Top 10 Nursing Informatics Programs | 2024
As technology grows within the healthcare field, nursing informatics is becoming a more widely known subspecialty within the nursing profession.
If you're looking to join this growing profession, we've ranked the top nursing informatics programs for 2024 to help you choose the right one for you.
Popular Online Nursing Informatics Programs
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
GCU 's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions is committed to providing a curriculum that challenges and prepares graduates to lead and prosper in the ever-changing health care industry.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
What is Nursing Informatics?
Nursing informatics combines nursing science with technology to improve communication and the transfer of information within the field of nursing.
Some of the most common nursing informatics examples include:
- Electronic medical records (EMR) systems
- Computerized provider order entry (CPOE)
- Telemedicine
You may also not know that many different career titles are associated with nursing informatics. Common titles may include:
- Clinical Nurse Analyst
- Chief Information Officer
- Informatics Nurse
- Nursing Informatics Specialist
- Health Informatics Specialist
- Chief Nursing Officer
If you have ever considered working in a nursing role away from the bedside, enjoy learning about advancements in nursing technology, and want to improve the flow of information for better patient outcomes, you might consider learning more about this growing subspecialty.
What is a Nursing Informatics Program?
Although nurses with a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) can work in this field, nursing informatics programs are generally advanced-level degree programs that require a master’s of nursing (MSN) or a doctorate of nursing (DNP).
These programs teach nursing students about utilizing technology to:
- Improve communication between nurses and ancillary healthcare specialists
- Provide fast data to healthcare providers so they can make informed choices
- Help administrators analyze large amounts of patient data
- Provide detailed patient health insights
- Influence healthcare policies with better-informed patient data
- Achieve better patient outcomes
- Help lower healthcare costs
>> Show Me Nursing Informatics Programs
Top Nursing Informatics Programs
We ranked the top nursing informatics programs based on factors such as tuition, acceptance rate, student-to-faculty ratio, accreditation, and more.
1. University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh's MSN in nursing informatics is a 100% online program. It is a go-at-your-own-pace MSN, with options to attend full-time or part-time. This program is also unique because students can earn an MSN in Nursing Informatics, and it’s also possible for other MSN students to earn a minor or a post-professional nursing informatics certification.
The school prides itself on a 100% national certification pass rate. Students in the program also have unique opportunities to customize their programs and present their capstone projects at local, state, and national meetings.
Additional program information:
- Tuition: $1,231 per credit
- Program length: Five semesters if attending full-time
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Application deadline:
- Fall: June 15th
- Spring: October 1st
- Summer: March 1st
- Contact info:
- Email: sao50@pitt.edu
- Phone number: (412) 624-4586 or (888) 747-0794
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- Online MSN in Nursing Informatics
- Minor in Nursing Informatics
- Post Graduate Certificate
>> Show Me Nursing Informatics Programs
2. Duke University
Duke University offers an MSN in health informatics that emphasizes “clinical informatics, leadership, and real-world application.” Ranked in the top 3 of nursing informatics programs in the country by U.S News & World Report, Duke graduates consistently earn high-paying positions at top healthcare institutions.
The university also reports that, although most MSN students attend the program full-time, students say that they can still work as they complete their coursework. Students take 4 MSN courses, 7 informatics courses, and 2 DNP courses in this program.
Faculty report using personalized instruction with a combination of online and on-campus learning. In addition, the university reports having multi-disciplinary faculty with nationally recognized expert experience in biomedical information and the nursing profession.
Additional program information:
- Tuition: $2,166 per credit
- Program length: Three years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Application deadline: December 1st
- Contact info:
- Email: SONAdmissions@dm.duke.edu
- Phone number: (919) 684-3786
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- MSN in Nursing Informatics
- Post-Graduate Certificate
- Health Informatics Certificate
Popular Online Nursing Informatics Programs
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
GCU 's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions is committed to providing a curriculum that challenges and prepares graduates to lead and prosper in the ever-changing health care industry.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
3. University of Utah
The University of Utah is one of the first nursing informatics programs in the U.S. They report that they help nurses bridge the gap between technology and patient care outcomes. Nationally recognized nursing informatics leaders teach the courses at this program, tailoring each experience to the needs and interests of the students.
