Nebraska / Health information management programs

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

Nebraska has 5 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: Clarkson College's BSHIM, scoring 89.5/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Nebraska
5

Programs ranked

89.5

Top score

$52K

NE median HIM wage

1,640

HIM jobs in NE

Key Takeaways

  • Clarkson College BSHIM ranks #1 in Nebraska (89.5/100). The only CAHIIM BSHIM in NE, Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle in the state (2033-2034), and Nebraska Medicine affiliation.
  • Clarkson College runs the only BSHIM in Nebraska plus a same-school CAHIIM AAS under the same director (Gretchen Jopp, MS + RHIA + CCS + CPC). Clarkson is the only Nebraska Medicine-affiliated educator with this stack.
  • Nebraska has 5 active CAHIIM-accredited programs: 4 AAS and 1 bachelor's (Clarkson). NE does not currently have a CAHIIM-accredited MS in HIM or Health Informatics.
  • Metropolitan Community College Omaha's director Dawn Goodsell holds 5 credentials (RHIA + CCS + CPC-I + CPC + COC), one of the deepest coding-and-instruction credential stacks of any AAS director in the country.
  • Median HIM salary in Nebraska is 51,670 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 74,990. 1,640 working in this occupation.
  • Nebraska Medicine is the largest NE health system, anchoring Omaha along with Methodist Health System, CHI Health, Children's Nebraska, and Boys Town National Research Hospital. Bryan Health and Madonna Rehabilitation anchor Lincoln. Regional West anchors Western Nebraska.
  • CyncHealth (formerly NEHII) is Nebraska's state-designated HIE, also serving Iowa.
  • Nebraska medical record retention is 10 years for adult records (Nebraska Revised Statutes § 71-2068).

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 Nebraska now

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

The ranked programs

The 5 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in Nebraska, ranked.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Clarkson College BS Omaha 89.5/100 Continuing
#2 Metropolitan Community College - Omaha AAS Omaha 89/100 Continuing
#3 Clarkson College AAS Omaha 84.5/100 Continuing
#4 Central Community College AAS Grand Island 75/100 Continuing
#5 Western Nebraska Community College AAS Scottsbluff 70/100 Continuing
#1
89.5/100

Overall score

Clarkson College (BSHIM)

Best in-state BSHIM (only CAHIIM bachelor's in Nebraska, longest review cycle)

BSHIM Omaha, NE Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2033-2034

Why it ranks #1

Clarkson College BSHIM in Omaha. The only CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM in Nebraska. Director Gretchen Jopp holds MS + RHIA + CCS + CPC. Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle in NE, next review 2033-2034. Fully online. Clarkson College is affiliated with Nebraska Medicine (the academic health system of the University of Nebraska Medical Center) and runs both the BSHIM and the AAS under the same director.

Program Director

Gretchen Jopp , MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC

Address

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

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)9/10
Pathways (15%)7/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)7/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall89.5/100

Visit program at clarksoncollege.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
89/100

Overall score

Metropolitan Community College - Omaha

Best fully-online AAS (five-credential director, longest review cycle of any NE AAS)

AAS Omaha, NE Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2033-2034

Why it ranks #2

Metropolitan Community College in Omaha. Director Dawn Goodsell holds RHIA + CCS + CPC-I + CPC + COC, a five-credential AHIMA + AAPC stack heavy on outpatient coding and instruction. Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle of any NE AAS, next review 2033-2034. Fully online. Sits inside the largest NE HIM employer market (Nebraska Medicine, Methodist Health System, CHI Health, Children's Nebraska, Boys Town National Research Hospital).

Program Director

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

Address

PO Box 3777, Omaha, NE, 68103-0777

Contact

(531) 622-2633
dmgoodsell1@mccneb.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
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
Overall89/100

Visit program at mccneb.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#3
84.5/100

Overall score

Clarkson College (AAS)

Best Omaha AAS with same-school BSHIM bridge

AAS Omaha, NE Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #3

Clarkson College AAS in Omaha. Same director as the Clarkson BSHIM (Gretchen Jopp, MS + RHIA + CCS + CPC). Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Fully online. Stackable with the Clarkson BSHIM at the same school for a same-institution AAS-to-BS pathway. Clarkson's Nebraska Medicine affiliation creates the strongest academic-medical-center pipeline in NE.

Program Director

Gretchen Jopp , MS, RHIA, CCS, CPC

Address

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

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)9/10
Pathways (15%)7/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)7/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall84.5/100

Visit program at clarksoncollege.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#4
75/100

Overall score

Central Community College

Best Central Nebraska fully-online AAS

AAS Grand Island, NE Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #4

Central Community College in Grand Island. Director Shawna Stump holds RHIA. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Fully online. Feeds CHI Health St. Francis (Grand Island), Mary Lanning Healthcare (Hastings), and Bryan Health Kearney.

Program Director

Shawna Stump , RHIA

Address

3134 W Highway 34, PO Box 4903, Grand Island, NE, 68802-4903

Contact

(308) 398-7389
sstump@cccneb.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%)6/10
Overall75/100

Visit program at cccneb.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#5
70/100

Overall score

Western Nebraska Community College

Best Western Nebraska fully-online AAS

AAS Scottsbluff, NE Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2028-2029

Why it ranks #5

Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff (the Nebraska Panhandle). Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2028-2029. Fully online. Feeds Regional West Medical Center (Scottsbluff) and cross-border markets in WY and CO.

