School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine • Columbus, OH • Campus • $7,025/Semester (undergraduate, in-state)
The Ohio State University offers 3 Health Informatics programs:
- BS in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Health Information Management and Systems)
- MS (Biomedical Informatics, online)
- Graduate Certificate (Biomedical Informatics, online)
Program Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BS, Health Information Management and Systems | $56.2K in-state / $177.1K out-of-state (8 semesters) | 4 years (2 in the professional phase) | 123 |
| MS in Biomedical Informatics | Not clearly stated | 2 years (5 semesters) | 47 |
| Biomedical Informatics Graduate Certificate | Not clearly stated | Not clearly stated | 15 |
Ohio State’s HIM major admits at most 32 students a year into a two-year professional cohort tied to the Wexner Medical Center, and the class of 2026 posted a 100% first-time RHIA pass rate. Separately, the Department of Biomedical Informatics offers a fully online, thesis-based MS and a 15-credit certificate.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BS (HIMS major), online MS in Biomedical Informatics, online certificate |
| Format | BS: campus cohort in Columbus; MS and certificate: online, asynchronous |
| Practicum Hours | BS: two professional practice experiences (1 + 6 credits); hours not stated |
| Practicum Placement | Wexner Medical Center and Columbus partners; out-of-state options at student’s choice |
| RN License Required | No |
| Who It’s For | BS: Ohio State undergraduates targeting HIM careers and the RHIA; MS: researchers wanting an online thesis degree |
| Distinctive Coursework | Coding, health data, HIM management, certification review; MS: biomedical informatics methods and data science |
| Certification Pathway | BS: RHIA (100% first-time pass, class of 2026) |
| Tuition | BS: about $7,025 per semester in-state, $22,135 out-of-state (2026-27 entering cohort) |
| Accreditation | BS: CAHIIM, next review 2032-33; HLC institutional |
| Cohort Limit | BS: maximum 32 students per year; January 31 deadline |
BS, Health Information Management and Systems
The estimated tuition for the Health Information Management and Systems major at Ohio State is approximately $56,199 in-state or $177,083 out-of-state (eight semesters at 2026-27 entering-cohort rates).
The program can generally be completed in about four years, with the final two in the professional phase.
BS Curriculum
The degree is a BS in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with a HIMS major. After prerequisites in biology, anatomy, statistics, accounting, and economics, students enter a four-semester professional sequence of about 63 credits.
- Prerequisites include anatomy, physiology, statistics, accounting, economics, and HIMS 5648
- Year 3 autumn: HIMS 3520, 5536, 5575, 5650; HTHRHSC 5500 and 5510; HIMS 3589 Professional Practice Experience I (1)
- Year 3 spring: HIMS 5535, 5540, 5545, 5654; HTHRHSC 4200
- Year 4 autumn: HIMS 4645, 5620, 5635, 5655; HTHRHSC 4001
- Year 4 spring: HIMS 4685 Certification Review (2), HIMS 4689 Professional Practice Experience II (6), HIMS 5537, 5656, 5660
- 123 credits in total
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- Many professional courses are taught once a year, so part-time study needs division approval.
- The pre-professional term ranges make the total approximate; the program states 123.
BS Practicum and Capstone
- HIMS 3589 Professional Practice Experience I (1), junior autumn.
- HIMS 4689 Professional Practice Experience II (6), about six weeks in the final semester.
- Sites include the Wexner Medical Center and Columbus partners; students may choose out-of-state sites.
- Hours and who arranges sites are not clearly stated.
A six-week final placement after a certification review course sets students up for the RHIA exam. The program budgets $0–$3,000 for placement travel and lodging, with the high end for student-selected out-of-state sites.
BS Admissions
Admission to the major is competitive and capped.
- Holistic review with interviews for competitive applicants; maximum 32 students a year.
- Minimum 2.50 GPA; recent admitted classes average about 3.3.
- Prerequisites completed with C- or better by the summer before the professional phase.
- Deadline January 31 for autumn entry as juniors.
- Admitted freshmen can be guaranteed a junior cohort seat if they stay in good standing.
MS in Biomedical Informatics
The estimated tuition for the online MS in Biomedical Informatics at Ohio State is not clearly stated; Ohio State’s online tuition table did not display program rates when reviewed.
The program can generally be completed in about two years (five semesters).
- 47 credits, offered jointly by the College of Public Health and the Department of Biomedical Informatics.
- Online and asynchronous; foundation courses, ethics (3), electives (9), and a thesis, BMI 7999 (6).
- No practicum; thesis-based.
- Admission through SOPHAS ($155 fee); 3.0 GPA, three letters, statement, CV; GRE optional.
- Autumn start; deadline May 15, 2027 for August 2027.
You Should Know
- The listed foundation courses sum to 28 credits, but the page states 29.
Biomedical Informatics Graduate Certificate
The estimated tuition for the Biomedical Informatics Graduate Certificate at Ohio State is not clearly stated.
Program length is not clearly stated.
- 15 credits, 100% online and asynchronous.
- Core: BMI 5710 Introduction to Biomedical Informatics, BMI 5750 Methods in Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, BMI 5760 Public Health Informatics, plus track courses.
- Bachelor’s degree and 3.0 GPA; autumn start, deadline July 15, 2027.
Tuition
Ohio State bills undergraduates per semester under its tuition guarantee. For students who began in summer 2026 or later, full-time tuition and mandatory fees are about $7,025 per semester in-state and $22,135 out-of-state.
| Per Semester (2026-27 entering cohort) | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Instructional fee | $6,460.50 | $6,460.50 |
| General, union, activity, recreation, and transit fees | $564.40 | $564.40 |
| Nonresident surcharge | None | $15,110.50 |
| Total | $7,024.90 | $22,135.40 |
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program fee: $16.60 per credit, or $199.20 per full-time semester.
- Rates from the Ohio State Registrar 2026-27 fee table.
Be aware that:
- Students entering the HIMS major as juniors usually belong to an earlier tuition guarantee cohort with different rates.
- HIMS costs beyond tuition run about $2,050–$2,075 in the junior year and $1,405–$4,405 in the senior year, including a laptop, software, and the $230 RHIA exam fee.
- Online graduate rates for the MS and certificate were not published in readable form.
For Ohio residents, the HIMS major is a moderately priced route to the RHIA; for nonresidents, the surcharge makes it expensive.
Why Choose This Health Informatics Program?
Choose the HIMS major if you are at Ohio State, or planning to be, and want HIM; choose the online MS for research-oriented biomedical informatics.
Pathway selection. HIMS is an undergraduate professional cohort aimed at coding, compliance, and HIM management. The online MS is a thesis degree aimed at research and data science. They serve different students.
Outcomes. Ohio State reports 100% on-time graduation for 2025 and 2026 HIMS classes, a 100% first-time RHIA pass rate for 2026, and 86% of 2025 job-seeking graduates employed in health care.
Constraints. The HIMS cohort is capped at 32, has no online option, and runs many courses only once a year.
Accreditation
The HIMS program is accredited by CAHIIM; the directory lists seven years of continuing accreditation granted in May 2025, with the next review in 2032-33. The online MS and certificate in biomedical informatics make no CAHIIM claim.
The Ohio State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
HIMS graduates are eligible for AHIMA’s RHIA exam. The MS in Biomedical Informatics fits Track 1 of the AMIA Health Informatics Certification with qualifying work experience.
Compare Ohio Health Informatics Programs
See all Ohio health informatics programs, browse the health informatics school directory, or read the health informatics degree guide.