The healthcare industry relies heavily on data and information retrieval, and because of this, health informatics is essential to the day-to-day operations of most medical providers. If you decide to earn an online degree in health informatics, you will learn how to acquire, store, and manage healthcare information in order to streamline the delivery of health services.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for medical records and health information technicians is projected to grow by 15% by 2024, which is much faster than average. Plus, the healthcare industry as a whole is projected to grow 19 percent by 2024, adding 2.3 million jobs to the U.S. economy. If you are interested in data, computers, technology, and management — and if you would like to work in a fast-growing field with high job security — you should consider pursuing a health informatics online degree.
Rank | School | Score | Toggle | Content |
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1 |
University of Central Florida |
Value Score 7.57 |
The online bachelor's in health informatics and information management from the University of Central Florida combines business management, medical coding, and computer applications to prepare students for a career in technology and management. The Orlando-based school allows students to complete the entire program online. Students are required to complete an internship. The school's College of Health and Public Affairs online bachelor’s in health informatics is offered through a "2+2" format. Students complete general education requirements and electives during their first two years of college, and they complete their major requirements during their last two years. In-state students pay a reduced tuition. Out-of-state tuition is about double the in-state cost. Applicants must have earned a minimum 2.0 GPA in high school or in previous college courses. Graduates are prepared for careers as data analysts, data integrity specialists, database administrators, and more. Visit School Website |
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2 |
East Carolina University |
Value Score 6.98 |
East Carolina University, located in Greenville, North Carolina, offers a bachelor's program in health information management that prepares students to manage and analyze information in the healthcare industry. The degree also prepares students to sit for the registered health information administrator certification exam. Students must earn at least 126 credits to graduate. Courses include healthcare payment systems, managing the health of populations, and privacy and security in health information systems. Students must apply during or after completing their general education courses. Applicants to the online bachelor’s in health informatics must have earned at least a 2.5 GPA in previous college courses and have completed basic biology, healthcare, and math classes. Transfer students are eligible to apply. Graduates are prepared for careers as health information management clerks, patient care coordinators, patient registrars, and more. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Visit School Website |
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3 |
Louisiana Tech University |
Value Score 6.90 |
The Global Campus program at Louisiana Tech University, which is based in Ruston, offers one online program: an online bachelor's degree in health informatics and information management. Students can complete all classes online, including their general education requirements and electives. Professors are available through email, the class website, and phone. The online bachelor’s in health informatics requires students to earn 120 credits. About half of the credit requirements are fulfilled through general education and elective courses. Course subjects include the medical industry and healthcare data analysis. Students must complete three credits of lab work and a one-quarter internship or practicum. The program prepares students to take the American Health Information Management Association examination during their last quarter, and those who pass become RHIA certified. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Graduates can evaluate data to improve patient outcomes and have the skills to improve healthcare delivery. Visit School Website |
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4 |
Clarkson College |
Value Score 6.87 |
Clarkson College, located in Omaha, Nebraska, allows distance learners to earn a bachelor of science degree in health information administration entirely online. The program accepts students of all experience levels. The curriculum prepares learners to sit for the registered health information administrator certification exam. Students can complete the program on a part-time or full-time basis. A specialization in healthcare business is available. Applicants to the online bachelor’s in health informatics are required to submit SAT or ACT scores and an admissions essay. Students must earn at least 128 semester hours to graduate, including required service courses. Courses include healthcare delivery systems, revenue cycle management, human resource management, and advanced data management and analytics. Full-time students can complete the program in 10 semesters. Graduates are prepared for careers in hospitals, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and more. Visit School Website |
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5 |
Dakota State University |
Value Score 6.78 |
Dakota State University's bachelor of science degree in health information administration prepares students for a career in administrative healthcare work. The curriculum includes traditional health informatics courses, like medical terminology and health data systems, and management courses, such as healthcare information governance. Students learn how to design and manage health information systems that meet medical, legal, and ethical standards. Students must apply during the spring semester of their sophomore year. Applicants should have a minimum GPA of 2.7 in online bachelor’s degree in health informatics classes and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25. The application process also requires two letters of recommendation, a completed questionnaire, and an interview with the program's professors. For online students, the interview occurs over the phone. Dakota State's program is accredited by the CAHIIM. Graduates are prepared for careers as health information managers, privacy officers, health data analysts, and clinical coding specialists. Visit School Website |
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6 |
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay |
Value Score 6.39 |
