College of Allied Health Sciences • Greenville, NC • Online, Campus, or Hybrid • $277.06/Credit Graduate In-State (Spring 2026)
East Carolina University offers 3 Health Informatics programs:
- MS in Health Informatics and Information Management
- BS in Health Information Management
- Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Health Informatics and Information Management | $10.8K in-state; $40.7K out-of-state | 2 to 3 years | 39 |
| BS in Health Information Management | Not clearly stated | 4 years | 120 |
| Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics | $4.2K in-state | Not clearly stated | 15 |
ECU holds CAHIIM accreditation for both a health informatics and information management master’s and an HIM bachelor’s, and every program can be taken online, on campus, or as a hybrid. North Carolina residents can finish the 39-credit master’s for about $10,800 in tuition, and its capstone is an internship at ECU Health or another North Carolina facility.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | Master’s, bachelor’s, and graduate certificate |
| Format | Online, campus, or hybrid; full or part time |
| Practicum Hours | MS: 3-credit internship capstone; BS: 5-credit management experience |
| RN License Required | No |
| Who It’s For | North Carolina students who want an accredited informatics or HIM degree at public tuition |
| Distinctive Coursework | Consumer health informatics, evaluation methods in health informatics, health data structures |
| Certification Pathway | BS leads to RHIA eligibility; ECU reports a 100% first-time RHIA pass rate for 2024 |
| Tuition | Online graduate: $277.06 in-state, $1,044.06 out-of-state per credit, plus about $28 in fees (Spring 2026) |
| Accreditation | CAHIIM (MS through 2027; BS through 2027-2028); SACSCOC institutional |
MS in Health Informatics and Information Management
The estimated tuition for the MS in Health Informatics and Information Management at East Carolina University is approximately $10,805 for North Carolina residents (39 credits at $277.06/credit), or $40,718 for nonresidents, at Spring 2026 online rates.
ECU says most students finish in 2 to 3 years.
MS Curriculum
Thirteen required courses, including the internship.
- HIMA 6060 Health Informatics
- Electronic Health Records
- Health Data Structures
- Health Information Privacy and Security
- Evaluation Methods in Health Informatics
- Social and Organizational Issues in Health Informatics
- Consumer Health Informatics
- COHE 6803 Internship/Capstone
You Should Know
- Students without health care work experience also take COHE 6000.
- ECU reports 100% employment for 2022 graduates and an 80% graduation rate since accreditation.
MS Practicum and Capstone
- A 3-credit internship serves as the capstone, at ECU Health, Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center, or other North Carolina facilities.
MS Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, a statistics course with a C or better taken within five years, three references, a résumé, and a statement of purpose; no GRE or GMAT.
BS in Health Information Management
The estimated tuition for the BS in Health Information Management at East Carolina University is Not clearly stated, because it depends on campus or online enrollment and transfer credit.
The degree is 120 credits, and community college HIT graduates may enter as juniors under ECU’s transfer agreements.
BS Curriculum
- HIMA 4138 Health Data Structures; HIMA 4170 Privacy and Security in Health Information Systems
- HIMA 4145 Classification Systems in Health Care; HIMA 4160 Concepts in Health Information Technology
- HSMA 3045 Health Data Management; HIMA 4030 Quality Management in Health Care
- HIMA 4153 Management of a Health Information Services Department
- HSMA 4905 Allied Health Management Experience (5 credits)
You Should Know
- Students need a 2.5 GPA to enter the professional phase, and three grades below C lead to dismissal.
Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics
The estimated tuition for the Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics at East Carolina University is approximately $4,156 for North Carolina residents (15 credits at $277.06/credit).
Certificate Curriculum
- COHE 6430 Health Data Management and HIMA 6060 Health Informatics, plus three electives.
- Admission is rolling with a 2.75 GPA.
Tuition
ECU charges online graduate students $277.06 per credit in-state and $1,044.06 out-of-state, plus $28 in per-credit fees, for Spring 2026; graduate billing is capped at 9 credits per semester.
| Program | Credits | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS HIIM | 39 | $10,805 | $40,718 |
| Health Informatics Certificate | 15 | $4,156 | $15,661 |
- Rates come from ECU’s distance education tuition page.
Be aware that:
- ⚠️ These are Spring 2026 rates; ECU’s 2026-27 distance education rates were not found, so confirm current tuition.
Online undergraduates pay $185.50 per credit in-state and $863.71 out-of-state, with billing capped at 12 credits.
Why Choose This Health Informatics Program?
A pathway choice between an accredited master’s and an RHIA-track bachelor’s.
Choosing a pathway. The MS HIIM suits graduates with health or IT backgrounds who want informatics and HIM together; the BS HIM suits students aiming for the RHIA, including community college HIT graduates.
The trade-offs. Out-of-state tuition is nearly four times the in-state rate, and ECU’s HIM post-baccalaureate certificate is being discontinued.
Accreditation
CAHIIM accredits ECU’s master’s in Health Informatics and Information Management through 2027 and its baccalaureate in Health Information Management through 2027-2028, per ECU; CAHIIM’s directory lists the master’s as active.
East Carolina University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Check the AMIA Health Informatics Certification eligibility rules for how a CAHIIM-accredited informatics master’s counts toward the AHIC.
Compare More Health Informatics Programs
See all North Carolina health informatics programs, browse the master’s directory and bachelor’s directory, or read the health informatics degree guide.