Washington offers health informatics graduate programs for several career paths, including health information management, clinical informatics, biomedical research, and nursing informatics. The University of Washington offers three distinct informatics degrees, and Western Governors University offers an online nursing informatics MSN through its Washington affiliate.
These programs differ more than their titles suggest. They range from a hybrid professional master’s degree and an online clinical informatics degree to a research-focused MS and PhD and a competency-based program for registered nurses.
Compare the degree type, curriculum, delivery format, cost, and admission requirements before applying.
Washington Health Informatics Programs
| School | Location | Program | Format | Estimated Tuition | Typical Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington | Seattle | Master of Health Informatics and Health Information Management, 54 quarter credits | Hybrid; Saturday sessions in person or live online | About $53,460 | 18 months part time |
| University of Washington | Seattle | MS in Clinical Informatics & Patient-Centered Technologies, 42–48 quarter credits | Online | About $31,122–$35,568 | 15 months–2 years |
| University of Washington | Seattle | MS or PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics | Campus, full time | MS about $41,406 for residents; $72,408 for nonresidents | About 2 years for MS; about 4 years for PhD |
| Western Governors University | Online (WGU Washington) | MSN – Nursing Informatics, 36 competency units | Online, competency-based | $5,050 per six-month term, plus a $200 fee | About 2 years |
Tuition estimates use the rates available when each profile was reviewed. Universities can change tuition, fees, schedules, and admission policies. Confirm current costs and requirements with each school.
Which Washington Program May Fit You Best?
For Working Professionals in Health Information
The University of Washington Master of Health Informatics and Health Information Management is a CAHIIM-accredited, part-time program in the School of Public Health. Students complete 18 required courses, including a capstone, over six consecutive quarters. Classes meet five Saturdays per quarter in Seattle or live online, with a weekly Thursday evening session.
The curriculum combines health informatics with health information management topics such as electronic health records, clinical terminologies, health data analytics, and privacy and security. International students on F-1 or J-1 visas are not eligible.
For an Online Clinical Informatics Degree
The University of Washington MS in Clinical Informatics & Patient-Centered Technologies is offered jointly by the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing. It is fully online, with no required campus visits, and students finish with a scholarly project or thesis. Applicants need at least one year of health care experience and a statistics course, but a clinical license is not required.
For Research and Doctoral Study
The University of Washington MS and PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics are full-time, campus-based research degrees in the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education. The MS requires a thesis, and both degrees offer Data Science and Advanced Data Science options. Applicants need prerequisite coursework in programming, calculus or statistics, and biology.
Most doctoral students are funded through research assistantships, but funding is not guaranteed. Students who want an applied, working-professional program should compare the other two University of Washington degrees.
For Registered Nurses
Western Governors University offers an online, competency-based MSN in Nursing Informatics for RNs, with BSN-to-MSN and RN-to-MSN paths. WGU charges a flat rate for each six-month term, so students who complete courses faster may pay less. The program includes integrated clinical practice experience hours completed near the student’s home.
How to Compare Washington Health Informatics Degrees
Check the Official Degree Title
A program’s title often shows its main focus. The UW Master of Health Informatics and Health Information Management combines informatics with health information management. The Clinical Informatics MS centers on clinical systems and patient-facing technology. The Biomedical and Health Informatics MS and PhD focus on research. WGU awards an MSN, which is a graduate nursing degree.
Compare Delivery and Schedule
The Clinical Informatics MS and the WGU MSN are fully online. The UW Master of Health Informatics and Health Information Management uses scheduled Saturday sessions that students can attend in person or live online. The Biomedical and Health Informatics degrees require full-time study on campus in Seattle.
Review Admission Requirements
Requirements vary widely. The research degrees expect programming and quantitative preparation, the Clinical Informatics MS expects health care experience, and the WGU program requires an active RN license. Students interested in RHIA certification should confirm eligibility with the program, since health informatics and health information management credentials have different accreditation rules.
Calculate the Full Cost
Tuition is only one part of the cost. Students should also review quarterly fees, books, technology costs, and travel. The two professional UW master’s degrees are fee-based and charge the same rate regardless of residency, while the research MS uses standard resident and nonresident tuition. Employer tuition assistance, scholarships, assistantships, and transfer credit may lower the final amount.
Explore More Health Informatics Programs
Compare Washington with health informatics programs by state, review online health informatics programs, or learn more about master’s degrees in health informatics.