Washington Health Informatics Degree Programs

Washington’s healthcare and social assistance sector is a powerhouse of innovation and economic impact, ranking among the state’s top employers and contributing billions to its GDP each year.

Yet the state faces a looming shortfall of more than 13,000 registered nurses by 2024—rising to over 22,000 by 2036—while many rural counties struggle to attract and retain primary care physicians.

Digital health solutions are pivotal to meeting these workforce challenges:

• Many hospitals and systems, including Snoqualmie Valley Health, are deploying Epic’s EHR platform to unify patient records and streamline care.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs is rolling out its new Federal EHR across Washington facilities.
• OneHealthPort serves as the state’s HIE, enabling secure, low-cost health information exchange.

To cultivate the next generation of informatics leaders, specialized academic programs prepare students through both undergraduate and graduate pathways in Health Informatics & Health Information Management.

2027 Best Health Informatics Degree Programs in Washington

Searching for the best health informatics degree programs in Washington? We at HealthInformaticsDegree.org have created a trusted ranking of the state's top options. Each program was reviewed for academic quality, hands-on learning, and job outcomes. From Bachelor's to Master's degrees, these schools prepare students for roles managing health data and systems. The list includes respected universities and flexible online choices. We looked at factors like faculty experience, internship opportunities, and program cost. This makes it easier to compare schools and find the right fit. For a full explanation of how we put these rankings together, see the methodology page: https://www.healthinformaticsdegree.org/about-us/#rankings

#1

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA - Public 4-Year - washington.edu

Bachelor's - Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Health Information Management

Campus Based - Visit Website

UW Seattle's Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics and Health Information Management is a CAHIIM-accredited program requiring 180 credits over four years, with a single summer start. The curriculum encompasses electronic health records, data management, systems analysis, quality assurance, and legal/regulatory requirements, fostering competencies in information management and leadership. Students engage in hands-on database design, clinical data analysis, and health information systems, preparing for RHIA certification and careers in hospitals, health IT vendors, insurance firms, or consulting. Admission is competitive and open to current UW students and transfer applicants. The program does not require ACT or SAT scores, focusing instead on a holistic evaluation of academic and experiential background.

• CAHIIM accredited
• 4-Year program
• 180 total credit hours
• 1 start dates per year
• Starts summer
• Prepares for Registered Health Information Administrator certification examination
• Open to transfers and current UW students
• Competitive admission process
• Administered by Health Services department
• Emphasis on electronic health records

Master's - Master of Health Informatics and Health Information Management

Online & Campus Based - Visit Website

University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers a Master of Health Informatics and Health Information Management (MHIHIM) in a hybrid online format, tailored for working professionals. The curriculum integrates leadership development with health information systems, covering electronic health records, data management, and enterprise-level system implementation. Graduates secure roles as health informatics directors, clinical informatics managers, or health IT consultants across hospitals, healthcare organizations, and technology firms. This flexible program allows students to balance coursework with professional obligations. Administered by the Department of Health Systems and Population Health, the MHIHIM blends technical and managerial training with real-world application. Admission requires a bachelor's degree in a related field; no GRE entrance exam is needed.

• Leadership roles in health IT
• Enterprise health information systems
• Hybrid online format
• Designed for working professionals
• Bachelor's degree required

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#2

Bellevue College

Bellevue, WA - Public 4-Year - bellevuecollege.edu

Bachelor's - Healthcare Informatics

Online Learning - Visit Website

Bellevue College offers a fully online Bachelor of Applied Science in Healthcare Informatics, tailored for both first-time bachelor's students and career changers. The curriculum explores healthcare terminology, legal regulations, IT infrastructure, data security, and business intelligence, with a focus on current industry challenges. Students benefit from instruction by experienced informatics professionals and flexible full-time or part-time enrollment. This selective program admits once per year in the fall; applications open March 17 and priority consideration is given to those submitting by June 1. Notably, no prerequisite courses are required to apply. Graduates are prepared for roles in healthcare IT, data analysis, and project management. The program, updated for 2024-2025, emphasizes practical skills for the rapidly evolving healthcare technology landscape.

• Full-time and part-time options
• 1 start dates per year
• Starts fall
• 100% online coursework
• Selective admissions once a year
• Priority deadline June 1st
• Application opens March 17th
• Experienced informatics instructors
• Career-oriented program
• Program updated for 2024-2025

*The data used in this analysis come from NCES's IPEDS 2025 survey.

