For this article, we’ve set out to find the 25 Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing School Programs on U.S. campuses that provide training and maximize career investments. We accessed the NCES College Navigator to locate the cheapest MCB majors based on average in-state tuition data for 2017-18. Our advanced search filtered out certificate and associate degrees at public institutions for medical billers or coders. When the tuition max was marked to $5,000, the database returned 67 inexpensive results! Our next task was checking these low-cost options for quality regional accreditation. Preference was also given for accredited colleges on the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) website. After arranging suitable schools from low to high, we kept only the 25 Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training School Programs costing under $3,200 yearly below.
1. San Juan College
Granted the 2000 Zia Award for Quality New Mexico, San Juan College is a public open-access, HLC-accredited junior institution with an 87,442-square-foot Farmington facility to serve nearly 13,000. The School of Health Sciences has July 1st, November 1st, and April 1st deadlines for individuals with minimum 2.5 GPAs to enter the Medical Insurance Coder/Biller Certificate. Chaired by Prof. Deborah Honstad, this 40-credit, online program blends Canvas courses with 40-hour internships for CCA exam prep.
Annual Tuition: $1,474
2. Meridian Technology Center
Directed by Dr. Douglas Major, Meridian Technology Center is a public, two-year Oklahoma CareerTech institute and 2018 HOSA Silver Star Chapter Award winner in Stillwater that’s linked to 82,500 in 400 districts. The Health Insurance Coder Certificate is a full-time, adult-only option that aligns to the latest ICD-10 practices and physician notes. Finishing the 1,260-hour curriculum takes 11.5 months of real-world projects in Anatomy, Reimbursement Methodology, Patient Privacy, and more.
Annual Tuition: $1,800
3. School District of Indian River County
Ranked Florida’s 12th best district with the #1 top teachers by Niche, the School District of Indian River County led by Dr. Mark Rendell expands beyond its 27 K-12 buildings in Vero Beach with cheap adult education. The Medical Coder/Biller Certificate lets TABE exam passers study electronic health records Mondays through Thursdays at Treasure Coast Technical College. Boasting 90 percent completion, the 1,110-hour program can lead to National Healthcareer Association certifications.
Annual Tuition: $1,920
4. Tooele Technical College
Located in Forbes’ 10th friendliest town below Oquirrh Mountain, Tooele Technical College is a public, two-year Utah System of Higher Education member opened in 2009 with 27 programs. For instance, the Allied Health & Nursing Division headed by Prof. Sheila Sferas awards the Medical Billing and Coding Certificate of Proficiency in just six months. This 630-hour, Pell Grant-eligible option admits students age 16+ into modules like Claim Processing for median starting pay of $16.74/hour.
Annual Tuition: $2,293
5. Oakland Community College
Worth $25 billion total, Oakland Community College is Michigan’s 12th best public, lower-division school on BestColleges.com that’s grown since June 1964 to teach 82,000 Raiders at six locations. In Highland Lakes, the CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting Program grants a Medical Insurance Coding Certificate with 100 percent CPC success. The 16-credit track coordinated by Prof. Judy Hayes partners with Henry Ford Health for courses like Medical Ethics and a no-cost apprenticeship.
Annual Tuition: $2,360
6. Lee College
Chosen a 2018 Bellwether Award Finalist, Lee College is a public, Hispanic-serving Texas Aspen Prize winner ranked 76th nationally by Niche for training over 9,000 Runnin’ Rebels from a 40-acre Baytown campus. In the McNulty-Haddick Complex, the CAHIIM-accredited Allied Health Department grants the Certificate of Completion in Medical Coding in three terms. The 33-credit plan organized by Prof. Howard Bushart involves affordable courses like Health Data Content and AHIMA exam review.
Annual Tuition: $2,488
Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing School Programs at Lee College here.
7. Collin County Community College
Given a $3.99 million NSF Advancing Technology Education Grant, Collin County Community College is a public, SACS-accredited junior institution founded in 1985 that’s ranked fifth in Texas by BestColleges.com with 53,000 Cougars. The School of Health Sciences led by Prof. Gary Hodge prepares for the CPC exam with the Medical Coding Certificate Series. On Blackboard or in McKinney, the 352-hour, eight-month track integrates courses like HIPAA Compliance and Pathophysiology.
Annual Tuition: $2,538
8. San Jacinto College
Placed 28th nationally by Community College Week, San Jacinto College is a public, Hispanic-serving “Achieving the Dream Leader” institution opened in 1961 that’s enrolling 30,000 Gators in Greater Houston. The CAHIIM-accredited Health Occupations Division started the Certificate of Technology in Medical Bill and Coding for median salary of $37,685. Directed by Prof. Carla Ruffins, RHIA, the 30-credit curriculum applies North Campus courses like Classification Systems with 26 field experience hours.
