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Medical Informatics

A program that focuses on the application of computer science and software engineering to medical research and clinical information technology support, and the development of advanced imaging, database, and decision systems. Includes instruction in computer science, health information systems architecture, medical knowledge structures, medical language and image processing, quantitative medical decision modeling, imaging techniques, electronic medical records, medical research systems, clinical decision support, and informatics aspects of specific research and practice problems. Examples: [Biomedical Informatics], [Health Informatics], [Dental Informatics], [Nursing Informatics]

Types of Degrees Medical Informatics Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Medical Informatics have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	34
Bachelor’s Degree	168
Master’s Degree	2,786
Doctor’s Degree	66

What Medical Informatics Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Medical Informatics build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Medical Informatics graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Medical Informatics emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Medical Informatics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Medical Informatics careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Medical Informatics graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.8 / 7
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Processing Information	4.2 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Medical Informatics professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Structured query language SQL	Data base user interface and query software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	✓
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
Microsoft SQL Server	Data base user interface and query software	✓
R	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Microsoft Visio	Process mapping and design software	—
Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript	Development environment software	—
SAS	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Dynamics	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Medical Informatics graduates include:

• Cancer Registrar
• Medical Care Evaluation Specialist
• Medical Record Consultant
• Health Information Management Technician (Health Information Management Tech)
• Health Information Technician
• Clinical Analyst
• Health Data Analyst
• Public Health Registrar
• Data Integrity Specialist
• Medical Records Clerk
• Certified Cancer Registrar
• ROI Specialist (Release of Information Specialist)
• Compliance Coordinator
• Utilization Review Coordinator
• Medical Data Analyst

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Medical Informatics graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	42.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	17.4%
Postsecondary certificate	15.4%
Some college courses	6.4%
Master’s degree	5.5%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	5.3%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.8%
Post-master’s certificate	2.1%
Less than a high school diploma	1.2%
Doctoral degree	0.9%
Post-doctoral training	0.1%
First professional degree	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Medical Informatics?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 68.7% of Medical Informatics degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	2,097	68.7%
Men	957	31.3%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Medical Informatics graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	753	24.7%
Asian	365	12.0%
Hispanic or Latino	181	5.9%
Black or African American	375	12.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native	4	0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	4	0.1%
Two or More Races	55	1.8%
Race Unknown	104	3.4%
International Students	1,213	39.7%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Medical Informatics Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Medical Informatics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$83,588
4 years	$85,034
5 years	$93,260

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $93,260 — roughly 12% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Medical Informatics Programs

Distance learning is reported by IPEDS for Medical Informatics. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	3	0
Bachelor’s	9	3
Master’s	57	17
Doctoral (Research)	2	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Medical Informatics Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Medical Informatics graduates earn a median of $85,034 four years after completion — roughly 124% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Medical Illustration and Informatics	3,154
Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator	94
Medical Illustration and Informatics, Other	6

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.