Health, CentraCare, Essentia Health, Children's Minnesota, North Memorial Health, Hennepin Healthcare.

Does Minnesota have a statewide HIE?

No single statewide HIE. MN law requires explicit patient consent for HIE participation (Minnesota Statutes § 144.293), so exchange happens through bilateral agreements and national networks.

Can I get a HIM degree online in MN?

Yes. Most MN AAS programs are fully online (M State, RCTC, St. Cloud Tech, Anoka Tech, Rasmussen). St. Scholastica MS HIM, St. Scholastica MS Health Informatics, and Rasmussen BS are also fully online. St. Scholastica BSHIM and UMN MS run hybrid.