Utah / Health information management programs

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

Utah has 3 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. Top: Weber State University's AAS, scoring 97.5/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Utah
3

Programs ranked

97.5

Top score

$53K

UT median HIM wage

1,910

HIM jobs in UT

Key Takeaways

  • Weber State University BSHIM ranks #1 in Utah (97.5/100). Mature Continuing CAHIIM, DHSc + MEd + RHIA director (Dr. Heather Merkley), AAS + BSHIM under one director, Intermountain + U of U Health pipeline.
  • Utah has 3 active CAHIIM-accredited programs: 1 associate (Weber State), 2 bachelor's (Weber State + WGU). No CAHIIM-accredited MS in UT.
  • Weber State and WGU are the two CAHIIM BSHIMs in Utah, and both are nationally significant: Weber for its mature director and Intermountain pipeline, WGU for its national reach and competency-based model (longest review cycle in the country, 2033-2034).
  • Median HIM salary in Utah is 52,870 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 82,640. 1,910 working in this occupation.
  • Intermountain Health is Utah's largest system and the largest in the Mountain West (~60,000 employees post-SCL Health 2022 merger). Anchored by Intermountain Medical Center (Murray) and Primary Children's Hospital.
  • University of Utah Health is Utah's academic flagship, anchored by University of Utah Hospital and the U of U School of Medicine. Major academic informatics presence.
  • UHIN is Utah's statewide HIE, operating since 1993. UHIN runs the cHIE (Clinical Health Information Exchange) for clinical record-sharing across nearly all Utah hospitals and most physician practices.
  • Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) took effect December 2023. Adds non-HIPAA consumer data protections relevant for non-covered analytics roles. HIPAA still governs covered HIM work.

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 3 CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs in Utah, ranked.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Weber State University (AAS) AAS Ogden 97.5/100 Continuing
#2 Weber State University (BSHIM) BS Ogden 97/100 Continuing
#3 Western Governors University BS Salt Lake City 84.5/100 Continuing
#1
97.5/100

Overall score

Weber State University (AAS)

Best in-state AAS with direct BSHIM ladder (same Weber State director)

AAS Ogden, UT Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2028-2029

Why it ranks #1

Weber State University AAS in Ogden. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2028-2029. Both campus-based and online delivery. Director Dr. Heather Merkley holds DHSc + MEd + RHIA. Weber State's AAS-to-BSHIM ladder under one director is the cleanest stacked-credentials pathway in Utah. Direct pipeline into Intermountain Health McKay-Dee (Ogden), Ogden Regional Medical Center (HCA MountainStar), and the rest of the Intermountain network.

Program Director

Heather Merkley , DHSc, MEd, RHIA

Address

Health Administrative Services, 3959 Stadium Way, Dept 3911, Ogden, UT, 84408-3911

Contact

(801) 626-7074
hmerkley@weber.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)10/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)9/10
Reputation (5%)7/10
Overall97.5/100

Visit program at weber.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#2
97/100

Overall score

Weber State University (BSHIM)

Best in-state BSHIM (mature Weber + DHSc/MEd/RHIA director, Intermountain pipeline)

BSHIM Ogden, UT Campus Based, Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2028-2029

Why it ranks #2

Weber State University BSHIM in Ogden. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2028-2029. Both campus-based and online delivery. Program director Dr. Heather Merkley holds DHSc + MEd + RHIA, one of the most credentialed BSHIM directors in the mountain west (doctorate in health sciences plus education plus RHIA). Weber State runs both the AAS and BSHIM under the same director, giving a clean ladder. Located in Ogden, ~35 miles north of Salt Lake City, with strong reach into Intermountain Health (Utah's largest system) and the University of Utah Health system. Weber State HIM is also home to AHIMA's textbook author roster.

Program Director

Heather Merkley , DHSc, MEd, RHIA

Address

Health Administrative Services, 3959 Stadium Way, Dept 3911, Ogden, UT, 84408-3911

Contact

(801) 626-7074
hmerkley@weber.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)10/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)10/10
Cost (10%)8/10
Reputation (5%)8/10
Overall97/100

Visit program at weber.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

#3
84.5/100

Overall score

Western Governors University

Best competency-based fully online BSHIM (5-credential director, national scale)

BSHIM Salt Lake City, UT Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2033-2034

Why it ranks #3

Western Governors University BSHIM in Salt Lake City. Continuing CAHIIM, with the longest review cycle in the country (next review 2033-2034). Fully online, competency-based delivery model unique to WGU. Program director Pam Borsum holds EdD + MBA + MT(ASCP) + RHIA + RMA, a 5-credential combination spanning education leadership, business, medical technology, and HIM. WGU enrolls students nationwide; the Utah location is administrative. WGU's flat-rate competency-based tuition lets motivated students complete the BSHIM faster than a traditional schedule.

Program Director

Pam Borsum , Ed.D., MBA, MT(ASCP), RHIA, RMA

Address

4001 South 700 East, Suite 700, Salt Lake City, UT, 84107

Contact

(385) 428-7642
pam.borsum@wgu.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)9/10
Pathways (15%)6/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)6/10
Cost (10%)9/10
Reputation (5%)8/10
Overall84.5/100

Visit program at wgu.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Utah HIM programs by category.

Best in-state BSHIM

Weber State University

Ogden. Continuing CAHIIM. DHSc + MEd + RHIA director. AAS + BSHIM under same director. Intermountain pipeline.

Best competency-based fully online BSHIM

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City admin (national online). 5-credential director (EdD + MBA + MT(ASCP) + RHIA + RMA). Flat-rate tuition; complete faster if motivated.

Best in-state AAS

Weber State University

Ogden. The only CAHIIM AAS in Utah. Direct ladder into the Weber BSHIM under the same director.