The Value of Your Health Informatics Degree in Washington

We took a look at some current job opportunities within healthcare technology in the state. Here is what employers are looking for, and what jobs you degree will open up for you.

Key Findings:

• Salary ranges from $26.44/hour (entry-level) to $159,286 annually (executive positions)
• Geographic concentration in Seattle metro area with strong state government presence in Olympia
• Education requirements range from Bachelor’s degrees to Master’s degrees with clinical licensure
• Major employers include State of Washington, University of Washington, major health systems, and research institutions

Notable aspects of Washington’s market include strong emphasis on Epic systems expertise, significant state government opportunities with excellent benefits, cutting-edge global health research positions, and increasing remote work flexibility. The state shows particular demand for quality measurement expertise (HEDIS, UDS), advanced data analytics skills, and clinical-technology integration capabilities.

Quality Metrics & Population Health Analytics

HEDIS and Quality Measurement

Primary Employers: Sea Mar Community Health Centers (Seattle), Providence St. Joseph Health (Renton – Remote)

• Sea Mar Community Health Centers: Health Informatics & Metrics Project Coordinator managing HEDIS, UDS, and PCMH measures ($26.44/hour, full-time)
• Providence St. Joseph Health: Principal Clinical Informatics Specialist RN focusing on HEDIS metrics and quality measurement (salary not disclosed, remote work)
• Both positions emphasize clinical quality measures, population health rosters, and managed care organization coordination

State-Level Health Analytics

Primary Employers: State of Washington Health Care Authority (Olympia), State of Washington Department of Corrections (Tumwater)

• State of Washington HCA: Data Science & Informatics Specialist 2 analyzing healthcare claims for Medicaid programs ($93,804-$126,168 annually, telework eligible)
• State of Washington DOC: Management Analyst 5 for health services reporting and 1115 Medicaid Waiver ($87,708-$117,960 annually, project position)

Epic Systems Implementation & Optimization

Epic Clinical Workflows

Primary Employers: Kinwell (Seattle), University of Washington (Seattle), International Community Health Services (Seattle)

• Kinwell: Epic Clinical Informaticist specializing in Cadence scheduling and ambulatory workflows ($81,900-$139,200 annually, hybrid with travel)
• University of Washington: Senior Informatics Specialist for EHR optimization ($97,574-$140,940 annually, full-time)
• International Community Health Services: Clinical Informatics Director leading Epic optimization ($80,000-$120,000 annually, 4 days on-site)

Leadership & Strategic Roles

C-Suite and Executive Positions

Primary Employers: CommonSpirit Health (Tacoma), Clinical Management Consultants (Forks), The Consolidated Borough of Quil Ceda Village (Tulalip)

• CommonSpirit Health: Chief Clinical Informatics Officer for Northwest Region (salary not disclosed, Master’s degree required)
• Clinical Management Consultants: Informatics Nurse Manager for strategic EHR management ($97,458-$159,286 annually, full-time)
• Tulalip: Health Informatics Manager overseeing RPMS and EHR systems (salary not disclosed, full-time/contractor options)

Health Information Management

Primary Employers: Presson Place (Yakima)

• Health Information Management Director: Leading HIM teams and compliance programs ($79,000-$118,000 annually, relocation assistance available)

Specialized Clinical Informatics

Nursing Informatics

Primary Employers: Northwest Kidney Centers (SeaTac), Providence St. Joseph Health (Renton)

• Northwest Kidney Centers: Clinical Informatics Nurse Specialist for dialysis care ($51.66-$70.82/hour, hybrid work)
• Providence St. Joseph Health: Principal Clinical Informatics Specialist RN combining nursing with technical expertise (salary not disclosed, remote)

Research & Data Science

Primary Employers: The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (Seattle), Humana Inc. (Vancouver)

• IHME: Data Specialist in Clinical Informatics for global health research ($6,800/month, fully remote eligible)
• Humana Inc: Health Informatics – Provider Insights analyzing physician performance (salary not disclosed, remote work)

Education Requirements by Position Level

Entry-Level and Project Coordination

Sea Mar Community Health Centers – Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience for project coordinator roles ($26.44/hour)

