North Dakota has no health informatics master’s degree and no accredited health information management (HIM) bachelor’s. Its options are an accredited HIM associate degree, a new online graduate certificate, an undergraduate health data concentration, and two nursing informatics MSNs for registered nurses.
The choice depends mostly on your starting point. North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) leads to the RHIT credential, North Dakota State University (NDSU) adds informatics for health care managers, and the University of Mary and Mayville State serve nurses. All of the graduate options are online.
North Dakota Health Informatics and HIM Programs
| School | Location | Program | Format | Estimated Tuition | CAHIIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State College of Science | Wahpeton | AAS in Health Information (Health Information Technician), 65 credits | Online or campus | About $16,800 ND; $19,000 other US, online with fees | Yes |
| North Dakota State University | Fargo | Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics, 8–9 credits | Online | About $5,400–$6,100 | No |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | BS in Health Studies, Health Data and Informatics sub-plan (16–18 credits of 120) | Campus | Not clearly stated | No |
North Dakota Nursing Informatics Programs
These programs require a nursing bachelor’s degree, and the MSNs require an RN license.
| School | Program | Format | Estimated Tuition | Practicum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayville State University | MSN, Health Informatics Track, 37 credits | Online | About $21,300 with fees | 200 hours |
| Mayville State University | Health Informatics Graduate Certificate, 14 credits | Online | About $8,100 with fees | 100 hours |
| University of Mary | MSN: Nursing and Health Care Informatics, 39 credits | Online | About $23,400 plus $55/credit fee | 500 hours |
| University of Mary | MSN/MS in Bioethics dual degree, 65 credits | Online, up to three campus visits | About $39,000 plus fees | 500 hours plus bioethics practicum |
| University of Mary | Health Care Informatics Certificate, 12 credits | Online | About $6,300 plus fees | None listed |
Totals are our estimates from each school’s published per-credit rates; NDSCS and NDSU rates are for 2026-27, and the University of Mary and Mayville State do not label a year. UND’s 2026-27 tuition table could not be read. Confirm current costs and requirements with each school.
Which North Dakota Program May Fit You Best?
For a Health Information Credential
NDSCS‘s AAS in Health Information is the state’s only CAHIIM-accredited program. It can be completed fully online, includes four coding courses and short onsite practice experiences near home, and leads to the RHIT exam for under $19,000.
For Nurses Moving Into Informatics
Mayville State‘s MSN costs about $21,300, runs in five-week courses with no scheduled meetings, and adds data science and IT project management. The University of Mary‘s MSN costs a little more, requires 500 experiential hours instead of 200, and can be paired with a master’s in bioethics. Both meet ANCC’s 200-hour practicum pathway for informatics certification if the hours are faculty-supervised.
For Health Care Managers
NDSU‘s three-course graduate certificate, approved in April 2026, sits inside its online healthcare administration program. It is open to bachelor’s holders without a nursing license, but it has no practicum and little published detail.
For Undergraduates
The University of North Dakota’s campus BS in Health Studies offers a Health Data and Informatics sub-plan with biostatistics, epidemiology, applied statistics, and data ethics courses. It is a concentration in a broader major, not an HIM degree, and does not lead to the RHIA.
Programs on the Way
- Mayville State University: a BS and a BAS in Healthcare Informatics were approved by the state board’s academic affairs committee in September 2025 but do not appear in the 2026-27 catalog.
- Williston State College: lists a Health Information Management program among its future programs for 2026 and beyond; it is not yet enrolling.
How to Compare North Dakota Programs
Match the Credential to the Career
The RHIT comes from NDSCS’s accredited associate degree. The RHIA requires a CAHIIM-accredited bachelor’s or master’s, which means an out-of-state or online program. Nurses aiming for ANCC informatics certification should look at the two MSNs.
Count the Applied Hours
The University of Mary’s MSN requires 500 experiential hours and Mayville State’s requires 200. NDSCS includes two short onsite practice experiences, and NDSU’s certificate has none.
Check How Residency Affects Price
The University of Mary and Mayville State charge one rate regardless of residency. NDSCS charges Minnesota and other US students slightly more. NDSU bills online-only students in approved online programs at the North Dakota rate.
Explore More Health Informatics Programs
Compare North Dakota with health informatics programs in other states, including nearby Minnesota and South Dakota, browse the health informatics school directory, or review online health informatics programs.
North Dakota Schools on This Site
- Mayville State University (Nursing Informatics) - Mayville
- North Dakota State College of Science - Wahpeton
- North Dakota State University - Fargo
- University of Mary (Nursing Informatics) - Bismarck