Best AAS-to-BSHIM ladder

Weber State University

Both AAS and BSHIM at the same institution under director Dr. Heather Merkley. No transfer needed.

Best campus + online option

Weber State University

Both Weber State AAS and BSHIM offer campus-based and online delivery. WGU is fully online only.

Best Intermountain Health pipeline

Weber State

Direct reach into Intermountain McKay-Dee (Ogden), Intermountain Medical Center (Murray), and the rest of the Intermountain Health network (~60,000 employees post-SCL merger).

Best for working adults who want to finish fast

WGU BSHIM

Competency-based model with flat-rate tuition. Students with prior HIM experience can demonstrate mastery and advance through courses faster than a traditional schedule.

If you want a CAHIIM MS in UT

No CAHIIM MS in Utah

There is currently no CAHIIM-accredited MS in HIM or Health Informatics in Utah. University of Utah offers biomedical informatics outside CAHIIM (medical-school informatics).

Credentials

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

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

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical UT Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AASRecords, ROI, coder at Intermountain Health / University of Utah Health / HCA MountainStar
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIM (Weber + WGU in-state)HIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Utah.

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

  • Median: $52,870 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $57,160
  • 10th pct: $35,720 · 90th pct: $82,640
  • Statewide employment: 1,910

The Salt Lake City and Ogden-Clearfield metros anchor the upper end. Intermountain Health, University of Utah Health, and HCA MountainStar dominate the employer base; Intermountain HQ in Murray (Salt Lake County) is the largest single white-collar HIM employer cluster in Utah. Provo-Orem, St. George, and Logan pay near the UT median. Rural Utah pays below.

Salary distribution

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

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K Utah MED $53K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Utah health information management job market and top hospital employers.

Intermountain Health. The largest Utah system and the largest in the Mountain West (~60,000 employees post-SCL Health 2022 merger). Headquartered in Salt Lake City. Anchored by Intermountain Medical Center (Murray) and Primary Children's Hospital (Salt Lake City). Major facilities also in Ogden (McKay-Dee), Provo (Utah Valley Hospital), St. George (St. George Regional), and Logan (Logan Regional).

University of Utah Health. Utah's academic flagship. University of Utah Hospital (Salt Lake City), Huntsman Cancer Institute, and the U of U School of Medicine. Major academic biomedical informatics presence (DBMI is a national leader).

HCA MountainStar Healthcare. HCA's Utah division: St. Mark's Hospital (Salt Lake City), Lakeview Hospital (Bountiful), Ogden Regional Medical Center, Brigham City Community Hospital, Mountain View Hospital (Payson), Timpanogos Regional Hospital (Orem), and Cache Valley Hospital (Logan).

CommonSpirit Holy Cross Health Utah (former Steward). Steward Health Care's Utah hospitals (formerly Steward Salt Lake, Davis, Jordan Valley, Mountain Point, Salt Lake Regional) were sold/divested in the 2024 Steward bankruptcy proceedings. CommonSpirit acquired the former Steward Utah hospitals in 2024 and operates them as CommonSpirit Holy Cross Health Utah.

Shriners Children's Salt Lake City. Pediatric orthopedic specialty hospital.

Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System. VA Salt Lake provides VA HIM/health informatics roles distinct from civilian-side employers.

Health information exchange

UHIN and the Clinical Health Information Exchange (cHIE).

UHIN (Utah Health Information Network) is Utah's statewide HIE and clearinghouse, founded in 1993 (one of the earliest state HIEs in the country). UHIN operates the cHIE (Clinical Health Information Exchange) for clinical record-sharing across nearly all Utah hospitals and most physician practices. UHIN also runs the state's all-payer claims clearinghouse, which makes it structurally different from most state HIEs that focus on clinical data alone.

State regulation

Utah state laws affecting health information management.

  • Health Information Network Act (Utah Code § 26-33a). Governs UHIN operations and the cHIE. The most developed state-level HIE statute in the country.
  • Patient access (Utah Code § 78B-5-618). Patient right of access to medical records, copying-fee caps.
  • Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA, 2022, effective December 31, 2023). Adds non-HIPAA consumer health data protections. Relevant for non-HIPAA-covered HIM staff (digital health, wellness apps, analytics).
  • Breach notification (Utah Code § 13-44). Notice in the most expedient time possible; AG and credit reporting agency notification for breaches affecting 1,000+ Utah residents.
  • No state HIM licensure. Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing regulates clinical professions; HIM credentials are AHIMA-issued.

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 UT estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. UHIN (Utah Health Information Network) and the cHIE.
  6. Utah Code: §§ 26-33a, 78B-5-618, 13-44, Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA).
  7. Utah System of Higher Education: in-state tuition information for Weber State.

FAQ

HIM programs in Utah: frequently asked questions.

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

On our methodology, Weber State University AAS ranks #1 (97.5/100). Weber State University BSHIM #2. Western Governors University BSHIM #3.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in UT?

3 active. 1 associate (Weber State), 2 bachelor's (Weber State + WGU). No CAHIIM MS in UT.

What is the average HIM salary in UT?

Median $52,870 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $82,640.

Does UT require a license to work in HIM?

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

Which Utah hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

Intermountain Health, University of Utah Health, HCA MountainStar Healthcare, CommonSpirit Holy Cross Health Utah (former Steward), VA Salt Lake City.

What is UHIN?

Utah's statewide HIE and clearinghouse, founded 1993. Runs the cHIE (Clinical Health Information Exchange).

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in UT?

Yes. WGU is fully online and competency-based. Weber State offers both campus and online delivery for both AAS and BSHIM.

What is competency-based education at WGU?

WGU's flat-rate term-based tuition lets you demonstrate mastery through assessments rather than progressing on a fixed schedule. Students with prior HIM experience often complete the BSHIM faster.