The online program in health information management and technology at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay is offered entirely online. The online bachelor’s degree in health informatics has two emphases: healthcare management, which focuses on leadership and management, and healthcare technology, which focuses on information technology in hospitals or other facilities. The bachelor's degree requires students to complete 48 core credit hours along with 12 credit hours in their chosen emphasis. Students pursuing the healthcare management emphasis take classes in healthcare economics and human resource management; students pursuing the healthcare technology emphasis take classes in programming, software, and database analysis. Applicants must have already completed some college work, which includes earning a degree or completing at least 60 hours of transferrable credit. Applicants are also required to have a minimum 2.0 GPA in previous college coursework. Visit School Website |
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7 |
Western Governors University |
Value Score 6.25 |
Western Governors University operates its classes and programs entirely online. The school offers a bachelor's degree in health information management. Students have the ability to graduate in one to four years because of the school's flexible programming, which gives learners the opportunity to test out of classes. The cost of tuition depends on how long students are enrolled in the program. WGU charges tuition per term, and students are allowed to take more than the recommended amount. This health informatics online bachelor's program allows students to work through each course at their own pace, and they move on to the next course as soon as they pass an assessment. Students in this program often transfer over credits from previous college classes; the average transfer student has already completed 33 credit hours. Learners must already have an associate degree, transferable IT certification, or at least three years of work experience. Visit School Website |
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8 |
Oregon Institute of Technology |
Value Score 6.21 |
The Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls is the first in the state to offer an online bachelor's in health informatics. Tuition for online classes is relatively cheap, and the program requires students to earn 181 credit hours. The school designed the online program for working adults who need flexibility in furthering their education. The online bachelor’s degree in health informatics at Oregon Tech provides a foundation in information systems, computer science, and business management through a healthcare perspective. In addition to classes in health informatics, students must complete elective courses in communications, the humanities, and math and social sciences. The program includes experiential learning, which encourages distance education students to communicate and work with their classmates on online group projects. Course subjects include database design, computer networks, systems analysis, and computer programming. Visit School Website |
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9 |
Ferris State University |
Value Score 6.13 |
The online bachelor's degree in health informatics management at Ferris State University prepares students to sit for the registered health information administrator certification exam and supervisory positions at healthcare facilities. The health informatics management program is offered entirely online. Applicants must have earned a minimum 2.5 GPA in high school or a minimum 2.5 GPA in previous college courses. The curriculum requires students to complete 131 credit hours in order to graduate, which takes about four years. Students take communications, math, and anatomy courses as part of their general education requirements. The major includes courses in healthcare finance, terminology, and data. Students must complete two professional practice courses, through which they gain real-world work experience. Ferris State is based in Big Rapids, Michigan. Visit School Website |
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10 |
University of Southern Indiana |
Value Score 6.10 |
The University of Southern Indiana, located in Evansville, allows the average full-time, online student to complete a bachelor's of science degree in health informatics and information management within one to two years. The curriculum, which includes classes such as health information exchange and social media monitoring, prepares students for careers in health informatics. The program also requires students to complete a one-, two-, or three-credit internship. Additional coursework includes accounting principles, computer applications in business, and the healthcare delivery system. Students must earn 120 credits to graduate; the health informatics program consists of 30 credits. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in other college courses. The program accepts students in the fall and spring. Visit School Website |
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11 |
Augusta University |
Value Score 6.04 |
Augusta University, located in Augusta, Georgia, offers an online bachelor's of science degree in health information administration. The program prepares students to sit for the American Health Information Management Association's certification exam. The university describes the program as "2+2," meaning that the first two years consist of core classes, and the second two years consist of major classes. Core courses include the basics of healthcare, like terminology and vocabulary courses, as well as advanced computer courses, like cybersecurity in healthcare settings. The program accepts transfer students who have completed their general education. The school requires that all students submit two letters of recommendation and that they have a minimum 2.5 GPA in high school or previous college courses. Visit School Website |
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12 |
Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis |
Value Score 5.87 |
Indiana University and Purdue University in Indianapolis merged in 1969, creating IUPUI, which offers several programs on-campus and online. IUPUI's health information management program is only offered online. Students take courses in medicine, finance, information technology, and law in order. Major courses cover computer coding and social foundations of biomedical informatics. Students must also take two professional practicum courses, which requires them to create and present a research project. In order to apply to this health informatics online bachelor's degree, first-time college students must have earned a minimum 2.5 GPA in high school. The program welcomes transfer students, and the school has a digital system that evaluates how previously-completed credits translate into credit hours at IUPUI. Visit School Website |
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13 |
The College of Saint Scholastica |
Value Score 5.86 |
