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Medicare billing specialist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a medicare billing specialist. Medicare billing specialists usually study business, health care administration, or accounting. 34% of medicare billing specialists hold a associate degree, and 26% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 1,442 real medicare billing specialist resumes to see exactly what medicare billing specialist education sections show.
The most common colleges for medicare billing specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online medicare billing specialist courses to help get the education required to be a medicare billing specialist.
There are certain medicare billing specialist certifications that you should consider. These medicare billing specialist certifications include Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) and Certified Coding Specialist (CCS).
What education do you need to become a medicare billing specialist?
What degree do you need to be a medicare billing specialist?
- Associate, 34%
- Bachelor's, 26%
- High School Diploma, 18%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 12%
What should I major in to become a medicare billing specialist?
- Business, 26%
- Accounting, 8%
- General Studies, 6%
- Other Majors, 34%
Most common colleges for medicare billing specialists
| Medicare billing specialist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 22.99% |
| DeVry University | 9.20% |
| University of Louisville | 6.90% |
| Bryan College | 4.60% |
| Tennessee State University | 4.60% |
Best majors for medicare billing specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 26.0% |
| 2 | Health Care Administration | 26.0% |
| 3 | Accounting | 8.4% |
| 4 | General Studies | 5.5% |
| 5 | Psychology | 4.0% |
Best colleges for medicare billing specialists
The best colleges for medicare billing specialists are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
A medicare billing specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for medicare billing specialists. 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 medicare billing specialists.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
5. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
7. Maria College of Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$15,140
Enrollment
876
8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
20 best online courses for medicare billing specialists
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7. Medical Terminology 101
For those in healthcare, billing, and more. Boost earning ability and marketable skills by learning to speak medicine...
8. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries
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9. AMCI Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course
Introduction to Medical Coding (I2MC) Course...
10. Financial Bookkeeping and Accountancy: Complete Accounting
A Complete Course on Book-keeping & Accounting Course For Level 1 & 2 aspirants...
11. Medical coding for U.S. healthcare industry
Jump start your career in the fastest growing career choice in the healthcare industry...
12. Accounting101: Learn Accounts Receivable From A to Z
Learn The Accounts Receivable Cycle, Basics of Accounts Receivable, Accelerating Collections and Much More...
13. Excel Accounting Problem
Learn How to Create an Accounting Worksheet Using Microsoft Excel from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)...
14. Medical Coding: ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Training
Learn medical coding and prepare yourself for today's healthcare workplace...
15. Xero Accounting Software
Become an Expert in Xero Accounting Software: From Basics to Comprehensive Data Analysis...
16. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement
Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
17. Speak Medical Spanish to Your Patients and Clients
Spanish essentials for healthcare; program teaches correct pronunciation, pain management and medication, among others...
18. Accounting 101: Accounts Payable Best Practices For 2023
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19. Accounting Basics - A Complete Study
A - Z Guide for learning the Basics of Accountancy...
20. Advanced Accounting A Complete Study for CA/CMA/CFA/ACCA/CS
Prepare yourself for Advanced Accountancy Paper on CA / CMA / CS / B.Com Courses as well to acquire practical knowledge...
Top 10 most affordable universities for medicare billing specialists
The most affordable schools for medicare billing specialists are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for medicare billing specialists 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 medicare billing specialists.
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. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
10. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$5,419
Cost of attendance
17,697
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for medicare billing specialists
The hardest universities for medicare billing specialists to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for medicare billing specialists 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 medicare billing specialists 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 Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
8. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
9. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
10. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for medicare billing specialists
The easiest schools for medicare billing specialists to get into are D'Youville College, mount saint mary's university, and gwynedd mercy university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a medicare billing specialist 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 medicare billing specialists.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
4. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
7. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,016
8. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
9. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
10. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
Average medicare billing specialist salary by education level
| Medicare billing specialist education level | Medicare billing specialist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $43,023 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $37,245 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,791 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $37,400 |
Medicare billing specialist education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025