Liberty University MS in Health Informatics

Liberty University offers an online Master of Science in Health Informatics through its School of Business, built from 14 three-credit courses in 8-week and semester-length terms. The 42-credit program combines healthcare administration, database and systems design, and health data analytics, and it ends with an integrated capstone thesis project.

Quick Facts

SchoolLiberty University
LocationLynchburg, Virginia
DegreeMaster of Science in Health Informatics (M.S.H.I.)
Credits42
FormatOnline only; mostly 8-week courses
Typical LengthFour semesters in the catalog’s sample plan (about two years); five-year maximum
Estimated Tuition$25,200 at the 2026–27 full-time rate (42 × $600); $27,930 part time; $13,020 at the military rate
AdmissionsBachelor’s degree; 3.00 GPA for good standing, 2.50–2.99 considered on Academic Caution; prerequisite coursework in A&P, algebra, statistics, and business
Start DatesOctober 26, 2026; January 18, 2027; February 15, 2027
Other Informatics DegreesM.A. in Medical Sciences – Health Informatics (34 credits); M.S.N. – Nursing Informatics (36 credits)

Program Overview

The Liberty University Master of Science in Health Informatics is designed for people in or entering health-related careers who want a graduate foundation in health information technology. The catalog describes the goal as improving health care through effective, efficient, secure, and innovative information technology.

Liberty is a private, nonprofit Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The program is delivered online only. Its learning outcomes include applying a biblical worldview to problems in health information technology, alongside evaluating IT policy and building technology solutions.

Liberty’s School of Business holds ACBSP accreditation, but the M.S.H.I. is not among the graduate programs listed as ACBSP-accredited on Liberty’s accreditation page. That page also does not list CAHIIM accreditation for the program.

Curriculum and Capstone

The 2026–2027 M.S.H.I. degree plan applies to students who start between fall 2026 and summer 2027. All 14 courses are required, with no electives or concentrations. Six business courses cover healthcare administration and management:

  • Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals; Organizational Behavior in Health Systems; Healthcare Administration
  • Quality Assessment and Evidence Based Decision Making; Managerial Epidemiology; Quantitative Methods in Healthcare Management

The remaining eight courses focus on technology and informatics:

  • Systems Analysis, Modeling, and Design; Advanced IT Project Management I; Database Design and Development
  • Health Informatics; Health Systems and Delivery; Health Information Systems and Integrated Technologies
  • Health Data Analytics and Decision-Making, which covers statistical analysis, data mining, text analytics, and predictive analytics
  • Integrated Capstone (INFO 690)

In the capstone, students complete a thesis project that addresses a complex problem drawn from current information technology literature. The program does not list an internship or practicum. Graduation requires a 3.0 GPA, no more than two grades in the C range, and no grade of D or below.

Other Informatics Degrees at Liberty

The M.A. in Medical Sciences – Health Informatics is a 34-credit online degree from the School of Health Sciences. It pairs 22 credits of medical science (cancer biology, medical anatomy, medical physiology, human metabolism and disease, ethics, and cellular biology) with a 12-credit informatics cognate. The cognate requires Health Informatics and Health Information Systems and Integrated Technologies, plus two electives from database design, biostatistics, health systems, and medical genetics. It is aimed mainly at students preparing for medical or other health professional schools.

The M.S.N. – Nursing Informatics is a 36-credit online program for registered nurses from the CCNE-accredited School of Nursing. It includes 15 credits of MSN core courses and a 21-credit concentration covering biostatistics, epidemiology, health data analytics, and financial management. Three courses (Nursing Informatics Data Management and Practicum II and III) involve 300 practice experience or project hours. Students must secure a practice site contract with an approved, experienced informatics clinician and pass a background check.

Admissions Requirements

M.S.H.I. applicants need a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. A 3.00 undergraduate GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants with a GPA between 2.50 and 2.99 may be admitted on Academic Caution, and those below 2.50 are not admitted. No GRE or GMAT is required.

