South Carolina / Health information management programs

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

South Carolina has 4 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: University of South Carolina - Upstate's BSHIM, scoring 87.5/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

South Carolina
4

Programs ranked

87.5

Top score

$54K

SC median HIM wage

2,750

HIM jobs in SC

Key Takeaways

  • University of South Carolina - Upstate BSHIM ranks #1 in South Carolina (87.5/100). The only CAHIIM BSHIM in SC. Director Dr. Nick Rouse holds 9 credentials (MS + MBA + EdD + RHIA + ODS-C + CCS + CHDA + CAISS + CSTR), spanning HIM, analytics, security, and cancer registry.
  • South Carolina has 2 CAHIIM-accredited master's programs: USC Columbia MS Health Informatics (R1 flagship) and MUSC MS Health Informatics (only academic medical center in SC).
  • South Carolina has 4 active CAHIIM-accredited programs: 1 AAS (Greenville Tech), 1 bachelor's (USC Upstate), 2 master's (USC Columbia + MUSC).
  • Greenville Tech sits inside the Upstate SC employer cluster: Prisma Health, Bon Secours St. Francis, AnMed, and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.
  • Median HIM salary in South Carolina is 54,280 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 71,280. 2,750 working in this occupation.
  • Prisma Health is the largest SC system (post-2017 merger of Palmetto Health and Greenville Health System). MUSC Health is the only academic medical center in SC. Bon Secours St. Francis, AnMed, Spartanburg Regional, McLeod, Tidelands, Roper St. Francis, and Lexington Medical Center round out the regional employer cluster.
  • SCHIEx is South Carolina's state-designated HIE, operated by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control since 2009.
  • South Carolina medical record retention is 10 years for adult records (SC Code § 44-7-3210 and SCDHEC regulations).

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 South Carolina now

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

The ranked programs

The 4 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in South Carolina, ranked.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 University of South Carolina - Upstate BS Spartanburg 87.5/100 Continuing
#2 Greenville Technical College AAS Greenville 79.5/100 Continuing
#3 University of South Carolina - Columbia MS Informatics Columbia 78.5/100 Continuing
#4 Medical University of South Carolina MS Informatics Charleston 74.5/100 Initial
#1
87.5/100

Overall score

University of South Carolina - Upstate

Best in-state BSHIM (only CAHIIM bachelor's in SC, 9-credential director)

BSHIM Spartanburg, SC Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2030-2031

Why it ranks #1

University of South Carolina Upstate BSHIM in Spartanburg. The only CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM in South Carolina. Director Dr. Nick Rouse holds MS + MBA + EdD + RHIA + ODS-C + CCS + CHDA + CAISS + CSTR, one of the longest credential strings of any program director in the country (combining HIM, cancer registry, analytics, and security credentials). Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2030-2031. Fully online. USC Upstate is part of the University of South Carolina system. Strong reach into Spartanburg Regional Healthcare and the Upstate SC employer cluster.

Program Director

Nick Rouse , MS, MBA, EdD, RHIA, ODS-C, CCS, CHDA, CHDA, CAISS & CSTR

Address

800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC, 29303

Contact

(864) 503-5562
Rouse2@USCUPSTATE.EDU

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)6/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)8/10
Cost (10%)8/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall87.5/100

Visit program at uscupstate.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
79.5/100

Overall score

Greenville Technical College

Best Upstate SC AAS (Prisma Health / Bon Secours / Spartanburg Regional pipeline)

AAS Greenville, SC Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #2

Greenville Technical College. Director Lisa Seibert holds RHIA + CCS + ODS (Retired). Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Located inside the largest SC HIM employer cluster: Prisma Health (the largest SC system), Bon Secours St. Francis, AnMed, and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare.

Program Director

Lisa Seibert , RHIA, CCS, ODS-Retired

Address

PO Box 5616, Greenville, SC, 29606

Contact

(864) 250-3050
lisa.seibert@gvltec.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)8/10
Director credentials (15%)8/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)9/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall79.5/100

Visit program at gvltec.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#3
78.5/100

Overall score

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Best mature R1 university MS in Health Informatics

MS Health Informatics Columbia, SC Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2026-2027

Why it ranks #3

University of South Carolina Columbia MS in Health Informatics. Director Dr. Robert Brookshire holds a PhD. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2026-2027 (mature accreditation, review cycle approaching). Hybrid delivery. USC Columbia is the flagship R1 research university in SC, with strong ties to Prisma Health and the Columbia capital-area employer cluster.

Program Director

Robert Brookshire , Ph.D.

Address

550 Assembly St, Suite 1300, Columbia, SC, 29208

Contact

(803) 777-6570
rbrook@mailbox.sc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)9/10
Director credentials (15%)8/10
Pathways (15%)6/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)8/10
Cost (10%)7/10
Reputation (5%)8/10
Overall78.5/100

Visit program at sc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#4
74.5/100

Overall score

Medical University of South Carolina

Best academic medical center MS in Health Informatics

MS Health Informatics Charleston, SC Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Initial Next Review 2027-2028

Why it ranks #4

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) MS in Health Informatics, Charleston. Director Dr. Abby Kazley holds a PhD. Initial CAHIIM, next review 2027-2028. Hybrid delivery. MUSC is the only academic medical center in South Carolina, with direct pipeline into MUSC Health (the major SC academic teaching hospital).

