Key Takeaways:
- Medical billing and coding are integral parts of the healthcare system. They ensure that medical procedures and services are accurately documented for billing purposes.
- Pursuing an associate’s degree in this field can provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in roles such as medical coder, billing specialist, or health information technician.
- The healthcare industry often has a high demand for trained professionals in medical billing and coding, so it could offer good job prospects.
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve in the digital age, the role of the health information technician is becoming essential to every medical office and organization. Health information technicians are proficient in the new technologies that combine record keeping using EHRs (electronic health records) with new systems for billing and coding.
Our ranking of the top ten best online associate’s degrees in health information technology is a great place to start looking for a program suitable to your needs. Below you will find statistical information about the schools, tuition information, and a write-up that gives you a basic understanding of what to expect from the degree.
Featured Programs
Most community colleges offer a health information technology degree, so while the following degrees represent some of the best programs in the country, if none of them are located in your state it can be a good idea to see what’s available in your state to take advantage of the in-state tuition pricing. If you want a job in a related field that can help you get your foot in the door, consider medical transcriptionist.
Our ranking of the top ten online associate’s degrees in health information technology: medical billing and coding includes the following universities:
Methodology
We used a simple methodology to rank these online health information technology degrees. The main factors considered were the cost of tuition and graduation rate. Extra points were awarded to schools exhibiting standout features like programmatic accreditation, high pass rates for important certifications in the field, and offering internships, among other features.
Tuition
Tuition is a factor because entry level jobs don’t always pay the best. Lower tuition rates means lower students loans, which means less stress after graduation. This leads to more freedom for you to choose the job you want instead of the one that will pay off the loans the fastest.
$10,000 =0
$9,000 =1
$8,000 =2
$7,000 =3
$6,000 =4
$5,000 =5
$4,500 =6
$4,000 =7
$3,500 =8
$3,000 =9
$2,500 =10
$2,000 =11
Graduation Rate
Graduation rate is a good measure of a school’s ability to help students achieve their goals, even when times get hard, which they often do in the midst of earning a degree. Community colleges see a lot of transfer students, so we also factor the rate at which students transfer out of the university into the graduation rate numbers. The combined number is the number we base our point allocation on.
50%=1
55%=2
60%=4
65%=6
70%=8
75%=10
80%=12
85%=14
90%=16
95%=18
#10. Ridgewater College
Online Associate’s in Health Information Technology
Rating: 7
The Health Information Technician online AAS degree at Ridgewater College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. All instructors in the program hold either a Registered Health Information Technician, or Registered Health Information Technician Administrator certification.
Students will take courses that cover subjects like medical terminology, coding and reimbursement methodology, electronic health record systems, and legal and managerial aspects of health information.
- Tuition: $5,759
- Graduation Rate: 43% (16%)
- Standout Features: 1
#9. Collin County Community College District
Online Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Management/Medical Coding and Billing
Rating: 8
Students in the health information management program offered by Collin County Community College can earn a certificate in medical billing and coding. Students who decide to earn this certificate will take courses like human anatomy and physiology basic, medical terminology, health data content and structure, coding and classification system, legal and ethical aspects of health information, and coding and reimbursement methodologies.
- Resident Tuition: $2,644
- Non-resident Tuition: $4,474
- Graduation Rate: 16% (34%)
#8. Central Community College
Online Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Management Services
Rating: 8
Central Community College’s health informatics online medical coding degree is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. High school students seeking to apply to this program must have at least a C average and must maintain at least a C average in community college courses prior to taking the HIMS courses.
- Resident Tuition: $3,000
- Non-resident Tuition: $4,340
- Graduation Rate: 40% (17%)
- Standout Features: 1
#7. Southwest Mississippi Community College
Online Health Information Technology-Medical Coding
Rating: 10
Students who graduate from the associate of applied science in health information technology online degree will be qualified to sit for the registered health information technician exam. This online associate’s degree in HIT/medical coding is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.
Students will take courses like coding systems one and two, electronic health records, performance improvement techniques, and RHIT prep course (exam fee included).
- Resident Tuition: $3,200
- Non-resident Tuition: $5,900
- Graduation Rate: 40% (20%)
- Standout Features: 2
#6. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Online Associate’s in Health Information Technology
Rating: 8
The online associate’s degree in health information management at SWTC is currently a candidate for accreditation through the CAHIIM organization pending review. Students will take classes covering numerous topics including medical terminology, digital literacy for healthcare, CPT coding, ICD diagnosis coding, intermediate coding, healthcare law and ethics, ICD procedure coding, healthcare stats and analytics, and healthcare reimbursement.
- Resident Tuition: $4,340
- Non-resident Tuition: $6,204
- Graduation Rate: 61% (3%)
#5. Hutchinson Community College
Associate’s of Health Information Management Online
Rating: 12
The health information management online associate’s degree at Hutchinson is accredited by CAHIIM, and the program pass has exceeded the American Health Information Management Association standards every year.
Students in the program will take courses like health information processes, health record applications, legal and ethical issues in health information, CPT coding, health record applications two, reimbursement methodologies, coding lab, and a clinical affiliation.
- Resident Tuition: $3,392
- Non-resident Tuition: $4,384
- Graduation Rate: 38% (25%)
- Standout Features: 2
#4. Northwest Technical College
Online Associate’s in Health Information Technology
Rating: 10
This CAHIIM-accredited online health information technology degree allows students to apply the credits from the medical coding specialist technical diploma to the degree. This means you don’t lose out if you earn the diploma first and then decide to go for the full associate’s degree.
Graduate employment for this program is 91% with 30% employed in the field. Students take courses like human diseases for health professionals, ICD diagnosis coding, CPT coding, healthcare statistics and analytics, and health quality management.