Students also need 3 credit hours each in human anatomy and physiology, algebra, and statistics, plus 27 hours of business coursework. Students without that business background can take BMAL 590 Business Common Professional Components (3 credits), and all prerequisites must be finished before graduate courses begin. Non-native English speakers submit TOEFL or an approved alternative.

Requirements differ for the other two degrees. The medical sciences M.A. asks for a 2.75 GPA, or 2.50–2.74 for cautionary acceptance, plus lab biology or A&P, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. The nursing informatics M.S.N. requires a 3.00 GPA, an active RN license in the student’s state of residence, and undergraduate statistics and health assessment courses. Confirm current requirements with Liberty University Online admissions before applying.

Tuition, Fees, and Funding

Liberty charges online master’s students per credit hour, with the same rate for Virginia residents and out-of-state students. According to the 2026–2027 graduate catalog’s expenses page, the rate is $600 per credit for full-time students and $665 for part-time students, meaning 8 or fewer credits in a semester. Eligible military students pay $310 per credit in either case.

  • M.S.H.I., full time: 42 × $600 = $25,200
  • M.S.H.I., part time: 42 × $665 = $27,930
  • M.S.H.I., military rate: 42 × $310 = $13,020
  • M.A. Medical Sciences – Health Informatics: 34 × $600 = $20,400 full time; 34 × $665 = $22,610 part time; 34 × $310 = $10,540 military
  • M.S.N. – Nursing Informatics: 36 × $600 = $21,600 full time; 36 × $665 = $23,940 part time; 36 × $310 = $11,160 military

The M.S.H.I. sample plan takes 12, 12, 9, and 9 credits per semester, so it qualifies for the full-time rate throughout. The M.S.N. sample plan takes 6 credits per semester, so a student following it would pay the part-time rate. These figures come from multiplying published per-credit rates; Liberty says rates may change each year.

Totals exclude a $349 technology fee per semester (about $1,396 over the four-semester M.S.H.I. plan), which Liberty’s online tuition page says is waived for active military and their spouses. They also exclude books and online content (estimated at $716 per year), a $100 degree completion application fee, and BMAL 590 if required (3 × $600 = $1,800). The program page says there is no application fee to apply. Funding options include federal aid, the military tuition discount, a first responder discount, and corporate tuition assistance.

Online Format and Time to Completion

Courses are online with no set login times. Most run in 8-week sub-terms, but Liberty notes that some courses follow a full-semester schedule or have scheduled sessions. Upcoming starts listed on the program page are October 26, 2026, January 18, 2027, and February 15, 2027. The online academic calendar sets acceptance and registration deadlines for each sub-term.

The catalog’s sample plan finishes the M.S.H.I. in four semesters over two academic years. Master’s students count as full time at 9 credits per semester and may take up to 15. Students may transfer in up to 50% of program hours, which is 21 credits for the M.S.H.I., with a grade of B- or higher. The degree must be completed within five years.

Career Preparation

The catalog lists data administrator, data networking analyst, and systems integration specialist as career paths. The program page adds roles such as clinical informatics specialist, health data analyst, health informatics consultant, and healthcare IT project manager. The coursework in database design, systems analysis, project management, and analytics lines up with those technical roles.

Career fit depends on each student’s clinical, technical, or administrative experience and on local employer needs. The degree does not promise a specific job, salary, or certification, and certification bodies set their own eligibility rules.

Who Is This Program For?

The M.S.H.I. may fit working adults who want a fully online, business-oriented informatics degree with frequent start dates and a published per-credit price. Military students and spouses may find the $310 rate especially relevant. Applicants should be comfortable with Liberty’s Christian mission, which is built into the program outcomes.

Students who want CAHIIM accreditation, a supervised internship, or research training with faculty may want to compare other programs. RNs aiming for informatics nursing roles should look at the M.S.N. track, and pre-health students may find the medical sciences M.A. a closer match.

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