Their MSN in nursing informatics program offers an online and on-campus option. They also offer full-time and part-time coursework to help students manage their coursework and be successful in the program. Additionally, most of the informatics courses are co-offered with the Biomedical Informatics Department allowing students to build interdisciplinary skills and broaden their horizons.
Additional program information:
-
Additional program information:
- Tuition:
- In-state: $3,963.36 per credit hour
- Out-of-state: $7,322.27 per credit hour
- Program length: Five semesters if full-time
- Accreditation: CCNE, AACN
- Application deadline: February 1st
- Contact info:
- Email: chris.macintosh@nurs.utah.edu
- Phone number: (801) 581-3414
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- On-campus and online MSN in Nursing Informatics
- Tuition:
4. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Ranked as one of the best online MSN programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report, the nursing informatics program at the University of Colorado is entirely online, with the exception of an in-person clinical requirement.
Students can complete the program in as little as two years, if full-time, but have up to seven years.
Additional program information:
- Tuition: $725 per credit hour
- Program length: 2 Years
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Contact info:
- Email: Nursing.Admissions@ucdenver.edu
- Phone number: (303) 724-7223
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- Online - MSN in Health Care Informatics
5. Nebraska Methodist College
Nebraska Methodist College has a two-year MSN program with an informatics track, which helps nurses develop competencies as healthcare informaticists.
As the only healthcare informatics degree in the region, this program gives nursing students essential insight into managing information systems to promote better health systems and improve patient outcomes.
The benefits of Nebraska Methodist College’s informatics program include faster courses (either five or ten weeks each) and the ability to complete coursework from anywhere with internet access. Students in the program also receive national and chapter membership to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
Additional program information:
- Tuition: $588 per credit
- Program length: Two years
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Contact info:
- Email: admissions@methodistcollege.edu
- Phone number: (402) 354-7000
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- Online MSN program with an informatics track
>> Show Me Nursing Informatics Programs
6. University of South Carolina
Nursing informatics MSN students at the University of South Carolina apply computer science and nursing practice to improve healthcare technology.
The program is online and can be paired with fieldwork from the student's workplace. The school emphasizes that the program allows flexibility to manage school and work simultaneously.
Additional program information:
- Tuition:
- In-state: $7,398 per semester
- Out-of-state: $13,124 per semester
- Program length:
- Four semesters - full-time
- Seven semesters - part-time
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application deadline: Rolling between November 1st and May 1st
- Contact info:
- Email: NURSGRAD@mailbox.sc.edu
- Phone number: (803) 777-9080
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- Online Nursing Informatics MSN
- Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate Nursing Informatics
7. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
The MSN nursing informatics program at Texas Tech was the first nursing informatics master's offered by a Texas-based university. This program fills a critical gap in advanced nursing education and prepares nurses for the many existing and emerging informatics roles.
Of note, Texas Tech is unable to accept students from the following states: Arizona, California, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, and Washington.
Additional program information:
- Tuition:
- In-state: $265 per credit hour
- Out-of-state: $470 per credit hour
- Program length: 39 credit hours
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application deadline:
- Fall: February 15th
- Spring: August 31st
- Contact info:
- Email: applynursing@ttuhsc.edu
- Phone number: (806) 743-1000
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- Online Nursing Informatics MSN
- Post-Master’s Nursing Informatics Certificate
8. University of Maryland
Nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Maryland's MSN Nursing Informatics program is entirely online but still provides a top-quality education in bridging the gap between technology and patient care.
They recently revamped the entire curriculum to focus more on the role of a nursing informaticist, big data, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, students must complete 500 clinical hours (significantly more than other programs), making graduates leaders in the field of nursing technology.
Additional program information:
- Tuition:
- In-state: $873 per credit hour
- Out-of-state: $1,549 per credit hour
- Program length: Two years
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application deadline: August 5th
- Contact info:
- Email: admissions.nursing@umaryland.edu
- Phone number: (410) 706-0501
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- MSN with a combination of online and onsite clinical requirements
9. National University
National University offers two types of nursing informatics programs for nursing students:
- An MSN with a Specialization in Nursing Informatics, and
- An MS in Health Informatics Degree
The university also offers graduate students flexibility not commonly seen in many programs, such as:
-
- Degree completion in as little as 12 to 15 months
- Few on-campus requirements
- Online monthly meetings
But what makes the university unique is that many courses are complete in just four weeks. Additionally, students receive one-on-one faculty advising and consultation with industry experts.
