College of Health and Human Sciences, Healthcare Administration • Fargo, ND • Online • $473.44–$675/Credit
North Dakota State University offers 1 Health Informatics program:
- Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics | $3.8K–$6.1K | About 1 semester to 1 year | 8–9 |
A new three-course certificate, approved by the state board in April 2026, that adds informatics to a healthcare administration background. NDSU publishes little beyond the course list, so pacing and the exact rate are open questions.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics |
| Format | Online, per the healthcare administration program page |
| Practicum Hours | None listed |
| RN License Required | No; health system experience recommended |
| Who It’s For | Healthcare managers and staff adding informatics to their role |
| Distinctive Coursework | Health systems informatics and technical foundations courses, plus one elective |
| Certification Pathway | None directly; too short for RHIA or AMIA eligibility on its own |
| Tuition | $473.44–$675 per credit, depending on which rate applies (2026-27) |
| Accreditation | No programmatic accreditation; HLC institutional |
Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics
The estimated tuition for the Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics at North Dakota State University is approximately $5,400 to $6,075 (8 to 9 credits at $675/credit, the healthcare administration rate).
The program can generally be completed in one or two semesters; NDSU does not publish a timeline.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate sits in NDSU’s online healthcare administration program and uses its HMA course prefix. Two named courses carry the informatics content, and the third slot is an elective the program approves.
- HMA 753 Health Systems Informatics (3)
- HMA 754 Technical Foundations of Health Informatics (3)
- Program-approved elective (2–3)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The catalog gives no course descriptions, elective list, or program description for the certificate.
- NDSU’s program page mentions stackable certificates in general but does not say whether these credits count toward the online Master of Healthcare Administration.
- The healthcare administration master’s runs in eight-week, asynchronous online courses. Whether the certificate courses follow the same schedule is Not clearly stated.
Certificate Practicum and Capstone
- No practicum, internship, or capstone is listed.
Without applied work, this certificate adds knowledge rather than experience. It fits best for students already working in a health system who can apply the material on the job.
Certificate Admissions
NDSU lists no program-specific requirements beyond general graduate admission.
- Bachelor’s degree and NDSU Graduate School admission requirements.
- Health system experience or prior learning is recommended, not required.
- RN license: not required.
- Start terms: Not clearly stated.
Tuition
NDSU’s 2026-27 graduate rate chart lists two possible rates for this certificate. The base graduate rate is $473.44 per credit for North Dakota residents, and the Healthcare Administration differential rate is $675 per credit for North Dakota residents and online students.
| Rate (2026-27) | Per Credit | 8 Credits | 9 Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base graduate, ND resident | $473.44 | $3,788 | $4,261 |
| Healthcare Administration, ND resident or online | $675.00 | $5,400 | $6,075 |
| Healthcare Administration, other US (MSEP) | $1,012.50 | $8,100 | $9,113 |
- NDSU bills its approved online graduate programs at the North Dakota rate regardless of residency when the student takes only online courses.
- Graduate certificates are billed like second majors, at the highest programmatic rate that applies.
- Rates come from NDSU’s graduate tuition page.
Be aware that:
- NDSU does not state which rate applies to this certificate. Since its courses belong to the healthcare administration program, the $675 differential is the more likely charge.
- Nonresidents taking any campus course may lose the online North Dakota rate.
- Students already enrolled in another NDSU graduate program are billed at the higher of the two programs’ rates.
At the $675 rate, the full certificate costs about $6,000 for any student who studies only online. That is a small commitment, but it is a cost estimate, not a published program price.
Why Choose This Health Informatics Program?
Suited to healthcare administrators who want informatics coursework without committing to a degree.
The appeal. It is short, online, and built inside an established healthcare administration program, so the courses are written for people who run health care operations rather than build software.
The trade-off. Information is thin. There are no course descriptions, no stated pacing, no confirmed rate, and no stated path into the master’s. The certificate also has no practicum and does not lead to a certification on its own.
Who should look elsewhere. Students who want coding, records management, or the RHIA should look at CAHIIM-accredited programs. Students who want a full informatics credential will need a master’s, which NDSU does not offer in this field.
Accreditation
The certificate has no programmatic accreditation. CAHIIM accredits health informatics master’s programs and HIM degrees, not short graduate certificates like this one, and NDSU claims no CAHIIM status.
North Dakota State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The certificate does not by itself qualify graduates for the RHIA or the AMIA Health Informatics Certification, which requires a qualifying degree plus years of informatics work experience.
Keep Exploring Health Informatics Programs
See all North Dakota health informatics programs, browse the health informatics school directory, or read the health informatics degree guide.