10 Fastest Online RHIT Programs - The Best Health Degrees

The fast online RHIT programs train individuals to work as Registered Health Information Technicians in this growing field. If you’re good with computers, can pay attention to detail, and want to work in healthcare, but not necessarily with patients, you may want to consider a career in Health Information Technology with an accelerated health information technology associate degree.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics names this one of the fastest-growing careers with a rapid 11% job growth over 10 years. Jobs are plentiful in hospitals, healthcare systems, physician’s offices, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities.

It may be easier than you think to earn your associate’s degree in Health Information Technology. You can even earn your degree online while you continue to work. Best Health Degrees has researched online programs that may be just what you need to begin a career in Health Information Technology.

Featured Programs

Our Method: Ranking the 10 Fastest RHIT Programs

To rank the 15 Best Online Health Information Technology Associate’s Degrees, Best Degrees editors researched accredited, trusted programs of all kinds. From our initial pool, we ranked programs according to price, accreditation, reputation, and salary potential, using data from IPEDS and Niche, U.S. News and World Report, and other higher education rating publications.

1. Shoreline Community College

Located in Shoreline, Washington, this community college offers an online A.A.A.S. degree in Health Information Technology (HIT).

SCC uses the quarter system and this accelerated health information technology program requires 90 credit hours for completion. The coursework requires 15 credits in general education coursework and 75 hours in core studies. You’ll become acquainted with Healthcare Delivery in the U.S., Basic ICD-10 Coding, Human Diseases, Hospital and Clinic Patient Records, Health Informatics Essentials, Pharmacology, and a Medical Coding Practicum as well as a Professional Practice Experience (PPE).

This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) and prepares you to take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credentialing exam of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Tuition estimates, per credit hour, are $112 (Resident) and $204 (Non-Resident). Financial Aid is available for qualified students and you’ll want to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) for consideration.

Fast Fact: Niche ranks Shoreline Community College as #334 of 871 Best Community Colleges in America

Degree Awarded: A.A.A.S.

Interested: Click to learn more about the health information technology degree!

2. Collin College

This Texas college provides an online A.A.S. degree in Health Information Management (HIM) you can complete in 60 credits. It is ideal for students with transfer credits from previous college work.

The accelerated health information technology degree has prerequisites in some general education online courses such as composition and psychology. Core courses involve studies in health patient data, HIM systems, coding, reimbursement methodologies, statistics, healthcare organization and leadership, development of a portfolio, database programming, as well as a capstone project in clinical health information, medical records, or electronic health records. This is a CAHIIM-accredited program that will prepare you to sit for the RHIT national certification examination.

If you’re a Collin County resident, tuition is estimated at $52 per credit hour, Texas residents $98, and other students $165. Fees and other charges will apply.

Fast Fact: Collin College is rated #121 out of 871 schools by Niche‘s Best Community Colleges in America

Degree Awarded: A.A.S.

Interested: Click to learn more about the health information technology degree!

3. Gateway Technical College

Here’s another CAHIIM accredited A.S. degree in HIT you can earn online in just 66 credit hours and qualify to sit for the registered health information technician or RHIT credentialing exam.

Gateway Technical College has a very reasonable, estimated $139 per credit hour, tuition cost (not including fees) for Wisconsin residents. Non-residents can expect to pay approximately $208 per credit hour. Financial Aid is available if you qualify.

You can attend full or part-time and receive a broad education in courses such as ICD coding, healthcare law and ethics, HIM resource management, basic medical terminology and anatomy/physiology, healthcare reimbursement, human diseases, etc. The program also requires a capstone project and a Professional Experience (PPE). Additionally, the curriculum calls for general education courses in general psychology, speech communication, sociology, as well as English composition.

Fast Fact: Gateway Technical College is one of the Best Community Colleges in America according to Niche

Degree Awarded: A.A.S.

Interested: Click to learn more about this online health information technology degree!

4. Pitt Community College

Located in North Carolina, Pitt Community College has an online A.S. in Health Information Technology degree you can complete in 75 credits.

CAHIIM accredited, Pitt Community College’s accelerated health information technology curriculum includes studies in general education topics and HIT. Some of the core studies are critical thinking, medical terminology, health data systems and standards, ICD coding, statistics, Information Management fundamentals, health careers orientation, writing, and also a Professional Practice Experience (PPE). Coordinating with the program director, you can identify and confirm a clinical site for the PPE. On completion of the degree, you’ll be eligible to take the RHIT examination.