Program Director

Nicole Danielzuk

Address

1601 East 27th Street, Scottsbluff, NE, 69361

Contact

(308) 635-6316
danielzn@wncc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)5/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)6/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall70/100

Visit program at wncc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Nebraska HIM programs by category.

Best in-state BSHIM (Nebraska Medicine affiliated)

Clarkson College

Only CAHIIM BSHIM in NE. Longest CAHIIM review cycle in state. Fully online.

Best AAS-to-BSHIM at one school

Clarkson College

AAS + BSHIM at the same school under the same director, Nebraska Medicine affiliated.

Best fully-online AAS (5-credential director)

Metropolitan Community College

Omaha. Continuing CAHIIM with longest AAS review cycle in NE. Dawn Goodsell holds RHIA + CCS + CPC-I + CPC + COC.

Best Central Nebraska AAS

Central Community College

Grand Island. Fully online. Feeds CHI Health St. Francis, Mary Lanning, Bryan Health Kearney.

Best Western Nebraska / Panhandle AAS

Western Nebraska Community College

Scottsbluff. Feeds Regional West Medical Center and cross-border WY / CO markets.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in NE

Nebraska community colleges

Metro CC Omaha, Central CC, and Western Nebraska CC qualify for the Nebraska Career Scholarship (for high-demand fields including HIM) and the Nebraska Opportunity Grant. All also Pell eligible.

Where's the MS?

Out-of-state online MS

NE does not currently have a CAHIIM-accredited MS. The Clarkson BSHIM ladders cleanly into out-of-state CAHIIM MS programs (UMMC, KU Med Center, Davenport, etc.).

Best Nebraska Medicine pipeline

Clarkson College

Clarkson is directly affiliated with Nebraska Medicine (the academic health system of UNMC). The only NE HIM education program with that direct academic-medical-center affiliation.

Credentials

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

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

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical NE Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AASRecords, ROI, coder at Nebraska Medicine / Methodist / CHI Health / Children's Nebraska / Bryan Health
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 Nebraska.

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

  • Median: $51,670 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $56,720
  • 10th pct: $38,620 · 90th pct: $74,990
  • Statewide employment: 1,640

Omaha (Nebraska Medicine, Methodist, CHI Health, Children's NE, Boys Town) anchors the upper end. Lincoln (Bryan Health, Madonna Rehab) pays near the NE median. Grand Island and Kearney (central NE) and the Panhandle (Regional West) pay below the median with corresponding low COL.

Salary distribution

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

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

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Nebraska health information management job market and top hospital employers.

Nebraska Medicine. Omaha. The academic health system of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Includes Nebraska Medical Center and Bellevue Medical Center.

Methodist Health System. Omaha. Operates Methodist Hospital, Methodist Women's Hospital, and Methodist Fremont Health.

CHI Health. Omaha-based, part of CommonSpirit Health. Operates 14 hospitals across NE and southwest IA.

Children's Nebraska. Omaha. Major pediatric academic medical center.

Boys Town National Research Hospital. Omaha. Pediatric research hospital specializing in hearing, communication, and behavioral health.

Bryan Health. Lincoln. Dominant Lincoln + Southeast NE system, includes Bryan-LGH and Bryan Health Kearney.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals. Lincoln + Omaha. Major rehab and post-acute care system.

Regional West Medical Center. Scottsbluff. Dominant Nebraska Panhandle system.

Health information exchange

CyncHealth (formerly NEHII).

CyncHealth (formerly the Nebraska Health Information Initiative, NEHII) is Nebraska's state-designated HIE, also serving Iowa. CyncHealth connects participating providers with clinical messaging, query-based retrieval, ADT alerting, and population-health services across the NE / IA region. The cross-state coverage makes CyncHealth experience valuable on both NE and IA HIM resumes.

State regulation

Nebraska state laws affecting health information management.

  • Medical record retention (Nebraska Revised Statutes § 71-2068). Nebraska hospitals must retain medical records for at least 10 years from the date of last patient encounter.
  • Patient access (Nebraska Revised Statutes § 71-8401 et seq.). NE statute grants patients access to medical records with statutory copy-fee caps.
  • Nebraska Data Protection and Security Breach Notification Act (Nebraska Revised Statutes § 87-801 et seq.). Breach notification within a reasonable time after discovery.

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 NE estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. CyncHealth (NE + IA HIE).
  6. Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education: state aid programs.
  7. Nebraska Legislature: Nebraska Revised Statutes § 71-2068, § 71-8401, § 87-801.
  8. NeHIMA.

FAQ

HIM programs in Nebraska: frequently asked questions.

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

On our methodology, Clarkson College ranks #1 (89.5/100). Metropolitan Community College - Omaha #2. Clarkson College #3.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in NE?

5 active. 4 associate and 1 bachelor's (Clarkson College). No CAHIIM-accredited master's in NE.

What is the average HIM salary in NE?

Median $51,670 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $74,990.

Does NE require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which Nebraska hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

Nebraska Medicine, Methodist Health System, CHI Health, Children's Nebraska, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Bryan Health, Madonna Rehabilitation, Regional West Medical Center.

What is CyncHealth?

Nebraska's state-designated HIE (formerly NEHII), also serving Iowa.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in NE?

Yes. All five Nebraska CAHIIM HIM programs (Clarkson BSHIM + AAS, Metro CC Omaha, Central CC, Western Nebraska CC) run fully online.