by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 145 U.S. colleges awarded 7,289 degrees and certificates in Speech Pathology & Audiology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 126 schools in its 2027 Best Speech Pathology & Audiology 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.
A degree in Speech Pathology & Audiology covers Audiology/audiologist And Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist. An Integrated Program That Prepares Individuals To Work As Both Audiologists And Speech-Language Pathologists. Includes Instruction In A Variety Of Communication Disorder Studies, Audiology, Speech Pathology, Language Acquisition, And The Design And Implementation Of Comprehensive Therapeutic And Rehabilitative Solutions To Communications Problems. Examples: [Audiology And Speech Pathology], [Audiology And Speech-Language Pathology].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., speech pathology & audiology is a popular field of study, with 7,289 degrees awarded annually. 145 colleges award speech pathology & audiology degrees, an average of 50 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 296.
By level, the 7,289 awards include 9 certificates, 186 associate degrees, 4,002 bachelor’s degrees, 2,875 master’s degrees and 217 doctorates.
Women earned 96% of speech pathology & audiology degrees and certificates in the latest year (7,001 of 7,289). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,972) and Hispanic or Latino (1,159), and international students earned 79.
College Factual ranks 126 schools in its 2027 Best Speech Pathology & Audiology Schools ranking, including 6 for associate degrees, 102 for bachelor’s degrees, 106 for master’s degrees and 13 for doctorates. It also ranks speech pathology & audiology schools within 37 states. In all, 145 colleges offer speech pathology & audiology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Speech Pathology & Audiology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common speech pathology & audiology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 4,002 of the 7,289 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to speech pathology & audiology 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:
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How long a speech pathology & audiology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 186 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,002 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,875 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 217 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to speech pathology & audiology, 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 Speech Pathology & Audiology, 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 Recreation Therapy Aides Teacher, Clinical Laboratory Service Teacher, Speech Therapy Teacher and Osteopathic Medicine Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to speech pathology & audiology, 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% |
Speech Pathology & Audiology 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 speech pathology & audiology 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 |
Speech Pathology & Audiology has 4 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 15,671 degrees a year; the largest are Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist (7,260), Communication Sciences and Disorders, General (7,099) and Audiology/Audiologist (1,025). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 7,260 |
| Communication Sciences and Disorders, General | 7,099 |
| Audiology/Audiologist | 1,025 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services, Other | 287 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
