Department of Health Informatics and Information Management, College of Applied and Natural Sciences • Ruston, LA • Online • $400–$475/Credit (online)
Louisiana Tech University offers 3 Health Informatics programs:
- BS in Health Informatics and Information Management
- Master of Health Informatics
- Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS in Health Informatics and Information Management | $48.0K online (all residencies) | 4 years (12 quarters plus a practice quarter) | 120 |
| Master of Health Informatics | $18.5K online | Not clearly stated | 39 |
| Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics | $5.7K online | Not clearly stated | 12 |
Louisiana Tech is the only school in the state with CAHIIM accreditation at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. The online master’s costs about $18,500 and the certificate’s four courses count toward it, while the bachelor’s leads to the RHIA.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BS in HIIM, Master of Health Informatics (MHI), graduate certificate |
| Format | BS: online or on campus; MHI and certificate: online only, asynchronous |
| Practicum Hours | BS: final quarter at off-campus practice sites; MHI: capstone project |
| RN License Required | No |
| Who It’s For | BS: future HIM managers; MHI: working professionals moving into informatics |
| Distinctive Coursework | Database architecture, EHR infrastructure, compliance, consumer health informatics, statistics |
| Certification Pathway | BS: RHIA eligibility; MHI: no RHIA; fits AMIA AHIC Track 1 with experience |
| Tuition | Tech Online: $400 per undergraduate and $475 per graduate credit, all residencies (2026-27) |
| Accreditation | CAHIIM: BS and MHI, next review 2033-34 |
| Calendar | Quarters (fall, winter, spring, summer) |
BS in Health Informatics and Information Management
The estimated tuition for the BS in Health Informatics and Information Management at Louisiana Tech University is approximately $48,000 online (120 credits at $400/credit).
The program can generally be completed in about four years.
BS Curriculum
The major blends coding and reimbursement with database design, data analytics, project management, and two management courses from the business school.
- HIIM 2073 Coding and Classification of Diseases and Procedures (3)
- HIIM 2513 Classification of Procedures (3)
- HIIM 3453 and 4452 Healthcare Reimbursement I and II (5)
- HIIM 3333 Epidemiology and Applied Statistics in Health Care (3)
- HIIM 3713 Quality Improvement in Healthcare (3)
- HIIM 4113 Project Management (3)
- HIIM 4293 Database Concepts and Design (3)
- HIIM 4332 Health Data Analytics (2)
- HIIM 4553 Health Systems Leadership (3)
- MGMT 3103 Management of Organizations and MGMT 3703 Human Resource Management (6)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The catalog’s yearly totals add to 120, but the senior-year list shows the practicum at 8 credits while the senior total (26) implies 5.
- RHITs with an HIT associate degree earned in the last three years can progress into the BS online or on campus, with credit evaluated individually.
- A C or better is required in every course in the major.
BS Practicum and Capstone
- HIIM 4781 Practica/Internship in HIM (1–8 credits): the quarter before graduation is spent at off-campus affiliated sites.
- HIIM 1201 Health Records Professional Practice (1) earlier in the program.
- Each placement is planned individually “within the student’s financial and travel limitations.”
- Students need a 2.25 curriculum GPA, background check, drug screen, and immunizations. This is the only course not offered online.
A full quarter at practice sites is a substantial block of applied work, and online students should plan for time away from a job during that quarter.
BS Admissions
- Standard Louisiana Tech admission; no separate application to the major is listed.
- Professional practice requires a 2.25 curriculum GPA and an overall GPA of 2.0.
Master of Health Informatics
The estimated tuition for the Master of Health Informatics at Louisiana Tech University is approximately $18,525 (39 credits at $475/credit).
The program’s length is not published; it is 13 courses offered year-round on the quarter calendar.
MHI Curriculum
Thirteen required courses cover databases, EHR infrastructure, security, statistics, and leadership, ending in a capstone.
- HIIM 5003 Healthcare Compliance (3)
- HIIM 5023 Database Architecture (3)
- HIIM 5053 Health Informatics Advanced Statistical Methods (3)
- HIIM 5063 Health Information Security and Application (3)
- HIIM 5133 Evaluation of Information Systems (3)
- HIIM 5203 Consumer Health Informatics (3)
- HIIM 5213 EHR Infrastructure (3)
- HIIM 5233 Healthcare Information Analysis (3)
- HIIM 5303 Leadership in Healthcare (3)
- HIIM 5993 Capstone Project (3)
More curriculum details are available here.
MHI Practicum and Capstone
- HIIM 5993 Capstone Project (3) in the final quarter. No thesis and no practicum.
MHI Admissions
Admission is competitive and reviewed by a department committee.
- Bachelor’s degree, application, essay, reference letters, transcripts, and resume.
- No RN license or health care experience required.
- The program is online only; graduate assistantships require working on site in Ruston.
Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics
The estimated tuition for the Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics at Louisiana Tech University is approximately $5,700 (12 credits at $475/credit).
The program’s length is not published; it is four online courses.
Certificate Curriculum
- HIIM 5063 Health Information Security and Application (3)
- HIIM 5103 Introduction to Health Informatics (3)
- Two of HIIM 5033, 5113, 5213, or 5233 (6)
You Should Know
- Louisiana Tech says certificate credits apply toward the MHI, and every certificate course is an MHI course. No GRE is required.
Tuition
Louisiana Tech’s online (Tech Online) rates are $400 per undergraduate credit and $475 per graduate credit for 2026-27, with no residency difference.
| Program | Credits | Online Rate | Estimated Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS in HIIM | 120 | $400 | $48,000 |
| Master of Health Informatics | 39 | $475 | $18,525 |
| Graduate certificate | 12 | $475 | $5,700 |
- Campus undergraduates pay an average of $4,125 per quarter in-state and $7,808 out-of-state for 12 or more hours, with fees.
- Rates come from Louisiana Tech’s tuition and fees page.
Be aware that:
- The program pages do not state that Tech Online billing applies to these programs; the online rate is used because the MHI and certificate are online only.
- A college fee of $47 to $52 applies per quarter by hour range.
At about $18,500, the accredited online master’s costs the same for students in every state.
Why Choose This Health Informatics Program?
The program to weigh first for students who want an accredited credential at either level without moving to Ruston.
Pathway selection. RHITs can progress into the RHIA-eligible bachelor’s online. Bachelor’s holders can start with the 12-credit certificate and continue into the MHI.
The trade-offs. The MHI has no practicum and does not lead to the RHIA, and the bachelor’s requires a full quarter at practice sites.
Accreditation note. CAHIIM’s 2026 continuing accreditation for the MHI required a progress report on its curriculum standard.
Accreditation
CAHIIM accredits both the BS in HIIM and the Master of Health Informatics, each with the next review in 2033-34. CAHIIM also accredits the department’s Rural Health Administrative Support undergraduate certificate. The MHI’s 2026 action noted one curriculum standard as partially met, with a progress report required.
Louisiana Tech University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Bachelor’s graduates are eligible for AHIMA’s Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam. The MHI fits Track 1 of the AMIA Health Informatics Certification with work experience.
Other Health Informatics Schools
See all Louisiana health informatics programs, browse the health informatics school directory, or read the health informatics degree guide.