You can apply for federal financial aid as well as PCC scholarships to help pay for school. Tuition for NC residents is $76 per credit hour and out-of-state students can expect to pay $268 for each credit.

Fast Fact: PCC is part of the North Carolina Community College System and, while not having an athletic program, the school’s mascot is named Bruiser

Degree Awarded: A.A.S.

Interested: Click to learn more about the registered health information technician RHIT program!

5. Hutchison Community College

This Kansas community college offers two different Health Information associate programs delivered totally online. Both degrees are CAHIIM accredited and can lead to the RHIT exam.

One degree is a general HIM degree which requires 66 credit hours. Topics studied include reimbursement methods, HIM process, healthcare quality improvement, CPT and ICD coding, statistics, health records, and virtual labs. Hutchison Community College utilizes the American Health Information Management Association’s Virtual Lab Academy to replicate a HIM work environment.

The second HIM degree is an HIM with an emphasis in Cancer Registry Management. This degree will assist you in becoming a Certified Cancer Registrar. Requiring 63 credit hours, this curriculum shares similarities with the previously mention HIM degree but includes tumor registry-specific courses in cancer treatment and coding, cancer registry structure and management, as well as a cancer registry practicum.

The tuition cost for these accelerated health information technology programs is a modest $116 per credit hour for Kansas residents and $147 for non-Kansas residents. Be sure to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify for assistance and/or scholarships.

Fast Fact: HCC ranks #17 of 871 of Niche’s Best Community Colleges in America

Degree Awarded: A.A.S.

Interested: Click to learn more about the registered health information technician RHIT program!

6. Central Arizona College

Located in Coolidge, Arizona, Central Arizona College has an A.A.S. in Health Information Management degree offered online.

This CAHIIM accredited accelerated health information technology program requires 69 credit hours for completion and has an above national average RHIT exam pass rate for the past three years. Among your studies are topics in CPT and ICD coding, human anatomy and physiology, reimbursement, statistics and research, MS Excel, HIT foundations, legal aspects of healthcare, data management, as well as a practicum experience. The program can be completed in two years of full-time enrollment.

It’s hard to find a more affordable HIT program. If you’re an Arizona resident, your tuition cost is $86 per credit hour and non-residents are charged $172 per hour. Miscellaneous fees are above the tuition costs. If you’re military or a veteran be sure to check out the Veteran Education Benefits at CAC.

Fast Fact: Central Arizona College was established in 1969

Degree Awarded: A.A.S.

Interested: Click to learn more about the associate degree online RHIT program!

7. Rowan College at Burlington County

You’ll take 64 credit hours of general education and information technology courses for this hybrid A.A.S. in Health Information Technology degree from Rowan College at Burlington County. The college is located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

General education courses include College Composition, Public Speaking, Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology, etc. Core HIT online classes will involve Introduction to Health Information Technology, HCPCS (CPT-4) Coding, ICD-10 Coding, Healthcare Information Systems, project management, Mastering the Electronic Health Record (EHR), as well as Professional Practice and Experience. This is a CAHIIM accredited program CAHIIM prepares you for the certification exam.

Burlington county residents have assessed tuition at $138 per credit hour, out-of-county NJ residents are charged $155 per hour, and out-of-state students pay $220 each credit hour.

Fast Fact: Rowan College is proud of its top community college recognition from WalletHub

Degree Awarded: Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Interested: Click to learn more about the accelerated health information technology HIT associate’s degree!

8. Central Piedmont Community College

Situated in Charlotte, North Carolina, Central Piedmont Community College has an online A.A.S. in Health Information Technology requiring 74 credit hours for completion.

The curriculum will prepare you for the RHIT exam and includes topics in health data systems, healthcare statistics, ICD, CPT and other coding systems, health informatics, EHR, healthcare law and ethics, etc. You’ll also be required to have two Professional Experiences. The PPE must be in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and surrounding counties in order for accessibility for CPCC faculty. The coursework, while online, is designed for specific sequencing.

If you’re a North Carolina resident, your tuition charge is $75 per credit hour and out-of-state students pay $268 per hour. As with most colleges and universities, additional fees will apply.

Fast Fact: Over 51,000 students are enrolled each year

Degree Awarded: Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Interested: Click to learn more about the accelerated health information technology HIT associate’s degree!

