National rankings
The 25 Best Medical Coding Programs in 2026
There are 978 colleges and schools in 50 states awarding a medical coding or billing credential, between them 34,665 awards in 2023. That is a lot of choices and very little to go on, so we built this list from the federal data every one of those schools has to report, plus the one independent review that exists in this field.
We scored the 557 programs that publish a tuition figure. The other 421 are in our directory but are not ranked, because a program whose price is not published cannot be compared on cost and we would rather leave it out than guess. Below the list we answer the questions that decide most of this: what it really costs, how long it takes, whether to take the certificate or the degree, and which exam to aim at. If you need to study from home, see our ranking of online medical coding programs.
978
programs nationally, in-person and online
22
hold AHIMA PCAP approval, the field's only independent program review
22 of 25
programs on this list can be studied fully online
Why so many of these are community colleges. Independent review counts for 35 points here, and the 22 PCAP-approved programs in the country are almost all public two-year colleges. 21 of the 25 below hold that approval. The remaining places go to the best-value programs we could price, one per state so the tail does not fill up with whichever state prices community college lowest.
The top 25 medical coding programs
- #1 AHIMA PCAP approved
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Medical Coding Specialist, Certificate of Achievement
97.4
of 100
Online available Certificate 38 credits Practicum included Preps CCAWhy it ranks nationally
Santa Barbara City College, in Santa Barbara, CA, ranks #1 of the 25 programs on this list. The program page names the exam graduates may sit for: CCA. The college also runs a Health Information Technology associate degree the certificate feeds into. Delivery is completely online. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus.
Tuition
$1,234 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Santa Barbara City College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 24.4/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #2 AHIMA PCAP approved
Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ · Public · Medical Billing and Coding: Physician-Based, Certificate of Completion
95.3
of 100
Online available Certificate 36 credits Practicum includedWhy it ranks nationally
Phoenix College, in Phoenix, AZ, ranks #2 of the 25 programs on this list. It is one of only twenty-two programs in the country approved under the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program. It has graduated students in all three of the years we checked, most recently 4. It is a public college, which is where almost all of the reviewed programs in this field sit. It includes HIM216 Professional Practice in Physician-Based Billing and Coding, which is the supervised practice employers ask about and, for AAPC credentials, one route out of the CPC-A apprentice designation.
Tuition
$2,358 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Phoenix College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 22.3/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #3 AHIMA PCAP approved
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL · Public
94.8
of 100
Online available CertificateWhy it ranks nationally
Santa Fe College, in Gainesville, FL, ranks #3 of the 25 programs on this list. It is one of only twenty-two programs in the country approved under the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program. It is a public college, which is where almost all of the reviewed programs in this field sit. At $2,563 a year in district, it is about 34% below the median of $3,904 across the programs on this list. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus.
Tuition
$2,563 a year, in-district
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 21.8/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #4 AHIMA PCAP approved
Miami Dade College
Miami, FL · Public · Medical Coder/Biller College Credit Certificate
94.2
of 100
Online available Certificate 37 creditsWhy it ranks nationally
Miami Dade College, in Miami, FL, ranks #4 of the 25 programs on this list. It is one of only twenty-two programs in the country approved under the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program. The college publishes its own outcome figures, the college publishes an 82% retention rate, a 77% graduation rate and a 100% licensure pass rate for the programme. These are self-reported and are not part of our score. Coursework uses the AHIMA Virtual Lab, so students practise on the software the job uses rather than on worksheets. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus.
Tuition
$2,838 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Miami Dade College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 21.2/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #5 AHIMA PCAP approved
Palm Beach State College
Lake Worth, FL · Public · Medical Information Coder/Biller, College Credit Certificate
93.6
of 100
Online available Certificate 37 credits Preps CCSPreps CPC-AWhy it ranks nationally
Palm Beach State College, in Lake Worth, FL, ranks #5 of the 25 programs on this list. 2 exams are named for graduates: CCS and CPC-A. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus. It has graduated students in all three of the years we checked, most recently 23. It is a public college, which is where almost all of the reviewed programs in this field sit.
