How Much Can I Make In Nursing Informatics
Nursing informatics can be a very lucrative field. A recent survey reports that the average nursing informatics salary is roughly $100,000 per year. The nursing informatics jobs salary average is only expected to increase over the next few years as the demand for nursing informaticists increases. A specialist in this field that has a graduate degree can command a significantly higher nursing informatics salary than a professional who only has a bachelors degree. Information for the Masters in Nursing Informatics salary statistics shows that 53% of professionals with a graduate degree make over $100,000 per year. Comparatively, just 37% of those without a Masters degree make six figures.
Even a quick look at nursing informatics jobs salary estimates shows that professional holding an MSN informatics salary is significantly higher. Not only is a Masters in Nursing Informatics salary higher, but those with a graduate degree can expect more career opportunities. An MSN informatics salary thus will increase more often and at a higher rate than a nursing informaticist who does not hold a graduate degree in the field. As the field grows and more jobs appear, there will also be more competition for these positions. Many experts recommend that students planning on going into nursing informatics pursue a graduate degree or certificate to distinguish themselves on the job market.
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Fairfield University Fairfield Connecticut
MSN Nursing Leadership-Informatics Nursing Concentration
Student to Faculty Ratio: 12:1Average Graduate Student Tuition: $16,968/yearOverall Graduation Rate: 81%Points: 9The top nursing informatics MSN at Fairfield University is a three year program featuring offering hands-on learning experiences focused on informatics. Courses cover areas like:
- information systems
- database systems
- information systems and database management
Students complete a leadership practicum and clinical practicum in nursing informatics. Graduates are prepared to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Informatics Nursing examination.
What Can You Do With A Nursing Informatics Msn
Nursing informatics is a rapidly-growing field both in the U.S. and around the world. The use of digital technology in medical record-keeping and healthcare services management is here to stay, suggesting that the demand for highly-skilled nursing informatics professionals will remain strong moving well into the future. Career opportunities for MSN Nursing Informatics graduates exist in all sectors of healthcare services in positions with job titles such as:
- Informatics Nurse Specialist
- Clinical Informatics Analyst
- Health IT Security and Privacy Specialist
Leadership positions with titles such as Health Information Manager, Health IT Project Manager, Informatics Administrator, and Informatics Executive are also available.
In addition to immediate employment with healthcare service providers, MSN informatics graduates are also prepared to fill positions as both nursing informatics researchers and educators. Graduates may also opt to continue on with their formal educations to earn such credentials as the PhD in Health Informatics or DNP in Nursing Informatics. The chart below offers a look at some of the most popular career paths open to informatics MSN graduates:
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Do You Need A Bsn To Get Into An Online Msn Informatics Program
In most cases you will need a BSN degree earned from a properly-accredited college. However, some online informatics MSN programs will accept applicants with a bachelors degree in a non-nursing major or with a nursing associate degree or diploma. Be sure to consult with the admissions office at each of the schools you are considering before submitting your admissions application.
Online Master’s In Nursing

A Masters in Nursing is a post-graduate degree program that helps students with a strong professional or academic background in nursing to broaden their knowledge of the field and advance their careers. This level of education is usually undertaken by Registered Nurses with some years of work experience. It focuses on developing leadership and research skills to prepare students for advanced positions in the workplace and higher levels of responsibility.
What are the Prerequisites for an Online MSN?
There are three primary types of master’s degrees in nursing for aspiring students to consider: RN to MSN programs, BSN to MSN programs, and direct entry MSN programs.
Online RN to MSNs are the most common master’s in nursing program and are perfect for individuals who are already Registered Nurses but would like to further advance their knowledge. Applicants will need to hold a valid RN license and an associate degree in nursing or a nursing diploma. In many cases, RN to MSN programs also confer a BSN upon students once they complete the undergraduate portion of the coursework. These programs allow students to accelerate the process of earning their BSN and MSN degrees, compared to enrolling in separate BSN and MSN programs. Online RN to MSN programs may take up to four years of study.
What Classes Will I Take in an Online MSN Program?
What can I do with an Online MSN?
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Nursing School Spotlights For The Online Masters In Nursing Informatics
Want to explore even more school options for your online masters in nursing informatics? Check out the three accredited programs weve spotlighted below and see if their tuition costs, online learning format, and other features match what youre looking for.
Duke University
Duke Universitys online MSN in Health Informatics program centers on nursing and biomedical informatics with an emphasis on real-world application. This 38-credit hour program combines synchronous and asynchronous, fully-online coursework with two, single-day on-campus sessions . Studies culminate in an intensive in-person practicum with an approved health care organization typically located in the students local community. During the practicum, students complete an informatics-related project under the mentorship of an experienced clinician.
Admission requirements include a BSN degree from a properly-accredited college or university, or a bachelors degree in any major combined with an associate degree in nursing. Preference is given to applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. A GRE score is not required, but may be submitted as an option. A minimum of one year of nursing experience is recommended but not required.
University of Utah
Admission into the program requires a bachelors degree in nursing earned with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. However, acceptance into the program is limited and selective, so meeting the minimum admissions requirements does not guaranty entry.
