2026 Best Value Speech Pathology & Audiology Schools in California
[Speech Pathology & Audiology](/majors/health-care-professions/communication-sciences/speech-pathology-and-audiology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for speech pathology & audiology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Speech Pathology & Audiology Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the speech pathology & audiology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Speech Pathology & Audiology Schools
Our analysis ranked Cerritos College the best value for a degree in speech pathology & audiology in California. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Speech Pathology & Audiology graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, speech pathology & audiology degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value speech pathology & audiology schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for speech pathology & audiology graduates is $9,191. Early-career speech pathology & audiology graduates make about $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value speech pathology & audiology schools. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for speech pathology & audiology graduates is $11,196. Speech Pathology & Audiology graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
American River College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in speech pathology & audiology, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Speech Pathology & Audiology graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Speech Pathology & Audiology graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Set against $14,105 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Orange Coast College one of the best values for speech pathology & audiology. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the speech pathology & audiology program here. Early-career speech pathology & audiology graduates make about $46,306. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
San Joaquin Delta College earned the #6 position for value in speech pathology & audiology this year. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Typical student debt for speech pathology & audiology graduates is $6,382. Early-career speech pathology & audiology graduates make about $65,168. That is a strong return on a $6,382 median debt.
University Of Redlands landed the #7 spot for speech pathology & audiology value this year. Located in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,878. Speech Pathology & Audiology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career speech pathology & audiology graduates make about $50,216. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
More Speech Pathology & Audiology Rankings
View All Speech Pathology & Audiology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
