Oregon / Health information management programs

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

Oregon has 5 CAHIIM-accredited HIM and health informatics programs. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: Portland Community College's AAS, scoring 86/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Portland, Oregon
5

Programs ranked

86

Top score

$59K

OR median HIM wage

2,560

HIM jobs in OR

Key Takeaways

  • Portland Community College AAS ranks #1 in Oregon (86/100). Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle in OR (2033-2034), fully online, and inside the Portland HIM employer market.
  • OHSU runs the only CAHIIM-accredited graduate program in Oregon. OHSU DMICE (Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology) is one of the foundational biomedical informatics departments in the country, directed by Dr. William Hersh, MD.
  • Oregon has 5 active CAHIIM-accredited programs: 4 AAS and 1 master's (OHSU). Oregon does not currently have a CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM.
  • Central Oregon CC's director Mandalynn Marcus holds 8 credentials (MHI + BSHS + RHIA + CAPM + CMAS + LSSYBC + AHI + IQCI), one of the longest credential strings of any AAS director nationally.
  • Median HIM salary in Oregon is 59,000 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 81,120. 2,560 working in this occupation.
  • OHSU Health is the only academic medical center in Oregon. Providence Health & Services, Legacy Health, and Kaiser Permanente Northwest anchor Portland. PeaceHealth runs Eugene and Vancouver, WA. St. Charles anchors Central Oregon. Asante and Salem Health round out the regional markets.
  • Oregon does not have a single statewide HIE. Reliance eHealth Collaborative is the largest regional effort. The Oregon Health Authority coordinates statewide health-IT policy.
  • Oregon medical record retention is 10 years for adult records (ORS 192.553 and OAR 333-505-0050).

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 ranked programs

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

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Portland Community College AAS Portland 86/100 Continuing
#2 Oregon Health & Science University MS Informatics Portland 85/100 Continuing
#3 Central Oregon Community College AAS Bend 79.5/100 Continuing
#4 Lane Community College AAS Eugene 69.5/100 Initial
#5 Klamath Community College AAS Klamath Falls 68/100 Initial
#1
86/100

Overall score

Portland Community College

Best Portland AAS (longest CAHIIM review cycle in OR, OHSU / Providence / Legacy / Kaiser pipeline)

AAS Portland, OR Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2033-2034

Why it ranks #1

Portland Community College. Director Dana Brown holds RHIA + MBA + CHC. Continuing CAHIIM with the longest review cycle of any OR program, next review 2033-2034. Fully online. Sits inside the largest OR HIM employer market with direct adjacency to OHSU Health, Providence Health & Services, Legacy Health, and Kaiser Permanente Northwest.

Program Director

Dana Brown , RHIA, MBA, CHC

Address

PO Box 19000, Portland, OR, 97280-0990

Contact

(971) 722-5709
dana.brown3@pcc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)8/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall86/100

Visit program at pcc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
85/100

Overall score

Oregon Health & Science University

Best in-state MS in Health Informatics (foundational biomedical informatics program)

MS Health Informatics Portland, OR Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #2

Oregon Health & Science University MS in Health Informatics, in the Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DMICE). Director Dr. William Hersh, MD, is one of the foundational figures in academic biomedical informatics in the country (he authored the standard textbook in the field). Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Fully online. OHSU is the only academic medical center in Oregon and OHSU DMICE is one of the longest-running and most respected biomedical informatics departments in the United States.

Program Director

William Hersh , MD

Address

3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR, 97239

Contact

(503) 494-4502
hersh@ohsu.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)6/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)6/10
Reputation (5%)10/10
Overall85/100

Visit program at ohsu.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#3
79.5/100

Overall score

Central Oregon Community College

Best Central Oregon fully-online AAS (eight-credential director)

AAS Bend, OR Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #3

Central Oregon Community College in Bend. Director Mandalynn Marcus holds MHI + BSHS + RHIA + CAPM + CMAS + LSSYBC + AHI + IQCI: an eight-credential stack spanning HIM, project management, Lean Six Sigma, and instruction, one of the longest credential strings of any AAS director in the country. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Fully online. Feeds St. Charles Health System Central Oregon and the high-desert / Bend market.

Program Director

Mandalynn Marcus , MHI, BSHS, RHIA, CAPM, CMAS, LSSYBC, AHI, IQCI

Address

2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR, 97703

Contact

(541) 383-7732
mmarcus2@cocc.edu

Score breakdown

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

Visit program at cocc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#4
69.5/100

Overall score

Lane Community College

Best Eugene-area fully-online AAS (PeaceHealth Sacred Heart pipeline)

AAS Eugene, OR Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #4

Lane Community College in Eugene. Director Richard Riordan holds MS + RHIA. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Fully online. Direct pipeline to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend (the dominant Lane County system) and Samaritan Health Services.

Program Director

Richard Riordan , MS, RHIA

Address

4000 East 30th Ave, Building 30, Eugene, OR, 97405

Contact

(541) 463-5182
RiordanRF@lanecc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
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
Overall69.5/100

Visit program at lanecc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#5
68/100

Overall score

Klamath Community College

Best Southern Oregon fully-online AAS

AAS Klamath Falls, OR Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2031-2032

Why it ranks #5

Klamath Community College in Klamath Falls. Director Jennifer Briscoe holds MBA + RHIA. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2031-2032. Fully online. Feeds Sky Lakes Medical Center and the Southern Oregon / cross-border CA market.