9. Brunswick Community College

This A.A.S. in Health Information Technology from North Carolina’s Brunswick Community College will take you about two years to complete the 74 credit hour curriculum.

Studies for this CAHIIM accredited accelerated health information technology program include courses in HIM fundamentals, HIM standards and systems, database concepts, health informatics and EHR, coding systems, statistics, quality management, and some general education courses. You’ll also need to complete three Professional Practice Experiences.

North Carolina residents will pay $75 in tuition per credit hour and non-residents will pay $268 (various fees not included).

Fast Fact: Niche ranks this college at #195 out of 871 in its Best Community Colleges in America

Degree Awarded: Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Interested: Click to learn more about the accelerated HIT online health information technology program!

10. Camden County College

This New Jersey college has CAHIIM accreditation for its HIT associate degree that you can complete in 67 credit hours.

Offered online, this program will prepare you for credentialing through AHIMA’s RHIT exam. You’ll learn about health informatics, diagnostic and procedural coding, reimbursement methods, basic anatomy and physiology, law and ethics, basic statistics used in healthcare, as well as a Professional Practice Experience. To round out your studies, you’ll take English composition and humanities and social or behavioral studies.

Camden County College charges $115 per credit hour in tuition for Camden County residents and out-of-county residents $119 for each credit. The college offers payment plans and tuition waivers for qualified students and financial aid is also available.

Fast Fact: Camden County College offers the lowest tuition costs in New Jersey

Degree Awarded: Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Interested: Click to learn more about the accelerated health information technology HIT associate’s degree!

What is RHIT Certification?

Registered Health Information Technician, or RHIT, is a professional certification that leads to licensure. Applicants must complete an accredited Health Information Management (HIM) program and then pass a certification exam.

How Do You Find a Program?

A program’s accreditation status is one of the most important factors to consider. The most common Health Information Management accreditor is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The exam is administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). A Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification exam for individuals who complete a bachelor’s in health information management program.

What Does an RHIT do?

HIT/HIM was once narrowly described as Medical Records. However, with the specialized computer programs and increased data available, the role of the HIT or HIM is enhanced. When you start and depending on where you work and your certification, you’ll work with health records, managing, organizing, and assuring the accuracy of electronic health records.

Most registered health information technicians work in an office. But, some HIM/HIT positions can be done from remote locations, such as your home. They spend most of their time on the computer analyzing information quickly and efficiently.

Where Can You Work in Health Information Technology?

Entry-level positions in Health Information Technology (HIT) or Health Information Management (HIM) are available in a variety of healthcare settings.

Registered health information technicians can find jobs in several different healthcare areas. These healthcare professionals work in hospitals, health systems, public health agencies, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, physician offices, insurance companies, as well as government agencies. Online services such as Monster.com, Indeed.com, or Glassdoor.com are able to show HIT/HIM jobs near you.

What if I Don’t Need an Accelerated Health Information Technology Degree?

If you’ve been working in this field for a while, you may be able to advance your position by earning certification. Healthcare values credentials and certificates are the way to go.

Most community colleges and technical schools that offer Associate degrees in HIT/HIM will also offer certificate health information management programs.

You’ll need to identify the type of certificate you want or need. A good resource for that is the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) which offers information on eight certifications in the field.

After you identify the certificate you want, an Internet search will help you identify schools that offer what you need. Most of the schools in this ranking offer certificate programs as well as the Associate degree, so it may be a good place to start.

How Much Can you Make with an Associate’s in Information Technology?

How much you earn as a registered health information technician, RHIT HIM technician depends on your professional experience, certification, you’re employed, and where you live. Additionally, similar professions are in medical billing and coding to medical assistants.

Salaries for HIT or HIM technicians, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, range between $46,660 annually. PayScale, the online employer survey site, suggests an average national salary of $35,358 for HIT employees and $41,375 for RHIT certified. The lowest 10% of health information professionals in this field earn $29,430 and the top 10% earn more than $74,200 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But, there are other factors to consider as well.

Job	Salary	Growth
Health technologists and technicians	$46,910	7%
Medical records specialists	$46,660	7%

BLS Quick Facts job growth & salary information

Other Compensation

Your salary is only one part of your compensation. Most healthcare facilities and organizations also provide benefits. These benefits can range from paid time off, paid sick leave, tuition reimbursement programs, health insurance, day care, as well as 401k or other retirement benefits. Adding these benefits can significantly increase your overall compensation package.

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