Best Online Associate Degrees in Medical Billing and Coding of 2025
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.
10 Best Online Medical Billing and Coding Associate Degrees
How We Chose These Schools
At TheBestSchools, we use trusted data from the U.S. Department of Education to evaluate schools without bias. Our ranking methodology helps prospective students from various backgrounds find the best fit. We consider key factors like academic quality, online offerings, and affordability, so every type of student can find the best fit for them.
This list has been updated for 2025. Learn more about how our formula works on our ranking methodology page.
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.
What Can I Expect From an Online Associate in Medical Billing and Coding Program?
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.
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.
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.
Medical Billing and Coding Curriculum
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.
- 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 an associate degree, or is a medical coding 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. Before applying for jobs, consider obtaining professional certification from the AAPC.
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 (2024) | Core or Advanced Credential |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Professional Biller | $64,103 | Core |
| Certified Professional Coder | $66,415 | Core |
| Certified Outpatient Coder | $73,183 | Core |
| Certified Risk Adjustment Coder | $74,943 | Core |
| Certified Inpatient Coder | $77,511 | Core |
| Certified Documentation Expert Outpatient | $81,779 | Advanced |
| Certified Professional Medical Auditor | $81,278 | Advanced |
| Certified Physician Practice Manager | $84,787 | Advanced |
Other credentialing organizations you can earn certification from include the American Medical Billing Association (AMBA) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Medical Billing and Coding Salary and Career Outlook
Medical billing and coding accredited online schools prepare you for many entry-level careers in the healthcare industry. 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, you 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 (2024): $50,250
- 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 (2024): $67,310
- 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 (2024): $44,200
- 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
Are medical coding jobs hard to get?
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.
What is the hardest part of being a medical coder?
Potential challenges in medical coding include fast-paced work, learning the different details of various coding systems, and adapting to changes in coding systems over time.
However, what is difficult for one person might be easy for another. Attention to detail and a good memory are essential skills in the field of medical billing and coding.
Which medical coding certification pays the most?
According to AAPC, the most lucrative coding certification is the certified professional compliance officer credential. The median annual salary for professionals with this certification was $91,075 in 2024.
The organization also notes that certified coders make an average of nearly 18% more than workers without any certifications.
Can I do medical billing and coding without a degree?
Technically, yes, you can do medical billing and coding without a degree, but you will almost certainly need a certificate and a credential to secure a job in the field.
Some people may start in an entry-level position and work on an associate degree in medical billing and coding online while getting on-the-job experience.
Do medical coders have to be fast typists?
Medical facilities are often fast-paced, and coders must be quick and accurate. You should be able to produce 50-60 words per minute, but the faster you can type, the more you can focus on the content of your work instead of the keyboard.