Program Director

Jennifer Briscoe , MBA, RHIA

Address

7390 South 6th Street, Klamath Falls, OR, 97603

Contact

(541) 880-2322
briscoe@klamathcc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
Director credentials (15%)7/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)6/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)5/10
Overall68/100

Visit program at klamathcc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Oregon HIM programs by category.

Best Portland AAS (longest review cycle in OR)

Portland Community College

Fully online. Direct OHSU + Providence + Legacy + Kaiser NW pipeline.

Best top-reputation MS in Health Informatics

Oregon Health & Science University

OHSU DMICE under Dr. William Hersh, MD. One of the foundational US biomedical informatics departments.

Best Central Oregon AAS (eight-credential director)

Central Oregon Community College

Bend. Director Mandalynn Marcus holds 8 credentials. Fully online.

Best Eugene AAS (PeaceHealth pipeline)

Lane Community College

Director Richard Riordan (MS + RHIA). Feeds PeaceHealth Sacred Heart RiverBend.

Best Southern Oregon AAS

Klamath Community College

Klamath Falls. Director Jennifer Briscoe (MBA + RHIA). Feeds Sky Lakes Medical Center.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in OR

Oregon community colleges

All Oregon community college AAS programs qualify for the Oregon Promise (free community-college tuition for recent high-school grads) and the Oregon Opportunity Grant.

Where's the BSHIM?

Out-of-state online BSHIM

Oregon does not have a CAHIIM BSHIM today. Most OR students pursue an out-of-state online BSHIM (Davenport MI, Coppin State MD, UMGC, ECU, etc.) or go directly into OHSU MS HI after the AAS plus a non-HIM bachelor's.

Best OHSU pipeline

Portland CC AAS + OHSU MS HI

Portland CC AAS into OHSU Health entry-level HIM, then OHSU MS Health Informatics for the informatics step.

Credentials

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

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

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical OR Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AASRecords, ROI, coder at OHSU / Providence / Legacy / Kaiser NW
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIM (out of state for OR)HIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Oregon.

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

  • Median: $59,000 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $61,110
  • 10th pct: $44,260 · 90th pct: $81,120
  • Statewide employment: 2,560

Portland metro (OHSU, Providence, Legacy, Kaiser NW) anchors the upper end and pays above the national median. Eugene (PeaceHealth), Salem (Salem Health), Bend (St. Charles), and Medford (Asante) pay near the OR median. Rural eastern OR pays below.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K Oregon MED $59K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Oregon health information management job market and top hospital employers.

OHSU Health. Portland. The only academic medical center in Oregon, with OHSU Hospital, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, and the OHSU School of Medicine.

Providence Health & Services (Oregon). Largest OR system, includes Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence St. Vincent, and Providence Milwaukie.

Legacy Health. Portland. 6 hospitals across OR and SW WA.

Kaiser Permanente Northwest. Portland-region integrated payer + provider.

PeaceHealth. Eugene (Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend) + Vancouver, WA.

St. Charles Health System. Bend. Dominant Central Oregon system.

Asante. Medford. Southern Oregon anchor.

Salem Health. Salem. State capital health system.

Samaritan Health Services. Corvallis. Mid-Willamette Valley anchor.

Health information exchange

Oregon HIE landscape (no single statewide HIE).

Oregon does not operate a single state-designated HIE. Reliance eHealth Collaborative (formerly Jefferson HIE) is the largest regional effort, originally founded in southern OR / northern CA and now covering much of the state. The Oregon Health Authority coordinates statewide health-IT policy. Most additional exchange happens through bilateral agreements, Carequality, eHealth Exchange, and the TEFCA QHIN framework.

State regulation

Oregon state laws affecting health information management.

  • Medical record retention (ORS 192.553 and OAR 333-505-0050). Oregon hospitals must retain adult medical records for at least 10 years, with extended retention for minors.
  • Patient access (ORS 192.553-585). Oregon's medical record access statute grants patients access with statutory copy-fee caps.
  • Oregon Consumer Information Protection Act (ORS 646A.600 et seq.). Breach notification within 45 days of discovery.

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 OR estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. Reliance eHealth Collaborative.
  6. Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion: Oregon Promise, Oregon Opportunity Grant.
  7. Oregon Legislature: ORS 192.553, OAR 333-505-0050, ORS 646A.600.
  8. OHIMA.

FAQ

HIM programs in Oregon: frequently asked questions.

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

On our methodology, Portland Community College ranks #1 (86/100). Oregon Health & Science University #2. Central Oregon Community College #3.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in OR?

5 active. 4 associate and 1 master's (OHSU MS Health Informatics). No CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM in OR.

What is the average HIM salary in OR?

Median $59,000 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $81,120.

Does OR require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which Oregon hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

OHSU Health, Providence, Legacy Health, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, PeaceHealth, St. Charles, Asante, Salem Health, Samaritan Health Services.

Does Oregon have a statewide HIE?

No single statewide HIE. Reliance eHealth Collaborative is the largest regional HIE. OHA coordinates statewide health-IT policy.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in OR?

Yes. All five Oregon CAHIIM programs run fully online: Portland CC, Central Oregon CC, Lane CC, Klamath CC, and OHSU MS Health Informatics.