A doctorate in health informatics prepares graduates for faculty, research scientist, and senior informatics leadership roles. Most programs are full-time research PhDs in health or biomedical informatics, and some fund students with a stipend and tuition coverage. A few are professional doctorates or flexible formats built for working informatics professionals.
The directory below lists the doctoral programs we have verified from each school’s official sources, with format, credits, and published funding terms. Schools with a full profile on this site link to it; others link to the school’s program page.
Health Informatics Doctoral Programs
| School | Location | Program | Format | Credits | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | First year fully funded (stipend, tuition, health insurance); research advisor funds later years |
| Clemson University and Medical University of South Carolina | Clemson or Charleston, SC | PhD in Biomedical Data Science and Informatics | Campus, full-time | 67 beyond the bachelor’s | Not clearly stated |
| Columbia University | New York, NY | PhD in Biomedical Informatics | Full-time only | At least 60 points of coursework | Tuition, fees, health insurance, and stipend covered |
| Indiana University Bloomington | Bloomington, IN | PhD in Informatics, Health Track | Not clearly stated | 90 | Not clearly stated |
| Indiana University Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | PhD in Informatics, Biomedical and Health Informatics specialization | Not clearly stated | 90 | Not clearly stated |
| Northeastern University | Boston, MA | PhD in Personal Health Informatics | Boston campus | 48 of coursework beyond the bachelor’s | Funding packages and fellowships; varies |
| Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, AZ | PhD in Informatics and Computing, Health and Bioinformatics emphasis | Full-time residency in Flagstaff | At least 60 | Not clearly stated |
| Oregon Health & Science University | Portland, OR | PhD in Biomedical Informatics | On campus | At least 135 (quarter) | Most students funded through a National Library of Medicine fellowship, per OHSU |
| Rutgers University | Newark, NJ | Doctor of Health Informatics (DHI) | In person or 100% online | 54 | $1,009 per credit NJ; $1,139 nonresident (2025-26) |
| Temple University | Philadelphia, PA | PhD in Health Informatics | In-person and hybrid courses; full-time | 45 beyond the bachelor’s | Not clearly stated |
| Tulane University | New Orleans, LA | Biomedical Sciences PhD, Biomedical Informatics concentration | Campus, research-based | 48 plus dissertation research | Tuition waived, about $35,000 stipend, health insurance |
| University at Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | PhD in Biomedical Informatics | In person; full or part time | 72 | Not clearly stated |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics | Not clearly stated | 74 | Not clearly stated |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | PhD in Bioinformatics, Medical Informatics home area | Not clearly stated | Nine core courses (34 units) plus electives | Not clearly stated |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | PhD in Medical Sciences, Biomedical Informatics concentration | On campus | At least 90 | Not clearly stated |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics | In person, full-time | 92 or 96 (UIC’s page lists both) | Not clearly stated |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | PhD in Informatics (health informatics research area) | Not clearly stated | 72 | Not clearly stated |
| University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | PhD in Health Informatics | In person only | Not clearly stated | Three entering fellowships with tuition, stipend, and health insurance for up to five years |
| University of Missouri | Columbia, MO | PhD in Informatics, health informatics emphasis | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Some fellowships with stipend and tuition waiver |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics | In person | 48 | Not clearly stated |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | PhD in Health Informatics | Not clearly stated | At least 55 | Traineeships and assistantships, per UNC |
| University of North Texas | Denton, TX | PhD in Information Science, Health Informatics concentration | Denton (online and in person) or executive hybrid | 60 with a master’s; 72 without | Competitive scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Memphis, TN | PhD, Health Informatics concentration (health outcomes and policy) | Not clearly stated | 77 | Not clearly stated |
| University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | PhD in Biomedical Informatics | Not clearly stated | About 35 of coursework plus 14 of research | $41,000 stipend, full tuition, health insurance; Utah tries to fund all admits |
| University of Washington | Seattle, WA | PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | Not guaranteed; research assistantships and NLM training grants cover tuition and stipend |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics (with the Medical College of Wisconsin) | On campus | Not clearly stated | Many students hold teaching or research assistantships or fellowships |
| UTHealth Houston | Houston, TX | PhD in Biomedical Informatics | 57 credits in residence | 93 | First-year full tuition scholarships; assistantships case by case |
| UTHealth Houston | Houston, TX | Doctorate in Health Informatics (DHI) | Online, executive-style, part-time | 63 | $25,300 Texas; $63,650 nonresident (period not stated) |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | PhD in Biomedical Informatics | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | NLM training grant for U.S. citizens and permanent residents; department helps others find funding |
Funding shows what each school publishes on its program pages; offers vary by student and year. Last reviewed October 2026. Confirm current requirements, deadlines, and funding with each school.
How to Read the Table
- Program: A PhD is a research degree ending in a dissertation. A Doctor of Health Informatics (DHI) is a professional doctorate; Rutgers’ DHI ends in a 27-credit doctoral project rather than a dissertation.
- Credits: Some schools count credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, and some count coursework only. OHSU uses quarter credits.
- Funding: “Not clearly stated” means the program page does not publish funding terms. Many research PhDs still fund students through assistantships, fellowships, or training grants.
Choosing a Health Informatics Doctorate
Research PhD or Professional Doctorate
Students aiming for faculty or research scientist careers fit a full-time research PhD. Working informatics leaders who want a doctorate without leaving their jobs fit a professional or flexible format: Rutgers‘ DHI can be completed fully online in three to four years and requires a master’s degree, UTHealth Houston’s online DHI expects three or more years of management experience, and North Texas offers an executive hybrid format with three in-person meetings.
Look Closely at Funding
Published terms differ widely. Utah lists a $41,000 stipend with full tuition and health insurance, Tulane waives tuition and pays a stipend of about $35,000, and Case Western funds all first-year students before research advisors take over. The University of Washington says it cannot guarantee funding with admission. Ask every program how many years of support it commits to and what happens if a grant ends.
Match Research Areas to Your Goals
Many programs organize study by track. Minnesota offers learning health systems data science, clinical informatics, translational bioinformatics, and precision medicine tracks; UW-Milwaukee lists six, including public health informatics and medical imaging; and Clemson and MUSC focus on precision medicine, population health, and clinical and translational informatics. Look for faculty whose funded research matches your interests.
Check Format and Residency Rules
Most research PhDs require full-time study on campus. Minnesota’s PhD is in person only, Northern Arizona requires full-time residency in Flagstaff, and UTHealth Houston requires 57 credits in residence.
Programs in Transition
- University of Alabama at Birmingham: the PhD in Biomedical and Health Informatics was announced in April 2025 and has not published funding terms.
Explore More Health Informatics Degrees
Compare health informatics master’s programs, which often lead into a PhD, see online health informatics programs, browse the health informatics school directory, or read how we evaluate programs.