Tuition
$3,050 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Palm Beach State College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 20.6/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #6 AHIMA PCAP approved
Seminole State College of Florida
Sanford, FL · Public · Health Information Technology
92.5
of 100
Online available Certificate Practicum included Preps RHITWhy it ranks nationally
Seminole State College of Florida, in Sanford, FL, ranks #6 of the 25 programs on this list. Graduates are pointed at one exam in particular, RHIT, which is more than many pages in this field commit to. The capstone practicum ends with students sitting the RHIT exam as part of their final course grade, so the exam is inside the programme rather than after it. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus. Distance study is on offer at the college, though the federal record does not say whether the coding certificate itself is delivered that way.
Tuition
$3,227 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Seminole State College of Florida program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 19.5/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #7 AHIMA PCAP approved
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public · Medical Coding Specialist Certificate
90.8
of 100
Online available Certificate 41 credits Practicum included Preps CCSWhy it ranks nationally
Moraine Valley Community College, in Palos Hills, IL, ranks #7 of the 25 programs on this list. The program page names the exam graduates may sit for: CCS. Medical Coding Specialist Certificate: 41 credits, five semesters, designed to be completed in two years. The college states the programme qualifies for up to $8,000 in tuition assistance through its Career Connections programme. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus.
Tuition
$3,822 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Moraine Valley Community College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 17.8/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #8 AHIMA PCAP approved
Everett Community College
Everett, WA · Public
90.8
of 100
Online available Certificate + associateWhy it ranks nationally
Everett Community College, in Everett, WA, ranks #8 of the 25 programs on this list. AHIMA has reviewed this program under its Professional Certificate Approval Program, the one independent program review this field has. Federal completions show awards in each of the last three years, 53 in the most recent, so this is a running program rather than a listed one. It is a public college, which is where almost all of the reviewed programs in this field sit. Tuition of $4,301 runs about 10% above the $3,904 median for the programs on this list, which is worth weighing against what else the program includes.
Tuition
$4,301 a year, in-district
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 15.8/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 8.0/8
-
- #9 AHIMA PCAP approved
Northern Maine Community College
Presque Isle, ME · Public · Medical Coding Certificate
90.5
of 100
Online available Certificate Preps CPCWhy it ranks nationally
Northern Maine Community College, in Presque Isle, ME, ranks #9 of the 25 programs on this list. The program page names the exam graduates may sit for: CPC. Publishes its curriculum sheet for both the current and the prior academic year, so you can see what changed. Delivery is 100% online. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus.
Tuition
$3,880 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Northern Maine Community College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 17.5/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #10 AHIMA PCAP approved
Great Falls College Montana State University
Great Falls, MT · Public · Health Information Coding Specialist, Certificate of Applied Science
90.4
of 100
Online available Certificate 44-45 credits Practicum included Preps CCAWhy it ranks nationally
Great Falls College Montana State University, in Great Falls, MT, ranks #10 of the 25 programs on this list. Graduates are pointed at one exam in particular, CCA, which is more than many pages in this field commit to. Delivery is online. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus. Tuition of $3,904 a year sits close to the $3,904 median for the programs on this list.
Tuition
$3,904 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Great Falls College Montana State University program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 17.4/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #11 AHIMA PCAP approved
Camden County College
Blackwood, NJ · Public · Medical Coding Certificate
90.2
of 100
Online available Certificate 39 credits Practicum includedWhy it ranks nationally
Camden County College, in Blackwood, NJ, ranks #11 of the 25 programs on this list. It is one of only twenty-two programs in the country approved under the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program. Clinical placement requires a background check and health clearance, which is worth knowing before you apply. Delivery is the certificate can be completed online. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus.
Tuition
$3,960 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Camden County College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 17.2/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #12 AHIMA PCAP approved
River Parishes Community College
Gonzales, LA · Public · Medical Coding Specialist, Certificate of Applied Science
89.9
of 100
Online available Certificate 44 credits Practicum included Preps CCAPreps CCSPreps CCS-PPreps CPCWhy it ranks nationally
River Parishes Community College, in Gonzales, LA, ranks #12 of the 25 programs on this list. The exam is built into the program: the externship course includes preparatory modules for the AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist exam and the cost of the exam is included in the course fees. It includes HEIT 2999, a medical coding externship of up to 40 hours with a virtual option, which is the supervised practice employers ask about and, for AAPC credentials, one route out of the CPC-A apprentice designation. The Medical Coding Specialist, Certificate of Applied Science runs 44 credits, four semesters. Students can also sit the NHA Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist credential before finishing.
