2027 Best Value Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools in Illinois

[Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/speech-language-pathology-pathologist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools.
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2027 Best Value Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the speech-language pathology/pathologist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools
Saint Xavier University tops our 2027 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $16,420. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $64,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lewis University earned it the #2 place for speech-language pathology/pathologist. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $55,718. That is a strong return on a $24,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Governors State University earned it the #3 place for speech-language pathology/pathologist. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $59,492 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in speech-language pathology/pathologist will find it at Augustana College Illinois, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,598. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $27,000. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $39,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
Elmhurst College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Students from in state pay about $42,955 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $20,500. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $51,232 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Northwestern University earned the #6 position for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $72,396. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University came in at #7 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $25,340. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,390. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.