by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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]. Read on to learn the key facts every speech pathology & audiology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering speech pathology & audiology programs.
In the U.S., speech pathology & audiology is a popular field of study, with 7,724 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Speech Pathology & Audiology Schools ranking analyzes these 147 schools to determine the best overall colleges for speech pathology & audiology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of speech pathology & audiology programs later in this article.
Programs in Speech Pathology & Audiology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations speech pathology & audiology graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a speech pathology & audiology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a speech pathology & audiology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several speech pathology & audiology 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 | 10 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 168 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,285 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,045 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 216 |
People currently working in careers related to speech pathology & audiology 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in speech pathology & audiology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in speech pathology & audiology can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to speech pathology & audiology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to speech pathology & audiology.
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of speech pathology & audiology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 speech pathology & audiology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers speech pathology & audiology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Audiologists | $54,746 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $47,305 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 147 different speech pathology & audiology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased speech pathology & audiology school rankings to help you.
Those considering speech pathology & audiology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist | 7,213 |
| Communication Sciences and Disorders, General | 7,097 |
| Audiology/Audiologist | 988 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services, Other | 228 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