Mid-Level Specialist Positions

Kinwell – Bachelor’s in Health Informatics or related field with 3+ years Epic experience ($81,900-$139,200) Northwest Kidney Centers – Associate or Bachelor’s in Nursing with EMR Super User experience ($51.66-$70.82/hour)

Advanced Technical Roles

State of Washington HCA – Master’s in STEM or Bachelor’s plus 2 years programming experience ($93,804-$126,168) University of Washington – Bachelor’s plus 5+ years clinical/informatics experience ($97,574-$140,940)

Executive and Leadership Positions

CommonSpirit Health – Master’s in clinical field plus 10+ years healthcare leadership (salary not disclosed) International Community Health Services – Bachelor’s plus 7+ years healthcare informatics with 3+ years leadership ($80,000-$120,000)

Salary Ranges by Position Type

Project and Entry-Level Roles

• Health Informatics Project Coordinator (Sea Mar): $26.44/hour
• Data Specialist (IHME): $6,800/month

Specialist and Technical Positions

• Clinical Informatics Nurse Specialist (Northwest Kidney Centers): $51.66-$70.82/hour
• Epic Clinical Informaticist (Kinwell): $81,900-$139,200 annually
• Senior Informatics Specialist (University of Washington): $97,574-$140,940 annually

Management and Leadership Roles

• Health Information Management Director (Presson Place): $79,000-$118,000 annually
• Clinical Informatics Director (ICHS): $80,000-$120,000 annually
• Data Science Specialist (State of Washington): $93,804-$126,168 annually
• Informatics Nurse Manager (Clinical Management Consultants): $97,458-$159,286 annually

State Government Positions

• Management Analyst 5 (State DOC): $87,708-$117,960 annually
• Data Science & Informatics Specialist (State HCA): $93,804-$126,168 annually

Cross-Disciplinary Opportunities

Clinical-Data Science Integration

State of Washington HCA combines healthcare policy with advanced analytics using SAS, R, Python, and SQL for Medicaid research. IHME merges global health research with clinical informatics for population health studies.

Quality-Technology Convergence

Sea Mar Community Health Centers integrates quality improvement with EHR optimization for diverse community populations. Providence St. Joseph Health combines nursing expertise with HEDIS quality measurement.

Business-Clinical Analytics

Humana Inc merges physician performance analysis with business intelligence for provider insights. Kinwell combines ambulatory care optimization with operational efficiency.

Public Health-Government Interface

State of Washington positions offer opportunities to influence statewide health policy through data analytics and informatics strategy, particularly for vulnerable populations including corrections and Medicaid beneficiaries.

Required Technical Skills

Programming and Analytics

State of Washington positions require advanced SQL, R, SAS, Python programming with PowerBI/Tableau visualization. IHME emphasizes Python and SQL for global health data analysis.

Epic Expertise

Multiple employers seek Epic certification in various modules (Cadence, Ambulatory, ClinDoc, Referrals). Kinwell specifically requires Epic Ambulatory and Cadence expertise with OnBase integration.

Quality Measurement Systems

Sea Mar and Providence require extensive knowledge of HEDIS, UDS, PCMH, and other quality frameworks. Experience with managed care organization reporting essential.

Geographic Distribution and Work Arrangements

Seattle metropolitan area dominates the market with University of Washington, Kinwell, ICHS, and IHME offering hybrid and remote arrangements. Olympia/Tumwater hosts state government positions with telework eligibility. Remote work increasingly common, with Providence, IHME, and Humana offering fully remote positions. Rural opportunities available in Forks and Yakima with competitive compensation and relocation assistance.

Professional Certifications and Specializations

Clinical Licensure

Multiple employers require RN licenses with compact state recognition. CommonSpirit Health requires active clinical licensure plus informatics certification (ANCC, HIMSS, AMIA).

Technical Certifications

Epic certifications highly valued across multiple modules. State of Washington emphasizes degree-based qualifications over specific certifications but values SQL/SAS expertise.

Specialized Healthcare Knowledge

Sea Mar requires bilingual capabilities (English/Spanish) for diverse community service. Northwest Kidney Centers values dialysis experience for specialized clinical informatics.

Washington State’s health informatics market spans from cutting-edge global health research institutions to state government analytics, major health systems, and community health centers, offering diverse opportunities from technical data science to clinical leadership, with particularly strong emphasis on quality measurement, Epic optimization, and population health analytics.