Tuition
$4,079 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the River Parishes Community College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 16.9/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #13 AHIMA PCAP approved
Shoreline Community College
Shoreline, WA · Public · Comprehensive Coding & Revenue Integrity Specialist, Certificate of Proficiency
88.3
of 100
Online available Certificate 64-67 credits Practicum included Preps CCAPreps CCSPreps CCS-PPreps CPCPreps CRCWhy it ranks nationally
Shoreline Community College, in Shoreline, WA, ranks #13 of the 25 programs on this list. The page commits to 5 exams rather than one: CCA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC and CRC. Tuition of $4,388 runs about 12% above the $3,904 median for the programs on this list, which is worth weighing against what else the program includes. Comprehensive Coding & Revenue Integrity Specialist, Certificate of Proficiency: 64-67 credits. Starts every quarter rather than once a year.
Tuition
$4,388 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Shoreline Community College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 15.3/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #14 AHIMA PCAP approved
South Suburban College
South Holland, IL · Public · Coding Specialist Certificate
83.7
of 100
Online available Certificate 40 credits Practicum includedWhy it ranks nationally
South Suburban College, in South Holland, IL, ranks #14 of the 25 programs on this list. It carries AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program approval, which is also what makes its graduates eligible to sit AHIMA's coding exams. It is a public college, which is where almost all of the reviewed programs in this field sit. It includes a combined coding exam review and internship course in the final semester, which is the supervised practice employers ask about and, for AAPC credentials, one route out of the CPC-A apprentice designation. Tuition of $5,093 runs about 30% above the $3,904 median for the programs on this list, which is worth weighing against what else the program includes.
Tuition
$5,093 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the South Suburban College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 10.7/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #15 AHIMA PCAP approved
Delaware County Community College
Media, PA · Public · Medical Coding and Billing, Certificate of Proficiency
81.9
of 100
Online available Certificate + associate 49 credits Practicum included Preps CCAPreps CCSPreps CCS-PWhy it ranks nationally
Delaware County Community College, in Media, PA, ranks #15 of the 25 programs on this list. Graduates are told they may sit CCA, CCS and CCS-P, which is a wider set than most programs name. Tuition of $6,660 runs about 71% above the $3,904 median for the programs on this list, which is worth weighing against what else the program includes. The Medical Coding and Billing, Certificate of Proficiency runs 49 credits, five semesters full time, six part time. Names physician-based coder, hospital coder and medical claims reviewer as the roles it trains for, rather than one generic job title.
Tuition
$6,660 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Delaware County Community College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 6.9/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 8.0/8
-
- #16 AHIMA PCAP approved
Green River College
Auburn, WA · Public · Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist Certificate
81.5
of 100
Some online courses Certificate 75 credits Practicum includedWhy it ranks nationally
Green River College, in Auburn, WA, ranks #16 of the 25 programs on this list. It is one of only twenty-two programs in the country approved under the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program. Federal completions show awards in each of the last three years, 11 in the most recent, so this is a running program rather than a listed one. It is a public college, which is where almost all of the reviewed programs in this field sit. It includes BTAC 180, a professional practice experience that can be field-based or virtual, which is the supervised practice employers ask about and, for AAPC credentials, one route out of the CPC-A apprentice designation.
Tuition
$4,580 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Green River College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 14.5/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 6.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #17 AHIMA PCAP approved
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Granite Falls, MN · Public · Health Information Technology AAS, and a Health Information Technician Assistant certificate
80.0
of 100
Online available Certificate 60 for the AAS, 22 for the certificate creditsWhy it ranks nationally
Minnesota West Community and Technical College, in Granite Falls, MN, ranks #17 of the 25 programs on this list. AHIMA has reviewed this program under its Professional Certificate Approval Program, the one independent program review this field has. 8 awards in the latest year, and awards in each of the three years before it, which is the check we run for whether a program is actually operating. It is a public college, which is where almost all of the reviewed programs in this field sit. Tuition of $6,484 runs about 66% above the $3,904 median for the programs on this list, which is worth weighing against what else the program includes.
Tuition
$6,484 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Minnesota West Community and Technical College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 7.0/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #18 AHIMA PCAP approved
Pueblo Community College
Pueblo, CO · Public · HIT: Medical Coding Certificate
78.2
of 100
Online available Certificate 42 credits Practicum included Preps CCAPreps CCSWhy it ranks nationally
Pueblo Community College, in Pueblo, CO, ranks #18 of the 25 programs on this list. The page commits to 2 exams rather than one: CCA and CCS. It is a public college, which is where almost all of the reviewed programs in this field sit. Federal data shows awards in 2 of the last three years, which is worth asking about. On independent review, the Health Information Technology associate degree is accredited by CAHIIM and reaffirmed through the 2028-29 academic year.
Tuition
$4,883 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Pueblo Community College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 12.2/25
- Track record 13.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #19 AHIMA PCAP approved
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN · Public · Medical Billing and Coding Certificate
77.3
of 100
Online available Certificate 44 quarter credits across 10 courses credits Preps CBCSPreps CCAPreps CCSPreps CCS-PWhy it ranks nationally
Purdue University Global, in West Lafayette, IN, ranks #19 of the 25 programs on this list. The exam is built into the program: students sit the National Healthcareer Association Certified Billing and Coding Specialist exam during the final term, so they graduate already certified. Publishes a per-credit price of $371 rather than only an annual figure. Delivery is online. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus.
Tuition
$10,110 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Purdue University Global program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 4.3/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #20 AHIMA PCAP approved
SUNY Westchester Community College
Valhalla, NY · Public · Medical Coding Certificate
75.8
of 100
Some online courses Certificate 35 credits Practicum included Preps CCAPreps CCSWhy it ranks nationally
SUNY Westchester Community College, in Valhalla, NY, ranks #20 of the 25 programs on this list. The program page names 2 exams graduates may sit for: CCA and CCS. Tuition of $5,696 runs about 46% above the $3,904 median for the programs on this list, which is worth weighing against what else the program includes. The award is a Medical Coding Certificate of 35 credits. Credits apply toward the college’s Health Information Technology associate degree, so the certificate is a step rather than a dead end.
Tuition
$5,696 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the SUNY Westchester Community College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 8.8/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 6.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #21 AHIMA PCAP approved
Berkshire Community College
Pittsfield, MA · Public · Medical Coding Certificate
69.1
of 100
Some online courses Certificate 18 credits Preps CPCPreps CCAWhy it ranks nationally
Berkshire Community College, in Pittsfield, MA, ranks #21 of the 25 programs on this list. The program page names 2 exams graduates may sit for: CPC and CCA. The award is a Medical Coding Certificate of 18 credits, designed to be completed in one year, six courses. The coding and health information management certificates are designed to stack, so a student can add one to the other. Delivery is him courses available fully online, listed as hybrid because the weekly lecture can be attended in person or on teams.
Tuition
$5,612 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Berkshire Community College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 35.0/35
- Published tuition 9.1/25
- Track record 13.0/20
- Online availability 6.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #22
Allan Hancock College
Santa Maria, CA · Public
62.9
of 100
Online available CertificateWhy it ranks nationally
Allan Hancock College, in Santa Maria, CA, ranks #22 of the 25 programs on this list. At $1,146 a year in district, it is about 71% below the median of $3,904 across the programs on this list. Nothing independent has reviewed this specific program, which describes almost every coding program in the country rather than this one in particular. IPEDS records the college as offering undergraduate programs that can be finished entirely at a distance, an institution-level flag, so check that the coding award itself runs online. 16 awards in the latest year, and awards in each of the three years before it, which is the check we run for whether a program is actually operating.
Tuition
$1,146 a year, in-district
Score breakdown
- Independent review 0.0/35
- Published tuition 24.9/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #23
College of the Mainland
Texas City, TX · Public
61.1
of 100
Online available CertificateWhy it ranks nationally
College of the Mainland, in Texas City, TX, ranks #23 of the 25 programs on this list. At $1,773 a year in district, it is about 55% below the median of $3,904 across the programs on this list. There is no program-level review on record here. That is unremarkable in this field, where only 22 programs nationally carry one. IPEDS records the college as offering undergraduate programs that can be finished entirely at a distance, an institution-level flag, so check that the coding award itself runs online. Federal completions show awards in each of the last three years, 4 in the most recent, so this is a running program rather than a listed one.
Tuition
$1,773 a year, in-district
Score breakdown
- Independent review 0.0/35
- Published tuition 23.1/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #24
San Juan College
Farmington, NM · Public · Health Information Technology, A.A.S.
61.1
of 100
Online available Certificate 60-63 credits Practicum included Preps RHITWhy it ranks nationally
San Juan College, in Farmington, NM, ranks #24 of the 25 programs on this list. The program page names the exam graduates may sit for: RHIT. Coursework must be completed within three years of admission, and all coursework must be current within five years at graduation. Delivery is all courses offered online only. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus.
Tuition
$1,790 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the San Juan College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 0.0/35
- Published tuition 23.1/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
- #25
Pitt Community College
Winterville, NC · Public · Medical Office Administration: Medical Billing and Coding, AAS
60.9
of 100
Online available Certificate 76 credits Practicum included Preps CPCWhy it ranks nationally
Pitt Community College, in Winterville, NC, ranks #25 of the 25 programs on this list. The program page names the exam graduates may sit for: CPC. The college also runs undergraduate programs entirely at a distance, so this is a candidate whether or not you can get to campus. No program-level approval is recorded. Read that as the field's norm, not as a finding about this college, whose institutional accreditation is a separate matter. IPEDS records the college as offering undergraduate programs that can be finished entirely at a distance, an institution-level flag, so check that the coding award itself runs online.
Tuition
$1,970 a year, in-district
Facts on this card come from the Pitt Community College program page
Score breakdown
- Independent review 0.0/35
- Published tuition 22.9/25
- Track record 20.0/20
- Online availability 12.0/12
- Credential fit 6.0/8
-
Tuition figures are annual published tuition and fees reported to IPEDS for 2023. Code books, coding software and the certification exam are extra unless a program states otherwise. Program details on 21 of these 25 cards were read from the college's own program page on 2026-08-13. Where we could not confirm a page, the card says so and runs on federal data alone.
What is the difference between medical billing and medical coding?
The difference between medical billing and medical coding is that a medical coder reads the patient record and assigns the diagnosis and procedure codes, while a medical biller takes those codes, submits the claim to the insurer and works the denial when it comes back. Most medical billing and coding programs teach both, which is why the phrase is usually written as one job when it is really two.
The distinction matters for pay. Medical coding sits under Medical Records Specialists in federal wage data, and medical billing sits under Billing and Posting Clerks, which pays $2,640 less at the median. A medical billing and coding program that trains you for both leaves you able to take either job, and small practices often hire one person to do the two together.
When you compare medical billing and coding programs, check which side the curriculum leans on. A program built around ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS is teaching coding. A program built around claim forms, reimbursement methodology and denials is teaching billing. The certification follows the same split: the AAPC CPB is the billing credential, the CPC and the AHIMA CCA are coding credentials.
How much does a medical billing and coding program cost in 2026?
A medical billing and coding program costs roughly $1,146 to $10,110 a year in tuition in 2026 among the programs ranked here, and the median across all 680 medical coding programs nationally that publish a price is $4,920 a year. A quarter of medical billing and coding programs charge under $3,650, a quarter over $7,630. These are the most recent figures available in 2026: published tuition and fees reported to IPEDS for 2023, which is the latest year the federal data covers. Certification exam fees below are current 2026 prices.
Then there is the certification, which most programs do not include. The AAPC CPC exam is $425 for a single attempt or $499 for two, and AAPC student membership adds $164. Current code books and coding software are extra again. So a certificate advertised at $3,650 can reasonably cost several hundred dollars more before you are certified.
How long does a medical billing and coding program take in 2026?
A medical billing and coding program takes about two to five semesters in 2026, or roughly ten months to a year and a half of full-time study, depending on whether you take the medical coding certificate or the associate degree. These are the lengths each medical coding program publishes on its own page as of August 2026, read from the programs themselves rather than taken from a directory.
| Program | Published length | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire Community College | designed to be completed in one year, six courses | 18 |
| Great Falls College Montana State University | 3 semesters once accepted | 44-45 |
| Green River College | 5 quarters, about 1.5 years | 75 |
| River Parishes Community College | four semesters | 44 |
| Palm Beach State College | 6 semesters part time | 37 |
| Purdue University Global | about 1 year full time | 44 quarter credits across 10 courses |
| Delaware County Community College | five semesters full time, six part time | 49 |
| South Suburban College | three semesters | 40 |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | four semesters full time for the AAS, two for the certificate | 60 for the AAS, 22 for the certificate |
| Pitt Community College | five semesters full time | 76 |
| Camden County College | three semesters | 39 |
| Miami Dade College | a year or more, with classes starting in January and August | 37 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | five semesters, designed to be completed in two years | 41 |
Full-time pacing. Part-time roughly doubles it, and several of these programs are built for people already working.
Should you get a medical coding certificate or an associate degree?
You should get a medical coding certificate if you want to code and start earning, and an associate degree if you want the health information roles that sit past coding. The federal data shows how lopsided this is: 955 of the 978 schools awarding a medical coding or billing credential award a certificate, and only 104 award an associate degree. The medical coding certificate is not the budget option in this field, it is the mainstream one.
Take the certificate if you want to code and you want to start earning. Take the associate degree if you want the roles that sit past coding: registrar work, data quality, supervision, or the RHIT credential, which requires a CAHIIM-accredited associate degree. A useful middle path is a college that offers both and lets the certificate credits count toward the degree, so you can start short and come back. Several programs on this list are built exactly that way.
Should you take the AAPC CPC or the AHIMA CCA exam?
Whether you take the AAPC CPC or the AHIMA CCA depends on the employer you want rather than on which medical coding credential is stronger. AAPC credentials, the CPC above all, dominate physician practices, outpatient clinics and payers. AHIMA credentials, the CCA at entry and the CCS for inpatient coding, dominate hospitals. Neither is the better qualification in the abstract.
So work backwards. Look at who is hiring coders where you live, read three of their job postings, and note which letters keep appearing. Then choose a program that names that exam. If you want hospital inpatient work the CCS is the target, and it is the harder exam. If you want a physician practice the CPC is the one, and be aware that passing it without documented experience gives you the CPC-A apprentice designation until you have experience or approved training behind you.
How much do medical coders and medical billers make?
Medical coders make a median of $51,140 a year and medical billers make $48,500, because medical coding and medical billing sit in two different federal occupations. Both are shown below with the full spread rather than the median alone, since the tenth percentile is closer to what a first medical coding job actually pays. Figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release for May 2025.
| Occupation | Bottom 10% | Median | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Records Specialists SOC 29-2072 | $37,000 | $51,140 | $81,150 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks SOC 43-3021 | $37,290 | $48,500 | $67,710 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers SOC 11-9111 | $73,390 | $123,860 | $224,340 |
Annual wages, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Coders sit in Medical Records Specialists; billing-only roles sit in Billing and Posting Clerks, which pays $2,640 less at the median.
Read the third row carefully. Medical and Health Services Managers covers every manager in health care, hospital executives included, and coding managers are a small slice of it. It shows where the ceiling sits if you keep going, not what a graduate earns on day one.
Which states have the most medical coding programs?
The states with the most medical coding programs are California, Florida and Texas, which between them run 263 of the country's medical billing and coding programs. These eight states hold 462 of the 978 schools in our data, which matters if you want to study in person in your own state or need a local placement.
