North Dakota / Health information management programs

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

North Dakota has 1 CAHIIM-accredited HIM program, at the associate level. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. The single NDSCS AAS scores 87.5/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

North Dakota
1

Programs ranked

87.5

Top score

$46K

ND median HIM wage

520

HIM jobs in ND

Key Takeaways

  • North Dakota State College of Science AAS is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in North Dakota. Wahpeton. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2028-2029. Fully online. Scores 87.5/100 on our seven-factor methodology.
  • Program director Brandy Gustavus holds DHSc + MS + RHIA + CSBI + CCA, a 5-credential combination spanning a doctorate in health sciences, RHIA, AHIMA's CCA (Certified Coding Associate), and the CSBI (Certified Specialist Business Intelligence and Analytics) analytics credential.
  • No CAHIIM BSHIM or MS in North Dakota. ND students who want the RHIA credential or MS in HIM ladder via online out-of-state programs. The neighboring Dakota State University MS in HIM (Madison SD) is the closest in-region option.
  • Median HIM salary in North Dakota is 46,280 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 79,800. 520 working in this occupation.
  • Sanford Health and Essentia Health dominate the eastern ND market, with Fargo as the largest population center. Sanford's Fargo operations are among the largest in the multi-state Sanford enterprise (~50,000 employees).
  • Altru Health System is the dominant Grand Forks system, serving the upper Red River Valley.
  • CHI St. Alexius Health (Bismarck) is the largest hospital in central / western ND and a CommonSpirit Health subsidiary.
  • NDHIN is North Dakota's state-designated HIE, one of only a handful structured as a state-administered service (rather than a private nonprofit). Broad coverage across ND hospitals and clinics.

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 CAHIIM program in North Dakota

The single CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in North Dakota.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 North Dakota State College of Science AAS Wahpeton 87.5/100 Continuing
#1
87.5/100

Overall score

North Dakota State College of Science

Best (only) in-state AAS (NDSCS, DHSc + 5-credential director, Sanford ND + Essentia + Altru pipeline)

AAS Wahpeton, ND Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2028-2029

Why it ranks #1

North Dakota State College of Science AAS in Wahpeton. The only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in North Dakota at any level. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2028-2029. Fully online. Program director Brandy Gustavus holds DHSc + MS + RHIA + CSBI + CCA, a 5-credential combination including a doctorate in health sciences, AHIMA-aligned coding (CCA), and CSBI (Certified Specialist Business Intelligence and Analytics). NDSCS is part of the North Dakota University System. Strong reach into Sanford Health (Fargo is one of Sanford's largest markets), Essentia Health (Fargo + Duluth network), Altru Health System (Grand Forks), CHI St. Alexius Health (Bismarck), and Trinity Health (Minot, the regional Trinity).

Program Director

Brandy Gustavus , DHSc, MS, RHIA, CSBI, CCA

Address

800 Sixth Street North, GAHC 213F, Wahpeton, ND, 58076

Contact

(701) 671-3329
brandy.gustavus@ndscs.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
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
Overall87.5/100

Visit program at ndscs.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best North Dakota HIM pathways by category.

Best (only) in-state AAS

North Dakota State College of Science

Wahpeton. Continuing CAHIIM. Fully online. DHSc + 5-credential director.

Best coding-and-analytics blend

NDSCS (CCA + CSBI director)

Director Brandy Gustavus holds CCA (AHIMA's entry-level coding credential) plus CSBI (AHIMA's analytics specialty). Strong dual coding + analytics curriculum signal.

Best Sanford Health pipeline

NDSCS AAS

Fargo is one of Sanford's largest markets across the multi-state Sanford enterprise. NDSCS graduates are well-positioned for Sanford ND HIM, coding, and ROI roles.

Best Essentia Health pipeline

NDSCS AAS

Essentia (Fargo + Duluth network) is the major Catholic-aligned multi-state system in the region. NDSCS feeds into Essentia ND operations.

Best Altru / Grand Forks pipeline

NDSCS AAS

Altru Health System is the dominant Grand Forks system; NDSCS's online delivery reaches northeast ND without a Grand Forks campus.

Best CHI St. Alexius / Bismarck / western ND pipeline

NDSCS AAS

CHI St. Alexius (Bismarck, CommonSpirit) is the largest western ND system. Online delivery from NDSCS reaches the entire state.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in ND

NDSCS (by default)

Part of the North Dakota University System with NDUS resident community-college tuition. Pell-eligible.

