West Virginia’s healthcare and social assistance sector made up 18.7 % of all nonfarm jobs in 2024—the nation’s highest share—and hospitals employ over 54,000 caregivers, generating $13.9 billion annually.
Yet the state still faces a 20.9 % vacancy rate for Licensed Practical Nurses and primary care shortages in 44 of its 55 counties.
Digital health platforms help bridge these gaps:
- WVU Medicine uses the Epic system to share patient data across its facilities.
- In March 2025 the Marshall Health Network began unifying records with a new EHR.
- The West Virginia Health Information Network (WVHIN) further promotes secure, statewide information exchange.
To train the next generation of informatics professionals, West Virginia institutions offer dedicated degrees. These programs equip graduates to streamline workflows, optimize resources, and drive better patient outcomes in an increasingly digital health landscape.
2026 Best Health Informatics Degree Programs in West Virginia
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV - Public 4-Year - wvu.edu
Bachelor's - Health Informatics and Information Management
Online & Campus Based - Visit Website
West Virginia University's Health Informatics and Information Management program combines business, science, and IT in a hybrid format with recorded classes for flexibility. The Bachelor of Science in HIIM includes an online completion option for RHIT® credentialed students and an accelerated BS to MHA pathway. Students gain practical experience through professional practice with EHR systems and access to a virtual practice environment. Partnerships with WVU Medicine enhance learning, and graduates pursue roles like Medical and Health Services Managers with median salaries around $110,680. The program reports high satisfaction and retention rates over 87%, and as a bachelor's program, it may require ACT or SAT entrance exams.
- Hybrid program format
- Bachelor of Science in HIIM
- Online completion pathway for RHIT®
- Accelerated BS to MHA program
- High student and employer satisfaction
- Professional practice experiences
- Hands-on EHR system experience
- Flexible course delivery
- Recorded class sessions
- High retention rates
List of West Virginia Colleges With Health Informatics Degree Programs
Morgantown, WV
West Virginia University
- Bachelor's - Health Informatics and Information Management
Online & Campus Based - Website
- Hybrid program format
- Bachelor of Science in HIIM
- Online completion pathway for RHIT®
- Accelerated BS to MHA program
- High student and employer satisfaction
- Professional practice experiences
- Hands-on EHR system experience
- Flexible course delivery
Job Prospects in West Virginia with a Health Informatics Degree
With a health informatics degree, significant opportunities await in West Virginia. Here’s a brief analysis of current job openings in the market to guide your career search.
Key Findings:
- Salary ranges from $35.29-$55.57/hour (analyst level) to $100,000-$231,540 annually (director level)
- Education requirements span from Bachelor’s degrees to medical degrees for specialized roles
- Major employers include CVS Health, Epic, WVUHS, Intermountain Health, and international partnerships
- Cross-disciplinary opportunities bridge clinical practice, technology, business strategy, and international healthcare systems
Clinical Systems & EHR Expertise
Epic and EHR Implementation
Primary Employers: Epic, West Virginia University Health System (WVUHS)
- Epic seeks practicing physicians with Epic software experience for applied informatics roles (merit-based compensation plus stock grants, relocation to Madison required)
- WVUHS requires Bachelor’s in Healthcare/IT or 4 years system analysis experience for Clinical Informatics Specialist roles (salary not disclosed)
- Both positions emphasize demonstrating workflows, training clinicians, and optimizing EHR functionality
Multi-Platform EHR Experience
Primary Employers: Intermountain Health, WVUHS
- Intermountain Health values experience with Cerner, Epic, or other major EHR vendors for Health Informatics Analyst positions ($35.29-$55.57/hour)
- WVUHS focuses on Epic implementation and workflow optimization (salary varies by experience)
Data Management & Analytics
Clinical Data Strategy
Primary Employers: CVS Health
- CVS Health seeks Lead Director with 10+ years healthcare consulting/EHR governance experience ($100,000-$231,540 annually)
- Responsibilities include standardizing clinical definitions, interpreting clinical data, and guiding long-term data investments
- Advanced degree preferred for strategic leadership roles
Business Intelligence & SQL
Primary Employers: Permanent Futures (NHS partnership)
- Permanent Futures requires previous NHS Informatics department experience (competitive day rate, remote work)
- SQL expertise and BI development skills essential for data warehouse projects
Education Requirements by Position Level
Entry-Level Positions
WVUHS – Bachelor’s in Healthcare, Computer Science, Business, or Informatics OR 4 years equivalent experience
Mid-Level Analyst Roles
Intermountain Health – Clinical background preferred with healthcare workflow knowledge ($35.29-$55.57/hour) WVUHS – 2+ years system analysis experience with clinical applications
Senior Leadership Positions
CVS Health – Bachelor’s required, Master’s preferred for Director-level roles ($100,000-$231,540) Epic – Medical degree required for physician informatics consulting (competitive compensation package)
Salary Ranges by Position Type
Analyst Roles
- Health Informatics Analyst (Intermountain Health): $35.29-$55.57/hour
- BI Analyst (Permanent Futures): Competitive day rate (remote)
Specialist Positions
- Clinical Informatics Specialist (WVUHS): Not disclosed
- Applied Informatics Physician (Epic): Merit-based with stock grants
Director-Level Positions
- Lead Director, Informatics (CVS Health): $100,000-$231,540 plus bonuses and equity
Cross-Disciplinary Opportunities
Clinical-Technology Bridge
WVUHS combines clinical certification (RN, LPN, MA, MT, RT) with informatics expertise for specialist roles. Epic specifically targets practicing physicians transitioning to informatics consulting, requiring several years of clinical experience in family medicine, pediatrics, or internal medicine.
Healthcare-Business Analytics
CVS Health integrates clinical data management with business strategy, requiring collaboration across Legal, Medical Affairs, Privacy, and Compliance departments. Intermountain Health emphasizes continuous improvement methodologies alongside clinical informatics.
International Healthcare Systems
Permanent Futures offers exposure to NHS (UK) healthcare informatics, providing experience with international healthcare data standards and practices.
Required Technical Skills
Programming & Database Management
Intermountain Health and Permanent Futures require SQL proficiency and database management skills. CVS Health emphasizes clinical data analysis and interpretation capabilities.
Project Management
CVS Health requires experience leading cross-departmental projects and coordinating diverse teams. WVUHS emphasizes workflow analysis and implementation skills.
Clinical Understanding
All employers prioritize understanding of clinical workflows, patient care processes, and healthcare terminology. WVUHS requires knowledge of Joint Commission requirements and healthcare regulations.
Professional Certifications & Licenses
Clinical Licensure
WVUHS prefers clinical certification (RN, LPN, MA, MT, RT) for specialist positions. Intermountain Health requires current state licensure for clinical incumbents.
System Certifications
WVUHS provides additional IT certifications with 4-month completion requirement. Epic offers comprehensive training and certification programs.
Geographic Flexibility & Remote Work
Permanent Futures offers fully remote positions for NHS projects. Epic requires relocation to Madison, WI (fully reimbursed). CVS Health and Intermountain Health may offer hybrid arrangements depending on role requirements.
Career Progression Pathways
Entry-level analyst positions at Intermountain Health can advance to specialist roles at WVUHS, then progress to leadership positions at CVS Health. Epic offers unique physician consulting track for medical professionals. International experience through Permanent Futures provides global healthcare perspective.
West Virginia’s health informatics market spans large health systems (WVUHS), national healthcare companies (CVS Health, Intermountain Health), technology leaders (Epic), and international partnerships (NHS projects), offering diverse career trajectories from clinical implementation to strategic data governance.