Best Online Associate in Medical Billing and Coding Programs
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In 2018, billing and coding professionals earned a median salary of $40,350, significantly higher than the median pay for all other occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for all medical record and health information technicians will increase by 11% from 2018 to 2028, nearly double the projected rate of growth for the rest of the economy.
To qualify for these jobs, you must complete some form of postsecondary education. This page features a ranking of the nation's top online associate programs in medical billing and coding, along with links to additional information on the certificates, degrees, and career options available in the field.
What are the best Medical Billing and Coding programs of 2020? Here are our top 10:
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | Southwest Wisconsin Technical College | Fennimore, WI |
2 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
3 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls, MN |
4 | Northwest Technical College | Bemidji, MN |
5 | Cowley College | Arkansas City, KS |
6 | Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona, MN |
7 | Hazard Community And Technical College | Hazard, KY |
8 | Laramie County Community College | Cheyenne, WY |
9 | Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls, MN |
10 | Central Texas College | Killeen, TX |
2020 Best Accredited Online Associate Programs in Medical Billing and Coding
To meet the increasing demand for medical coders, cancer registrars, and professionals in similar occupations, more colleges and universities are offering undergraduate training in medical billing and coding. While this gives prospective students a wealth of options, it can also make it difficult to decide where to earn your degree. Our list of the nation's top online and fully accredited associate programs in medical billing and coding can help guide your search.
Our ranking includes information on each program's admission requirements, available concentrations, and financial aid opportunities. It also indicates whether online courses are offered synchronously or asynchronously, making it easier to know whether you can schedule your learning around a full-time job or family responsibilities.
For additional details about a specific program, including whether it accepts transfer credits from a specific community college or trade school, contact the school's admissions office directly.
Rank | School | Location | Cost | Graduation Rate | Description | Toggle |
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1 |
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College |
Fennimore, WI | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 61% |
Located in Fennimore, Wisconsin, Southwest Tech is a public institution with regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. The college offers distance students one of the best online health information technology associate degrees. This program ensures that students develop the necessary collection and analysis skills needed to work with health data and abide by established data quality principles and security standards. Southwest Tech's program takes place entirely online, except for an in-person field experience. Remote students can complete this degree, comprised of 60-61 credits, in about five semesters. Southwest Tech associate students who complete this program can pursue entry-level positions in patient health data management roles, such as outpatient coders, insurance claims clerks, and medical billers. According to 2016 statistics, Southwest Tech boasts a 100% job placement rate for health information technology graduates. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate in Health Information Technology School Status: Public Tuition: $136/credit in-state; $205/credit out-of-state Credit Requirements: 60-61 credits Program Length: 5 semesters DeliveryFormat: 100% online (except for field experience) Instruction Style: Synchronous Admission RequirementsStandardized Tests: ACT or ACCUPLACER ContactPhone: (608) 822-3262 Email: admissions@swtc.edu |
|
2 |
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale |
Fort Lauderdale, FL | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 69% |
Keiser is a private institution located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and features one of the best online medical billing and coding associate degrees. Distance students complete 60 credits, including courses in pathophysiology, pharmacology, introduction to healthcare, and medical law. Students must complete certain core courses with a grade of "C" or higher before they can begin any externships. With this associate degree, learners acquire the skills needed to perform various administrative duties, such as patient billing and essential classification coding procedures. Prospective students need to submit their high school transcripts, proof of a GED certificate, or documentation of graduation from a foreign institute comparable to a U.S. secondary school. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Science in Medical Administrative Billing and Coding School Status: Private Tuition: $165/credit Credit Requirements: 60 credits Program Length: 18 months DeliveryFormat: 100% online Instruction Style: Synchronous ContactPhone: (888) 453-4737 |
|
3 |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College |
Fergus Falls, MN | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 45% |
