Alabama offers one CAHIIM-accredited health informatics master’s, one accredited health information management (HIM) bachelor’s, several accredited HIM associate degrees, and three nursing informatics master’s for registered nurses. Most of the graduate options can be completed largely online.
The main choices come down to credential level and accreditation. UAB’s MS is the state’s accredited master’s, Samford offers an online analytics-focused master’s, Alabama State is the only in-state route to the RHIA, and community colleges lead to the RHIT at low cost.
Alabama Health Informatics Master’s Programs
| School | Location | Program | Format | Estimated Tuition | CAHIIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | MS in Health Informatics, 45 credits | Mostly online (two campus visits a year) | About $32,200, all residencies | Yes |
| Samford University | Birmingham | MS in Health Informatics and Analytics, 39 credits | Online | About $39,200 | No |
UAB also offers online graduate certificates in Clinical Informatics (15 credits, about $10,500) and AI in Health Services, plus a new PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics.
Alabama HIM and Health Informatics Bachelor’s and Associate Programs
| School | Program | Format | Estimated Tuition | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama State University | BS in Health Information Management, 128 credits | Campus, Montgomery | About $33,300 in-state, tuition only | CAHIIM; leads to RHIA |
| University of South Alabama | BS in Health Informatics, 122–125 credits | Campus, Mobile | About $48,900 in-state, tuition only | Not CAHIIM |
| Wallace State Community College | AAS in Health Information Technology, 70 credits | Online, except clinicals | About $9,300 in-state, tuition only | CAHIIM; leads to RHIT |
| Bishop State Community College | AAS in Health Information Technology | In-person, hybrid, or online sections | $204 per credit in-state with fees | CAHIIM; leads to RHIT |
| Shelton State Community College | AAS in Health Information Technology | Online | $133 per credit in-state, plus fees | CAHIIM; leads to RHIT |
Alabama Nursing Informatics Programs
These programs require an RN license.
| School | Program | Format | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Southern University | M.S. Nursing Informatics; RN to M.S. | Online | About $10,800 for the M.S. |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | MSN, Nursing Informatics, 39 credits | Online with campus intensives | About $29,000 |
| University of South Alabama | MSN and RN-to-MSN, Nursing Informatics | Online | About $22,500 for the MSN |
Totals are our estimates from each school’s published rates; the community college rates are Alabama’s statewide 2026-27 rates. UAB’s rate comes from an undated program flyer. Confirm current costs and requirements with each school.
Which Alabama Program May Fit You Best?
For an Accredited Master’s
UAB‘s CAHIIM-accredited MS costs about $32,000 for every student. It runs as an online cohort with two mandatory campus visits a year, requires statistics and SQL beforehand, and ends with a capstone in one of four tracks, including AI.
For a Fully Online Master’s
Samford‘s MS in Health Informatics and Analytics is fully online with no campus visits, pairing predictive modeling and visual analytics with biostatistics. It costs about $39,000 and is not CAHIIM-accredited.
For the RHIA
Alabama State University‘s campus BS in Health Information Management is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM bachelor’s in the state, with two supervised affiliations and an RHIA review seminar.
For Health IT Careers
The University of South Alabama‘s BS in Health Informatics is built in its School of Computing, with programming, databases, networking, and systems analysis. It does not lead to the RHIA.
For a Fast, Low-Cost Start
Three community colleges offer CAHIIM-accredited HIT associate degrees that lead to the RHIT. Wallace State is online except for clinicals and stacks three certificates; Shelton State is online; and Bishop State offers in-person, hybrid, and online sections in Mobile.
Other Alabama Options and Changes
- Troy University: an MSN track and post-master’s certificate in Healthcare Informatics and Nursing Leadership, for registered nurses.
- Athens State University: a 9-credit undergraduate Certificate in Health Information Technology.
- Enterprise State Community College: an Office Administration AAS with a Health Information Technology option; it is not CAHIIM-accredited.
- Columbia Southern University: an online AS in Health Information Science; it is not CAHIIM-accredited.
- Samford University: its BS in Health Informatics and Analytics no longer appears among its undergraduate degrees; a minor remains.
How to Compare Alabama Health Informatics Degrees
Match Accreditation to Your Goal
The RHIT requires a CAHIIM-accredited associate degree, and the RHIA requires a CAHIIM-accredited HIM bachelor’s or master’s. In Alabama, that means Wallace State, Shelton State, or Bishop State for the RHIT and Alabama State for the RHIA.
Check Travel Requirements
UAB’s MS requires four campus visits over two years, while Samford’s MS has none. Alabama State and South Alabama’s bachelor’s degrees are campus programs.
Plan for Applied Experience
Neither master’s requires a practicum; both end in a capstone. Alabama State’s HIM bachelor’s includes 15 credits of supervised affiliations, the most applied work among Alabama’s programs.
Explore More Health Informatics Programs
Compare Alabama with health informatics programs in other states, browse the master’s directory and bachelor’s directory, or review online health informatics programs.
Alabama Schools on This Site
- Alabama State University - Montgomery
- Columbia Southern University (Nursing Informatics) - Orange Beach
- Samford University - Birmingham
- University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (Nursing Informatics) - Birmingham
- University of South Alabama - Mobile
- University of South Alabama (Nursing Informatics) - Mobile
- Wallace State Community College - Hanceville