American Public University offers an online Master of Science in Health Information Management built around health data management, analytics, compliance, and leadership. The 40-semester-hour program runs in 8- and 16-week online courses with monthly starts and ends with a capstone project.
Quick Facts
| School | American Public University (part of American Public University System) |
| Location | Charles Town, West Virginia; program delivered online |
| Degree | Master of Science in Health Information Management |
| Credits | 40 semester hours (up to 15 transfer credits) |
| Format | 100% online; 8- to 16-week courses, monthly starts |
| Typical Length | Not published; about 13–24 months (est.) depending on course load |
| Estimated Tuition | $18,800 tuition at $470 per credit; about $20,255 with technology and graduation fees |
| Admissions | Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; no GRE or application fee |
| Program Accreditation | Not CAHIIM-accredited (institution accredited by HLC) |
Program Overview
The American Public University Master of Science in Health Information Management is designed for practicing healthcare professionals. APU describes the program as focused on healthcare data analytics and informatics, with coursework in health data management, clinical and administrative decision-making, strategic planning, and outcomes management.
American Public University is part of American Public University System (APUS), which is headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia, and is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The same degree, with the same 40-hour curriculum and tuition, is also offered under the system’s American Military University brand.
The master’s degree is not accredited by CAHIIM. APUS’s accreditation page states that its CAHIIM accreditation applies to the baccalaureate Health Information Management program. Because RHIA exam eligibility generally depends on completing a CAHIIM-accredited HIM program, this master’s should not be treated as an RHIA pathway on its own. APU says only that the curriculum is based on current standards of nationally recognized HIM professional organizations.
Curriculum and Capstone
According to the 2026–2027 APU catalog, the degree has 37 semester hours of core courses and a 3-hour final program requirement. There are no concentrations, and the program lists no required electives. HIMA501 must be taken first, and the capstone comes after all other requirements.
- HIMA501 Technology Applications in Health Information Management (3)
- HIMA503 Healthcare Vocabulary and Clinical Terminologies (3)
- HIMA505 Research Methods in Health Information Management (3)
- INFO531 Management Information Systems (3)
- HIMA550 Clinical Workflow and Process Redesign (3)
- HIMA600 Financial Management for Health Professionals (3)
- MGMT610 Cross-Cultural Management (3)
- MGMT605 Leadership (3)
- HIMA605 Legal Issues in Health Information Management (3)
- ISSC680 Information Security Management (3)
- HIMA610 Healthcare Data Analytics with Lab (4)
- HIMA620 Corporate Compliance in the Healthcare Industry (3)
- HIMA699 Capstone in Health Information Management (3)
The main analytics course is HIMA610, a 4-credit course with a lab component covering data collection, statistical and qualitative analysis, explanatory and predictive modeling, and decision support and knowledge management systems. HIMA550 covers process mapping, computerized provider order entry, and electronic health record workflow. The catalog notes that some courses require students to install software for virtual online labs.
The catalog lists eight program outcomes. They include interpreting regulations for patient data and protected health information, interpreting clinical terminologies and classification systems, examining data to assess performance and reporting, and generating health IT strategies that support clinical and administrative decision-making. The capstone asks students to complete a final project on organizational performance, strategic planning, and healthcare leadership competencies.
Admissions Requirements
APU requires a bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The university’s master’s admissions criteria also ask for a copy of a government-issued photo ID for civilian students, or a JST or CCAF transcript for military students.
APU does not publish a minimum undergraduate GPA for this program and does not require the GRE or other entrance exams. There is no application fee, and transfer credit evaluation is free. Up to 15 graduate credits may transfer in. APU requires a 3.0 GPA to graduate from a master’s program.
Applicants should confirm current requirements with American Public University admissions before applying.
Tuition, Fees, and Funding
APU’s published standard master’s tuition is $470 per credit. At that rate, 40 credits × $470 = $18,800 in tuition. The 2026–2027 catalog fee schedule adds an $85 technology fee per master’s course and a $350 master’s graduation fee.
The program has 13 courses, so the technology fee comes to 13 × $85 = $1,105. That makes the estimated total $18,800 + $1,105 + $350 = $20,255 for a student who takes every course at APU. Transfer credits lower both tuition and the per-course technology fees.
APU’s tuition and fees page lists reduced master’s rates that cannot be combined with each other:
- Preferred Military Rate: $250 per credit (40 × $250 = $10,000) for active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members and eligible family members
- Everyday Heroes Grant for first responders and their families: $376 per credit (40 × $376 = $15,040)
- Veteran Grant: $399.50 per credit (40 × $399.50 = $15,980)
- Opportunity Grant: $423 per credit (40 × $423 = $16,920)
These estimates exclude transcript fees, any hard-copy course materials, and personal technology costs. APU says students receive no-cost ebooks, though the catalog lists an average of $100 per graduate course for course materials.
Online Format and Time to Completion
All coursework is online. Courses start monthly and run 8 to 16 weeks, and the course schedule for 2026–2027 shows HIM courses in 8-week sessions. There are no campus visits or practicum placements.
APU does not publish a typical completion time for this degree. As an estimate, taking the 13 courses one at a time in 8-week sessions is about 104 weeks, or roughly 24 months. Taking two courses at a time could shorten that to about 13 months, and transfer credit would shorten it further.
Career Preparation
The curriculum combines HIM topics such as clinical terminologies, compliance, and health information law with business courses in finance, leadership, and cross-cultural management. It also includes courses in information security and management information systems.
That mix points toward HIM department management, compliance, data quality, and health IT coordination roles. Students who want to build technical analytics or programming skills will find one dedicated analytics course rather than a sequence.
Career fit depends on each student’s prior healthcare and technical experience. The program does not promise a specific job, salary, or credential, and it does not by itself lead to RHIA eligibility.
Other Informatics Options at APUS
On August 4, 2026, American Public University System completed its combination with Rasmussen University and Hondros College of Nursing, bringing them under APUS’s single HLC accreditation. Rasmussen continues to operate as its own academic unit within the system.
For registered nurses, Rasmussen offers an MSN with a Healthcare Technology, Simulation and Informatics specialization. It is 48 credit hours across 12 courses, is delivered primarily online with practicum experiences in the student’s community, and can be completed in as few as 18 months. Applicants need a BSN with a 3.0 GPA and an unencumbered U.S. RN license. Rasmussen lists $295 per credit, or $14,160 in tuition and about $17,685 with fees.
Who Is This Program For?
This program may fit working healthcare professionals who want an online HIM master’s with monthly starts and no GRE requirement. It may be especially relevant for military-affiliated students and first responders, who qualify for reduced rates, and for students with graduate credits to transfer.
Students who need RHIA eligibility should compare CAHIIM-accredited master’s programs. Those looking for deeper training in data science, clinical informatics, or nursing informatics may want to compare programs with more technical coursework or, for RNs, the Rasmussen MSN specialization.
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