HEALTHCARE

Top 10 Medical Billing & Coding Schools in 2024

Written By: Nurse.org Staff

Expert review by: Sarah Jividen

RN, BSN

12 Min Read Published September 5, 2024

What Is a Medical Billing and Coding Program?
Best Medical Billing & Coding Programs
What to Expect in an Online MBC Program
Choosing a MBC Program
Resources
Conclusion

Top Medical Billing & Coding Programs | Nurse.org

One of the fastest healthcare careers to get into and one of the most flexible, medical billing and coding is an extremely popular career choice. Fortunately, many colleges and universities offer medical billing and coding programs entirely online! Let's take a look at some of the best medical coding programs available.

To help you decide which program is right for you, we pulled together a list of the best medical coding and billing schools with the highest graduation rates, so you can find programs that will give you a good chance of success!

Popular Online Medical Billing and Coding Programs

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What Is a Medical Billing and Coding Program?

Medical billing and coding programs are designed to prepare students to gain positions as billers and coders for healthcare providers and institutions. Even the best medical coding programs vary in length; upon graduation, students can sit for national certification exams.

To secure a medical billing and coding position, you’ll need to complete a certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree. The fastest path to becoming certified is by attending a 4-week online course for medical coding and billing. However, the only available month-long program is not accredited, which may make getting a job difficult.

Most accredited medical billing and coding programs take between 4 months and 2 years to complete and prepare students to take and pass the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS) certification.

Students will take classes focusing on administrative billing, medical terminology, and coding systems.

Best Medical Billing & Coding Programs

We looked at accredited online medical billing and coding programs and ranked them based on student success, including graduation and transfer-out rates. Because many schools offer a range of medical billing and coding program options, our comprehensive ranking methodology utilizes the school's overall graduate and transfer rates.

1. Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Annual Tuition:

$180.80 per credit

Degree Program(s):

Medical coding and insurance diploma

Accreditation:

Higher Learning Commission

Program Length:

2 years

A state leader in preparing students for future careers, Minnesota State Community and Technical College boasts a very high job placement rate for recent graduates. Nearly half of the school's students transfer out into a four-year school, though most end up graduating from Minnesota State.

M State's medical coding and insurance diploma requires 50 credits to complete and qualifies students for the Certified Professional Coder and Certified Professional Biller exams. Also, all online students can access in-state tuition, making this an excellent low-cost medical billing and coding program.

Popular Online Medical Billing and Coding Programs

2. Keiser University

Annual Tuition:

$22,936

Degree Program(s):

Associate in medical administrative billing and coding

Accreditation:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Program Length:

60 credit hours

Keiser University prides itself on educating work-ready graduates and focuses on programs that lead to high-employment careers. The medical administrative billing and coding associate degree prepares students for various careers within medical billing and coding and leads to licensure in any state.

Despite being offered entirely online, the program gives students hands-on experience through online resources. The program at Keiser also stands out from the rest because the medical billing and coding program is also offered in Spanish.

3. Northwest Technical College

Annual Tuition:

$196.55 per credit

Degree Program(s):

Medical coding certificate, Medical Coding Diploma, Medical Coding Associate

Accreditation:

Higher Learning Commission

Program Length:

Certificate: 8 months
Diploma: 1 year
Associate: 2 years

Another school located in Minnesota, Bemidji-based Northwest Technical College uses a streamlined admissions process to get students into courses faster.

The college offers three options for students: a certificate, diploma, and associate degree in medical coding. All credit hours and lengths vary, allowing students to determine the best fit for them.

Students can take the 29 certificate program and gain employment within a year. Additionally, most credit hours from the certificate program can be applied towards a diploma and/or associate degree.

4. Northland Community College

Annual Tuition:

$11,940 total cost

Degree Program(s):

Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding

Accreditation:

Higher Learning Commission

Program Length:

2 years

Northland Community College, a Minnesota-based school with campuses across the state and online, prepares students for high-growth career opportunities. The community college's online medical coding specialist associate degree requires 60 credits, all of which are available online.

Upon graduating, students are eligible to take several national coding certification exams. The degree also allows room for elective courses, letting students explore other fields they're interested in.

5. Cowley College

Annual Tuition:

$145-255 per credit hour

Degree Program(s):

Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding, Medical Coding Certificate

Accreditation:

Higher Learning Commission

Program Length:

5 semesters

Established as a junior college in 1922, Cowley College primarily prepares students to transfer out and into a four-year school. However, Cowley's programs, including the associate of applied science in medical coding, also lead to career opportunities.

This 65-credit degree takes most students five semesters to complete and prepares graduates for various medical coding certifications.

6. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Annual Tuition:

$5,560 total cost

Degree Program(s):

Medical coding specialist technical diploma

Accreditation:

Higher Learning Commission

Program Length:

3 semesters

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College does an excellent job preparing students for future careers, as a higher percentage of graduates are employed within a year.

This is ideal for anyone who wants to start a medical coding career immediately after finishing the medical coding specialist technical diploma, though many graduates do choose to transfer to a bachelor's degree. The program has transfer agreements with Franklin University and UW-Stout.

7. Bucks County Community College

Annual Tuition:

Bucks County Residents: $170 per credit hour
In-state tuition: $340 per credit hour
Out-of-state tuition: $495 per credit hour

Degree Program(s):

Medical and Billing Certificate

Accreditation:

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Program Length:

3 semesters

Located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the medical and billing certificate program at BCCC prepares students for jobs in private practice and large healthcare organizations.

