10 Best Low-Cost Medical Coding and Billing Online Programs
Medical billers and coders are essential workers in every healthcare organization. They ensure healthcare providers receive proper reimbursement for their services and maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records.
Nurse.org has compiled a list of the top ten best low-cost medical coding and billing online programs. Continue reading to discover if one of these programs is a good fit for you!
What Are Online Medical Billing and Coding Programs?
Medical billing and coding programs train students to assign medical codes accurately and manage billing processes within healthcare settings.
Low-cost medical coding and billing online programs provide accessibility and flexibility to aspiring medical coders. They allow you to graduate quickly with a great foundation at a fraction of the cost of other programs.
Most accredited medical billing and coding programs take between 4 months and two years to complete. They prepare students to take and pass the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS) certification.
Programs ultimately vary in length, cost, and availability but typically follow one of the following pathways:
- Online classes (usually don’t result in certification but provide helpful resources and basic information)
- A four to 12-month certificate or diploma program
- A two-year associate degree
Top 10 Low-Cost Medical Coding and Billing Online Programs
The best low-cost medical coding and billing online programs are both affordable, and provide quality education and career preparation.
To curate the top medical billing and coding programs, our ranking methodology considers the following:
- Accreditation
- Acceptance rates
- Certification pass rates
- Graduation rates
- Post-graduation employment rates
- Student-faculty ratio
Established in 1922 as a junior college, Cowley offers a certificate and an associate degree in medical coding. The certificate program has minimal entrance requirements and takes just three semesters to complete. Students can graduate from the slightly longer associate degree program in five semesters.
- Tuition:
- Cowley County Resident: $145 per credit hour
- Kansas Resident: $155 per credit hour
- Oklahoma Resident: $165 per credit hour
- Out of State Resident: $205 per credit hour
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (800) 593-2222
- Email Address: admissions@cowley.edu
Students have several options for medical billing and coding programs at Northwest Technical College. The school offers a certificate, diploma, and associate's degree in medical coding and billing.
Students who complete the 29 certificate program gain employment within a year. Additionally, students can apply credit hours from the certificate towards a diploma or associate degree.
- Program Length:
- Certificate: 8 months
- Diploma: 1 year
- Associate: 2 years
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (218) 333-6600
Kirtland Community College is one of the cheapest online medical billing and coding schools. Students can attend Kirtland's program 100% online, either full-time or part-time. In fact, the majority of students attend part-time.
Since the program isn't cohort-based, students can progress at their own pace. Therefore, some may be able to complete it faster than usual.
- Tuition:
- In-district: $143 per credit hour
- Out-of-district: $215 per credit hour
- Out-of-state: $299 per credit hour
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (989) 342-3351 ext 280
The self-paced 100% online medical billing and coding program at UAF is ideal for students who need to complete the program part-time. The program is 15 credit hours and includes computer business application classes. Students enrolled at UAF pay in-state tuition, no matter where they live.
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (907) 455-2060 or (800) 277-8060
- Email Address: uaf-ecampus-counselor@alaska.edu
The medical coding and insurance diploma at Minnesota State Community and Technical College consists of 50 credits. The program prepares students for several medical coding certification exams. Plus, the program is one of the cheapest in the nation, and all online students pay in-state tuition, making this a very affordable option.
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (877) 450-3322
Located outside of Philadelphia, BCCC graduates are eligible to take several of the nationally recognized medical coding and billing certification exams. Students work with an academic advisor to develop a course progression that meets their individual needs.
- Tuition:
- Bucks County Resident: $170 per credit hour
- Out-of-County Resident: $340 per credit hour
- Out-of-State Resident: $495 per credit hour
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (215) 968-8353
- Email Address: healthsciences@bucks.edu
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
After registering, students enrolled in the Community College of Philadelphia program have 12 months to complete it. Students can complete the program at their own pace, but most complete the courses in a specific sequence.
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (215) 751-8010
Students enrolled at VWU can attend one of the cheapest medical coding certifications online. Once enrolled, they have 12 months to complete the program from the comfort of their own homes.
VWU includes a voucher for the national certification exam in the program's tuition, which saves graduates several hundred dollars. And with open enrollment, students can start the program at any time.
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (855) 520-6806
Higher Learning Commission
Herzing University offers several programs, including a diploma or associate degree in Insurance Billing and Coding or Medical Coding. Students can also transfer credits from other programs toward a bachelor's degree. Multiple start dates year-round to allow for increased flexibility.
- Program Length:
- Diploma: 10 months
- Associate Degree: 20 months
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (888) 920-0937
This community college's online program offers low tuition even for out-of-state students. Students have one year to complete the program entirely online at their own pace. They can also easily transfer credits from this program toward a bachelor's degree.
- Tuition:
- Cambria County Residents: $237 per credit hour
- Somerset County Residents: $310 per credit hour
- Other Pennsylvania Residents: $318 per credit hour
- Out-of-State: $445 per credit hour
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Contact Info:
- Phone Number: (814) 262-6437
What to Expect in Medical Billing and Coding Online Programs
Students should expect to learn the basics and build a solid foundation in medical billing, anatomy, coding, and terminology. They will also have a clear understanding of physician and hospital-based medical coding.
Graduates can find gainful employment in the following areas:
- Private practice
- Physician offices
- Clinics
- Nursing homes
- Hospitals
- Law firms
- Public/government agencies
- Resident care
- Billing companies
- Consulting firms
- Software companies
- Health insurance companies
Admission Requirements
Medical coding and billing programs have fairly simple admission requirements, which include:
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
- Drug Test
- Background Check
Classes & Coursework
Your coursework will vary depending on the program and degree awarded, but most programs are roughly 10-15 courses. Some classes you attend may include:
- Coding Foundations
- ICD-CM Coding
- ICD-PCS Coding
- Ambulatory Coding
- Medical Office Procedures
- Medical Office Capstone
- Health Information Research
- Health Information Law and Ethics
- Medical Terminology
- Medical Billing and Coding Practices
- Health Information Pathophysiology
- Computer Applications
- Business Systems Concepts
How to Choose a Low-Cost Medical Coding and Billing Online Program
The ten programs on this list offer an affordable path to becoming a certified medical coder. However, cost isn't the only factor to consider when choosing an online medical billing and coding program.
Other things you to consider include the following:
- Degree awarded
- Program length of time
- Program Reputation
- Career Opportunities
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Accreditation
- Graduation outcomes
Ultimately, the best low-cost medical coding and billing online program will meet as many of your needs as possible. Consider your schedule, budget, and education goals to find a program that suits your unique requirements.