M State offers one of the best online medical billing and coding associate degrees for distance students. Located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, M State is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and serves approximately 6,500 students. Online learners at this community and technical college learn about essential billing and coding techniques, modern regulations and guidelines for health information activities, and general legal principles used in health information management. In total, associate degree-seekers complete 64 credits. Required courses at M State include reimbursement systems, medicolegal aspects, fundamentals of electronic health records, and supervisory leadership in healthcare. Most full-time medical billing and coding students graduate in two years (or five terms), including one six-credit summer term. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology/Coding School Status: Public Tuition: $199/credit Credit Requirements: 64 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online Instruction Style: Asynchronous ContactPhone: (877) 450-3322 |
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4 |
Northwest Technical College |
Bemidji, MN | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 42% |
Established in 1965, NTC is a public institution located in Bemidji, Minnesota. Part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, the school serves approximately 950 students. The college also offers one of the best online medical billing and coding associate degrees. This associate of applied science in medical coding program provides comprehensive training about industry standard coding systems and classification procedures. Associate degree-seekers complete 60 credits, including courses in pathophysiology, business communication, and pharmacology. Medical coding students also complete a two-credit internship at an approved location. Prospective students need to submit an online application and an application fee. The school subscribes to an open-enrollment policy and accepts students with a high school diploma or GED certificate. Before enrolling in classes, incoming students must take the ACCUPLACER assessment. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding School Status: Public Tuition: $199/credit Credit Requirements: 60 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online Instruction Style: Synchronous Admission RequirementsStandardized Tests: ACCUPLACER ContactPhone: (218) 333-6600 Email: ntc.admissions@ntcmn.edu |
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5 |
Cowley College |
Arkansas City, KS | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 34% |
Founded in 1922, CC is a public institution that holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. By awarding one of the best online medical billing and coding associate degrees, CC prepares students for careers using the international uniform classification system in doctor's offices and health facilities. CC uses an open-enrollment policy and accept students with a high school diploma or GED certificate. Associate degree-seekers at CC need 65 credits for graduation. Required courses include medical terminology, international classification of diseases coding, bioethics, introduction to health information, and pathophysiology. Students also complete an online healthcare coding practicum in which they apply their skills in a virtual medical office setting. Learners need to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to remain in good standing. At least 15 credits must come from courses earned at CC. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding School Status: Public Tuition: $115/credit in-state; $163/credit out-of-state Credit Requirements: 65 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online Instruction Style: Synchronous ContactPhone: (620) 441-6335 Email: alliedhealth@cowley.edu |
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6 |
Minnesota State College Southeast |
Winona, MN | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 41% |
Located in Red Wing, Minnesota, MSC Southeast offers a medical administrative assistant AAS to online learners. With regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the school educates approximately 2,800 students. Remote learners complete 60 credits, including courses such as medical terminology, medical insurance, pharmacology, CPT coding, and interpersonal career concepts. Students typically need four semesters to complete the program. Upon graduation, associate degree-holders can move onto careers at medical centers, extended care facilities, home health agencies, government agencies, and insurance companies. MSC Southeast reports a 68.8% job placement rate for graduates in medical support careers. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Science in Medical Coding School Status: Public Tuition: $172/credit Credit Requirements: 60 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online, on campus, or hybrid (online/on campus) Instruction Style: Synchronous Admission RequirementsStandardized Tests: ACCUPLACER ContactPhone: (507) 453-2639 Email: tvondrasek@southeastmn.edu |
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7 |
Hazard Community And Technical College |
Hazard, KY | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 35% |
Located in Hazard, Kentucky, HCTC is a community college that offers an online associate program in medical information technology with a track in medical coding. This associate degree in medical coding requires 64 credits and takes two years to complete. Distance students need a "C" or higher in required courses and must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA to remain in good standing. Required courses for this online medical billing and coding associate degree include medical insurance, electronic medical records, medical office procedures, and medical information management. Prospective students need to submit their high school transcripts or proof of a GED certificate. Online applications must also include ACT or SAT scores or placement testing results. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate in Applied Science in Medical Information Technology School Status: Public Available Concentrations: Electronic medical records; medical administration; medical coding; medical office management; medical transcription Tuition: $174/credit in-state; $348-$609/credit out-of-state Credit Requirements: 64 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online Instruction Style: Asynchronous and synchronous Admission RequirementsStandardized Tests: ACT, SAT, or HCTC placement exam ContactPhone: (606) 487-3296 Email: stephanie.vergne@kctcs.edu |
