2026 Best Value Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools in the Southeast Region
[Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/speech-language-pathology-pathologist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 37 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools.
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2026 Best Value Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in speech-language pathology/pathologist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools
West Virginia University earned the #1 spot for value among speech-language pathology/pathologist schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Students borrow a median of $23,920 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $59,932 early in their careers. Set against $23,920 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in speech-language pathology/pathologist will find it at Marshall University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,162 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,342. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $25,588 in student loans. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $58,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Louisiana Tech University earned it the #3 place for speech-language pathology/pathologist. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,125, while out-of-state students pay about $16,866. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $19,790. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $48,104. Set against $19,790 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Louisiana Tech University admits about 86% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in speech-language pathology/pathologist will find it at Valdosta State University, which ranked #4. Valdosta State University is a large public school located in the city of Valdosta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,124, with out-of-state students paying around $17,836. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $53,790. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $56,580. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Mississippi University For Women came in at #6 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Set in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,492 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,509 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $56,930. Set against $24,509 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mississippi University For Women admits about 90% of applicants.
Arkansas State University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for speech-language pathology/pathologist value this year. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $59,822. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Southeastern Louisiana University came in at #8 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Located in the city of Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,373, while out-of-state students pay about $20,851. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $24,542. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of Southeastern Louisiana University earn a median of $38,280 early in their careers. Set against $24,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $26,315 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $66,122. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Old Dominion University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $25,000. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $44,860 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Francis Marion University came in at #11 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Set in the rural area of Florence, Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,170, compared with $21,544 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,577 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from Francis Marion University generally make around $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Appalachian State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Students borrow a median of $19,875 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $33,735. Set against $19,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of South Alabama came in at #13 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Students borrow a median of $22,989 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $67,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Austin Peay State University came in at #14 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $44,360 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of West Georgia placed #15 among the best values for speech-language pathology/pathologist. Located in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,088, while out-of-state students pay about $17,800. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $24,723. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $42,425. Set against $24,723 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Alabama A And M University came in at #16 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Located in the city of Normal, Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $31,896. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $51,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University placed #17 among the best values for speech-language pathology/pathologist. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $60,970. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Xavier University Of Louisiana ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Xavier University Of Louisiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,979. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $26,777. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of Xavier University Of Louisiana earn a median of $46,854 early in their careers. Set against $26,777 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Xavier University Of Louisiana admits about 69% of applicants.
University Of Montevallo placed #19 among the best values for speech-language pathology/pathologist. Set in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,948, while out-of-state students pay about $26,968. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from University Of Montevallo generally make around $51,737. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $19,975. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $60,393. That is a strong return on a $19,975 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Harding University placed #21 among the best values for speech-language pathology/pathologist. Set in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,962. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $23,920 in student loans. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of Harding University earn a median of $56,038 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harding University admits about 70% of applicants.
Jackson State University came in at #22 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Jackson State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,965, while out-of-state students pay about $11,965. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from Jackson State University generally make around $36,614. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama landed the #23 spot for speech-language pathology/pathologist value this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $44,641. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Faulkner University landed the #24 spot for speech-language pathology/pathologist value this year. Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Montgomery. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,920. Students borrow a median of $29,942 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $56,468. Set against $29,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Bob Jones University landed the #25 spot for speech-language pathology/pathologist value this year. Set in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $22,892. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $20,497 in student loans. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $40,538. Set against $20,497 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s speech-language pathology/pathologist value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
