Post job

Health information manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a health information manager. Health information managers usually study computer information systems, health care administration, or business. 43% of health information managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 35% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 1,265 real health information manager resumes to see exactly what health information manager education sections show.

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

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

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

What education do you need to become a health information manager?

What degree do you need to be a health information manager?

The most common degree for health information managers is bachelor's degree, with 43% of health information managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 35% and associate degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 43%
  • Associate, 35%
  • Master's, 9%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 9%

What should I major in to become a health information manager?

You should major in computer information systems to become a health information manager. 28% of health information managers major in computer information systems. Other common majors for a health information manager include health care administration and business.

Most common colleges for health information managers

Health information managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Temple University, and University of Cincinnati. Here are the most common colleges for health information managers in the US based on their resumes.
Health information manager common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix15.17%
Temple University8.28%
University of Cincinnati6.90%
University of Central Florida5.52%
DeVry University5.52%

Best majors for health information managers

Best colleges for health information managers

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

A health information manager 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 managers. 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 managers.

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 managers

Advertising disclosure

1. Health Care IT: Challenges and Opportunities

coursera

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...

2. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

coursera

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...

3. HIPAA Compliance Complete Course

udemy
4.4
(3,483)

Protecting Patients and Practices...

4. Health Data 101

udemy
4.4
(1,787)

An Introduction to Health Data for data analysts...

5. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff

coursera

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...

6. Health Care Delivery in Healthcare Organizations

coursera

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...

7. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist

udemy
4.4
(811)

Health Information Technology HIT...

8. Providing Trauma-Informed Care

udemy
4.7
(1,276)

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

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

coursera

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...

10. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

coursera

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...

11. Managing mental health issues in the workplace

udemy
4.1
(891)

Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...

12. Workplace Mental Health: A Manager's Ultimate Guide

udemy
4.6
(1,641)

How to manage mental health in the workplace to boost productivity and be the best boss!...

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

coursera

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...

14. Comparative Health Systems

coursera

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...

15. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system

udemy
4.6
(4,258)

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

16. Health Coaching Certification Holistic Wellness Health Coach

udemy
4.4
(3,299)

Health Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Prepared Health Coaching Specialists in Holistic Wellness Health Coaching...

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

coursera

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. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.

udemy
4.5
(2,235)

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

19. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Health & Wellness

udemy
4.7
(594)

Learn about holistic health, wellness, key biomarkers, good sleep and ways to optimize your health...

20. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate

udemy
4.6
(1,115)

Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...

Top 10 most affordable universities for health information managers

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

If the best universities for health information managers 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 managers.

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 managers

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

Some great schools for health information managers 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 managers 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 managers

The easiest schools for health information managers 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 manager 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 managers.

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 manager salary by education level

According to our data, health information managers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $86,369 annually. Health information managers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $72,230.
Health information manager education levelHealth information manager salary
Master's Degree$86,369
High School Diploma or Less$58,575
Bachelor's Degree$72,230
Some College/ Associate Degree$66,866

Health information manager education FAQs

Search for health information manager jobs

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.

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs