by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, speech pathology and audiology was the 103rd most popular major nationwide with 7,841 degrees awarded. This is approximately the same as the 7,883 graduates the prior year.
This year's Best Speech Pathology & Audiology Schools ranking compares 128 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of audiology programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in speech pathology and audiology is 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. Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and talking to others to convey information effectively are all required skills for careers related to this major.
speech pathology and audiology degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional audiology certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different audiology degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in speech pathology and audiology to something that takes less time like a . The type of audiology 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 audiology, with approximately 44.5% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for audiology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 47.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 33.4% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 7.8% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 5.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 3.0% |
About 93.3% of workers in careers related to audiology obtain at least master's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in speech pathology and audiology have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which audiology career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your audiology degree? Speech Pathology & Audiology careers are expected to grow 22.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to speech pathology and audiology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | 171,000 | 17.8% |
| Audiologists | 17,800 | 20.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for audiology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for speech pathology and audiology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers audiology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Audiologists | $82,210 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $80,700 |
With over 308 different audiology 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 audiology school rankings to help you with this.
One of 4 majors within the Communication Sciences area of study, Speech Pathology & Audiology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Communication Sciences & Disorders | 7,269 |
| Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 5,907 |
| Audiology/Audiologist | 1,032 |
| Other Communication Disorders Sciences & Services | 249 |
Image Credit: By Ghozt Tramp under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
