When you need a job-ready online health information technology associate degree, you want one that’s flexible, affordable, and accredited. These programs are for anyone breaking into the health technology field, specializing in coding, record-keeping, billing, etc.
But what are the best online colleges for health information technology? Where can you find the most affordable, accredited degrees without sacrificing quality for cost? There’s a major cost difference ($57,856) between the most economical and most expensive online health information technology associate degree programs!
That’s where GetEducated.com comes in. We’ve compared the top 51 job-ready online health information technology associate degree programs from 48 colleges across the US. The rankings below reveal the best online health information technology programs for aspiring professionals. This research greatly benefits aspiring healthcare students and information specialists seeking AAS degrees.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$13,500
Least Expensive: San Juan College – $4,549.00
Most Expensive: Davenport University – $62,405.00
Our data-driven research of public and non-profit colleges creates a genuinely reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no misleading formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and they factually showcase the cheapest online health information technology associate degree programs. The associate’s degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Best Affordable Online Health Information Technology Associate Degrees
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | San Juan College | (NM) | $4,549.00 $12,205.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Southeast New Mexico College | (NM) | $5,496.00 $9,576.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | Pima Community College | (AZ) | $5,610.00 $13,500.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | Pitt Community College | (NC) | $5,994.00 $20,202.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Dona Ana Community College | (NM) | $6,020.00 $13,028.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | Metropolitan Community College Area | (NE) | $6,567.50 $9,620.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Edgecombe Community College | (NC) | $6,600.00 $21,000.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Metropolitan Community College Area | (NE) | $6,816.00 $9,984.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | Central Community College | (NE) | $7,169.00 $10,251.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | Metropolitan Community College Area | (NE) | $7,384.00 $10,816.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 | Lamar Institute of Technology | (TX) | $8,280.00 $32,760.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
12 | Hutchinson Community College | (KS) | $8,910.00 $10,956.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
13 | Community Colleges of Spokane | (WA) | $9,286.80 $11,310.36 | In-State Out-of-State |
14 | Great Falls College Montana State University | (MT) | $9,639.05 $17,208.05 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | Moraine Park Technical College | (WI) | $9,670.50 | All Students |
16 | Northwood Technical College | (WI) | $9,774.30 $14,221.56 | In-State Out-of-State |
17 | St. Philip's College | (TX) | $10,484.00 | All Students |
18 | Laramie County Community College | (WY) | $10,566.25 $23,796.25 | In-State Out-of-State |
19 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | (WI) | $10,712.95 | All Students |
20 | Hudson Valley Community College | (NY) | $10,800.00 $21,000.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
21 | Blinn College | (TX) | $11,340.00 $20,880.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
22 | Columbus State Community College | (OH) | $11,565.45 $22,975.55 | In-State Out-of-State |
23 | Sinclair Community College | (OH) | $11,878.36 $21,557.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
24 | Jamestown Community College | (NY) | $12,183.00 $22,583.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
25 | Shoreline Community College | (WA) | $12,220.32 $13,681.44 | In-State Out-of-State |
26 | Kentucky Community and Technical College System | (KY) | $12,420.00 | All Students |
27 | Richland Community College | (IL) | $12,474.00 | All Students |
28 | Weber State University | (UT) | $12,497.60 $18,519.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
29 | Portland Community College | (OR) | $12,522.70 $24,807.70 | In-State Out-of-State |
30 | Marion Technical College | (OH) | $12,524.00 $21,514.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
31 | Minnesota West Community and Technical College | (MN) | $12,573.00 $13,323.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
32 | Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | (OH) | $12,582.60 $23,544.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
33 | Ivy Tech Community College | (IN) | $12,791.25 $23,517.75 | In-State Out-of-State |
34 | University of Cincinnati | (OH) | $13,200.00 $13,920.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
35 | Kentucky Community and Technical College System | (KY) | $13,248.00 | All Students |
36 | Klamath Community College | (OR) | $13,255.00 $19,825.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ridgewater College | (MN) | $13,606.40 | All Students | |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College | (MN) | $13,617.20 | All Students | |
Northwest Iowa Community College | (IA) | $13,800.00 | All Students | |
Indian Hills Community College | (IA) | $13,930.00 | All Students | |
St. Cloud Technical and Community College | (MN) | $13,950.08 | All Students | |
North Dakota State College of Science | (ND) | $13,968.36 $16,040.43 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Rochester Community and Technical College | (MN) | $14,983.68 | All Students | |
University of Alaska Southeast | (AK) | $15,066.00 $51,584.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | (NY) | $15,284.00 $18,104.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Rowan College at Burlington County | (NJ) | $15,647.00 $19,807.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Idaho State University | (ID) | $15,744.00 $50,652.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Baker College | (MI) | $25,980.00 $15,480.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Northwestern Ohio | (OH) | $29,700.00 | All Students | |
Parker University | (TX) | $46,414.00 | All Students | |
Davenport University | (MI) | $62,405.00 $42,602.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
ACBSP Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
CAHIIM Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Summer 2022 review of regionally accredited online health information technology associate degree programs that include courses in billing & coding, reimbursement, maintaining electronic records, patient registrar, etc. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online associate degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any non-profit, regionally accredited or candidate college that offers an associate’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for health information technology may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online health information technology associate degree for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Online Health Information Technology Associate Degree
The needs of the healthcare industry are rapidly evolving. With new technology and information systems designed to enhance care, reduce costs, and improve medical outcomes, the industry has a unique need for technology experts.
