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Speech teacher education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a speech teacher. Speech teachers usually study communication disorders sciences, communication, or english. 73% of speech teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 695 real speech teacher resumes to see exactly what speech teacher education sections show.

The most common colleges for speech teachers are the Hofstra University and the Hofstra University.

There are also many online speech teacher courses to help get the education required to be a speech teacher.

There are certain speech teacher certifications that you should consider. These speech teacher certifications include Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) and Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE).

What education do you need to become a speech teacher?

What degree do you need to be a speech teacher?

The most common degree for speech teachers is bachelor's degree, with 73% of speech teachers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 22% and master's degree degree at 3%.
  • Bachelor's, 73%
  • Master's, 22%
  • Associate, 3%
  • High School Diploma, 1%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become a speech teacher?

You should major in communication disorders sciences to become a speech teacher. 14% of speech teachers major in communication disorders sciences. Other common majors for a speech teacher include communication and english.

Most common colleges for speech teachers

Speech teachers often get their degrees at Hofstra University, Pace University, and New York University. Here are the most common colleges for speech teachers in the US based on their resumes.
Speech teacher common collegePercentages
Hofstra University9.48%
Pace University6.90%
New York University6.90%
Mercy College6.90%
Long Island University6.90%

Best majors for speech teachers

Best colleges for speech teachers

The best colleges for speech teachers are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A speech teacher 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 teachers. 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 teachers.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

7. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

8. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

9. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

10. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

20 best online courses for speech teachers

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1. Speech to Text Transcription with the Cloud Speech API

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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...

2. Music Education for Teachers

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In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...

3. Take Lessons from an Actor -Speech & Confidence Training

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4. The Complete Presentation and Public Speaking/Speech Course

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4.6
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From page to stage; learn everything you need to know about giving a great speech for business & personal presentations...

5. Speaking to Inspire: Ceremonial and Motivational Speeches

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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,...

6. Public Speaking Skills: Give a Great Informational Speech

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7. Stuttering Treatment The ABC's of Smoother Speech

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8. Preparation for CELTA Teacher Training

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9. TESOL Teacher Training: Second Language Acquisition (SLA)

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11. The Art of Public Speaking

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14. Mindfulness for Life Coaching Success: Teacher Certificate

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15. Implementing Positive Behaviour Management in the Classroom

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16. Learn German Language: German Course - Upper Intermediate

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17. Effective Presentation and TED like Public Speaking

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18. Mind Maps/ Mind Mapping for Teachers, Trainers, & Presenters

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19. Speak Like a Pro: Public Speaking for Professionals

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Master presentation skills and impromptu speaking, conquer speech anxiety, and get your point across to any audience...

20. Complete English Course: Learn English Language Beginners

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Learn English for Beginners (A1->A2+) with a Native teacher: English Speaking, English Grammar, English Pronunciation...

Top 10 most affordable universities for speech teachers

The most affordable schools for speech teachers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for speech teachers 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 teachers.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

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. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

7. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

9. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

10. 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

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for speech teachers

The hardest universities for speech teachers to get into are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for speech teachers 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 teachers 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. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,448

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for speech teachers

The easiest schools for speech teachers to get into are Barry University, wayland baptist university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a speech teacher 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 teachers.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. College of New Rochelle, The

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

982

5. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

6. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

7. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

8. California University of Pennsylvania

California, PA • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,007

9. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

10. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

Average speech teacher salary by education level

Speech teachers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $72,805 annually. With a Master's degree, speech teachers earn a median annual income of $71,465 compared to $53,141 for speech teachers with an Bachelor's degree.
Speech teacher education levelSpeech teacher salary
Master's Degree$71,465
Bachelor's Degree$53,141
Doctorate Degree$72,805

Speech teacher education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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