New Hampshire / Health information management programs

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

New Hampshire has 2 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs, both at Southern New Hampshire University. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: Southern New Hampshire University's BSHIM, scoring 81/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

New Hampshire
2

Programs ranked

81

Top score

$49K

NH median HIM wage

930

HIM jobs in NH

Key Takeaways

  • Southern New Hampshire University BSHIM ranks #1 in New Hampshire (81/100). The only CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM in NH. Initial CAHIIM, fully online, PhD + MPH + RHIA director (Dr. Jude Haney).
  • New Hampshire has 2 active CAHIIM-accredited programs, both at Southern New Hampshire University: 1 bachelor's (BSHIM) and 1 master's (MS in HIM). No CAHIIM-accredited AAS in NH.
  • SNHU is one of the largest online universities in the United States, with national online reach and infrastructure built for working adults. Both NH CAHIIM programs leverage this scale.
  • Median HIM salary in New Hampshire is 49,210 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 68,980. 930 working in this occupation (one of the smaller HIM employment bases by absolute headcount).
  • Dartmouth Health is NH's largest system (formerly Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, rebranded 2022). Anchored by Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon) and the Geisel School of Medicine.
  • Catholic Medical Center (Manchester) is the largest Manchester-area system, independent Catholic-tradition. Concord Hospital anchors the Concord/Capitol area.
  • SolutionHealth is the holding company for Elliot Health System (Manchester) and Southern NH Medical Center (Nashua). Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (Dover) is owned by Mass General Brigham.
  • NH does not license HIM staff. AHIMA credentials (RHIT, RHIA, CCS) function as the de facto standard. NHHIMA is the New Hampshire 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 →

Programs taking applications in New Hampshire now

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

The ranked programs

The 2 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in New Hampshire, ranked.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Southern New Hampshire University (BSHIM) BS Manchester 81/100 Initial
#2 Southern New Hampshire University (MS) MS Manchester 81/100 Initial
#1
81/100

Overall score

Southern New Hampshire University (BSHIM)

Best (only) in-state BSHIM (PhD + MPH + RHIA director, national online scale)

BSHIM Manchester, NH Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #1

Southern New Hampshire University BSHIM in Manchester, NH. The only CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM in New Hampshire. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Program director Dr. Jude Haney holds PhD + MPH + RHIA, a credential blend covering research, public health, and HIM. SNHU is one of the largest online universities in the United States; the BSHIM enrolls nationally and was designed for working adults. Strong reach into Dartmouth Health, Catholic Medical Center, and Concord Hospital through online delivery.

Program Director

Jude Haney , Ph.D, MPH, RHIA

Address

2500 North River Road, Manchester, NH, 03106

Contact

(800) 668-1249
j.haney@snhu.edu

Score breakdown

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

Visit program at snhu.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
81/100

Overall score

Southern New Hampshire University (MS)

Best (only) in-state MS in HIM (same SNHU PhD + MPH + RHIA director, BSHIM-to-MS ladder)

MS Manchester, NH Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #2

Southern New Hampshire University MS in HIM in Manchester. The only CAHIIM-accredited master's in HIM in New Hampshire. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Fully online. Same director as the BSHIM (Dr. Jude Haney, PhD + MPH + RHIA), giving a clean BSHIM-to-MS ladder under one program leader. SNHU's national online infrastructure (one of the largest in the country) is well-suited to working healthcare professionals.

Program Director

Jude Haney , Ph.D, MPH, RHIA

Address

2500 North River Road Manchester, Nh 03106, Manchester, NH, 03106

Contact

(800) 668-1249
j.haney@snhu.edu

Score breakdown

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

Visit program at snhu.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best New Hampshire HIM programs by category.

Best (only) in-state BSHIM

SNHU BSHIM

Manchester. Initial CAHIIM. Fully online. PhD + MPH + RHIA director. National online infrastructure.

Best (only) in-state MS in HIM

SNHU MS in HIM

Manchester. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Same director as the SNHU BSHIM. Direct BSHIM-to-MS ladder.

Best BSHIM-to-MS ladder

SNHU (BSHIM + MS, same director)

Both programs under Dr. Jude Haney. No transfer needed; stacked credentials inside SNHU's online ecosystem.

Best Dartmouth Health pipeline

SNHU BSHIM or MS

Dartmouth Health hires across NH and Vermont; SNHU's online programs are accessible from anywhere in the Upper Valley or wider state.

Best for working healthcare professionals

SNHU MS in HIM

SNHU's online infrastructure is purpose-built for working adults. The MS is the right credential for clinicians, IT staff, or RHIAs moving into senior HIM leadership.

Best public-health-flavored credential

SNHU (PhD + MPH + RHIA director)

Dr. Jude Haney's MPH credential suggests a curriculum with public health framing relevant for community-hospital HIM and population-health analytics roles.

If you want an AAS in NH

No CAHIIM AAS in NH

There is no CAHIIM-accredited AAS in New Hampshire. NH students who want the RHIT credential typically take an online out-of-state AAS (Northeast Iowa CC, Kennebec Valley CC in Maine, etc.) and then ladder into the SNHU BSHIM.

