Allied Health • Wahpeton, ND • Online • $227.03/Credit
North Dakota State College of Science offers 1 Health Informatics program:
- AAS in Health Information (Health Information Technician)
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAS in Health Information: Health Information Technician | $16.8K ND / $19.0K other US, online | 2 years (4 semesters) | 65 |
This is North Dakota’s only CAHIIM-accredited health information program, and it is an associate degree. Graduates can sit for the RHIT exam, the technician-level credential, for about $17,000 to $19,000 in online tuition and fees.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | Associate in Applied Science in Health Information, Health Information Technician emphasis |
| Format | Online, on campus in Wahpeton, or a mix |
| Practicum Hours | Two professional practice courses with onsite experiences; at least 40 hours in the second |
| Practicum Placement | Scheduled near the student when possible |
| Who It’s For | High school graduates and career changers aiming for coding and health records roles |
| Distinctive Coursework | Four coding courses, reimbursement, data analytics, quality management |
| Certification Pathway | RHIT exam eligibility, as early as the final semester |
| Tuition | $227.03 per credit online for ND residents, plus $45 per HIT credit (2026-27) |
| Accreditation | CAHIIM, associate degree; next review 2028-29 |
AAS in Health Information: Health Information Technician
The estimated tuition for the AAS in Health Information (Health Information Technician) at North Dakota State College of Science is approximately $16,782 for North Dakota residents online (65 credits at $227.03/credit, plus $45/credit on 45 HIT credits).
The program can generally be completed in about two years.
AAS Curriculum
Forty-five of the 65 credits are health information courses, and a third of those are coding. The remaining 20 credits cover anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and general education.
- HIT 176 Introduction to Health Information (4)
- HIT 184 Basic Diagnosis Coding (3) and HIT 185 Basic Procedure Coding (3)
- HIT 286 Intermediate Diagnosis Coding (3) and HIT 288 Intermediate Procedure Coding (3)
- HIT 281 Health Law, Privacy and Ethics (3)
- HIT 282 Health Information Data Analytics (3)
- HIT 284 Healthcare Quality Management (3)
- HIT 285 Reimbursement Methodologies (3)
- HIT 287 Computer Applications in Healthcare (3)
- BIOL 220 and 221 Anatomy and Physiology I and II (6)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The 2026-27 catalog lists 65 credits. An older program fact sheet, revised in 2020, lists 69, with 24 related credits instead of 20. The catalog course list sums to 65, so it is used here.
- Students need a grade of C or better in every course to advance and before starting professional practice.
- Anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, and pharmacology transfer credit must be less than 10 years old.
- A personal laptop with a webcam is required. Tablets and Chromebooks will not work for online classes or testing.
AAS Practicum and Capstone
- HIT 197 Professional Practice I (2) and HIT 297 Professional Practice II (2) are taught virtually, and each includes an onsite experience.
- The program FAQ says HIT 297 includes an onsite externship of at least 40 hours.
- Onsite experiences are scheduled near the student’s location whenever possible.
- A criminal background check, drug test, and health records are required first, at the student’s expense. Results can affect placement and completion.
The onsite time is short, so online students can usually fit it around work. It is the only part of the degree that requires in-person attendance, and it does not count as a campus visit since it takes place near the student.
AAS Admissions
Admission is open to high school graduates, with one placement requirement.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- ACT or placement scores that qualify for ENGL 110, or ENGL 110 completed with a C or better.
- Ability to meet the program’s essential requirements, listed in the program FAQ.
- Helpful preparation: computer applications, anatomy, and medical terminology.
- Start terms: Not clearly stated.
Tuition
NDSCS charges the same tuition for online and campus courses. Online students pay $227.03 per credit for North Dakota residents once fees are added, plus a $45 instructional fee on each HIT credit.
| Online rate (2026-27) | Per Credit, All Fees | 65 Credits | Plus HIT Fee ($2,025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota resident | $227.03 | $14,757 | $16,782 |
| Minnesota reciprocity | $247.29 | $16,074 | $18,099 |
| Other US resident | $260.80 | $16,952 | $18,977 |
- Online per-credit totals combine tuition ($168.83 ND, $189.09 MN, $202.60 other US) with ConnectND, student, technology, and a $38 online access fee.
- Wahpeton campus courses total $211.51 per credit for North Dakota residents before the HIT fee.
- Rates come from the NDSCS 2026-27 tuition and fees page.
Be aware that:
- Most per-credit fees stop at 12 credits per semester, but the online access fee does not, so full-time students pay slightly less than the table shows.
- The background check, drug test, laptop, and RHIT exam fee are extra.
- Rates may change before a student finishes the program.
Even the out-of-state online total stays under $19,000 for the full degree. That makes this a low-cost way to reach a CAHIIM-accredited credential, especially for students who plan to add a bachelor’s later.
Why Choose This Health Informatics Program?
A practical fit for students who want a credentialed health records job in two years without a bachelor’s degree.
Who it serves. The program trains coders and health information technicians for hospitals, clinics, long-term care, and insurers. Experienced RHITs often move into remote coding and records roles.
The trade-off. The RHIT is a technician credential. Management roles and the RHIA exam require a CAHIIM-accredited bachelor’s or master’s, which no North Dakota school currently offers. Students should plan which out-of-state or online program would accept their associate credits.
Scale. The program is small. NDSCS reported five graduates in 2023-24, with 80% placed in jobs.
Accreditation
The AAS in Health Information is accredited by CAHIIM. The CAHIIM directory lists it as an active online associate program with continuing accreditation, last granted in July 2018 for 10 years, with the next review in 2028-29. The college describes it as North Dakota’s only CAHIIM-accredited HIT program.
North Dakota State College of Science is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Graduates of a CAHIIM-accredited associate program are eligible for AHIMA’s Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam. NDSCS reported a 100% RHIT pass rate for 2021-22. The RHIA requires a CAHIIM-accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Compare More Health Informatics Programs
See all North Dakota health informatics programs, browse the health informatics school directory, or read the health informatics degree guide.