Department of Environmental and Public Health, Administration and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences • Richmond, KY • Online • $472/Credit (online)
Eastern Kentucky University offers 1 Health Informatics program:
- BS in Health Care Administration, Health Informatics and Information Management concentration
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS in Health Care Administration: HIIM | $57.6K online (all residencies); $42.6K KY campus | 4 years (8 semesters) | 122 |
EKU’s CAHIIM-accredited HIM degree sits inside a health care administration major, and it can be taken fully online in 7-week terms with six starts a year at one rate for every state. It leads to the RHIA, and EKU reports an 84% pass rate.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BS in Health Care Administration, HIIM concentration |
| Format | Online (7-week terms, no campus visits) or on campus in Richmond |
| Practicum Hours | Two professional practice experiences (4 credits); hours not stated |
| Practicum Placement | Part of a semester at a hospital or other health care facility |
| RN License Required | No |
| Who It’s For | Students and working adults seeking HIM management careers and the RHIA |
| Distinctive Coursework | Classification systems, reimbursement, quality management, data analytics, legal and ethical issues |
| Certification Pathway | RHIA exam eligibility; 84% pass rate reported for 2023-24 |
| Tuition | $472 per credit online, all residencies (2026-27) |
| Accreditation | CAHIIM, next review 2030-31 |
| Enrollment | Capped; students apply from Pre-HCA status |
BS in Health Care Administration: HIIM
The estimated tuition for the BS in Health Care Administration, Health Informatics and Information Management concentration at Eastern Kentucky University is approximately $57,584 online (122 credits at $472/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about four years, or less with transfer credit.
BS Curriculum
The concentration adds 20 credits of HIM courses and 18 credits of HIM electives to the health care administration core.
- HCA 306 Management of Clinical Classification Systems (3)
- HCA 370 HIM Systems I (3) and HCA 405 HIM Systems II (3)
- HCA 372 Health Care Reimbursement Systems (3)
- HCA 406 Health Care Quality Management (3)
- HCA 409 Health Care Data Analytics and Research Methods (3)
- HCA 401 Legal and Ethical Issues (3)
- HCA 303 Fundamentals of Human Disease (3)
- HCA 415 Professional Certification (1)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The program page says 120 credits; the catalog totals 122 (36 general education, 20 concentration, 18 HIIM electives, plus the core). The catalog figure is used here.
BS Practicum and Capstone
- HCA 412 Professional Practice Experience II (1) and HCA 413 Professional Practice Experience III (3).
- Students spend part of a semester at a hospital or other health care facility.
- Students pay for health screenings, travel, and living costs. Clock hours are Not clearly stated.
Online students should plan for the time away from work that a part-semester placement requires, and possibly for travel if no approved site is nearby.
BS Admissions
Students enter as Pre-HCA and apply to the program once prerequisites are complete; enrollment is capped.
- Institutional GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- C or better in each Pre-HCA course, within two attempts.
- At least 75% of general education complete.
- Campus starts in fall, spring, and summer; online starts in six 7-week terms a year.
Tuition
EKU charges online students $472 per credit regardless of residency. Campus students pay a flat semester rate for 12 to 15 credits.
| Rate (2026-27) | Basis | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|
| Online, all residencies | $472 per credit × 122 | $57,584 |
| Campus, Kentucky resident | $5,325 per semester × 8 | $42,600 |
| Campus, nonresident | $6,120 per semester × 8 | $48,960 |
- Fees include an asset preservation fee ($10 per credit, up to $150) and required textbook charges of $26 per credit.
- Rates come from EKU’s cost of attendance page.
Be aware that:
- Campus totals assume eight full-time semesters and exclude housing.
- Transfer students pay only for the credits they still need, which lowers the online total substantially.
For students outside Kentucky, the online rate is close to EKU’s campus nonresident rate, and it removes relocation costs.
Why Choose This Health Informatics Program?
It suits students who want an accredited HIM bachelor’s they can start almost any time and finish from anywhere.
Career-entry fit. The RHIA, a health care administration major, and a facility placement give graduates a credential, a management foundation, and documented experience.
The trade-offs. Enrollment is capped, the placement requires time on site, and EKU’s published numbers are inconsistent in places.
You Should Know
- The program page reports an 84% RHIA pass rate for 2023-24 against a 74% national rate, and elsewhere a 100% certification pass rate. It also reports an 83.3% graduation rate and 100% employment.
Accreditation
The HIIM concentration is accredited by CAHIIM. The directory shows continuing accreditation granted in November 2023 for seven years, with the next review in 2030-31. EKU’s own page still says “reaffirmed through 2026,” which appears out of date.
Eastern Kentucky University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Graduates of CAHIIM-accredited HIM bachelor’s programs are eligible for AHIMA’s Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam.
Compare More Health Informatics Programs
See all Kentucky health informatics programs, browse the health informatics and HIM bachelor’s directory, or read the health informatics degree guide.