Online Master's in Health Informatics Programs
Rutgers School of Nursing offers a 37-credit MSN informatics track, mostly asynchronous, with 225 clinical hours at a healthcare facility. Tuition runs $971 per credit in-state and $1,408 out-of-state. Admission requires a BSN, a 3.2 minimum GPA, and a New Jersey RN license. Plan on about 24 months, with no on-campus requirement. The program is CCNE accredited. College Scorecard reports median earnings of $112,970 two years after graduation for master's graduates.
Western Governors University runs an RN-to-MSN informatics bridge that lets RNs earn a bachelor's and master's online, including clinical practice experiences and an option to earn National Association for Healthcare Quality certification. Tuition is $3,475 to $4,240 per six-month term. Admission requires an associate degree or diploma in nursing, an RN license, a background check, and current immunizations. Expect about 24 months. CCNE accredited; Scorecard median earnings $86,988.
The University of Utah's MS in nursing informatics blends systems analysis and programming with leadership and clinical decision support, with practicums at partner organizations. Tuition is $921 per credit in-state and $3,279 out-of-state. Admission requires a BSN, a 3.0 minimum GPA, and an RN license. Five semesters, no on-campus requirement, CCNE accredited; Scorecard median earnings $85,070.
Excelsior University's RN-to-MS in nursing informatics lets working nurses apply up to 30 prior credits and NCLEX-RN completion toward the degree, ending with a capstone project. Tuition is $695 per credit. Admission requires an associate degree or diploma and an RN license. Length varies with transfer credit. ACEN accredited; Scorecard median earnings $97,959.
How Online Health Informatics Programs Work
Most programs run 36 to 42 credits with 130 to 225 practicum hours, and full-time students finish in about 24 months. Coursework is asynchronous (complete it on your own schedule) or synchronous (log in for live lectures). Practicums happen online or at a clinical site near you, and many schools help with placement.
Applying
Applicants generally need a BSN and an unrestricted RN license in the state where they plan to work. Standard materials include transcripts, a resume or CV, two to three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Most programs set a 3.0 minimum GPA and charge an application fee. Confirm each program's specific requirements before you apply, and line up references who can speak to your strengths.
Why Accreditation Matters
The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accredits health informatics programs through its Health Informatics Accreditation Council. Attend a CAHIIM-accredited program: accreditation signals that the program meets recognized education standards, and it affects your eligibility for federal financial aid, your ability to transfer credits or continue your education, and your standing with employers. Many state boards and most employers expect graduation from an accredited program.
What You Can Do With the Degree
A health informatics master's teaches you to collect, analyze, manage, and report on healthcare data. Coursework covers health data management, managerial health finance, systems analysis and design, and a practicum. Graduates work as nursing informatics specialists, informatics nurses, clinical analysts, and directors or managers of clinical informatics in hospitals and health systems.
Pay reflects experience, certification, and education. As of November 2025, Payscale reports an average salary of $91,282 for nursing informatics specialists and $85,487 for informatics nurses; advanced certification, experience, and a doctorate push those numbers higher. A 2023 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society workforce survey found 60 percent of nursing informaticists earned $100,000 or more. Executive roles such as chief nursing informatics officer sit at the top of the range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a BSN for an online health informatics master's? Most programs require a BSN and an unrestricted RN license, but RN-to-MS bridges (like Western Governors and Excelsior) accept an associate degree or diploma plus an RN license.
Is the credential an MSN or an MS? Both exist. Some schools award an MSN with an informatics track; others award an MS in nursing informatics. Either way the coursework blends clinical practice with data and systems work.
How long does it take? Most programs run 36 to 42 credits with 130 to 225 practicum hours, and full-time students finish in about 24 months.
Should the program be accredited? Yes. Look for accreditation from CAHIIM (health informatics) or CCNE (nursing). Accreditation affects federal financial aid eligibility, credit transfer, and how employers view the degree.
What do nurse informaticists earn? As of November 2025, Payscale reports an average of $91,282 for nursing informatics specialists and $85,487 for informatics nurses, and a 2023 HIMSS workforce survey found 60 percent of nursing informaticists earned $100,000 or more.