If you want a BSHIM or MS in ND

Go online out-of-state

No CAHIIM BSHIM or MS in ND. Common ladders: NDSCS AAS into Weber State / WGU BSHIM, then DSU MS in HIM (Madison SD, neighboring state).

Credentials

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

North Dakota does not license HIM staff. The North Dakota Health Information Management Association (NDHIMA) is the state AHIMA component.

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical ND Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AAS (NDSCS in-state)Records, ROI, coder at Sanford / Essentia / Altru / CHI St. Alexius / Trinity Minot
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIM (no in-state, online out-of-state needed)HIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in North Dakota.

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

  • Median: $46,280 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $52,850
  • 10th pct: $39,580 · 90th pct: $79,800
  • Statewide employment: 520

ND's wage distribution is unusual: the median ($46,280) is meaningfully below the national median, but the 90th pct ($79,800) is close to the national 90th pct. Senior HIM roles at Sanford ND, Essentia, and Altru pull the upper end up. Fargo and Grand Forks anchor the upper-quartile pay; Bismarck and Minot pay near the ND median. Rural ND sits at the lower bound.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K North Dakota MED $46K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

North Dakota health information management job market and top hospital employers.

Sanford Health (Fargo). Fargo is one of Sanford's largest markets across the multi-state enterprise. Sanford Medical Center Fargo is one of the largest hospitals in the Sanford enterprise. Sanford HQ is in Sioux Falls SD.

Essentia Health. Headquartered in Duluth MN, Essentia has substantial Fargo / eastern ND operations including Essentia Health-Fargo and Essentia Health-Jamestown.

Altru Health System. Grand Forks. The dominant Grand Forks system, serving the upper Red River Valley.

CHI St. Alexius Health. Bismarck. CommonSpirit Health subsidiary. The largest hospital in central / western ND.

Trinity Health (Minot). Minot. Regional Trinity (distinct from the national Catholic Trinity Health system). Anchor of north-central ND.

Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities. Several IHS hospitals and clinics serve tribal communities in ND (Standing Rock, Spirit Lake, Turtle Mountain, Fort Berthold). IHS HIM roles are federal positions with distinct hiring pipelines.

Health information exchange

NDHIN (North Dakota Health Information Network).

NDHIN (North Dakota Health Information Network) is North Dakota's state-designated health information exchange. NDHIN is one of only a handful of state HIEs structured as a state-administered service (under the ND Information Technology Department), rather than a private nonprofit. Coverage is broad across ND hospitals and physician practices. NDHIN provides clinical messaging, longitudinal patient records, ADT notifications, and DURSA-aligned national connectivity.

State regulation

North Dakota state laws affecting health information management.

  • Patient access (NDCC 23-12-13). North Dakota's patient records statute grants patients access to medical records with statutory copying-fee caps.
  • Medical record retention (NDAC 33-07-01.1-15). ND hospitals must retain adult medical records for at least 10 years from the date of last patient discharge; minor records: age of majority plus retention period.
  • Breach notification (NDCC 51-30). Notice to affected ND residents in the most expedient time possible.
  • NDHIN-specific statute (NDCC 54-59.5). Authorizes the state-administered HIE structure.
  • No state HIM licensure. ND's licensing 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 ND estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. NDHIN (state-administered HIE).
  6. North Dakota Legislative Branch: NDCC 23-12-13, NDCC 51-30, NDCC 54-59.5.
  7. North Dakota University System: NDSCS institutional context.

FAQ

HIM programs in North Dakota: frequently asked questions.

What is the best CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in North Dakota?

North Dakota State College of Science AAS is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in North Dakota, scoring 87.5/100 on our methodology.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in ND?

1 active, at the associate level. No CAHIIM BSHIM or MS in ND.

What is the average HIM salary in ND?

Median $46,280 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $79,800.

Does ND require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which North Dakota hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

Sanford Health (Fargo), Essentia Health, Altru Health System (Grand Forks), CHI St. Alexius Health (Bismarck), Trinity Health (Minot, regional).

What is NDHIN?

North Dakota's state-designated, state-administered HIE. Broad coverage across ND providers.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in ND?

Yes for the NDSCS AAS (fully online). For BSHIM or MS, ND students must take a CAHIIM program from out of state.

If I want a BSHIM after my NDSCS AAS, what's the typical ladder?

Common ladders: NDSCS AAS into Weber State BSHIM (Ogden UT) or WGU BSHIM (Salt Lake, competency-based, fully online). Davenport and Rutgers are also fully online and accept ND students. For an MS, Dakota State (Madison SD) is the closest in-region CAHIIM MS in HIM.