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Health information management director education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a health information management director. Health information management directors usually study health care administration, computer information systems, or business. 38% of health information management directors hold a associate degree, and 35% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 1,269 real health information management director resumes to see exactly what health information management director education sections show.

The most common colleges for health information management directors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online health information management director courses to help get the education required to be a health information management director.

There are certain health information management director certifications that you should consider. These health information management director certifications include Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

What education do you need to become a health information management director?

What degree do you need to be a health information management director?

The most common degree for health information management directors is associate degree, with 38% of health information management directors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 35% and bachelor's degree degree at 8%.
  • Associate, 38%
  • Bachelor's, 35%
  • Master's, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 12%

What should I major in to become a health information management director?

You should major in health care administration to become a health information management director. 27% of health information management directors major in health care administration. Other common majors for a health information management director include computer information systems and business.

Most common colleges for health information management directors

Health information management directors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Texas State University. Here are the most common colleges for health information management directors in the US based on their resumes.
Health information management director common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix16.39%
DeVry University14.75%
Texas State University6.56%
Eastern Kentucky University6.56%
Louisiana Tech University5.74%

Best majors for health information management directors

Best colleges for health information management directors

The best colleges for health information management directors are University of Southern California, Johns Hopkins University, and New York University.

A health information management director 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 management directors. 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 management directors.

1. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

4. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

5. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

6. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$54,104

Enrollment

7,089

7. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

8. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$55,230

Enrollment

12,161

9. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Enrollment

2,120

10. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

20 best online courses for health information management directors

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1. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

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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

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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. Health Data 101

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An Introduction to Health Data for data analysts...

4. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist

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Health Information Technology HIT...

5. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

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COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

6. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

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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...

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Exploring psychological trauma and how to provide care and compassion to trauma survivors...

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Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...

9. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations

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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. HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Clinical Perspective)

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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...

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12. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system

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Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...

13. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff

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14. Leading Change in Health Informatics

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Do you dream of being a CMIO or a Senior Director of Clinical Informatics? If you are aiming to rise up in the ranks in your health system or looking to pivot your career in the direction of big data and health IT, this course is made for you. You'll hear from experts at Johns Hopkins about their experiences harnessing the power of big data in healthcare, improving EHR adoption, and separating out the hope vs hype when it comes to digital medicine. Whether you're a nurse, pharmacist, physician,...

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16. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.

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How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...

17. HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Social/Peer Perspective)

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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...

18. Managing mental health issues in the workplace

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19. NEBOSH health and safety Management System

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20. Health Coaching Certification Holistic Wellness Health Coach

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Top 10 most affordable universities for health information management directors

The most affordable schools for health information management directors are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and florida international university.

If the best universities for health information management directors 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 management directors.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

4. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

5. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

6. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

7. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

10. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,238

Cost of attendance

21,567

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for health information management directors

The hardest universities for health information management directors to get into are University of Southern California, Johns Hopkins University, and New York University.

Some great schools for health information management directors 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 management directors 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. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

6. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

7. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

10. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for health information management directors

The easiest schools for health information management directors to get into are D'Youville College, ottawa university, and wayland baptist university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a health information management director 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 management directors.

1. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

2. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

3. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

4. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

5. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

6. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

7. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

8. Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,002

9. Marymount University

Arlington, VA • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,065

10. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

Average health information management director salary by education level

According to our data, health information management directors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $163,598 annually. Health information management directors with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $145,069.
Health information management director education levelHealth information management director salary
Master's Degree$163,598
High School Diploma or Less$126,007
Bachelor's Degree$145,069
Some College/ Associate Degree$137,736

Health information management director education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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