Master’s in Health Informatics
For those interested in both healthcare and computer science, health informatics is where the two disciplines overlap. One way into health informatics is to earn a master’s degree in the subject, and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) maintains accreditation standards for these programs.
Health informatics includes practice areas such as clinical informatics, which the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) defines as “the application of informatics and information technology to deliver healthcare services,” and public health informatics, which AMIA defines as “the application of informatics in areas of public health, including surveillance, prevention, preparedness, and health promotion.” This guide covers admission requirements, curriculum, online programs, careers and wages.
Admissions Requirements
You have many master’s in health informatics programs to choose from. While admission requirements vary by school, some similarities remain. For example, UT Southwestern Medical Center asks applicants to have, or be completing, a bachelor’s degree and to upload an unofficial transcript from every institution they attended, and Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities. Students entering master’s-level programs come from a variety of backgrounds, such as engineering, computer science, and healthcare, according to CAHIIM.
GRE requirements differ. UT Southwestern lists general GRE scores as optional, while Northwestern says the GRE is not required, though strong scores can help an application. Experience is weighed differently, too. Northwestern calls work or research experience in clinical, computing or information technology fields highly desirable but not required, and UT Southwestern evaluates professional or research experience as applicable. Both programs ask for a personal statement. UT Southwestern’s covers why applicants are pursuing the degree and what they plan to do with the skills they gain, and Northwestern’s 300-word statement of purpose explains how the program will help applicants meet their academic and professional goals.
Questions to ask before you apply
Admissions offices can confirm the current requirements for each program. Useful questions include:
- Which prerequisite courses are required, and can you complete them after you’re admitted?
- Is the GRE required, optional or waived?
- Does the program expect professional experience, and does clinical or IT work count?
- Does the program include a capstone project, practicum or internship?
- How long does the program take full time and part time?
- Which accreditor, if any, recognizes the program?
Curriculum
Health informatics master’s programs organize coursework in different ways. Northwestern’s online master’s in health informatics requires nine core courses, including a capstone or thesis, plus three courses in a chosen specialization or from a general track of electives.
Core or foundational classes cover the main knowledge areas of the field. CAHIIM’s master’s standards build on AMIA’s core competencies for master’s-level education, which span areas such as information science and technology, health information science and technology, human factors, professionalism and leadership. Northwestern’s core courses cover topics such as:
- Introduction to health informatics
- Legal, ethical and social issues
- Systems acquisition and lifecycle
- Foundations of applied AI and analytics in healthcare
- Consumer digital health
Specialization and elective options let students concentrate on specific areas. Northwestern’s specialization and elective courses cover topics such as:
- Health IT standards and interoperability
- Decision support systems
- Applied AI in healthcare
A program may also require a culminating experience. Northwestern’s core includes a capstone project or thesis, and CAHIIM’s master’s standards ask programs that require an internship, practicum or capstone to provide the evaluation documents used.
Online Master’s in Health Informatics Programs
Online master’s in health informatics programs may be suitable for professionals with a full-time work schedule who are looking to advance their careers, as well those who are employed by the information technology sector and want to transition to the healthcare industry.
Some online health informatics master’s programs offer specializations. One could be clinical informatics, which AMIA defines as “the application of informatics and information technology to deliver healthcare services.” Northwestern University’s online master’s program offers a clinical informatics specialization, a healthcare AI and digital innovation specialization and a general health informatics track.
This information was checked in October 2026. Please be sure to check with your preferred university for the most current information.
Why Pursue a Master’s in Health Informatics?
A master’s in health informatics may be a good fit for you if you’re interested in working in healthcare but not necessarily directly with patients, you have an aptitude for science or an interest in management, law and computers, or if you enjoy working with a variety of professionals such as physicians, computer administrators and executives.
What Can I Do with a Master’s in Health Informatics?
AMIA says informaticians conduct research, understand organizational workflow and apply findings to improve processes and propose solutions to technical, clinical and organizational challenges that hamper successful technology implementations.
Health Informatics Careers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Standard Occupational Classification lists clinical informatics director and health information services manager among the example job titles for medical and health services managers. According to BLS, employment of medical and health services managers was estimated at 597,080 in May 2025. This estimate excludes self-employed workers.
Job titles reported for related occupations by BLS and by the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET OnLine for health informatics specialists and medical and health services managers include:
- Clinical Informatics Director
- Clinical Informatics Analyst
- Clinical Informatics Specialist
- Health Information Management Director
- Nursing Informatics Specialist
Salary for Health Informatics
Wages for medical and health services managers vary by location and employer type. In May 2025, the median annual wage was $94,340 in Arkansas and $164,120 in New York, according to BLS. By employer type, the national median annual wage was $134,050 in general medical and surgical hospitals and $105,770 in offices of physicians.
According to the BLS, the national median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $123,860 in May 2025. The 90th-percentile annual wage was $224,340, meaning the highest-paid 10% of these workers earned more than that amount. By comparison, the 90th-percentile annual wage for medical records specialists was $81,150 in May 2025.
Information last updated: October 2026