2026 Best Value Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Schools in the The Plains States Region

[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong speech-language pathology/pathologist education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 15 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 The Plains States Region
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
University Of Northern Iowa tops our 2026 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $18,067. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $35,641. Set against $18,067 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Fort Hays State University one of the best values for speech-language pathology/pathologist. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $49,775 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Central Missouri is a great value for students pursuing a degree in speech-language pathology/pathologist, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Students borrow a median of $24,304 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $56,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kansas earned it the #4 place for speech-language pathology/pathologist. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $23,781 in student loans. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $43,114. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $18,876 in student loans. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $51,334. Set against $18,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #6 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $21,500. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $61,485 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Fontbonne University landed the #7 spot for speech-language pathology/pathologist value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Fontbonne University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,976. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $33,503. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from Fontbonne University generally make around $56,540. That is a strong return on a $33,503 median debt.
University Of Mary placed #8 among the best values for speech-language pathology/pathologist. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,356. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $26,983. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $65,565. That is a strong return on a $26,983 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Iowa earned the #9 position for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Saint Ambrose University came in at #10 for value in speech-language pathology/pathologist this year. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,658. Students borrow a median of $27,528 to complete the speech-language pathology/pathologist program here. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $56,535. That is a strong return on a $27,528 median debt. Saint Ambrose University admits about 77% of applicants.
Rockhurst University landed the #11 spot for speech-language pathology/pathologist value this year. Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,966. Speech-Language Pathology/pathologist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, speech-language pathology/pathologist degree recipients from Rockhurst University generally make around $54,880. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value speech-language pathology/pathologist schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Typical student debt for speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates is $24,499. Early-career speech-language pathology/pathologist graduates make about $53,685. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.