Annual Tuition: $2,580
9. Mountainland Technical College
Serving Provo-Orem Metro, Mountainland Technical College is a public, STEM-centric vocational institute established in 1989 and led by Clay Christensen, the 2016 UACTE Administrator of the Year, with 87 percent job placement. In Lehi or Spanish Fork, the Health Sciences Department provides the Medical Billing and Coding Certificate for $2,585. The 1,100-hour, open-entry program includes the CPC exam, CPR/First Aid certification, and possible credit transfer to Utah Valley University.
Annual Tuition: $2,585
10. South Arkansas Community College
First chartered by Governor Bill Clinton, South Arkansas Community College is a public, two-year El Dorado school and 2015 ABPG Workforce Development Award winner that’s budgeting $14.7 million to instruct 13,707 students. The Division of Health Sciences managed by Prof. Caroline Hammond starts a Technical Certificate in Medical Coding thrice yearly. Reporting a 75 percent AHIMA pass rate, the 36-credit program requires one clinical practicum after affordable courses like Information Processing.
Annual Tuition: $2,628
11. Columbus Technical College
Named 10th nationally by The Knowledge Review, Columbus Technical College is a public, SACS-accredited junior institution that’s serving 5,231 students and hosting the 2018 FBLA Chapter of the Year in western Georgia. The Division of Health Sciences & Nursing in Wright Center confers the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate in 10-12 months. Headed by Prof. Nicole Jackson, the 24-credit option unlocks initial AHIMA certification after courses like Document Production are graded at least “C.”
Annual Tuition: $2,704
Learn more about the Most Affordable Medical Coding and Billing Training Schools at Columbus Techniccal College here.
12. Southern Regional Technical College
Gifting $17.9 million yearly, including the Non-Traditional Scholarship, Southern Regional Technical College is a public, two-unit TCSG constituent merged in 2015 under Dr. Craig Wentworth that’s ranked #1 in Georgia by BestColleges.com. The Medical Billing Clerk Technical Certificate utilizes the School of Health Sciences’ resources for 100 percent career placement in 28 weeks. At Thomasville, Moultrie, Tifton, and Cairo campuses, this 22-credit sequence accelerates toward CPB credentials.
Annual Tuition: $2,704
13. North Georgia Technical College
Celebrating its 110th year, North Georgia Technical College is the oldest public, open-access TCSG member and 2015 GDEC Grant recipient that’s teaching 3,661 students with 70 percent retention. In Clarkesville or Blairsville, the Health Care Division guided by Prof. Farilyn Rearden has a Medical Coding Certificate worth around $2,734 total. The 24-credit, one-year program engages courses from Human Pathological Conditions to Medical Office Management with clinical partners like Habersham Center.
Annual Tuition: $2,734
14. Savannah Technical College
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Crowned America’s #1 best for vets school in Military Times, Savannah Technical College is a public, diverse market-driven TCSG member opened in 1929 that’s serving 4,500 in 150+ coastal programs. The Health Sciences Department has a 20:1 student-faculty ratio under Prof. Kathleen Bombery for its Medical Coding/Insurance Data Entry Certificate. Requiring Compass reading scores above 70, the 29-credit, three-term track covers ICD-10 methods in Savannah, Liberty, or Effingham.
Annual Tuition: $2,744
15. Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Rated A+ by the BBB, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a public, two-year Coosa Valley school and 2018 People’s Choice Award winner dedicated to giving 13,734 Bobcats “Education for Work.” The Health Technologies Department led by Prof. Frank Pharr offers the Medical Coding Technical Certificate at six campuses and 100 percent online via Blackboard. For 30 weeks, the 24-credit program prepares for healthcare documentation jobs with mid-career pay of $52,300 on PayScale.
Annual Tuition: $2,774
16. Chattahoochee Technical College
Home to the 2018 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence recipient, Chattahoochee Technical College is a public, eight-campus TCSG member in Marietta that’s ranked 10th by Atlanta Business Chronicle for serving 13,003 Eagles. Administered by Prof. Ron Webb, the Health Sciences Division starts a Medical Coding Specialization to the Health Care Assistant Certificate each August. The 33-credit, hybrid North Metro option adheres to AAPC guidelines with practice partners like Grady Hospital.
