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Speech professor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a speech professor. Speech professors usually study communication, theatre, or english. 50% of speech professors hold a master's degree, and 47% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 40 real speech professor resumes to see exactly what speech professor education sections show.
The most common colleges for speech professors are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online speech professor courses to help get the education required to be a speech professor.
What education do you need to become a speech professor?
What degree do you need to be a speech professor?
- Master's, 50%
- Bachelor's, 47%
- Doctorate, 3%
What should I major in to become a speech professor?
- Communication, 52%
- Theatre, 6%
- English, 6%
- Other Majors, 30%
Most common colleges for speech professors
| Speech professor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 8.33% |
| Texas Southern University | 8.33% |
| Arizona State University | 8.33% |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | 8.33% |
| Sarah Lawrence College | 4.17% |
Best majors for speech professors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication | 51.5% |
| 2 | Theatre | 6.1% |
| 3 | English | 6.1% |
| 4 | Elementary Education | 6.1% |
| 5 | Speech-Language Pathology | 3.0% |
Best colleges for speech professors
The best colleges for speech professors are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Northeastern University.
A speech professor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for speech professors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become speech professors.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
6. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
7. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
8. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
20 best online courses for speech professors
Advertising disclosure
1. Communicating with the Public
Rooted in theater, journalism and humanities practices, this course presents tools and techniques that help you improve your public-facing communication skills, particularly when describing your work to a lay audience. Whether it’s a 30-second elevator pitch or speaking to a large organization, “Communicating with the Public” will boost your confidence in any speech-communication scenario...
2. Speaking to Inspire: Ceremonial and Motivational Speeches
The most memorable speeches inspire, entertain, and praise. By blending stories and eloquence, great speeches highlight the core values motivating an audience. You might need to do this in a keynote address, a eulogy, or simply a business meeting. Inspiring audiences is a common, but difficult writing challenge. You want a speech that elevates the topic and the audience. This course gives you a method for preparing and delivering speeches that inspire and entertain. By the end of this course,...
3. The Complete Presentation and Public Speaking/Speech Course
From page to stage; learn everything you need to know about giving a great speech for business & personal presentations...
4. The Art of Public Speaking
Master Public Speaking: Deliver Unforgettable Speeches & Presentations With The World's Most Decorated Public Speaker...
5. Speech to Text Transcription with the Cloud Speech API
This is a self-paced lab that takes place in the Google Cloud console. The Cloud Speech API lets you do speech to text transcription from audio files in over 80 languages. In this hands-on lab you’ll record your own audio file and send it to the Speech API for transcription...
6. Interpersonal Communication for Engineering Leaders
This course covers communication skills that engineering leaders use every day to motivate, inspire, and support the people in their organizations. Speaking and writing are basic leadership communication skills. (We covered these topics in the Specialization course 1 and 3.) However, leaders also need to be skillful interpersonal communicators. Modern business requires communication skills that are effective across cultures, generations, and genders. Communication is also a key skill in...
7. The Art of Communications - Become A Master Communicator
Communication skills training. Confidence. Public Speaking. Promotion. Body Language. Pay raise. Job interview. Speech...
8. Communication Skills - 7 Communication Courses In 1
Master Communication Skills: Learn Persuasion, Negotiation, Body Language, Emotional Intelligence & More!...
9. Public Speaking Skills: Give a Great Informational Speech
Public Speaking - You can confidently present information in a way that is understandable and memorable...
10. Take Lessons from an Actor -Speech & Confidence Training
Be successful in Job interviews, public speaking, committee meetings, employee evaluations, selling and auditions...
11. Communication Skills: Be a Star Presenter on a Panels
Communication Skills - How to convey confidence and be memorable. You can be the star of every panel...
12. Improve Communication: Speak Smoothly, Clearly & Confidently
Learn How You Can Clear Interviews, Express Your Ideas, & Make Presentations Smoothly & Confidently!...
13. Public Speaking & Communicating: Skip Theory, Master the Art
Public Speaking,Presenting,Communicating. After years in the Making: The Spark Words method has been proven by Thousands...
14. Workplace Communication: You Can Speak Up at Meetings!
You Can Learn to Speak up At Anytime Knowing how To Look and Sound Your Best in Meetings...
15. Speak Like a Pro: Public Speaking for Professionals
Master presentation skills and impromptu speaking, conquer speech anxiety, and get your point across to any audience...
16. Communication Skills Masterclass - Your Communication Guide
Communication Skill For Business Communication & Effective Communication In Workplace & Relationships...
17. Communication Skills Masterclass: Speak Like A Leader
Master Public Speaking, Business Communication, Presentation Skills, Storytelling, Body Language, Listening & More!...
18. The Complete Nonverbal Communication Course - Body Language
Nonverbal Communication for Business, Public Speaking and Life - Display Confidence and High Self Esteem...
19. Make Your Ideas Stick: Communicate with Impact
Presentations. Pitches. Proposals. Ads. Lessons. Speeches. Here's how to make your message stick!...
20. Public Speaking for People Who Hate Public Speaking
Public Speaking for People Who Hate Public Speaking - Presentation Skills - Communication Skills and Storytelling...
Top 10 most affordable universities for speech professors
The most affordable schools for speech professors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for speech professors 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 professors.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
8. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
9. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
10. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,368
Cost of attendance
21,034
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for speech professors
The hardest universities for speech professors to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Northeastern University.
Some great schools for speech professors 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 professors 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. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
3. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
4. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Tulane University
New Orleans, LA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,428
9. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
10. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,365
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for speech professors
The easiest schools for speech professors to get into are Barry University, mount saint mary's university, and grand view university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a speech professor 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 professors.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
5. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
6. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
7. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
8. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
9. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
10. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
Average speech professor salary by education level
| Speech professor education level | Speech professor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $73,939 |
| Doctorate Degree | $108,775 |
Speech professor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025