College of Informatics • Highland Heights, KY • Online • $563–$619/Credit
Northern Kentucky University offers 2 Health Informatics programs:
- MS in Health Informatics
- Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Health Informatics | $21.0K (all residencies, with fees) | 12 months or longer | 33 |
| Health Informatics Certificate | $11.4K (with fees) | 6 months or longer | 18 |
NKU’s online master’s is built in a College of Informatics, so systems analysis, database management, and IT project management sit in the required core. It runs in 7-week courses, can be finished in about a year, and costs about $21,000 for any student.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MS in Health Informatics (MSHI); graduate certificate |
| Format | 100% online, 7-week courses |
| Practicum Hours | None; 3-credit capstone with a health care organization |
| RN License Required | No; bachelor’s in any field |
| Who It’s For | Working adults wanting a fast, technical health informatics master’s |
| Distinctive Coursework | Systems analysis and design, database management, IT project management, healthcare quality |
| Certification Pathway | MS fits AMIA AHIC Track 1 with work experience |
| Tuition | $619 per credit (MS), $563 (certificate), same in every state |
| Accreditation | No CAHIIM accreditation; SACSCOC institutional |
| Start Terms | Multiple starts a year (October, January, March, May listed) |
MS in Health Informatics
The estimated tuition for the online MS in Health Informatics at Northern Kentucky University is approximately $20,955 with fees (33 credits at $619/credit).
The program can generally be completed in as few as 12 months.
MS Curriculum
The 21-credit foundation mixes health care operations with business informatics courses. Students add 9 credits of electives and finish with a capstone and an e-portfolio.
- MHI 600 Introduction to Healthcare Operations (3)
- MHI 601 Technical Foundations of Health Informatics (3)
- MHI 625 Information Systems in Healthcare Organizations (3)
- MHI 650 Evidence-Based Health Care Methods (3)
- MBI 630 Systems Analysis and Design (3)
- MBI 635 Database Management Systems (3)
- MBI 650 IT Project Management (3)
- MHI 665 Healthcare Quality Systems (3, elective)
- MHI 682 Capstone (3)
More curriculum details are available here.
MS Practicum and Capstone
- No practicum is required.
- MHI 682 Capstone (3) is a project with a local health care institution or business and can span one to three semesters.
- An e-portfolio is also required.
The capstone gives students one real-world project, but it is not a supervised placement. Career changers should plan additional health care work experience.
MS Admissions
Admission requirements are light, with no test or work experience requirement.
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 2.5 GPA.
- Resume and $40 application fee.
- No RN license or health care experience required.
- The program page advertises six starts a year; its calendar lists October 21, 2026, January 11, March 15, and May 10, 2027.
Health Informatics Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Health Informatics Certificate at Northern Kentucky University is approximately $11,430 with fees (18 credits at $563/credit).
The program can generally be completed in as few as six months.
Certificate Curriculum
All six courses come from the MS foundation.
- MHI 600, MHI 601, and MHI 625 (required, 3 each)
- Three of MBI 630, MBI 635, MBI 650, or MHI 650 (3 each)
You Should Know
- Every certificate course is also an MS foundation course, but NKU does not state whether certificate credits transfer into the degree.
- ⚠️ $563 times 18 credits is $10,134, while NKU lists $11,430 with fees, a gap of about $1,300.
- Admission requires a 2.5 GPA, a statement of interests, and a statement of computer proficiency.
Tuition
NKU’s online program pages list $619 per credit for the MS and $563 for the certificate, with the same rate for Kentucky and out-of-state students.
| Program | Credits | Per Credit | Listed Total With Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Health Informatics | 33 | $619 | $20,955 |
| Graduate Certificate | 18 | $563 | $11,430 |
- 33 times $619 is $20,427, so about $528 of the MS total is fees.
- Rates come from NKU’s online program page.
Be aware that:
- NKU’s 2026-27 bursar table lists a general online graduate rate of $718 per credit and says accelerated online programs have separate rates. The program page’s $619 is used here.
- Books and software are not included.
At about $21,000 all in, the MS costs the same anywhere in the country, and the 12-month pace limits time out of work.
Why Choose This Health Informatics Program?
On cost and speed, it makes a strong case for students who want a technical online master’s without accreditation.
Cost verdict. About $21,000 for a 33-credit master’s that can be finished in a year, with no residency surcharge.
Technical core. Systems analysis, databases, and project management prepare students for analyst and implementation roles more than for HIM management.
The trade-offs. No CAHIIM accreditation, no practicum, and the open admission bar means classmates vary widely in background.
You Should Know
- NKU’s program finder lists a health informatics minor and the master’s. Older pages and a 2025-26 transfer pathway still describe a BS in Health Informatics, but it does not appear among current programs.
Accreditation
The MS in Health Informatics is not CAHIIM-accredited, and the CAHIIM directory lists no NKU program.
Northern Kentucky University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
A master’s in health informatics fits Track 1 of the AMIA Health Informatics Certification, which also requires informatics work experience. The MS does not lead to the RHIA.
Other Health Informatics Schools
See all Kentucky health informatics programs, browse the health informatics master’s directory, or read the health informatics degree guide.