Pitt’s online health informatics MS program earned a top 5 national ranking

The online master’s in health informatics program at the University of Pittsburgh has been ranked No. 4 in the nation for 2024 by AnalyticsDegrees.org.

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) program aims to position graduates to leverage technology to enhance health care delivery. Students are equipped with skills to standardize data, improve patient lives, spot trends and create efficiency in health care processes.

“It is great that our MS in health informatics program has been recognized as one of the top programs in health data science in the country,” said Bambang Parmanto, chair of the Department of Health Information Management at SHRS. “There are multiple standout features of our program. We have a well-designed curriculum, strong faculty and exceptional support for students, including faculty availability to support students and dedicated staff for engaging students.”

This ranking underscores the robust curriculum, esteemed faculty and exceptional student support, according to program director Leming Zhou, associate professor of health informatics.

Health informatics is a rapidly growing field, driven by the integration of technology in health care. With U.S. health care spending at $4.5 trillion annually and employment in medical and health services management expected to grow by 28% by 2032, the demand for skilled professionals in this area is high. The median annual salary for these roles is $104,830.

Delivered through the Department of Health Information Management, Pitt’s program offers a customizable curriculum designed to fit students’ schedules, whether they attend full-time or part-time. The program’s weekly synchronous sessions for both online and on-campus students contribute to its high quality, Zhou added.

Faculty are actively engaged in funded research and incorporate the latest advances, such as AI, into the curriculum. The program also features a peer mentoring initiative that connects successful alumni with current students, along with internship and capstone components that allow students to work on real industry projects using cutting-edge technologies.

“We constantly ask for feedback from our students and alumni,” Parmanto said. “We aim to grow our programs further and attract more international students.”

AnalyticsDegrees.org evaluates nearly 600 colleges and universities offering more than 2,000 analytics degree programs. The platform’s rankings focus on curriculum relevance, program reputation, and student success metrics such as graduation rates, post-graduation earnings and external awards.

Applications are still open to begin in the upcoming fall semester. The deadline is July 29.

— Donovan Harrell