The program culminates in a 120-hour externship. With low tuition and a fast-paced program, students can quickly enter the job market.

8. Laramie County Community College

Annual Tuition:

In-state: $153.75 per credit hour
Out-of-state: $363.75 per credit hour

Degree Program(s):

Associate in health information technology and management

Accreditation:

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)

Program Length:

3 semesters

Located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Laramie County Community College enrolls nearly 6,000 students, many of whom study online. LCCC's online health information technology and management program offers several educational pathways.

Students may earn a:

Medical Office Essentials diploma
Medical Claims Coding Associate certificate
Associate of Applied Science degree

Students can earn initial certification in one semester and then seek employment. Or they can continue on to earn the medical claims coding associate certificate, which takes about three semesters. The full associate's degree takes two years. Every program is offered online or in person.

9. Minnesota State College SoutheaST

Annual Tuition:

$213.28 per credit hour

Degree Program(s):

Medical Billing and Coding Certificate

Accreditation:

Higher Learning Commission

Program Length:

1 year

With two campuses located by the Mississippi River, Minnesota State College Southeast has plenty to offer on-campus students.

However, the college has expanded online and now offers more than 30 different degrees entirely online.

10. Virginia Peninsula Community College

Annual Tuition:

In-state: $160.61 per credit hour
Out-of-state: $337.21 per credit hour

Degree Program(s):

Medical Billing and Coding Certificate

Accreditation:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Program Length:

1 year

Part of their Workforce Development programs, the medical billing and coding certificate is designed for students to gain knowledge and certification and start working immediately upon graduation.

The first largest community college in Virginia, this program is 100% online and ideal for anyone in interested in this field.

What to Expect in an Online Medical Billing and Coding Program

Students can earn a certificate, diploma, or associate degree in medical billing and coding online, and each option leads to careers in health information. However, depending on your long-term career goals, choosing an associate degree over a diploma or certificate may give you more career options.

Some colleges that offer multiple degree options can even transfer some of the credits earned in a certificate program to a higher degree.

Medical Billing and Coding Coursework

Online medical billing and coding programs teach students to work as an intermediary between patients and healthcare providers. This requires students to learn medical terminology and procedures, master associated computer programs, and the various administrative tasks associated with professional positions.

Ultimately, a medical billing and coding training program should prepare students for entry-level work and professional credentialing, such as the Certified Professional Coder certification.

While requirements vary based on the school and program type, potential courses include:

Introduction to Healthcare - general information about the healthcare system - careers, systems, operations, recent reforms, current issues, and more
Pathophysiology - a combined study of both diseases and how they affect the body as well as physiology (the study of how the body and its internal systems work)
Pharmacology - information on drugs and how they work on and affect the body
Coding systems
- Current procedural terminology (CPT) - the study of codes that medical professionals use in their day to day language
- ICD-10 - the study of the specific ICD-10 coding system
Advanced medical office procedures - information regarding how a medical office operates, including legal requirements, billing and administration, medical ethics, record keeping, and much more
Online communications - best practices of communications both online and in person, in respect to patient and professional communication
Legal and ethical aspects of health information - HIPAA, patient privacy and confidentiality, medical record keeping, and more

Types of MBC Programs

From certificate to associate degree, students have several medical billing and coding training options. While all options lead to an entry-level career in health information, the program you complete could impact your future career.

A certificate in medical billing and coding takes one year or less to complete. This option also comes with the fewest course requirements. With a certification, you'll often work in an office as a medical biller and coder or medical records technician.
A diploma in medical billing and coding takes longer to complete, sometimes up to two years. Some diplomas allow you to roll over credits completed in a certificate program. With a MBC diploma, you'll be able to work as a medical coder, billing specialist, records clerk, or other admin position in the billing department.
An associate degree or associate of applied science in medical billing and coding takes at least two years to complete. This option is best for anyone planning on completing a bachelor's degree and advancing their career beyond entry level MBC positions at some point in the future.

Colleges and universities also use various names for their programs, from medical coding to medical administrative assistants. If you're unsure whether the program leads to careers in medical billing and coding, just look for program outcomes on the diploma, certificate, or degree page.

Choosing a Quality Medical Billing & Coding School

Medical billing and coding students, particularly those who study online, may wonder about the quality of their program. Because students complete certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees to become medical billers and coders, determining the quality of any individual program may seem difficult.

Accreditation

To ensure the quality of a degree or program, check for accreditation. Accreditation means that a school and/or program meets standards set by an accrediting body or organization. Colleges and universities may secure national or regional accreditation. However, prospective medical billing and coding students should only apply to regionally accredited schools.

The best medical billing and coding programs also receive programmatic accreditation. While not as important as regional accreditation, programmatic accreditation means that the program meets industry standards for education. Look for accreditation from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) or The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Popular Online Medical Billing and Coding Programs

Resources

Want to learn more about how to build your career as a medical biller and coder? Check out our top 5 resources to get started today:

Conclusion

Medical billing and coding can be a great first step into the world of healthcare careers. Whether you're looking to quickly earn a certification or diploma or move onto earning a full degree, there are medical billing and coding programs available to you. This list of 10 best medical billing and coding schools is a great place to start exploring which program could be right for your next career step.