Middle Tennessee State University
Online MSN in Nursing Informatics
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Graduate Tuition/Fees: $9,594
Middle Tennessee State Universitys nursing informatics degree online program is designed for working registered nurses. Admission requires an active RN license, earned bachelors degree, and no GRE. Those with an RN and BSN are ready for admission into the MSN program. The degree consists of 38 hours of graduate nursing courses and a practicum. Courses are delivered online and include advanced nursing research, advanced role development, health care information systems and technology integration, introduction to healthcare informatics, and project management in the design and analysis of health care information systems. U.S. News and World Report ranks the institution #230-#301 in best national universities.
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How Much Do Informatics Nurses Make
Salaries for nurse informaticists vary widely and depend on location, job description, education level, and also experience. In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has some similar job descriptions, but none that match well enough to provide good information.
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society is a non-profit organization devoted to reforming healthcare with technology using healthcare informatics. Moreover, the HIMSS 2020 Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey reported the following annual salary range information from the informatics nurses that responded.
- 11% more than $150,000
- 63% $61,000 and $115,000
Potential Advantages To An Online Masters Nursing Informatics Program In Chicago
Some Nursing Informatics graduate schools offer their programs completely online. Classrooms may be interactive, and provide opportunities for active learning, discussion, problem solving, debating, critical thinking, research, and networking. They may also be available through pre-recorded audio and video that students can access when it is convenient. The faculty members that are involved are usually accessible via telephone or email. Since a practicum is commonly required in an Online Nursing Informatics Graduate degree, this is typically arranged with an advisor to find a mutually agreeable site in your local area.
If you learn well independently, and have the computer and Internet set-up for it, distance-learning might be convenient, not only to pursue a Masters degree, but also to advance your credentials or stay current with recent innovations in healthcare information technology through a Graduate Certificate.
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University Of Utah Salt Lake City Utah
Master of Science in Nursing Informatics
Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1Average Graduate Student Tuition: $6,725/year in-state and $23,740/year out-of-stateOverall Graduation Rate: 67% Points: 11
The MSN in Nursing Informatics is a 32 credit hour program designed for nurses interested in computer science and information systems. This CCNE accredited program is open to BSN graduates with at least one year of clinical nursing experience. Courses cover areas like:
- project management
- nursing informatics roles
theory and nursing information systems and applications
Students complete a practicum experience in nursing informatics. They and can choose additional elective coursework to get more hands-on experience in the field.
What Exactly Is Nursing Informatics
According to the American Nurses Association, nursing informatics integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage and communicate data, information, knowledge and wisdom in nursing practice. Put simply, nursing informatics involves using information and data technologies to improve nursing practice and patient care. With practically all patient data and medical practice information kept electronically today, the importance of informatics to modern healthcare cant be overstated. This is a rapidly-growing area of nursing practice with great career potential.
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Masters In Nursing Informatics Online Program Highlights
- We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility. Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank among Niche.coms top 5 online schools in America. Earning your online masters degree in nursing informatics from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- Your success is our success, which is why were committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, weve frozen tuition rates for our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 7 years and counting.
- Students can complete this MSN Nursing Informatics program in as little as 1.5 years.
- The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, masters degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and the postgraduate APRN certificate program at Liberty University School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education .
Online Nursing Informatics Programs

With technology being a main foundation of the nursing informatics specialty, it’s no wonder that students are gravitating toward online programs. These online programs allow students to complete courses when and where they choose, making it ideal for today’s hectic schedules. Many schools with campus-based nursing informatics programs also offer online options.
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University Of Texas Houston Texas
DNP-Nursing Informatics
Student to Faculty Ratio: 5:1Average Graduate Student Tuition: $7,219/year in-state and $28,515/year out-of-stateOverall Graduation Rate: N/APoints: 10The University of Texas Cizik School of Nursing features an innovative hybrid post-masters DNP program for part-time students. Its the only program of its kind in Texas. The program features a curriculum that incorporates nursing science with information and analytical science. This three year program includes coursework in:
- health data display
Each student is assigned an advisor who provides support throughout the program.
Master Of Nursing And Master Of Science In Health Informatics: Double Degree
Graduate from Canadas only nursing informatics degree program. This unique online/distributed program educates nurses to move into nursing and health informatics roles.
Nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science and health information science to identify, define, manage and communicate information and knowledge that supports nursing practice. Youll graduate with two degrees: a Master of Nursing and a Master of Science in Health Informatics. The program schedule permits students to complete required coursework in two years and requires additional time for conducting the research for a thesis or research project
Careers
Graduates of this program are prepared for careers in practice, education, research, administration and consultation. They can work in public, private, or corporate settings.
There is a growing demand for knowledgeable nurses who can select, develop, implement, and evaluate information technology. One hundred per cent of our graduates have found employment immediately after graduation.
As a graduate of the double degree Master of Nursing and Master of Science in Health Informatics program you will develop advanced competencies in the following areas:
- Nursing
- Research
The importance of nursing informatics
The nursing informatics program provides knowledge, skills and training to identify concerns, design safe and usable systems and address nursing practice issues before and during technology implementation.
