by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Communication Sciences & Disorders involves the study of Communication Sciences And Disorders, General. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Biomedical, Psychological, And Physical Principles To The Study Of The Scientific Bases, Development, And Treatment Of Speech, Language, Hearing, And Cognitive Communication Problems Caused By Disease, Injury, Or Disability. Includes Instruction In Language Science, Hearing Science, Speech And Voice Science, Biology Of Communication, Behavioral Linguistics, Psychology, And Applications To The Development Of Diagnostic And Rehabilitative Strategies And Technologies. Examples: [Communication Sciences], [Communication Disorders], [Communication Sciences And Disorders]. Read on to learn the key facts every general communication sciences & disorders student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general communication sciences & disorders programs.
Nationwide, general communication sciences & disorders draws strong interest, with 7,097 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Communication Sciences & Disorders Schools ranking analyzes these 160 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general communication sciences & disorders students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general communication sciences & disorders programs later in this article.
Programs in General Communication Sciences & Disorders emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general communication sciences & disorders graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a general communication sciences & disorders program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general communication sciences & disorders major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general communication sciences & disorders degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 53 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 21 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,806 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,143 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 74 |
People currently working in careers related to general communication sciences & disorders tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general communication sciences & disorders careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general communication sciences & disorders opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general communication sciences & disorders.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general communication sciences & disorders.
| 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of general communication sciences & disorders graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $53,106 |
| 4 years | $57,878 |
| 5 years | $63,177 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general communication sciences & disorders graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general communication sciences & disorders grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Audiologists | $54,746 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $47,305 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 160 different general communication sciences & disorders programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general communication sciences & disorders school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general communication sciences & disorders, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 7,724 |
| Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 7,213 |
| Audiology/Audiologist | 988 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services, Other | 228 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