The College of Saint Scholastica, which is based in Duluth, Minnesota, has offered its health informatics program since 1925. The college began offering distance learning degrees in 1981, and it also started the first online health informatics program in the country. The school's bachelor of science degree in health information management requires students to earn 128 credit hours. Learners can complete all course requirements online. Some courses are 16-week courses, while others are accelerated and only last eight weeks. Because students can pick and choose which combination of classes works for them, the length of the program varies. Most students earn the degree in two to four years. High school students applying to college for the first time must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.0 for acceptance, but they must have a minimum 2.7 GPA to enter the health information management program. The program also admits transfer students. The school only accepts transfer credits that were earned with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Visit School Website |
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14 |
Regis University |
Value Score 5.86 |
Regis University, a Jesuit school located in Denver, Colorado, offers an online bachelor's degree program in health information management that is designed for adults who work full-time and are looking to advance their careers through education. The program offers two minors: healthcare administration, which requires classes such as human resource management and healthcare finance, or computer information systems, which includes courses in database management and business analytics. Students must complete 120 credit hours in order to graduate, and 42 of those credit hours fall under the health information management major. Applicants must have completed at least 12 hours of college coursework and have a minimum 2.5 GPA in previous college classes. The program accepts transfer students and has an online transfer credit guide for students who previously studied at several Colorado-based community colleges. Visit School Website |
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15 |
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse |
Value Score 5.79 |
The University of Wisconsin at La Crosse offers two tracks of study within its online bachelor's in health informatics program: a health information management concentration and a health information technology concentration. The school offers both tracks online. The concentration in health information management focuses on human resource and financial management as well as strategic planning and organizational development. The health information technology concentration requires students to complete courses in software and hardware systems and database analysis. The degree is not designed for freshman college students. The program targets learners who have completed some college credits or have earned an associate degree. The program considers applicants if they have completed 60 credits of transferable courses; earned a minimum GPA of 2.0; and have passed a college algebra, basic biology, and communications course before enrolling. Visit School Website |
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16 |
King University |
Value Score 5.78 |
The online bachelor's in health informatics at King University, located in Bristol, Tennessee, allows students to graduate within 16 months. Students must complete 124 semester hours, which includes 48 hours of major coursework and 80 hours of electives and general education. King University offers an affordable program. The curriculum includes courses in healthcare administration, health informatics, information technology, and ethics. Students must have completed at least 45 hours of general college coursework before beginning courses in the health informatics online bachelor's. At the end of the curriculum, students take a comprehensive general education assessment exam. The exam tests students over the entire breadth of their college education. Students must earn a passing score on the exam in order to graduate. Graduates are prepared for careers in hospitals, clinics, private companies, and more. Visit School Website |
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17 |
Southwestern Oklahoma State University |
Value Score 5.75 |
Southwestern Oklahoma State University, located in Weatherford, offers a four-year, online bachelor of science degree in health information management. The program at Southwestern Oklahoma follows a "2+2" format, which requires students to take general education courses and electives during their first two years and major coursework in the last two years. Learners have the option to enroll part time or full time. Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA in previous college classes. Learners in the program must maintain a minimum 2.25 GPA and complete at least 123 credit hours in order to graduate. The program requires students to take the professional practice course and the management practicum course, which gives students the opportunity to earn real-world experience. Distance learners may choose to add a second major in healthcare administration by adding a few more classes to their curriculum. Visit School Website |
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18 |
Northern Kentucky University |
Value Score 5.64 |
At Northern Kentucky University, located in Highland Heights, students can earn a bachelor of science degree in business information systems online or through a hybrid format. The program offers a healthcare information systems track, which includes three courses: foundations of health informatics, health information management, and applied health informatics. The flexible curriculum allows working adults to complete the program while maintaining their career. Students must earn 102 credits to graduate. The curriculum includes several classes in business and finance, such as advanced business programming and statistics for business applications. The school also arranges "co-op opportunities," allowing students to gain real-world experience at businesses like Kroger and Fidelity Investments. The program's focus on business information systems sets graduates apart from other candidates. Students are prepared for careers in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Visit School Website |
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19 |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick |
Value Score 5.63 |
Rutgers' College of Arts and Sciences and School of Health Professions jointly offer a bachelor of science degree in health information management. The program offers classes mostly online, although the professional practice experience course, taken during the last semester, requires a supervised learning experience with a registered health information administrator. This allows students to gain real-world practice. Students who attend another college can complete a joint degree through Rutgers' health information management program as long as all of the general education requirements are met. Students must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.75 in their general education courses; the same GPA must be maintained throughout the health information program. The health information management admissions standards require students to submit essays on why they want to study and work in the health informatics field. Visit School Website |