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8 |
Laramie County Community College |
Cheyenne, WY | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 28% |
LCCC is a community college in Cheyenne, Wyoming, that holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. The school offers an online associate degree in health information technology and management. Degree-seekers in this program complete 63 credits, and most learners need two years to finish the requirements. Required coursework includes classes that cover medical office procedural skills, disease processing encoding, health information management, and health data management. Prospective students need to submit their applications at least two weeks prior to the start of a semester. Incoming learners interested in this online medical billing and coding associate program must pass a background check and drug screening. While enrolled, online students at LCCC enjoy remote access to the library, tutoring services, and academic advising. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate in Medical Coding School Status: Public Tuition: $148/credit in-state; $346/credit out-of-state Credit Requirements: 63 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online Instruction Style: Asynchronous ContactPhone: (800) 522-2993 Email: admissions@lccc.wy.edu |
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9 |
Northland Community and Technical College |
Thief River Falls, MN | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 42% |
A public, two-year college located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, NCTC holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. The college educates about 4,500 students annually and offers an online medical coding specialist associate degree. NCTC uses an open-admission policy and accepts applicants who possess a high school diploma or GED certificate. Remote learners complete 60 credits to earn this associate degree. Required courses include medical terminology, cultural diversity, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and anatomy. Learners need four semesters to complete the program and typically take 14-16 credits per semester. Medical coding students need to earn at least a "C" in required courses to remain in good standing. Distance learners in this online medical billing and coding associate program enjoy online access to career counseling, academic advising, and mental health screening. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Applied Science, Medical Coding Specialist School Status: Public Tuition: $199/credit Credit Requirements: 60 credits Program Length: 4 semesters DeliveryFormat: 100% online or hybrid (online/on campus) Instruction Style: Asynchronous and synchronous Admission RequirementsStandardized Tests: ACCUPLACER ContactPhone: (800) 657-3930 |
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10 |
Central Texas College |
Killeen, TX | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 17% |
Founded in 1965, CTC is a community college in Killeen, Texas. The school holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and offers one of the best online medical billing and coding associate programs. This associate of applied science in medical billing and coding require students to finish 60 credits. During their first year, learners take classes such as health data content and structure, cutting and classification systems, and coding and reimbursement methodologies. During their second year, students complete classes like pharmacology and business English, as well as an in-person clinical at an approved location. Remote students at CTC can take advantage of remote technical and disability support, services for veterans, academic advising, and remote library access. Additionally, the distance student resources website includes online tutorials and tutoring services. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding and Billing School Status: Public Tuition: $90-$113/credit in-state; $235/credit out-of-state Credit Requirements: 60 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online or hybrid (online/on campus) Instruction Style: Synchronous Admission RequirementsStandardized Tests: Texas Success Initiative (TSI Assessment) ContactPhone: (800) 792-3348 Email: academic.advising@ctcd.edu |
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11 |
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology |
Media, PA | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 58% |
Located in Media, Pennsylvania, P.I.T. holds regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and offers an online associate of science in healthcare management with a focus on medical billing and coding. This program prepares students for careers handling critical data and health records in facilities such as clinics, hospitals, urgent care centers, and assisted living centers. Participants usually graduate within seven terms. Students choose between online and hybrid course formats. Required courses at P.I.T. include anatomy and physiology, health insurance claims, and healthcare statistics. In total, students complete 65 credits to graduate from this online medical billing and coding associate program. Prospective students need only to submit their high school or GED transcripts. All incoming students take a placement test to evaluate their skills in writing, math, and reading comprehension. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Science in Healthcare Management School Status: Public Tuition: $390/credit Credit Requirements: 65 credits Program Length: 7 terms DeliveryFormat: 100% online or hybrid (online/on campus) Instruction Style: Synchronous and asynchronous ContactPhone: (610) 892-1500 Email: admissions@pit.edu |
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12 |
