College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Degree Guide

#128 Most Popular Major
5.9k Degrees Awarded
0.6% Increase in Graduates

Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist was the 128th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 5,907 degrees in this year alone. This is approximately the same as the 5,872 graduates the prior year.

Our 2023 Best Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools ranking analyzes 131 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for speech-language pathology/pathologist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of speech-language pathology programs later in this article.

2023 Best Colleges for Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
2023 Overall Best Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Colleges >

Best Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
Bachelor's Degrees in Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
Master's Degrees in Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
Doctorate Degrees in Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist

What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist

A major in speech-language pathology prepares you for careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is crucial. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Getting Accepted Into a Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Program

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most speech-language pathology degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional speech-language pathology certifications required to pursue a career in this field.

Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Degree Types

There are many different speech-language pathology degree levels. Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest speech-language pathology degree you can get. The type of speech-language pathology degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.

Degree Credit Requirements Typical Program Length
Associate Degree 60-70 credits 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree 120 credits 4 years
Master’s Degree 50-70 credits 1-3 years
Doctorate Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation At least 4 years

A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to speech-language pathology, with approximately 58.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to speech-language pathology tend obtained the following education levels.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Master’s Degree 64.2%
Post-Master’s Certificate 12.0%
Doctoral Degree 9.2%
Post-Doctoral Training 7.1%
Bachelor’s Degree 4.6%

Most workers in speech-language pathology have at least a master's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in speech-language pathology/pathologist have obtained.

undefined

The education level required is different depending on the speech-language pathology career you are seeking.

Speech-Language Pathology Careers

Average Number of Jobs
102k Avg. Related Jobs Salary
23% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

High Growth Projected for Speech-Language Pathology Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your speech-language pathology degree? Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist careers are expected to grow 22.8% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to speech-language pathology/pathologist.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Health Specialties Professors 294,000 25.9%
Speech-Language Pathologists 171,000 17.8%

Speech-Language Pathology Degree Salary Potential

As you might expect, salaries for speech-language pathology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

High Paying Careers for Speech-Language Pathology Majors

Salaries for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers speech-language pathology grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Health Specialties Professors $122,320
Speech-Language Pathologists $80,700

Getting Your Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Degree

With over 232 different speech-language pathology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased speech-language pathology school rankings to help you with this.

One of 4 majors within the Communication Sciences area of study, Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Speech Pathology & Audiology 7,841
General Communication Sciences & Disorders 7,269
Audiology/Audiologist 1,032
Other Communication Disorders Sciences & Services 249

View All Speech-Language Pathology Related Majors >

References

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options