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20 |
Georgia State University |
Value Score 5.61 |
The online bachelor's degree in health informatics offered by Georgia State University is a five-semester program. The program does not automatically enroll any student with an interest in health informatics management; students must apply for the program after they have completed two years of general education requirements. The curriculum is completed in strict order, with students earning 60 credit hours before graduation. Courses include future trends in health informatics, health economics and financing, and innovating business processes. Students should have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and they must write a personal statement detailing why they want to study health informatics. Learners must have maintained a minimum grade of C in all prerequisite classes, which include anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and intro to health informatics. The program starts during the fall and spring semester. Visit School Website |
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21 |
University of Mississippi |
Value Score 5.51 |
University of Mississippi's bachelor of science degree in health informatics and information management is a "2+2" program, which requires students to complete general education and elective requirements during their first two years of classes. In the final two years of classes, learners enroll in classes within their major. In order to enroll in the second phase of the program, students must have completed 18 credit hours of prerequisite classes, which include math and accounting, and they must have earned a minimum 2.5 GPA. The program requires students to earn at least 117 credits to graduate and is offered entirely online. Applicants must submit ACT or SAT scores, and the application portal requires an application fee. Prerequisite requirements include 18 elective credits. The campus is located in Oxford. Visit School Website |
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22 |
Indiana University-Bloomington |
Value Score 5.51 |
Indiana University at Bloomington offers students more than 100 programs and academic certificate programs, which includes a bachelor of science degree in health information management. This program educates students in the technical and administrative aspects of health informatics, which includes management of patient health information, computer information systems, and coding and database content development. The school designed the program to follow a traditional college program. Learners must complete prerequisite, general education, elective, and major requirements. The program requires students to earn a minimum of 120 credits. Students are required to complete a mentored practicum, which allows them to apply learned skills in a real-world setting. Graduates can interpret data for patient care. Visit School Website |
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23 |
University of South Carolina-Columbia |
Value Score 5.44 |
At the University of South Carolina in Columbia, students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in health informatics can complete all program requirement entirely online. The college does not have a prescribed program length; students choose how many credits they want to take each quarter. Learners must complete at least 121 credit hours before graduating. The curriculum includes courses in healthcare, management, and data analytics. Students must also complete a practicum and a research project in a senior seminar. Applicants must submit a planned course of study. The program does not list a required, minimum GPA or SAT score. Students can start the program in the fall or spring. Graduates are prepared for careers as directors of clinical informatics, chief medical information officers, nurse informaticists, and health IT consultants. Visit School Website |
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24 |
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus |
Value Score 5.43 |
Students enrolled in the University of Cincinnati's online bachelor of science program in health information management can complete the program in two or three years, depending on whether they take summer courses. The program was created for working professionals in the healthcare industry. Classes have a leadership focus; many classes prepare students for administration and management positions. The capstone and practicum course requires students to complete a research project. In order to earn a bachelor's in health informatics online, students must already have an associate degree in health information technology and hold registered health information technician certification. The program expects applicants to have earned at least a 2.6 GPA in previous college courses. Out-of-state students pay a similar tuition compared to in-state students. Visit School Website |
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25 |
Western Kentucky University |
Value Score 5.42 |
Western Kentucky University, which is based in Bowling Green, offers students two options within its health informatics management bachelor of science program. The HIM Plus 2 Program was designed for students who already have an associate degree in health information technology. If a student enrolls in this bachelor’s in health informatics online, they can earn their degree within two years. This option requires students to have earned a minimum GPA of 2.0 in previous college classes. Applicants should already have passed a health data and anatomy and physiology class. If a student does not have any college experience, or if they have transfer credits in health informatics or another major, they can enroll in the HIM 100% online bachelor's program. Students must complete at least 122 hours of coursework, which generally takes more than two years. Students complete both degrees entirely online. Visit School Website |
What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s in Health Informatics Degree?
Professionals with health informatics bachelor’s degrees can find a number of jobs in the healthcare field. Unlike doctors and nurses who care directly for patients, health informatics graduates work with data, documents, and computers to support healthcare providers behind the scenes. Professionals in this field need to be good with technology, numbers, and math. They also need to be highly organized and capable of balancing multiple administrative tasks in fast-paced environments. Below are several possible career paths for individuals entering the field of health informatics.