Additional program information:
-
- Tuition: $16,200 per year
- Program length: 12 to 15 months
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application deadline: Rolling
- Contact info:
- Email:MSNProgram@nu.edu
- Phone number: (855) 355-6288
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- MSN with a Specialization in Nursing Informatics
- Master of Science in Health Informatics Degree
- Post-Master’s Certificate Informatics
>> Show Me Nursing Informatics Programs
10. University of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama offers students online courses along with clinicals located in the student's town.
The program takes about two years to complete if attending as a full-time student, and the program website reports that 100% of students are employed when they enroll in the program.
Additional program information:
- Tuition: $594 per credit unit
- Program length: Two to three years
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Application deadline: February 15th
- Contact info:
- Email: tharlan@southalabama.edu
- Phone number: (251) 460-6101
- Are online options available? Yes
- Types of nursing informatics programs:
- Online MSN in Nursing Informatics
Nursing Informatics Career Overview
Nursing Informatics Salary
According to ZipRecruiter, as of March 2023, informatics nurses in the U.S. earn a median annual income of $98,409 or $47.00/hr. That is about $8,200 per month!
ZipRecruiter adds that nurse informatics salaries can range from as high as $166,500 per year to as low as $42,500.
Highest Paying Cities for Informatics Nurses
|
City |
Annual Salary |
Hourly Wage |
|
San Jose, CA |
$126,142 |
$60.65 |
|
Oakland, CA |
$123,366 |
$59.31 |
|
Hayward, CA |
$123,157 |
$59.21 |
|
Ashland, CA |
$123,143 |
$59.20 |
|
Antioch, CA |
$123,073 |
$59.17 |
|
Seattle, WA |
$122,480 |
$58.88 |
|
Alameda, CA |
$121,021 |
$58.18 |
|
Redmond, WA |
$120,302 |
$57.84 |
|
Menlo Park, CA |
$119,177 |
$57.30 |
|
Santa Cruz, CA |
$119,151 |
$57.28 |
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the annual median income for nurses of all specialties is about $86,070 or $41.38 per hour. Based on those numbers, informatics nurses have more earning potential than most nursing specialties!
Nursing Informatics Program Overview
Average Nursing Informatics Program Length
Most nursing informatics programs take about two years to complete. However, some can take as little as three semesters, while others can take up to three years. Timing will also vary depending if you are attending the program on a full-time or part-time basis.
Your program length will likely be determined by the type of advanced degree you want to achieve. Generally speaking, an MSN will take less time than a DNP.
Nursing Informatics Program Requirements
Because nursing informatics programs don’t require bedside nursing care, most classroom work can be completed almost or entirely 100% online. However, you will also be required to complete clinical hours at a local healthcare facility. This will vary based on the program. It’s important to consider the number of clinical hours required and also if the program will assist in setting up the clinical experience. Some programs require the students to find their own clinical experiences and submit all necessary paperwork.
Classes taught in nursing informatics programs often include topics such as:
- Classes taught in nursing informatics programs often include topics such as:
- Informatics systems design and analysis
- Data analytics and science
- Database management systems
- Nursing informatics capstone
- Nursing informatics in the healthcare environment
- Professional informatics influence
- Informatics for transforming nursing care
- Leadership and management in nursing informatics
- Advancing evidence-based practice through technology
- Quality outcomes with value-based nursing care
Popular Online Nursing Informatics Programs
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide, excluding NY, RI and CT. Certain programs have additional state restrictions. Check with Walden for details.
WGU's award-winning online programs are created to help you succeed while graduating faster and with less debt. WGU is a CCNE accredited, nonprofit university offering nursing bachelor's and master's degrees.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
GCU 's College of Nursing and Health Care Professions is committed to providing a curriculum that challenges and prepares graduates to lead and prosper in the ever-changing health care industry.
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
CCNE
Online
RN Required
Enrollment: Nationwide