With an online health information technology associate degree, you can quickly shape your skills and become one of the most important professionals in the healthcare industry. With these degrees, you’ll get an affordable education that launches an outstanding career.
What to Expect from a Health Information Technology Degree
Health information technology is the use of computers, networks, and databases to manage patient information. It’s the overall support for the electronic information systems that care providers and patients use to store, deliver, and analyze information.
The profession includes aspects of electronic health records, online prescriptions, medical assessment tools, and the overall management of patient-care information. It also includes, in no small measure, patient privacy and the protection of information. Data security, therefore, is usually an important part of an associate degree in healthcare IT.
These are two-year degrees that prepare you for immediate placement in the healthcare industry. In just four semesters, you can go from no college education whatsoever to a job-ready professional. They usually require two years of study, but if you take an accelerated program you may complete a degree in even less time.
These degrees are also more affordable than most bachelor-level programs. Pricing will always change, but in our research we found that the average online health information technology associate degree was only $13,500. This is the average, which means there are plenty of options that are even lower in cost. The lowest-priced program in our research was only $4,549! If you want a fast-track education that fits a tight budget, this is the perfect option.
The classes and topics will vary by institution, but if you enroll in one of these programs you will study a combination of information technology and medical topics. They are, fundamentally, information-technology degrees, which means you will complete courses like informatics, coding, and statistics. Classes will have titles like “foundations of medical coding,” “microcomputer databases,” or “diagnostic information systems.”
There will, however, be medical-based classes. Although they don’t form the main body of your education, these classes will help you function and operate in the medical industry. Classes might include medical terminology, which helps you communicate with doctors and nurses. You might also take classes on legal issues impacting the healthcare field, or foundational ethics of the industry. When complete, you’ll be prepared for some of the most exciting and in-demand professions in healthcare.
The Best Careers in Health Information Technology
Computer Systems Administrator
- Salary: $80,600
- Education: Bachelor’s (Associate degree accepted for many positions)
- Experience: None
Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics says a bachelor’s degree is the standard education for this career, many employers will hire IT experts with an associate degree. Anyone with an education in technology for the medical industry will have a strong resume for many of these careers.
In this profession, you’ll determine the IT needs of a healthcare institution. You might make recommendations, then install network hardware or software so medical information is more secure and reliable. You could also add users to a network, update security, or train medical staff in the proper use of information programs.
Information Security Analyst
- Salary: $102,600
- Education: Bachelor’s
- Experience: Less than 5 years
Although most information security analysts work for computer companies or consulting firms, the medical industry also needs these trained and experienced professionals. These IT experts monitor networks for security breaches and perform investigations when there has been a security issue.
The median salary for this career is high, and the top 10% can expect salaries over $165,000. The career growth is also impressive; information security analysts should grow by 33% between 2020 and 2030, adding about 47,000 jobs in ten years.
Additional Requirements for Working in Health Information Technology
To work in healthcare technology, you likely won’t need state certifications or licensing. Unlike nurses or physicians, you don’t need a license to work in this profession. You may, however, need additional experience or education.
For example, if you want to work as a security analyst for some of the biggest healthcare organizations, you may need voluntary certification. Becoming a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, for example, shows advanced proficiency in IT security and prepares you for more careers in a variety of industries, not just healthcare.