Annual Tuition: $2,782
17. South Georgia Technical College
Bestowed the 2018 Sumter County Partner of the Year Award, South Georgia Technical College is a public, Hope Grant-eligible junior institution marking its 70th year by training 2,100 Jets with 80 faculty. The Medical Assisting Division confers the Medical Coding Technical Certificate of Credit for $2,794 in-state in Americus or at Crisp County Center. Advised by Prof. Diana Skipper, the 24-credit, 30-week curriculum melds courses like Fundamentals of English and Procedural Coding.
Annual Tuition: $2,794
18. Augusta Technical College
Ranked 19th nationally for education outcomes by WalletHub, Augusta Technical College is a public, SACS-accredited vocational school opened in 1961 that’s led by Dr. Terry Elam with nearly debt-free education for 4,379 Cougars. The Allied Health Sciences & Nursing Division maintains a 16:1 student-professor ratio for the Medical Coding Technical Certificate in Augusta and Thomson. Starting every Fall, the 24-credit, guided evening pathway has 99.8 percent job placement after courses like Human Disease.
Annual Tuition: $2,794
19. West Georgia Technical College
Runner-up for the 2016 Sonny Perdue College of the Year Award, West Georgia Technical College is the third-largest public, seven-county TCSG constituent generating $70.6 million with 9,525 Golden Knights enrolled. Chaired by Prof. Daphney Bryan in Waco, the School of Health Sciences powers the Medical Coding Technical Certificate with Blackboard for high school or GED graduates typing 30+ wpm. The 24-credit, one-year online journey includes courses like Human Body Structure and Insurance Billing.
Annual Tuition: $2,838
20. College of the Mainland
Operating a Five-Star Phi Beta Kappa Chapter, College of the Mainland is a public, two-year Galveston County school founded in 1966 that’s ranked fifth for STEM in Community College Week with 4,328 Fighting Ducks. The CAHIIM-accredited Health Information Management Program led by Prof. Kay Frieze offers a standalone Medical Coding Certificate in 1.5 years. Reporting 28.6 percent attrition, the 34-credit diploma includes hands-on CPC prep in courses like Patient Data and clinical internships.
Annual Tuition: $2,973
21. Coahoma Community College
Declared America’s #2 cheapest HBCU by Best Value Schools, Coahoma Community College is a public, historically Black career institute opened in 1924 that’s training 2,999 Tigers at its 99-acre Mississippi Delta campus. The Allied Health Training Center in Clarksdale launched an A.A.S. in Medical Billing and Coding Technology for initial RHIT certification. Overseen by Prof. Beverly Overton, the 61-credit, applied program integrates 270 work hours into courses like Mechanics of Communication.
Annual Tuition: $2,803
22. Atlanta Technical College
Established as Smith-Hughes Vocational School in 1967, Atlanta Technical College is now America’s third fastest-growing campus according to Community College Week with 4,859 students in Forbes’ ninth best city. The Division of Health & Public Safety hosts a CAHIIM-accredited Health Information Management Coding Diploma for 64-week completion. Headed by Prof. Aletta Spence, the 52-credit plan requires 3.0 GPAs throughout cheap courses from Basic Psychology to Revenue Cycle Management.
Annual Tuition: $2,816
23. Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
Adjacent to Baxter Regional Medical Center, Arkansas State University-Mountain Home is a public, open-admission school opened in 1995 that’s budgeting $10.7 million to instruct 1,500 Trailblazers in America’s 80th best associate degrees on Niche. The Health Sciences Division delivers a Technical Certificate in Professional Medical Coding with ICD-10 books included. Coordinated by Prof. Sarah Smith, the 32-credit program strengthens medical document interpretation with optional Fran Coulter Honors.
Annual Tuition: $2,832
24. Highland Community College
Ranked 177th nationally for value by WalletHub, Highland Community College is a public, two-year Kansas institution and 2017 PTK International Hallmark Award winner that’s teaching 3,300 Scotties at 33 HLC-accredited locations. The Health Sciences Center utilizes Moodle for its Online A.A.S. in Medical Coding that only costs $3,057 twice. Directed by Prof. Elizabeth Wingo, the 64-credit, two-year program meets CCA competencies in courses like Pharmacology and virtual practica.
Annual Tuition: $3,057
25. Panola College
Occupying a 135-acre East Texas campus in Carthage, Panola College has placed in the Center for Digital Education’s top 10 five times as a public, two-year Ed2Go member serving 2,584 Ponies with 100 percent admission. The Health Sciences Department headed by Prof. Kelly Reed-Hirsch reports average income of $35,000 for Medical Coding Technician Certificate graduates. Taking 32 weeks, this 36-credit, TSI-waived program has blended Canvas courses like Ambulatory Coding with CCA review.
Annual Tuition: $3,120
