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Speech Language Pathologist Education Requirements
Updated April 5, 2024
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Stacy Nunnelee,
Anthony DiLollo
The educational requirements for a speech language pathologist are a master's degree. According to Ronda Walker, Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Longwood University, "You must negotiate. Check to see what comparable salaries are in the area and in the setting before you even go in for the interview." Additionally, she suggests, "Keep up with continuing education and professional development. Pursue a specialization that you are passionate about." Stacy Nunnelee, Speech Language Pathology Clinical Supervisor at the University of North Texas, adds that for audiologists and speech-language pathologists, "the first essential skill is the level of education."
What education do you need to become a speech language pathologist?
What degree do you need to be a speech language pathologist?
- Bachelor's, 51%
- Master's, 46%
- Associate, 2%
- Doctorate, 0%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a speech language pathologist?
The best college majors for a speech language pathologist are typically a master's degree in speech-language pathology or communication disorders sciences. According to Anthony DiLollo, Director of the Davies School of COSD and Professor at Texas Christian University, "If individuals desire to work in specific settings, it is advisable to gain as much experience and additional training/education as possible in the areas in which individuals desire that setting focuses."
- Other Majors, 17%
Most common colleges for speech language pathologists
| Speech Language Pathologist Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Central Florida | 10.96% |
| University of South Florida | 7.28% |
| Clarion University of Pennsylvania | 6.88% |
| Adelphi University | 6.35% |
| Florida State University | 5.61% |
Best majors for speech language pathologists
The best college majors for a speech language pathologist are typically a master's degree in speech-language pathology or communication disorders sciences. According to Anthony DiLollo, Director of the Davies School of COSD and Professor at Texas Christian University, "If individuals desire to work in specific settings, it is advisable to gain as much experience and additional training/education as possible in the areas in which individuals desire that setting focuses."
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication Disorders Sciences | 40.2% |
| 2 | Speech-Language Pathology | 31.7% |
| 3 | Special Education | 6.7% |
| 4 | Physiology And Anatomy | 3.7% |
| 5 | Psychology | 3.2% |
Best colleges for speech language pathologists
The best colleges for aspiring speech language pathologists include the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Virginia, and Northwestern University. These institutions are crucial for speech language pathologists due to their strong focus on advanced education, which typically leads to higher salaries and better job opportunities. The universities excel in metrics such as admissions rate, retention rate, and mean earnings of graduates.
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
2. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-State Tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-State Tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
6. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Enrollment
34,564
7. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
8. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
10. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Enrollment
1,834
20 best online courses for speech language pathologists
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Top 10 most affordable universities for speech language pathologists
The most affordable schools for speech language pathologists are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, brigham young university, and hunter college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for speech language pathologists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for speech language pathologists.
1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
2. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
3. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,182
Cost of Attendance
13,998
4. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
5. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,064
Cost of Attendance
15,576
6. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,556
Cost of Attendance
19,434
7. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,338
Cost of Attendance
14,281
8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce
Mercedita, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,914
Cost of Attendance
13,564
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,656
Cost of Attendance
21,623
10. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Cost of Attendance
18,306
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for speech language pathologists
The hardest universities for speech language pathologists to get into are Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, and University of Tulsa.
Some great schools for speech language pathologists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for speech language pathologists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions Rate
10%
SAT Average
1,514
3. University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
41%
SAT Average
1,321
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
5. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions Rate
15%
SAT Average
1,506
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
19%
SAT Average
1,466
7. Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
50%
SAT Average
1,284
8. University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
59%
SAT Average
1,367
9. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
Admissions Rate
58%
SAT Average
1,309
10. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
Admissions Rate
26%
SAT Average
1,427
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for speech language pathologists
The easiest schools for speech language pathologists to get into are Our Lady of the Lake University, saint xavier university, and longwood university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a speech language pathologist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for speech language pathologists.
1. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
1,002
2. Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
74%
SAT Average
1,061
3. Longwood University
Farmville, VA • Private
Admissions Rate
89%
SAT Average
1,065
4. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
957
5. Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
1,073
6. Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA • Private
Admissions Rate
87%
SAT Average
1,093
7. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
72%
SAT Average
1,054
8. Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN • Private
Admissions Rate
86%
SAT Average
1,086
9. Iona College
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
88%
SAT Average
1,089
10. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
994
Average speech language pathologist salary by education level
| Speech Language Pathologist education level | Speech Language Pathologist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $74,607 |
| Doctorate Degree | $70,985 |
Speech Language Pathologist Education FAQs
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Updated April 5, 2024
Updated April 5, 2024