- Tuition: $5,480
- Graduation Rate: 46% (19%)
#3. Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Online Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology/Coding
Rating: 10
Graduates of this CAHIIM-accredited health information technology/coding online degree will be eligible to sit for the RHIT certification exam offered by AHIMA. The school also has an articulation agreement with the College of St. Scholastica and Charter Oak State College that allows students who graduate from the AAS program to transfer into a health information management bachelor’s degree program.
Students in this program will learn ICD, CPT, and HCPS diagnostic and procedural coding systems, develop the skills needed to interpret data for quality management studies, and be able to develop and design clinical information systems and treatment protocols.
- Tuition: $5,335
- Graduation Rate: 36% (33%)
- Standout Features: 1
#2. Northwest Iowa Community College
Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology Online
Rating: 13
Students graduating from this CAHIIM-accredited health information management online medical coding degree had a 100% pass rate for all first-time test takers of the RHIT certification exam during the program’s last annual report cycle.
Students will take courses like Coding I, II and III, health records in acute care, human anatomy and physiology, health records in alternative care settings, HIT practicum (A and B), and electronic applications for health care data.
- Resident Tuition: $5,910
- Non-resident Tuition: $6,210
- Graduation Rate: 65% (8%)
- Standout Features: 2
#1. Moraine Park Technical College
Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology
Rating: 18
Moraine Park Technical College’s CAHIIM-accredited online health information technology does not charge out of state fees for online students. Graduates from the program have exceeded the national pass rate of the RHIT certificate exam for 25 years, and 100% of program students received a favorable rating on the professional practice site supervisor evaluation.
Graduates have taken jobs as coding specialist, release of information specialist, health information technician, reimbursement coordinator, data quality integrity monitor, health data analyst, and enterprise content information manager.
- Tuition: $4,461
- Graduation Rate: 58%(22%)
Other Schools Offering the Online Health Information Technician Degree
Marion Technical College
Online Health Information Technology-Medical Billing and Coding
Keiser University
Online Associate of Science in Medical Administrative Billing and Coding
Central Maine Community College
Online A.S. Health Information Technology
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Online A.A.S. in Health Information Management Technology
Broward College
A.S. in Health Information Technology Online
Central Piedmont Community College
Online A.A.S. Health Information Technology
Midland College
Online Associate’s of Health Information Management
Mohawk Valley Community College
Online A.A.S. in Health Information Technology
Portland Community College
Online A.A.S. in Health Information Management
Rochester Community and Technical College
Online Associate of Health Information Management
San Juan College
A.A.S. in Health Information Technology Online
State Fair Community College
Online A.A.S. in Health Information Technology
Santa Barbara City College
Online A.A.S. in Health Information Technology
Shoreline Community College
Online A.A.A.S in Health Information Technology
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Online A.A.S. in Health Information Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with an Online Health Information Technology degree?
This degree positions you to work in medical practices, hospitals, and insurance companies. Health information technicians are responsible for implementing the practices required for medical billing, coding, and record keeping.
Often you will be responsible for updating and maintaining the health information technology software your practice uses, troubleshooting problems, and making sure data is recorded and stored via methods in accordance with federal regulations.
What do health information technicians get paid?
Median salary for health information technicians is $39,180 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. HIT jobs will grow at a faster-than-average rate of 13% between 2016 and 2026. One important thing to note is that an associate’s degree in HIT can be a great stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration.
Healthcare administrators (for an entry level position you need a bachelor’s degree) make a median salary of $98,350 per year, and the BLS anticipates a job growth rate of 20% (much faster than average) between 2016 and 2026.
Is online learning right for me?
Whether or not online learning is a good fit for you depends a lot on who you are as a person, and your strengths and weaknesses.
Are you the kind of person who can learn by watching videos? Would you be comfortable taking tests online? Can you handle not having any face-to-face interaction with your professors and fellow students? Are you highly self-motivated and disciplined? If you answered yes to all these questions, then online learning is probably a great fit for you.
While online education is a powerful option, it’s not ideal for all students. If you need that in-person connection to keep you accountable for doing your homework, or you just learn better from a person teaching in a live setting, then online learning might not be the best fit. However, if you need the flexibility and are comfortable with the format and technology, online education offers unprecedented levels of flexibility.
If you’re unsure about whether or not online learning will be a good fit for you personally, there are a lot of free online college courses available through services like Coursera. It might not be a bad idea to try out one of these free courses to test the waters and see if the online format feels like a good fit instead of going in blind.
How do I pay for my health information technology associate’s degree online?
Associate’s degrees earned from community colleges are the cheapest form of higher education available in the United States. They are especially cheap if you are a resident of the state in which the school is located.
Your first stop for funding higher education should be the FAFSA website. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The federally subsidized grants offered under FAFSA are essentially free money for students.
The federally subsidized student loans offer an incredible interest rate, and on top of that have very flexible repayment options. Besides scholarships offered by your school, church, or other private organizations, FAFSA is the best place for all your funding needs. Often federal grants will cover almost all tuition costs, and you won’t have to take out loans, or if you do have to take out loans, they are very small.
FAFSA loans are miles better than private student loans. For one, the interest is lower and doesn’t fluctuate much (or at all in some cases). Federal loans are also very flexible with repayment plans so if you end up in financial difficulties for a little while after graduation, the federally subsidized loans will work with you.
The last option you should look at is private student loans. Taking these out is often still worth it in moderation, especially if you are already heavily invested in the degree. However, these loans should only be considered when other public and private sources of funding have been exhausted.
CVO Staff
This concludes our ranking of the top online associate’s in health information technology: medical billing and coding.
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