Healthcare today depends heavily on information. From patient records and lab results to hospital systems and insurance data, every part of healthcare relies on people who can manage, analyze, and protect that information. That’s where health informatics comes in; it’s the field that connects healthcare and technology to make patient care smoother, faster, and more efficient.
A master’s degree in health informatics helps students understand how to collect and use health data to improve care and decision-making. It’s a great option for professionals in nursing, public health, IT, or administration who want to move into leadership or data-driven roles in the healthcare sector.
Online programs make earning this degree much easier, especially for those already working. They let you study from home, set your own schedule, and learn from top universities without putting your career on hold. The best part is that the online versions often follow the same curriculum as the on-campus mode, so you get the same quality of education and recognition.
We’ve looked at respected rankings and carefully reviewed several accredited universities that offer strong online health informatics programs. The list below highlights the best options available, what makes them stand out, and how each can help you build a successful career in health informatics.
Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics Degree Programs
1. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins’ online MS is built for working professionals who want a rigorous, research-backed path into biomedical and clinical informatics. The part-time online track typically takes up to 36 months and follows the same curriculum themes as the on-campus offering: foundations in biomedical and public-health informatics, clinical informatics, health information systems, and data science.
You’ll take core classes, electives, a student seminar, and finish with a capstone or practicum that applies skills to a real problem, so you leave with both theory and hands-on experience you can use right away.
Admissions usually expect a relevant bachelor’s degree and professional experience; the program is ideal if you want a top-tier, flexible degree without moving to Baltimore.
2. University of Southern California (USC)
USC offers cross-disciplinary online master’s programs that sit between data science and healthcare, commonly described as Healthcare Data Science (a joint Keck/Viterbi program) and related online degrees.
These programs focus on the intersection of machine learning, statistics, and clinical data: you’ll learn how to build models, manage healthcare data pipelines, and translate analytic results into clinical decisions.
Courses are delivered online through USC’s DEN@Viterbi platform (same standards and diploma as on-campus students), and many tracks include project work or applied data projects, so you graduate able to lead data efforts in hospitals, biotech, or health tech companies.
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UNC-Chapel Hill’s program is an interdisciplinary, practice-oriented master’s (often run as a Master of Professional Science or similar title) that teaches how clinical systems, EHRs, analytics, and public-health data fit together.
The online option covers the same core topics as the campus track: health information systems, data management, clinical decision support, and policy/ethics. The program is designed to be completed quickly (some students finish in about a year if full-time) and emphasizes real-world tools and teamwork, a good fit if you want a shorter, workforce-focused degree from a major public research university.
4. Boston University
Boston University’s online MS in Health Informatics (offered by BU MET) combines technology, data analytics, and health information management so graduates can work in hospitals, health systems, or tech firms focused on healthcare.
You’ll study how to collect, process, store, and analyze health data, and you can choose concentrations such as Applied Data Analytics or Health Information Management. The program mixes technical topics (databases, analytics) with real-world healthcare needs and includes project work that helps you build a portfolio you can show employers.
BU is especially appealing if you want a strong mix of analytics and health information management.
5. University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati’s online Master of Health Informatics (MHI) is a practical, CAHIIM-recognized program that prepares students for careers across health IT, informatics roles, and analytics. The program is designed to be completed in about two years and emphasizes applied learning, expect coursework in systems, data management, and clinical application, plus opportunities for practica or projects.
Admissions are relatively open (the program does not require healthcare/IT experience), which makes it a good option if you’re switching careers into health informatics or need a flexible, accredited online program that’s recognized by industry partners.
6. George Mason University
George Mason’s online MS trains students to be the bridge between healthcare, data science, and IT operations. The curriculum covers health IT systems, analytics, and emerging technologies so graduates can work as health IT specialists, data analysts, and consultants for healthcare organizations and public health agencies.
The online program is aimed at clinicians, IT professionals, and administrators who want data and technical skills tailored to healthcare settings, and it typically includes project-based learning that helps you demonstrate practical mastery to employers.
7. University of Central Florida (UCF)
UCF’s fully online MS in Health Care Informatics is set up to be completed in about two years and focuses on practical skills that employers need: database management, systems analysis, privacy & security, health IT project management, and analytics.
A required internship or practicum gives you local, hands-on experience during your final semester, which often leads to job connections. The program is CAHIIM-aware and designed for both newcomers and healthcare professionals looking to level up; it’s a strong, career-focused choice with good flexibility for working students.
8. DePaul University
DePaul’s MS in Health Informatics blends computer science, analytics, and health systems with a clear focus on making digital health tools that actually improve patient access and outcomes. The program is housed in the College of Computing and Digital Media and draws on business and communications strengths as well, so you learn technical skills and how to manage projects and communicate results.
DePaul’s curriculum is larger in credit hours (common for this program) and includes applied projects; it’s a good fit if you want a tech-forward degree with practical design and management training.
9. Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI / Luddy)
The Luddy School at IUPUI offers a focused MS that trains you to analyze clinical and biomedical data, develop clinical decision-support tools, and manage EHR and information workflows. The program is typically about 30–36 credits and covers natural language processing, data extraction, clinical analytics, and privacy/security, all practical topics for improving patient care.
The degree is strong if you want to combine data science methods (like NLP) with immediate clinical applications and if you want hands-on projects that show employers what you can do.
10. University of South Florida (USF Health)
USF Health’s online MS in Health Informatics is a 100% online, CAHIIM-recognized program (32 credits is a common track) offered through Morsani College of Medicine.
The curriculum covers core health-informatics topics, electronic medical records, ethics, healthcare project management, analytics, and a capstone or internship, and is structured in short (often 8-week) sessions so working professionals can manage study with a job.
USF highlights strong faculty who are clinicians and IT experts, and the program is practical and career-oriented: ideal if you want a health-system perspective taught by medical school faculty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What kind of jobs can I get with a Master’s in Health Informatics?
Graduates can work in a wide range of roles that connect healthcare and technology. Common positions include health data analyst, clinical informatics specialist, health information manager, electronic health record (EHR) analyst, and healthcare IT project manager.
Some professionals also move into consulting or policy roles that focus on improving how healthcare data is used across organizations.
2. Is health informatics a good career field?
Yes, it’s one of the fastest-growing fields in healthcare. As hospitals, insurance companies, and government agencies rely more on digital systems, the demand for skilled health informatics professionals keeps rising.
The job outlook is strong, salaries are competitive, and there’s plenty of room for advancement, especially if you have both technical and healthcare experience.
3. Can I work while earning an online Master’s in Health Informatics?
Absolutely. Most online programs are built for working professionals. You can take classes on your own schedule, attend virtual lectures, and complete assignments when it’s convenient.
This flexibility allows students to balance work, family, and study without putting their careers on hold.
4. How long does it take to finish an online Master’s in Health Informatics?
Most programs take about 18 months to 2 years to complete if you study full-time. Part-time students may take a little longer, depending on their workload and pace. Some universities also offer accelerated options that let you finish in as little as one year.
5. Do I need a healthcare or IT background to apply?
Not necessarily. While some experience in healthcare or information technology can be helpful, many programs accept students from other fields.
You’ll usually take a few foundation courses in health systems or data management to help you catch up before moving into advanced topics.