Department of Health Information Management, College of Health Sciences • Montgomery, AL • Campus • $347/Credit (in-state)
Alabama State University offers 1 Health Informatics program:
- BS in Health Information Management
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS in Health Information Management | $33.3K in-state / $66.6K out-of-state (tuition only) | 4 years (8 semesters) | 128 |
This is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM bachelor’s in Alabama, so it is the state’s in-person route to the RHIA exam. Students apply to the professional program after two years of prerequisites and complete two supervised affiliations, one technical and one administrative.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management |
| Format | Campus, Montgomery |
| Practicum Hours | Two affiliations: 6 credits (junior summer) and 9 credits (senior spring); hours not stated |
| RN License Required | No |
| Who It’s For | Students who want HIM management careers and the RHIA |
| Distinctive Coursework | Coding, health law, systems analysis and design, quality, financial management, RHIA review |
| Certification Pathway | RHIA exam eligibility |
| Tuition | $4,164 per term in-state, $8,328 out-of-state for 12–18 hours (2026-27) |
| Accreditation | CAHIIM, next review 2033-34; SACSCOC institutional |
| Admission | Separate application to the professional phase, with interviews |
BS in Health Information Management
The estimated tuition for the BS in Health Information Management at Alabama State University is approximately $33,312 for Alabama residents (8 full-time semesters at $4,164 per term, tuition only).
The program can generally be completed in about four years.
BS Curriculum
The first two years are general education and prerequisites. The professional phase covers coding, legal and quality topics, systems, finance, and management, and ends with an RHIA preparation seminar.
- HIM 210, 211, and 212 introductory HIM courses (11)
- HIM 312 (3) and HIM 328 Coding (3)
- HIM 424 Legal Aspects (4)
- HIM 442 Systems Analysis and Design (4)
- HIM 446 Quality (3)
- HIM 453 Financial Management (3)
- HIM 440 Management Capstone (4)
- HIM 457 RHIA Preparation Seminar (3)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- ⚠️ The 128-credit total comes from the department’s curriculum sequence, dated 2014. The current 2025-27 catalog’s curriculum page could not be read, so the total may have changed.
- The program page reports both a 90% and a 92% employment rate. RHIA pass rates are not published.
BS Practicum and Capstone
- HIM 339 Technical Affiliation (6 credits), summer after the junior year.
- HIM 459 Administrative Affiliation (9 credits), spring of the senior year, with “supervised management activities in a health care organization.”
- HIM 440 Management Capstone (4).
- Clock hours and who arranges the sites are Not clearly stated.
Fifteen credits of affiliations is a substantial amount of supervised work, and the senior-spring placement can lead directly to a first job. Students who work should plan for a lighter schedule in those two terms.
BS Admissions
Students apply to the professional phase separately, after finishing core and support courses.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5, with prerequisites at 2.5 (75%) or better.
- Departmental application, three letters, and oral and written interviews.
- The committee reviews applications in the sophomore spring, and admitted students start the professional phase as juniors.
- No RN license or health care experience required.
You Should Know
- The 2025-27 catalog says applications and interviews happen “each fall” but also that the committee reviews in spring. Applicants should plan for both.
Tuition
Alabama State charges a flat rate per term for 12 to 18 hours, or $347 per credit for Alabama residents and $694 for nonresidents below 12 hours (2026-27).
| Rate (2026-27) | Per Term, 12–18 Hours | 8 Terms, Tuition | 8 Terms, Plus University Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama resident | $4,164 | $33,312 | $44,272 |
| Nonresident | $8,328 | $66,624 | $77,584 |
- The General University Fee is $1,370 per term at 6 or more hours.
- Other fees include a $29.32 per-credit bookstore access fee, $40 health insurance, and $50 athletic fee per term.
- Rates come from Alabama State’s 2026-27 tuition and fee schedule.
Be aware that:
- The estimates assume eight full-time semesters. A summer affiliation term adds cost.
- Housing, meals, and travel to affiliation sites are extra.
For an Alabama resident, the full degree runs roughly $44,000 with the university fee, before housing.
Why Choose This Health Informatics Program?
The credential is the reason to choose it: an accredited HIM bachelor’s that leads to the RHIA.
Credential value. The RHIA is the standard credential for HIM directors, compliance managers, and data governance roles. Within Alabama, this is the only bachelor’s that leads to it.
The trade-offs. The program is on campus in Montgomery, admission to the professional phase is competitive, and published details are thin and partly dated.
Support. The department cites a 1:10 student-faculty ratio, and the RHIA review seminar is built into the curriculum.
Accreditation
The BS in Health Information Management is accredited by CAHIIM. The directory shows continuing accreditation granted for seven years in February 2026, with the next review in 2033-34. The department describes it as the oldest and only accredited undergraduate HIM program in the state.
Alabama State University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Graduates of CAHIIM-accredited HIM bachelor’s programs are eligible for AHIMA’s Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam.
Compare More Health Informatics Programs
See all Alabama health informatics programs, browse the health informatics and HIM bachelor’s directory, or read the health informatics degree guide.