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Fairleigh Dickinson University Teaneck New Jersey
Master of Science in Nursing Program-Nursing Information Systems
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1Average Graduate Student Tuition: $22,410/yearOverall Graduation Rate: 39%Points: 8The MSN program at Fairleigh Dickinson University offers a specialization in Nursing Information Systems for students with a passion for both nursing and computer science. Specialization coursework covers areas like
- project management
- nursing informatics roles and theory
- nursing information systems and applications
Students complete a masters project and a practicum experience in nursing informatics, further developing professional skills.
What Are Admission Requirements For An Online Master’s In Health Informatics Program
While each school has its own admission requirements, most online master’s in health informatics programs ask applicants to submit the same information. A school’s admission requirements are often the same whether you attend online or on campus.
Before you enroll in a master’s in health informatics program, you must have a bachelor’s degree. Some schools may prefer applicants to possess a certain type of bachelor’s degree or Otherwise, prospective students may be asked to fulfill prerequisites before enrolling. For example, East Carolina University requires applicants to earn a grade of C or higher in a statistics course within five years of submitting an application.
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Ranking The Top Nursing Informatics Programs
We created a ranking of the top 20 programs in nursing informatics based on information from the National Center for Education Statistics. To be included in our list, programs need to offer either a masters or DNP level program with a focus on nursing informatics and hold regional accreditation. Programs selected for consideration are taught by experienced faculty, offer a well-rounded curriculum, hands-on training, and provide students with mentoring or guidance while in the program. We then developed a ranking methodology that included:
- average graduate tuition rates
- student to faculty ratio
- overall graduation rate
The top 20 schools made our list. Where there are ties, the school with the lower average graduate tuition is favored.
Student to Faculty Ratio
- 15:1 or less= 5 Points
- 16:1 to 20:1=3 Points
- Greater than 20:1= 1 Point
Average Graduate Tuition Rate
- Less than $10,000 per year= 5 Points
- $10,000 to $15,000 per year= 3 Points
- More than $15,000 per year= 1 Point
Overall Graduation Rate
- Less than 30%= 1 Point
- Between 30% and 50%= 2 Points
- Greater than 50%= 3 Points
Below are the 20 schools that offer the best graduate nursing informatics programs.
What Is Nursing Informatics
Nursing informatics is the use of healthcare data and digital technologies to improve patient and provider experiences. Nurse informaticists are the bridge between information technology and clinical practice, working with clinicians, data scientists, and information technology professionals. Nurses who specialize in nursing informatics work to improve electronic medical record keeping, implement data technology solutions, and ensure that both care and research efforts meet legal and regulatory standards.
Nurse informaticists may also be referred to as nursing informatics specialists, nursing informatics clinicians, or clinical nurse informatics specialists. Leadership positions include chief nursing informatics officer and manager of clinical informatics. Registered nurses with several years of bedside experience and masters or doctoral degrees are often found in these positions.
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How Do I Start A Career In Nursing Informatics
The practice of nursing informatics refers to using databases of patient health records to improve health outcomes. As technology takes on a greater role in healthcare, nursing informatics has become a much sought-after specialty. Nurses who specialize in informatics may be able to command larger salaries and take advantage of employment opportunities that other nurses cannot. This leads to many nurses and prospective nurses to research how to become nursing informatics professionals. Many nursing informaticists have graduated from nursing informatics certification programs. There are some nursing informatics degrees, but usually, nurses in this area have a standard nursing degree, a certificate, and specialized experience.
The first stage for many people who want to know how to become a nurse informatics professional is to look into nursing informatics certification programs and degree programs. As previously mentioned, there are more certificate programs than degree programs, but full nursing Informatics degrees have become more common. Nursing informatics degree requirements usually include courses in various aspects of healthcare technology as well as considerable practical experience. Of course, nursing informatics degree requirements vary from program to program.
Which Method Is Right For You

You can choose from a traditional term-based delivery method or a more flexible method utilizing virtual simulations called MSN Powered by SIMPath® to complete your degree.
MSN
Idealfor learners who prefer a structured approach with more guidance and lessemphasis on computer simulated learning environments.
- Coursework is presented completely online
- Monthly starts
- Total of 12 term-based nursing courses
- Structured 8-week courses
- Complete 1-2 courses in 8 weeks
- 8-week courses may be overlapped or spaced out
- Courses are in a traditional format:
- Highly structured courses with consistent due dates. Discussion posts are due on Wednesdays and papers are due on Monday mornings.
- Regular peer interaction through discussion posts
- Competencies are mainly demonstrated through writing papers
- Fewer virtual simulation assignments
$560 per credit hour or $1,680 per course
Total standard tuition: Up to $20,160
MSN Powered by SIMPath®
Ideal if you are self-disciplined and comfortable with technology. You can move through courses at you own pace and demonstrate your skills utilizing an array of methods.
$4,000 per 16-week semester
Total standard tuition: $16,000
Note: start with a maximum of 3 courses add as your schedule permits
In March of 2021, American Sentinel University officially merged with Post University® to become American Sentinel College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Post University. Please pardon our appearance as we update all of our services to reflect our new name.
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