Medical Informatics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Medical Informatics is an interdisciplinary field that integrates computational methods with healthcare data to enhance clinical decision-making, streamline medical research, and optimize patient care systems. This program equips students with the technical and analytical expertise needed to design, implement, and evaluate digital health solutions in real-world medical environments.
- Computer Science Fundamentals: Core principles of algorithms, data structures, and programming essential for building robust health information systems.
- Health Information Systems Architecture: Design and integration of scalable, secure platforms that support the flow of clinical and administrative data across healthcare settings.
- Medical Knowledge Structures: Development and organization of standardized terminologies, ontologies, and semantic models to represent complex medical information.
- Medical Language and Image Processing: Techniques for analyzing and interpreting clinical text, speech, and visual data, including natural language processing and image recognition.
- Quantitative Medical Decision Modeling: Application of statistical and computational models to assess treatment outcomes and support evidence-based clinical choices.
- Imaging Techniques and Analysis: Advanced methodologies for processing, storing, and visualizing medical images from modalities such as MRI, CT, and ultrasound.
- Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Systems: Implementation and optimization of digital patient records to improve care coordination, data accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
- Medical Research Systems: Tools and frameworks for managing data in clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and translational research projects.
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS): Creation of intelligent systems that deliver timely, context-aware recommendations to clinicians at the point of care.
- Informatics in Practice and Research: Application of informatics methodologies to solve domain-specific challenges in healthcare delivery, public health, and biomedical innovation.
Medical Informatics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Medical Informatics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Medical Informatics degrees, including Computer and Information Research Scientists, Computer Occupations, All Other and Postsecondary Teachers, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 667,010 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Research Scientists 15-1221 | $140,910 | $80,670 - $232,120 | 38,480 | $67.74 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other 15-1299 | $108,970 | $52,650 - $176,800 | 439,380 | $52.39 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 25-1199 | $78,490 | $39,720 - $172,850 | 151,530 | N/A |
| Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars 29-9021 | $67,310 | $39,120 - $112,130 | 37,620 | $32.36 |
Medical Informatics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $66,170 in Arkansas to $121,173 in California—a 83% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 667,010 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Medical Informatics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Medical Informatics programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Medical Informatics is found at Sacred Heart University (SHU) (285 graduates), Capella University (220 graduates), Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Indianapolis (158 graduates), The University of Findlay (UF) (104 graduates), and The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth), Houston (91 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,953 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart University (SHU) |
Master's
|
285 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | sacredheart.edu |
| Capella University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
220 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
158 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| The University of Findlay (UF) |
Master's
|
104 | Findlay, Ohio | Private | findlay.edu |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
91 | Houston, Texas | Public | uth.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
90 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
68 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| New England College (NEC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
67 | Henniker, New Hampshire | Private | nec.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
64 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
60 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
60 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Master's
|
56 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| Governors State University (GSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | University Park, Illinois | Public | govst.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Ashford University (UAGC) |
Master's
|
43 | San Diego, California | Private | uagc.edu |
| Stanford University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
40 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Master's
|
40 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
40 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| University of North Georgia (UNG) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Dahlonega, Georgia | Public | ung.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
36 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Master's
|
36 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
35 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Master's
|
33 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
33 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
27 | Tyler, Texas | Public | uttyler.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
25 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| University of South Alabama (USA) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
24 | Mobile, Alabama | Public | southalabama.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Public | uscupstate.edu |
| Logan University |
Master's
|
21 | Chesterfield, Missouri | Private | logan.edu |
| Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) |
Associate's
|
21 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ccbcmd.edu |
| SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University |
Master's
|
20 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | downstate.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| The College of Saint Scholastica (CSS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Duluth, Minnesota | Private | css.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
18 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
18 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Marshall University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
18 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
16 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Master's
|
16 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Master's
|
16 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| St Catherine University (St. Kate’s) |
Master's
|
15 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stkate.edu |
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) |
Master's
|
15 | Utica, New York | Public | sunypoly.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
15 | Portland, Oregon | Public | ohsu.edu |
| University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) |
Master's
|
14 | Springfield, Illinois | Public | uis.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Master's
|
14 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Limestone University |
Master's
|
14 | Gaffney, South Carolina | Private | limestone.edu |
| Westcliff University |
Master's
|
14 | Irvine, California | Private | westcliff.edu |
| Drake University |
Master's
|
13 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Tufts University |
Master's
|
13 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
13 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
13 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Master's
|
13 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) |
Master's
|
13 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttuhsc.edu |
| University of New England (UNE) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
12 | Biddeford, Maine | Private | une.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
Master's
|
12 | Dallas, Texas | Public | utsouthwestern.edu |
| Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) |
Master's
|
12 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | harrisburgu.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
11 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Other Award
|
10 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
10 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| Drexel University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
10 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | web.musc.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Master's
|
9 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Union College |
Master's
|
9 | Barbourville, Kentucky | Private | unionky.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Dakota State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | Madison, South Dakota | Public | dsu.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| Tennessee Technological University (TTU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Public | tntech.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uams.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Master's
|
7 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| Charter Oak State College |
Master's
|
7 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | charteroak.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
7 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Master's
|
7 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Franklin University |
Master's
|
7 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | franklin.edu |
| Kent State University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
7 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| University of Scranton |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
7 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | scranton.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
Other Award
|
7 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | flex.wisconsin.edu |
| University of California (UCSF) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
6 | San Francisco, California | Public | ucsf.edu |
| Walden University |
Post-Master's
|
6 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | waldenu.edu |
| University of Southern Indiana (USI) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Evansville, Indiana | Public | usi.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
|
6 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| Villanova University |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
|
6 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Virginia Union University (VUU) |
Master's
|
6 | Richmond, Virginia | Private | vuu.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Master's
|
5 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Regis University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
5 | Denver, Colorado | Private | regis.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Medical Informatics programs
How much can I earn with a Medical Informatics degree?
Salaries for Medical Informatics graduates vary by role and location. Computer and Information Research Scientists earn a median of $140,910 annually, while Computer Occupations, All Other earn around $108,970. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $121,173 compared to $66,170 in Arkansas. Approximately 667,010 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Medical Informatics programs?
Currently 142 accredited institutions offer Medical Informatics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Sacred Heart University (SHU) (285 graduates), Capella University (220 graduates), and Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Indianapolis (158 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Medical Informatics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 271 in 2010 to 3,054 in 2023-24. This represents a 1,027% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Medical Informatics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Computer and Information Research Scientists, Computer Occupations, All Other, and Postsecondary Teachers, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 667,010 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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