College of Business and Information Systems • Madison, SD • Online • $495.70/Credit (online graduate)
Dakota State University offers 3 Health Informatics programs:
- MS in Health Informatics and Information Management
- Graduate Certificate in Health Care Data Analytics
- BS in Computer Information Systems, Health Informatics specialization
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Health Informatics and Information Management | $16.4K | 1 to 3 years | 33 |
| Graduate Certificate in Health Care Data Analytics | $5.9K | Not clearly stated | 12 |
| BS in CIS, Health Informatics specialization | Not clearly stated | 4 years | 120 |
Dakota State’s online master’s is listed in CAHIIM’s directory as an accredited health information management master’s, a route that can make graduates eligible for the RHIA without an HIM bachelor’s. At $495.70 per credit for every student, the 33 credits cost about $16,400.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | MS; graduate certificate; CIS bachelor’s specialization |
| Format | MS and certificate fully online |
| Practicum Hours | None stated; 3-credit capstone project and comprehensive exam |
| RN License Required | No |
| Who It’s For | IT, health care, and statistics professionals moving into HIM and informatics |
| Distinctive Coursework | Information systems, health data analytics, HIM leadership |
| Certification Pathway | CAHIIM-accredited HIM master’s; RHIA route (DSU does not state it) |
| Tuition | $495.70 per credit online, all residencies (2026-27) |
| Accreditation | CAHIIM (MS, next review 2027-2028); HLC institutional |
| Start Terms | Fall, spring, and summer |
MS in Health Informatics and Information Management
The estimated tuition for the MS in Health Informatics and Information Management at Dakota State University is approximately $16,358 (33 credits at $495.70/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about 1 to 1.5 years full-time or 2 to 3 years part-time, with a five-year limit.
MS Curriculum
Thirty credits of core courses are followed by a 3-credit capstone research project and a comprehensive exam.
- 30 credits of core courses in health informatics, information management, and information systems
- 3-credit master’s research project (capstone)
- Comprehensive exam
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Individual course titles could not be read from the catalog and are Not clearly stated here.
- Applicants missing information systems, health care, or statistics background may be admitted but need extra foundational courses, which add credits and cost.
- Full-time length appears as both “1-1.5 years” and “under two years or five semesters” on DSU’s pages.
MS Practicum and Capstone
- A 3-credit master’s research problem or project, plus a comprehensive exam.
- No practicum or internship is listed.
Without a placement, students new to health care should look for applied experience through their capstone topic or employer.
MS Admissions
DSU expects knowledge of information systems, health care, and statistics, shown through a degree, coursework, or work experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in information systems, HIM, statistics, or a related field; 2.7 GPA.
- 200- to 300-word purpose statement, transcripts, $40 fee; no GRE.
- No RN license required.
- Deadlines: fall August 15, spring November 30, summer April 30.
Graduate Certificate in Health Care Data Analytics
The estimated tuition for the Graduate Certificate in Health Care Data Analytics at Dakota State University is approximately $5,948 (12 credits at $495.70/credit).
The certificate’s length is not published.
Certificate Curriculum
- 12 credits, online, with fall or spring starts.
- Course titles are listed only in the catalog and are Not clearly stated here.
You Should Know
- DSU describes the certificate as an entry point to the MS, but does not say how many credits transfer.
BS in Computer Information Systems, Health Informatics Specialization
The estimated tuition for the BS in Computer Information Systems with a Health Informatics specialization at Dakota State University is Not clearly stated; DSU’s program page estimates $8,956.50 per semester.
The program can generally be completed in four years.
BS Curriculum
- CIS 332 Structured Systems Analysis and Design
- CIS 338 Project Management
- CIS 484 Database Management Systems
- CIS 474 Business Intelligence and Big Data
- Health informatics specialization courses (titles not listed on the program page)
You Should Know
- This specialization absorbed the curriculum of DSU’s former HIM bachelor’s, which stopped admitting students after December 31, 2024.
- It is not CAHIIM-accredited and does not lead to the RHIA.
- DSU also offers a 12-credit Health Information Certificate and an online health informatics minor.
Tuition
Dakota State’s 2026-27 online graduate rate is $495.70 per credit, tuition and fees combined, for every student.
| Program | Credits | Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| MS | 33 | $16,358 |
| Graduate Certificate | 12 | $5,948 |
- Campus graduate rates are $393.70 for South Dakota residents, $642.70 under Minnesota reciprocity, and $698.10 for nonresidents.
- Rates come from DSU’s graduate tuition and fees page.
Be aware that:
- Foundational courses for students lacking prerequisite knowledge are extra.
- Some courses carry additional credit fees.
At about $16,400, the accredited MS costs the same for a South Dakotan and a student in any other state.
Why Choose This Health Informatics Program?
A credential-value choice for career changers who want an accredited HIM master’s online.
Credential value. CAHIIM lists the MS as an accredited HIM master’s, which under AHIMA rules generally makes graduates eligible for the RHIA, much like Davenport University‘s HIM master’s.
The trade-offs. There is no practicum, DSU reports a 50% graduation rate for 2024-25 students, and its pages mix “accredited” with “candidacy” language as the program shifts toward health informatics accreditation.
Accreditation
CAHIIM lists Dakota State’s master’s in Health Information Management as accredited, with its next review in 2027-2028. DSU’s page also says the program is in candidacy for CAHIIM health informatics accreditation, which it will move to once reviewed. The former HIM associate and bachelor’s degrees are listed by CAHIIM as inactive.
Dakota State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Graduates of CAHIIM-accredited HIM master’s programs are generally eligible for AHIMA’s RHIA exam; confirm eligibility with AHIMA, since DSU does not state it. DSU reports 100% placement and an average graduate salary of $78,000.
Keep Exploring Health Informatics Programs
See all South Dakota health informatics programs, browse the health informatics master’s directory, or read the health informatics degree guide.