by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 126 U.S. colleges awarded 2,865 degrees and certificates in Health Information Management. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 45% of graduates. College Factual ranks 61 schools in its 2027 Best Health Information Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $35,689 one year after completing, rising to $45,915 after four years.
Studying Health Information Management involves the study of Health Information/medical Records Administration/administrator. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Plan, Design, And Manage Systems, Processes, And Facilities Used To Collect, Store, Secure, Retrieve, Analyze, And Transmit Medical Records And Other Health Information Used By Clinical Professionals And Health Care Organizations. Includes Instruction In The Principles And Basic Content Of The Biomedical And Clinical Sciences, Information Technology And Applications, Data And Database Management, Clinical Research Methodologies, Health Information Resources And Systems, Office Management, Legal Requirements, And Professional Standards.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, health information management draws strong interest, with 2,865 degrees awarded annually. 126 colleges award health information management degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 406.
By level, the 2,865 awards include 146 certificates, 220 associate degrees, 1,297 bachelor’s degrees and 1,200 master’s degrees.
Women earned 86% of health information management degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,461 of 2,865). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,189) and Black or African American (703), and international students earned 62.
College Factual ranks 61 schools in its 2027 Best Health Information Management Schools ranking, including 16 for associate degrees, 38 for bachelor’s degrees and 31 for master’s degrees. It also ranks health information management schools within 26 states. In all, 126 colleges offer health information management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Health Information Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common health information management credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,297 of the 2,865 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to health information management call most for Speaking, Critical Thinking and Management of Personnel Resources, and for knowledge of Administration and Management, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Written Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a health information management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 146 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 220 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,297 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,200 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to health information management, at 46.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 46.4% |
| Master’s degree | 21.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.6% |
| First professional degree | 3.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Health Information Management, with an average median salary of $128,620; the strongest outlook belongs to Medical and Health Services Managers, at 8.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Medical Records Director, Medical Records Clerk, Health Information Specialist and Medical Care Evaluation Specialist.
The occupation related to health information management with the most projected jobs is Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars, at 2,200,733.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | 2,200,733 | -4.3% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
| Medical Records Specialists | 358,946 | 4.4% |
Health Information Management graduates earn a median $35,689 one year after completing their program, $45,915 after four years and $40,536 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,689 |
| 4 years | $45,915 |
| 5 years | $40,536 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to health information management is Medical Records Specialists, with a median salary of $153,246.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Records Specialists | $153,246 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars | $103,058 |
Health Information Management has 23 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 86,140 degrees a year; the largest are Health/Health Care Administration/Management (28,683), Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician (12,262) and Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller (11,432). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