Best fully online option

Both SNHU programs (fully online)

Both the BSHIM and MS run fully online out of Manchester, accessible across NH, MA, ME, and the broader New England region.

Credentials

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

New Hampshire does not license HIM staff. The New Hampshire Health Information Management Association (NHHIMA) is the state AHIMA component.

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical NH Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AAS (no in-state, online out-of-state needed)Records, ROI, coder at Dartmouth Health / CMC / Concord Hospital
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIM (SNHU in-state)HIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in New Hampshire.

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

  • Median: $49,210 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $53,200
  • 10th pct: $39,120 · 90th pct: $68,980
  • Statewide employment: 930

NH's HIM wage distribution is compressed: the 10th pct is well above the national 10th pct, and the 90th pct is below the national 90th pct. Manchester (CMC, Elliot), Lebanon (Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center), Concord (Concord Hospital), and Dover (Wentworth-Douglass / MGB) anchor the upper end. Rural NH (North Country, Lakes Region) pays near the lower bound. NH's relatively high cost of living tracks alongside the upward-pressured 10th pct.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K New Hampshire MED $49K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

New Hampshire health information management job market and top hospital employers.

Dartmouth Health. The largest NH system. Formerly Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, rebranded as Dartmouth Health in 2022. Anchored by Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon) and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Member hospitals include Cheshire Medical Center (Keene), New London Hospital, Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (Lebanon), Mount Ascutney Hospital (Windsor, VT).

Catholic Medical Center. Manchester. The largest Manchester-area hospital. Independent Catholic-tradition system, founded in 1974 (merger of Sacred Heart and Notre Dame Hospitals).

Concord Hospital. Concord. The dominant Concord/Capitol-area system; recently expanded with the integration of Lakes Region General Hospital (Laconia) and Franklin Regional Hospital.

SolutionHealth. Parent company of Elliot Health System (Manchester) and Southern New Hampshire Medical Center (Nashua). Two-hospital regional partnership in southern NH.

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Dover. Owned by Mass General Brigham. Major Seacoast NH anchor and increasingly integrated into the MGB clinical network.

Exeter Hospital. Exeter. Independent community hospital on NH's Seacoast.

Androscoggin Valley Hospital. Berlin. North Country critical access hospital, part of North Country Healthcare.

Health information exchange

New Hampshire HIE landscape.

New Hampshire's HIE coverage is partial and structurally different from larger-state HIEs. The New Hampshire Health Information Organization (NHHIO) served as the original state-coordinated HIE. More recently, NH providers rely on a combination of:

  • Regional HIE participants and national networks such as eHealth Exchange and the CommonWell Health Alliance.
  • Vendor-native record locator services. Many NH hospitals use Epic's Care Everywhere; Wentworth-Douglass is integrated directly with Mass General Brigham through MGB's enterprise Epic.
  • Cross-state Boston-region connectivity. Mass General Brigham's HIE infrastructure draws in much of NH's HIM data flow.

This patchwork is typical of smaller New England states where the dominant pull is toward the Boston academic medicine market.

State regulation

New Hampshire state laws affecting health information management.

  • Patient access (RSA 332-I). NH's Patient Bill of Rights statute, including patient right of access to medical records.
  • Medical record retention (NH Board of Medicine rules; Med 501.02). NH physicians and hospitals must retain adult records for at least 7 years from the date of last treatment. Minor records: age of majority plus 7 years.
  • Breach notification (RSA 359-C:19, 359-C:20). Notice to affected NH residents as quickly as possible and without unreasonable delay; AG and credit reporting agency notification for breaches affecting 1,000+ NH residents.
  • No state HIM licensure. NH's Board of Medicine and other clinical boards 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 NH estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. NH Department of Health and Human Services.
  6. NH Revised Statutes: RSA 332-I, RSA 359-C:19, NH Board of Medicine rules.
  7. eHealth Exchange and CommonWell Health Alliance.

FAQ

HIM programs in New Hampshire: frequently asked questions.

What is the best CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in New Hampshire?

On our methodology, Southern New Hampshire University BSHIM ranks #1 (81/100). Southern New Hampshire University MS #2 (81/100).

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in NH?

2 active, both at SNHU: 1 BSHIM and 1 MS in HIM. No CAHIIM AAS in NH.

What is the average HIM salary in NH?

Median $49,210 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $68,980.

Does NH require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which NH hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

Dartmouth Health, Catholic Medical Center, Concord Hospital, SolutionHealth (Elliot + Southern NH Medical Center), Wentworth-Douglass (MGB), Exeter Hospital.

Does NH have a statewide HIE?

Coverage is partial. NHHIO was the original state HIE; current connectivity relies heavily on eHealth Exchange, CommonWell, vendor-native record locator services, and cross-state Boston-region integration through Mass General Brigham.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in NH?

Yes. Both SNHU programs (BSHIM and MS) are fully online.

If I want an AAS in NH, what should I do?

There is no CAHIIM-accredited AAS in NH. Common path: take a fully-online CAHIIM AAS from out of state (Northeast Iowa CC, Kennebec Valley CC in Maine, etc.), sit the RHIT, then ladder into SNHU BSHIM for the RHIA.