109
CA
82
FL
72
TX
55
OH
42
MI
36
PA
35
IL
31
GA
If you are not in one of those, online is the practical answer and it is well supplied: 603 of 978 institutions offer undergraduate programs that can be completed entirely at a distance.
Medical coding programs by state
Every state with a program has its own page, listing each school, what it charges, which hold AHIMA PCAP approval, and what coders earn there. The pair of numbers is how many programs that state has ranked against how many institutions it has: a program needs published tuition to be scored at all, so the first number is usually the smaller.
How are these medical coding programs ranked?
These medical coding programs are ranked on five factors totalling 100 points, applied identically to every program with no editorial override and no paid placement. Version 1.2, and the full methodology lists what we deliberately do not score.
- Independent review, 35 points. Whether an outside body has reviewed the program. In medical coding that means AHIMA PCAP approval, which is also a pathway to the CCA, CCS and CCS-P exams. No coding program in the country currently holds CAHIIM accreditation, so PCAP is the only program-level review available.
- Published tuition, 25 points. Full-time undergraduate tuition and fees as reported to IPEDS, in-district where a college publishes it, scored against every other program we can price. A program that does not publish a price is not ranked at all rather than being given an assumed one.
- Track record, 20 points. Whether the program conferred awards in each of the last three years. This measures that the program is running and graduating people, not how large it is. Size is deliberately not rewarded, or the list would simply return the biggest advertisers.
- Online availability, 12 points. Whether the institution offers undergraduate programs that can be completed entirely at a distance. IPEDS reports this per institution rather than per program, so treat it as "online study is possible here" and confirm the specific coding program with the school.
- Credential fit, 8 points. Whether the school offers the certificate this field actually hires on, and whether it also offers the associate degree for students who want the longer route. A school offering both scores highest because it gives a student somewhere to go next.
Why is exam preparation shown but not scored?
Exam preparation is shown but not scored because only 10 of these 25 medical coding programs name a specific certification exam on their own page. It is the most useful thing about a coding program and no federal dataset records it, so we read the program pages: 20 of these 25, with the source linked on every card. Only 10 of them name a specific exam. Scoring that would have put a college with a terse catalogue level with one whose page we could not find at all, and neither tells you anything about the teaching. So the exam a program names is shown on its card, sourced, and left out of the score for you to weigh yourself.
What does this medical coding program ranking not tell you?
This medical coding program ranking does not tell you two things. Online availability is reported by IPEDS for the institution rather than for the individual medical coding program, so confirm with the school that the coding award itself runs online. Online availability is reported by IPEDS for the institution rather than for the individual program, so confirm with the school that the coding certificate itself runs online. And this list covers colleges that report to the federal government, so the private training providers that sit outside that system are not in it. They are a real option with different trade-offs, and we cover them separately in medical coding programs outside the federal data.
Common questions
Do you need a degree to become a medical coder?
How much does medical billing and coding certification cost in total?
Can you complete a medical billing and coding program online?
Should you take the AAPC CPC or the AHIMA CCA certification?
What is a CPC-A and how do you remove the apprentice designation?
Is medical coding really a work-from-home job?
Does financial aid cover medical billing and coding programs?
How many medical coding programs are there in the United States?
How current is the medical coding program data on this page?
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of the following. Each is linked inline at the point it is used as well as listed here.
- IPEDS, the federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2023 release, accessed via the Urban Institute Education Data API. Supplies the 978-program count, completions, published tuition, institution type and distance-education status. Read 12 August 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 national release. Supplies every wage figure, for Medical Records Specialists (SOC 29-2072), Billing and Posting Clerks (SOC 43-3021) and Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111).
- AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program directory. Supplies which medical coding programs hold PCAP approval. Read 13 August 2026.
- CAHIIM program directory, enumerated in full. Supplies the finding that no medical coding program currently holds CAHIIM accreditation. Read 12 August 2026, method on accreditation explained.
- AAPC published certification pricing. Supplies the CPC exam and membership figures.
- Each college's own program page, linked on its card, for credential name, length, credits, practicum and the certification exams the program names. Read 13 August 2026, 21 of 25 programs.
Scoring weights and what this ranking deliberately excludes are published in full on the methodology page.