Arizona offers four graduate-level health informatics options, including three flexible online master’s programs and a campus-based research path at Northern Arizona University. Students can choose a dedicated health informatics degree, a health informatics and analytics program, or a broader informatics degree with health and bioinformatics applications.
The programs range from 30 to 42 credits at the master’s level. Published base tuition estimates run from about $25,620 at Grand Canyon University to $28,860 at the University of Arizona Global Campus, while Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University publish annual tuition rates rather than fixed total-program prices.
Arizona Health Informatics Programs: Quick Comparison
| School | Degree | Format | Credits | Tuition | Estimated Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | Master of Advanced Study in Health Informatics | Online | 30 | $13,327 annual base tuition for an Arizona-resident graduate student; individual online costs vary | About 18 months |
| Grand Canyon University | MS in Health Informatics | Online or evening in Phoenix | 42 | $610 per credit; about $25,620 in base tuition | About 2 years |
| Northern Arizona University | MS in Informatics; PhD in Informatics and Computing | Campus in Flagstaff | 30 MS; 60 PhD | $13,582 resident or $33,800 nonresident annual graduate tuition, before fees | Varies; the PhD typically takes about 5 years |
| University of Arizona Global Campus | MS in Health Informatics and Analytics | Online and asynchronous | 39 | $740 per credit; about $28,860 in base tuition | About 18 months |
Tuition figures use each school’s published 2026–27 rates or current program rate. Estimates exclude some fees, books, living expenses, and future tuition changes.
Best Arizona Program by Goal
- Shortest master’s: Arizona State University offers a focused 30-credit online program that may be completed in about 18 months.
- Best for CAHIIM accreditation: Grand Canyon University offers a CAHIIM-accredited MS with a 150-hour practicum.
- Best for asynchronous study: University of Arizona Global Campus lets students take one six-week online course at a time.
- Best for research: Northern Arizona University offers thesis and doctoral paths tied to bioinformatics, genomics, epidemiology, and population health.
- Best for evening classes: Grand Canyon University offers evening study in Phoenix in addition to its online option.
Arizona Health Informatics Master’s Programs
Arizona State University
ASU’s 30-credit Master of Advanced Study in Health Informatics is the shortest dedicated master’s option in this Arizona comparison. The fully online program includes 10 courses that each last 7.5 weeks. Continuous enrollment creates an estimated completion time of about 18 months.
The curriculum covers healthcare databases, health information communication, current informatics issues, leadership, and an applied project. Students use 12 elective credits to study areas such as clinical informatics, biostatistics, population health, telehealth, and healthcare artificial intelligence. ASU requires a 3.0 GPA and a related academic background.
Grand Canyon University
GCU offers a 42-credit MS in Health Informatics online and through evening classes in Phoenix. The program accepts applicants with a bachelor’s degree in any field and does not require an RN license or prior healthcare experience. This access makes it a practical option for career changers as well as healthcare and technology professionals.
Students study electronic health records, databases, analytics, information security, user-interface design, and healthcare leadership. The program ends with an applied project and 150 field experience hours. GCU charges $610 per credit, which produces a base tuition estimate of $25,620 before fees and any required fundamental coursework.
University of Arizona Global Campus
UAGC’s 39-credit MS in Health Informatics and Analytics uses a fully online, asynchronous format. Students normally take one six-week class at a time. A student who enrolls continuously may finish the 13-course sequence in about 18 months.
The curriculum combines health information systems, analytics, data visualization, privacy, security, information governance, biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical research, and project management. The program requires a final capstone but does not require the GRE or GMAT. Tuition is $740 per credit, or about $28,860 before fees.
Research-Focused Informatics Programs in Arizona
Northern Arizona University
NAU offers a 30-credit MS in Informatics and a 60-credit PhD in Informatics and Computing at its Flagstaff campus. The MS is a broad informatics degree rather than a dedicated clinical health informatics program. Students can build a health-related plan through electives, research, and a thesis in areas such as population health, epidemiology, bioinformatics, and genomics.
The PhD has a formal Health and Bioinformatics emphasis and provides the clearest fit for advanced research. Its work can include pathogen detection, infectious disease, genomic analysis, population genetics, and secondary health-data analysis. Applicants should review current faculty research before applying because advisor fit matters for both the thesis MS and PhD.
Online Health Informatics Programs in Arizona
ASU, GCU, and UAGC each offer online master’s study, but the formats differ. ASU offers the lowest credit total and a wide elective menu. GCU combines online access with a CAHIIM-accredited curriculum and required field experience. UAGC provides asynchronous classes in a one-course-at-a-time schedule.
- ASU: 30 credits, 7.5-week classes, applied project, and about 18 months of continuous study.
- GCU: 42 credits, mostly eight-week online classes, and a 150-hour practicum.
- UAGC: 39 credits, asynchronous six-week classes, and one course at a time.
How to Choose an Arizona Health Informatics Program
Start with the degree’s focus. ASU, GCU, and UAGC provide dedicated health informatics master’s programs. NAU provides broader computing and research training with health and biological applications.
Next, compare the required experience. GCU’s practicum can help students apply their skills, but working professionals must plan for 150 field hours. ASU and UAGC use culminating projects without the same published field-hour requirement. NAU’s thesis and doctoral routes require a close match with faculty research.
Finally, compare total cost rather than the advertised rate alone. Credit totals, institutional fees, extra prerequisite courses, residency, enrollment pace, and transfer credit can change the final price. Doctoral applicants should also ask NAU about assistantships, tuition waivers, stipends, and health insurance support.
Common Health Informatics Career Paths
Arizona graduates may pursue roles in hospitals, health systems, insurers, public health agencies, research centers, government, and healthcare technology companies. Common job titles include:
- Clinical informatics analyst or manager
- Health data analyst
- Electronic health record application specialist
- Healthcare IT project manager
- Health information governance specialist
- Bioinformatics or population health researcher
Some clinical informatics and senior leadership roles require professional licensure, clinical experience, or prior management experience in addition to a graduate degree.