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Health information coder education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a health information coder. Health information coders usually study health care administration, computer information systems, or nursing. 45% of health information coders hold a associate degree, and 25% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 352 real health information coder resumes to see exactly what health information coder education sections show.
The most common colleges for health information coders are the Louisiana Tech University and the Louisiana Tech University.
There are also many online health information coder courses to help get the education required to be a health information coder.
There are certain health information coder certifications that you should consider. These health information coder certifications include Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).
What education do you need to become a health information coder?
What degree do you need to be a health information coder?
- Associate, 45%
- Bachelor's, 25%
- Diploma, 8%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 18%
What should I major in to become a health information coder?
Most common colleges for health information coders
| Health information coder common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Louisiana Tech University | 12.50% |
| University of Phoenix | 12.50% |
| DeVry University | 10.42% |
| Texas Southern University | 6.25% |
| Texas State University | 6.25% |
Best majors for health information coders
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care Administration | 39.6% |
| 2 | Computer Information Systems | 20.3% |
| 3 | Nursing | 5.5% |
| 4 | Business | 5.5% |
| 5 | Insurance | 4.4% |
Best colleges for health information coders
The best colleges for health information coders are Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern University, and Georgetown University.
A health information coder with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for health information coders. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become health information coders.
1. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$54,104
Enrollment
7,089
2. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
3. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
5. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
6. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
8. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
9. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$50,226
Enrollment
10,873
10. SUNY College at Brockport
Brockport, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,412
Enrollment
7,015
20 best online courses for health information coders
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1. Health for All Through Primary Health Care
This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...
2. Health Care IT: Challenges and Opportunities
A strong argument can be made that the health care field is one of the most information-intensive sectors in the U.S. economy and avoidance of the rapid advances in information technology is no longer an option. Consequently, the study of health care information technology and systems has become central to health care delivery effectiveness. This course covers the modern application of information technology that is critical to supporting the vision and operational knowledge of the health care...
3. Medical Coding: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Training
Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...
4. Medical Coding CPC (Certified Professional Coder) Training
ICD 10, CPT, HCPCS, Rules and Regulations...
5. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
6. HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Clinical Perspective)
HI-FIVE (Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment) Training is a 12-hour online course designed by Columbia University in 2016, with sponsorship from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The training is role-based and uses case scenarios. Also, it has additional, optional modules on other topics of interest or relevance. Although we suggest to complete the course within a month's timeframe, the course is self-paced and so you can start and...
7. ICD 10 & 11 Medical Coding and Billing
Preparation for Medical Coding Certification Exam...
8. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
Health Information Technology HIT...
9. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations
Have you ever needed health care and thought that there must be better ways to get or deliver health care? For example, have you found yourself thinking that there should be a way to get a diagnostic test or treatment at home? Or do you work in a healthcare organization and find yourself thinking that there must be better ways to deliver health care? If you have, this course is for you. Course content includes an overview of health care delivery including healthcare consumerism, the patient's...
10. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale
Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...
11. Providing Trauma-Informed Care
Exploring psychological trauma and how to provide care and compassion to trauma survivors...
12. AMCI Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course
Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course...
13. HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Social/Peer Perspective)
HI-FIVE (Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment) Training is an approximately 10-hour online course designed by Columbia University in 2016, with sponsorship from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The training is role-based and uses case scenarios. No additional hardware or software are required for this course. Our nation’s healthcare system is changing at a rapid pace. Transformative health care delivery programs depend heavily on...
14. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff
Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...
15. HIPAA Compliance Complete Course
Protecting Patients and Practices...
16. Health Data 101
An Introduction to Health Data for data analysts...
17. Comparative Health Systems
This course uses comparative analysis of health care systems to gain a better understanding of health care systems in several high-income, middle-income and low-income countries. One focus of analysis in this course will therefore be to develop a better knowledge of these health care systems. A second focus will be to use to this analysis to gain a better understanding of the health care system in the United States. This analysis is relevant for those who are directly interested in the United...
18. Trauma Emergencies and Care
Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...
19. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
20. Clinical Kidney, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation
Kidney transplantation is a major advance of modern medicine which provides high-quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease. What used to be an experimental, risky, and very limited treatment option more than 50 years ago is now routinely performed in many countries worldwide. The number of renal transplants is expected to rise sharply in the next decade since the proportion of patients with end stage renal disease is increasing. Are you interested in clinical kidney, pancreas...
Top 10 most affordable universities for health information coders
The most affordable schools for health information coders are Florida International University, hunter college of the city university of new york, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for health information coders are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for health information coders.
1. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
3. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,238
Cost of attendance
21,567
6. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
8. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
9. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
10. Augusta University
Augusta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$8,604
Cost of attendance
20,618
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for health information coders
The hardest universities for health information coders to get into are Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern University, and Georgetown University.
Some great schools for health information coders are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for health information coders based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
2. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
3. Georgetown University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,456
4. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
Admissions rate
26%
SAT average
1,427
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,365
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for health information coders
The easiest schools for health information coders to get into are AdventHealth University, d'youville college, and ottawa university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a health information coder without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for health information coders.
1. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,016
2. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
3. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
4. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
5. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
6. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
7. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
8. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
9. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
10. Marymount University
Arlington, VA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,065
Average health information coder salary by education level
| Health information coder education level | Health information coder salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $68,470 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $51,232 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $59,912 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $56,556 |
Health information coder education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025