Best Online Associate Degrees in Medical Billing and Coding of 2024
Are you ready to discover your college program?
Medical billing and coding professionals are vital to the healthcare field, ensuring that medical bills are accurate and that payers — including insurance companies — have the correct information.
An associate degree in medical billing and coding is all you need to enter this field, which pays slightly higher than the national median wage. Another plus: Medical billing and coding is not physically demanding, unlike many other healthcare careers that do not require a four-year degree, though it does require sitting for long periods.
Read on to learn more about earning an associate degree in medical billing and coding and what careers you can pursue with this credential.
Featured Online Medical Billing and Coding Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Medical Billing and Coding Associate Degrees
Cowley County Community College
Arkansas City, KS- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,040
- Out-of-state$3,480
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,407
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment67%
- AccreditationYes
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$20,800
- Out-of-state$20,800
- In-State$29,632
- Out-of-state$29,632
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled19,861
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment50%
- AccreditationYes
Mt Hood Community College
- Gresham, OR
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,248
- Out-of-state$8,604
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate53%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled5,893
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment40%
- AccreditationYes
Everett Community College
- Everett, WA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$3,807
- Out-of-state$9,342
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled6,682
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment86%
- AccreditationYes
Herzing University-Birmingham
- Birmingham, AL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,320
- Out-of-state$13,320
- In-State$10,800
- Out-of-state$10,800
- Retention Rate50%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled615
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment49%
- AccreditationYes
Southeast Technical College
- Sioux Falls, SD
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$3,720
- Out-of-state$3,720
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,381
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
Northland Community and Technical College
- Thief River Falls, MN
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,435
- Out-of-state$5,435
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,716
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment51%
- AccreditationYes
Northwest Technical College
- Bemidji, MN
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,057
- Out-of-state$6,057
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate58%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled794
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment74%
- AccreditationYes
Central Maine Community College
- Auburn, ME
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,880
- Out-of-state$5,760
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate52%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled3,003
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
- Johnstown, PA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,660
- Out-of-state$10,170
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate56%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,345
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment37%
- AccreditationYes
What Is Medical Billing and Coding?
Medical billers and coders help ensure that all the medical procedures a healthcare provider performs are accurately listed on forms using standardized medical codes.
While this line of work doesn’t require computer programming or data analysis skills, you must be comfortable with computers and different software systems, have a strong eye for detail, and be able to recognize potential errors.
An associate program in medical billing and coding provides training in standard billing procedures and different coding systems.
What Is an Online Associate Degree in Medical Billing and Coding?
An associate in medical billing and coding is a two-year technical program designed to prepare you for entry-level careers in the field of health information. Online accredited medical billing and coding schools attract a variety of students, including high school graduates pursuing their first career in healthcare and working adults looking to change occupations.
Medical billing and coding degrees can equip you to take the national coding certification exams and compete for entry-level positions. Courses typically feature a combination of lectures, readings, and practical assignments.
Throughout your program, you’ll study topics like medical terminology, human anatomy, and insurance plans and regulations. You’ll also develop skills in medical ethics, patient account management, medical insurance claim processing, and diagnosis and procedure coding.
What Else Can I Expect From an Associate in Medical Billing and Coding Program?
If you pursue an online associate degree in medical billing and coding, you’ll complete 60 credits of coursework, including general education classes, major core classes, and electives.
The curriculum prepares you for professional certification by studying medical terminology, procedure coding systems, and software applications in healthcare.
Medical Billing and Coding Curriculum
- Anatomy and Physiology: A course on anatomy and physiology examines the 12 major systems of the human body, including the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, and lymphatic systems.
- Health Information Systems: This course introduces you to information management procedures used in American healthcare settings. Topics include filing systems, data storage, and electronic health records.
- Pathology: This course provides you with an understanding of disease processes and how the human body functions. Coursework introduces research- and evidence-based knowledge about common pathologies and diagnostic testing.
Medical Billing and Coding: Associate Degree vs. Certificate
Should you get a medical coding associate degree, or is a certificate enough? The answer depends on your personal interests, timeline, and career goals.
| Factor | Medical Billing and Coding Associate Degree | Medical Billing and Coding Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Takes about 18-24 months to earn | Requires 12 months or less to earn |
| Certification Eligibility | Can qualify you to sit for a certification exam | Can qualify you to sit for a certification exam |
| Cost | May be more expensive than a certificate | May be cheaper than an associate degree |
| Transfer Ability | Often easy to transfer into a bachelor’s program | May not transfer into another degree program |
| What It Prepares You for | Can prepare you to work in a more complex medical environment | Can help you move from school to the workforce faster than earning a degree |
If you want to save money and time, a certificate may be your best choice, but if you are looking at medical office work as a long-term career, an associate degree is probably the right first move.
What Certifications and Licenses Are Required for Medical Billing and Coding?
AAPC — formerly known as the American Academy of Professional Coders — is the world’s largest training and credentialing organization in the healthcare field, representing more than 220,000 members.
Because medical coding regulations, requirements, and standards have become increasingly complex, many employers prefer to hire medical billers and coders with AAPC certification. However, some may allow new employees to earn certification shortly after being hired.
| AAPC Credential | Average Salary | Core or Advanced Credential |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Professional Biller | $60,316 | Core |
| Certified Professional Coder | $64,495 | Core |
| Certified Outpatient Coder | $70,663 | Core |
| Certified Risk Adjustment Coder | $71,747 | Core |
| Certified Inpatient Coder | $74,475 | Core |
| Certified Documentation Expert Outpatient | $76,172 | Advanced |
| Certified Professional Medical Auditor | $77,692 | Advanced |
| Certified Physician Practice Manager | $80,205 | Advanced |
Medical Billing and Coding Salary and Career Outlook
Medical billing and coding accredited online schools prepare graduates for many entry-level careers in the healthcare industry. Before applying for jobs, many graduates obtain professional certification from the American Medical Billing Association (AMBA), AAPC, or the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Job openings can be found in hospitals, physicians’ offices, or outpatient facilities.
Most graduates with a medical billing and coding degree seek employment in billing and coding. However, they may also choose to embark on careers as medical assistants, health information technicians, or data analysts.
Additional education and certification may be required for upward mobility or placement in advanced positions. Take a look at three common career options for graduates below, with salary and job outlook data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Medical Records Specialist
- Median Salary (2023): $48,780
- Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 9%
Medical records specialists manage and organize patient records and other health information data.
Using various classification systems, these professionals code information, assist with insurance reimbursements, manage clinical databases, and maintain patients’ medical histories.
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
- Median Salary (2023): $62,990
- Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 16%
Health information technologists support healthcare systems IT concepts, including storing and retrieving patient records. They usually work in hospitals or physicians’ offices and need at least an associate degree in healthcare information management or a related field.
Medical registrars maintain databases about diseases or conditions for local, regional, or national entities. Some registrars may need disease-specific credentials, such as the certified tumor registrar credential.
Medical Assistant
- Median Salary (2023): $42,000
- Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 15%
Medical assistants handle a variety of administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare facilities. Duties may include recording patient history, measuring vital signs, giving injections or medication, and scheduling appointments.
Employers typically hire medical assistants with an associate degree or postsecondary certificate, though some workers have only a high school diploma and learn required skills through on-the-job training. These professionals need keen analytical, interpersonal, and technical skills.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Billing and Coding
The BLS projects that the number of medical records specialist jobs will increase by 9% between 2023 and 2033, which is much faster than the average growth rate for all jobs in the U.S. during the same period (4%).
Earning a relevant certification in addition to your associate degree in medical billing and coding can help you stand out from the crowd.