Central Maine Community College |
Auburn, ME | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 29% |
CMCC is a community college located in Auburn, Maine. Established in 1963, the school currently enrolls about 3,000 students and offers one of the best online medical billing and coding associate degrees. Remote students need to complete 62-63 credits to graduate from this medical coding and electronic health records program. Individuals learn about patient privacy issues, healthcare statistics in computing, and quality improvement standards. Learners complete requirements entirely online. Required medical billing and coding courses at CMCC include health information technology, psychology in the workplace, and healthcare statistics. The school accepts applications on a rolling basis and allows prospective students to apply throughout the year. For consideration, interested medical coding students need to submit an application; high school transcripts; and ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER scores. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding and Electronic Health Records School Status: Public Tuition: $2,820/year in-state; $5,640/year out-of-state Credit Requirements: 62-63 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online Instruction Style: Asynchronous and synchronous Admission RequirementsStandardized Tests: ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER ContactPhone: (207) 755-5273 Email: enroll@cmcc.edu |
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13 |
Rochester Community and Technical College |
Rochester, MN | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 24% |
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, RCTC oversees one of the best online health information management associate programs. Learners complete a rigorous curriculum that covers topics like pharmacology, coding, quality management, and medical terminology. Graduates prepare for careers in doctor's offices and care facilities. Remote students at RCTC typically need two years to complete the 64 credits required for this degree. Incoming students may transfer in up to 17 credits of general education requirements and apply them towards their associate degree. Upon completion of this program, associate degree-holders can sit for the national exam sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to earn the registered health information technician credential. In recent years, 91% of learners in this program have graduated, and 76% have passed the AHIMA exam. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate in Applied Science in Health Information Technology School Status: Public Tuition: $194/credit Credit Requirements: 64 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online Admission RequirementsGPA: 2.0 minimum ContactPhone: (507) 285-7210 Email: admissions@rctc.edu |
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14 |
Indian Hills Community College |
Ottumwa, IA | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 33% |
Established in 1966, IHCC serves approximately 4,100 students. Located in Ottumwa, Iowa, the school offers remote students one of the best online health information technology associate degrees. The school also holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Associate degree-seekers may begin classes in the fall or spring. In total, students complete 81 quarter credits. In most cases, students need seven terms (21 months) to finish this fully online program. The program has a 67% graduation rate. Interested learners must submit high school transcripts or GED information along with their ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER test scores. Learners in this program must also pass a criminal background check, drug screening, and a dependent adult and child abuse record check. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology School Status: Public Tuition: $5,400/year Credit Requirements: 81 credits Program Length: 21 months DeliveryFormat: 100% online Admission RequirementsStandardized Tests: ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER ContactPhone: (641) 683-5262 Email: admissions@indianhills.edu |
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15 |
Dakota College at Bottineau |
Bottineau, ND | Cost: $$$$$ | Graduation Rate: 22% |
DCB is a public institution with regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Located in northern North Dakota, the college offers one of the best online medical billing and coding associate degrees. Available entirely online or in a hybrid format, the school's associate of applied science in medical assistant and coding consists of 62 credits. Required courses include basic procedure coding, basic diagnosis coding, medical disorders, health law and ethics, and introduction to pharmacology. Associate degree-seekers must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA to remain in good standing. Prospective students need to submit an online application, their high school transcripts or GED information, and their ACT or SAT scores. Upon admission into the program, online students can take advantage of a variety of remote services, including academic tutoring and full-text library access. Program OverviewProgram Name: Associate of Applied Science in Medical Administrative Assistant and Coding School Status: Public Tuition: $2,033/semester in-state; $3,050/semester out-of-state Credit Requirements: 62 credits Program Length: 2 years DeliveryFormat: 100% online or hybrid (online/on campus) Admission RequirementsStandardized Tests: ACT or ACCUPLACER ContactPhone: (701) 228-5449 |
In addition to information on accreditation and admissions, our comprehensive degree guide includes a breakdown of the job prospects and earning potential for medical billing and coding graduates in each state.
The BLS projects that the healthcare industry will add 1.9 million new jobs across all job functions from 2018 to 2028. Our career guide will help you take advantage of the many opportunities available in this field.