Career Paths
Educational Paths for Graduates of Online Health Informatics Programs
After earning your bachelor’s degree, you may wish to pursue an advanced degree in health informatics. Many master’s programs offer concentrations that go beyond the basics of data storage and retrieval, teaching students the management skills they need to be successful health information administrators. When evaluating applicants for management positions, employers tend to look favorably upon applicants who have earned master’s degrees, and leadership roles generally go along with higher wages. Indeed, salaries for jobs like computer and information systems managers can reach up to six figures, according to BLS.
What Will I Learn in My Bachelor’s in Health Informatics Program?
- Concepts of Information Management and Systems Just about every bachelor’s program in informatics will have a variation of this course, which introduces students to the concepts of information organization, management of information flows, and data processing.
- Health Data Management This course takes a deep dive into data and its particularities within the healthcare field. Students learn how to read and manage electronic health records and navigate healthcare databases.
- Healthcare Information Privacy and Security Patient healthcare records are highly confidential, but they are always at risk of being hacked into or corrupted when stored in an electronic format. This class teaches students how to maintain security domains in order to stop breaches from occurring.
- Financial Management Many healthcare provider records pertain to budgets, revenue, and expenditures. This course teaches students how to manage and evaluate finances in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
- Understanding Healthcare Organizations Since healthcare is subject to economic changes and political volatility, healthcare organizations need to be highly adaptable. Several health informatics programs include a variation of this course to teach students the intricacies of the healthcare system.
Employment Outlook for Bachelor’s in Health Informatics Graduates
Bachelor’s in Health Informatics Salary
A bachelor’s degree will give you a head start in the field of health informatics, but education isn’t the only factor that impacts your annual earnings. Workers in the field of health informatics and information management increase their earning potential with every year that they stay in the industry. The table below demonstrates how salaries grow for health informatics professionals, such as computer technicians and medical coders, as they progress from entry-level to mid-career employees, and then from mid-level to late-career employees.
Job Title | Overall Median Salary | Median Salary for Entry-Level Employees (0-5 years) | Median Salary for Mid-Career Employees (5-10 years) | Median Salary for Late-Career Employees (20+ years) |
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Computer Technician | $39,907 | $35,713 | $39,326 | $50,940 |
Medical Technologist | $53,786 | $48,472 | $53,788 | $61,847 |
Medical Coder | $41,249 | $39,565 | $47,883 | $44,979 |
Medical Records/Health Information Technician | $35,353 | $34,305 | $38,690 | $38,974 |
Database Administrator | $72,302 | $61,706 | $77,589 | $95,609 |
Health Informatics Licensure and Certification
After graduating with a health informatics online degree, students can apply for licensure or certification. Although not all career paths require licensure, employers in a field like health informatics hold job applicants with certifications in higher regard. This can lead to improved job opportunities and higher salaries. The list below outlines different types of licensure in the health informatics field.
- Registered Health Information Administrator Certification: Many health informatics online degree programs specifically prepare their students to sit for this exam, which certifies that professionals possess expertise in managing patient health information. The American Health Information Management Association sponsors the certification.
- Specialty Medical Coding Association: The American Academy of Professional Coders offers multiple certification exams in different medical areas, including anesthesia, cardiology, and dermatology. Professionals opt to take this certification exam to indicate to employers that they have specialized knowledge in medical coding, data, and informatics.
Accreditation for Online Bachelor’s in Health Informatics Degrees
When researching health informatics degree online programs, students should pay particular attention to accreditation. If a school or program meets certain standards for academic quality, then they are eligible to receive accreditation. That endorsement is good for students, who are more likely to find employment if they have a degree from an accredited school. The ability to transfer credits, along with many forms of financial aid, also depend on a school’s accreditation status.
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversees the accreditation process in the United States. Accreditation agencies are sorted into two types: regional and national. Since regional accrediting bodies adhere to stricter standards, regional accreditation is generally considered more valuable than national accreditation. For online health informatics degree programs, students should keep an eye out for schools accredited by the American Health Information Management Association and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management.
Financing Your Online Bachelor’s in Health Informatics Program
If you are interested in earning an online health informatics degree, there are several options to help fund your education. First and foremost, you should complete the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA), which will determine whether you are are eligible to receive grants, scholarships, loans, or work-study awards. Since they do not need to be repaid, grants, scholarships, and work-study awards should be prioritized over loans. There are also many private scholarships available, several of which are listed below.