Program Director

Abby Kazley , PhD

Address

151 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC, 29425

Contact

(843) 792-0012
swansoaj@musc.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)6/10
Director credentials (15%)8/10
Pathways (15%)6/10
Delivery (15%)8/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)7/10
Reputation (5%)9/10
Overall74.5/100

Visit program at chp.musc.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best South Carolina HIM programs by category.

Best in-state BSHIM

University of South Carolina Upstate

Only CAHIIM BSHIM in SC. Nine-credential director (MS + MBA + EdD + RHIA + ODS-C + CCS + CHDA + CAISS + CSTR). Fully online.

Best Upstate SC AAS

Greenville Technical College

Greenville. Direct Prisma Health + Bon Secours + AnMed + Spartanburg Regional pipeline.

Best R1-university MS in Health Informatics

University of South Carolina Columbia

SC flagship R1 research university. Continuing CAHIIM. Hybrid.

Best academic medical center MS in Health Informatics

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston. MUSC is the only academic medical center in SC. Direct MUSC Health pipeline.

Best Prisma Health pipeline

Greenville Tech + USC Upstate or USC Columbia

Greenville Tech AAS into Prisma Health entry-level HIM, then USC Upstate BSHIM for the RHIA ladder or USC Columbia MS for the informatics step.

Best MUSC Health pipeline

MUSC MS Health Informatics

MUSC's own MS HI is the direct internal pipeline for MUSC Health.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in SC

Greenville Technical College

SC Technical College System tuition. Qualifies for the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program, SC Need-Based Grant, and Pell.

Best nine-credential director program

USC Upstate

Dr. Nick Rouse's CSTR (Certified Tumor Registrar) credential is rare at the BSHIM-director level and pairs with cancer-registry job pipelines.

Credentials

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

South Carolina does not license HIM staff. The South Carolina Health Information Management Association (SCHIMA) is the state AHIMA component.

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical SC Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AASRecords, ROI, coder at Prisma Health / MUSC Health / Bon Secours / Spartanburg Regional
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 South Carolina.

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

  • Median: $54,280 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $54,810
  • 10th pct: $37,240 · 90th pct: $71,280
  • Statewide employment: 2,750

Charleston (MUSC Health, Roper St. Francis), Greenville (Prisma Health, Bon Secours), Columbia (Prisma Health, Lexington Medical Center), and Spartanburg (Spartanburg Regional) anchor the upper end. Florence (McLeod), Anderson (AnMed), and Myrtle Beach (Tidelands) pay near the SC median. Rural SC pays below.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K South Carolina MED $54K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

South Carolina health information management job market and top hospital employers.

Prisma Health. The largest SC system, post-2017 merger of Palmetto Health (Columbia) and Greenville Health System.

MUSC Health. Charleston. The academic health system of the Medical University of South Carolina, and the only academic medical center in SC.

Bon Secours St. Francis. Greenville. Part of Bon Secours Mercy Health.

AnMed. Anderson. Independent system in the Upstate.

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Spartanburg. Anchor of the eastern Upstate.

Tidelands Health. Myrtle Beach. Grand Strand / coastal SC anchor.

McLeod Health. Florence. Dominant Pee Dee region system.

Roper St. Francis Healthcare. Charleston. Sister system to MUSC in the Charleston market.

Lexington Medical Center. West Columbia. Independent acute-care anchor of the Midlands.

Health information exchange

SCHIEx (South Carolina Health Information Exchange).

SCHIEx (South Carolina Health Information Exchange) is South Carolina's state-designated HIE, operated by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. SCHIEx connects participating SC providers with clinical messaging and query-based retrieval. Participation is voluntary, not state-mandated.

State regulation

South Carolina state laws affecting health information management.

  • Medical record retention (SC Code § 44-7-3210 and SCDHEC regulations). SC hospitals must retain adult medical records for at least 10 years.
  • Patient access (SC Code § 44-115-30). SC's Physicians' Patient Records Act grants patients access to medical records with statutory copy-fee caps.
  • South Carolina Financial Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Protection Act (SC Code § 39-1-90). 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 SC estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. SCHIEx.
  6. SC Commission on Higher Education: LIFE Scholarship, Lottery Tuition Assistance, SC Need-Based Grant.
  7. South Carolina Legislature: SC Code §§ 44-7-3210, 44-115-30, 39-1-90.
  8. SCHIMA.

FAQ

HIM programs in South Carolina: frequently asked questions.

What is the best CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in South Carolina?

On our methodology, University of South Carolina - Upstate ranks #1 (87.5/100). Greenville Technical College #2. University of South Carolina - Columbia #3.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in SC?

4 active. 1 associate, 1 bachelor's (USC Upstate), 2 master's (USC Columbia + MUSC).

What is the average HIM salary in SC?

Median $54,280 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $71,280.

Does SC require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which South Carolina hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

Prisma Health, MUSC Health, Bon Secours St. Francis, AnMed, Spartanburg Regional, Tidelands, McLeod, Roper St. Francis, Lexington Medical Center.

What is SCHIEx?

South Carolina's state-designated HIE, operated by SCDHEC.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in SC?

Yes for USC Upstate BSHIM and Greenville Tech AAS. USC Columbia and MUSC MS programs run hybrid.