by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 160 U.S. colleges awarded 7,099 degrees and certificates in General Communication Sciences & Disorders. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 66% of graduates. College Factual ranks 123 schools in its 2027 Best General Communication Sciences & Disorders Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $53,039 one year after completing, rising to $64,247 after four years.
Studying General Communication Sciences & Disorders involves the study of Communication Sciences And Disorders, General. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Biomedical, Psychological, And Physical Principles To The Study Of The Scientific Bases, Development, And Treatment Of Speech, Language, Hearing, And Cognitive Communication Problems Caused By Disease, Injury, Or Disability. Includes Instruction In Language Science, Hearing Science, Speech And Voice Science, Biology Of Communication, Behavioral Linguistics, Psychology, And Applications To The Development Of Diagnostic And Rehabilitative Strategies And Technologies. Examples: [Communication Sciences], [Communication Disorders], [Communication Sciences And Disorders].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general communication sciences & disorders draws strong interest, with 7,099 degrees awarded annually. 160 colleges award general communication sciences & disorders degrees, an average of 44 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 337.
By level, the 7,099 awards include 49 certificates, 18 associate degrees, 4,696 bachelor’s degrees, 2,259 master’s degrees and 77 doctorates.
Women earned 96% of general communication sciences & disorders degrees and certificates in the latest year (6,795 of 7,099). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,417) and Hispanic or Latino (1,544), and international students earned 88.
College Factual ranks 123 schools in its 2027 Best General Communication Sciences & Disorders Schools ranking, including 115 for bachelor’s degrees, 107 for master’s degrees and 9 for doctorates. It also ranks general communication sciences & disorders schools within 36 states. In all, 160 colleges offer general communication sciences & disorders programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Communication Sciences & Disorders Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general communication sciences & disorders credential is the bachelor’s degree: 4,696 of the 7,099 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general communication sciences & disorders call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general communication sciences & disorders degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 49 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,696 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,259 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 77 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general communication sciences & disorders, at 44.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 44.3% |
| Master’s degree | 32.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to General Communication Sciences & Disorders, with an average median salary of $49,571; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Neurological Surgery Teacher, Gynecology Teacher, Teacher and Hospital Aides and Assistants Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to general communication sciences & disorders, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Audiologists | 860,629 | 5.4% |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | 430,857 | 4.4% |
General Communication Sciences & Disorders graduates earn a median $53,039 one year after completing their program, $64,247 after four years and $63,125 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $53,039 |
| 4 years | $64,247 |
| 5 years | $63,125 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general communication sciences & disorders is Audiologists, with a median salary of $54,746.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Audiologists | $54,746 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $47,305 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
General Communication Sciences & Disorders has 4 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 15,861 degrees a year; the largest are Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist (7,289), Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist (7,260) and Audiology/Audiologist (1,025). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 7,289 |
| Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 7,260 |
| Audiology/Audiologist | 1,025 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services, Other | 287 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
