Which are the most affordable online speech pathology master’s degrees in the US? We help you find the best master’s degree program at a price you can afford.
When the average population is asked what they know about speech-language pathologists (SLP), the common answer is, “Professionals who teach people, especially kids, how to pronounce words correctly.”
While this is true, the job of SLPs involves more than just teaching kids how to enunciate words. The brain, voice box (larynx), mouth, and even the lungs are all parts of the communication system that SLPs address.
Within the medical industry, speech-language pathologists work in acute and rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing institutions, and home health care.
With an expected 21% job growth from 2021 to 2031 and an average annual salary of $79,060, it’s no wonder why careers in speech-language pathology (SLP) are gaining in popularity. However, it is important to note that a career in speech-language pathology does require a graduate-level degree.
The average cost of a master’s degree costs $62,650. The rising costs of a master’s degree can be a barrier to a career in speech language pathology. Fortunately, a number of colleges and universities offer online speech pathology programs at the master’s degree level, which are cheaper than traditional brick-and-mortar programs.
To help students pursue their dreams of becoming a speech language pathologist, we’ve compiled a list of the ten most affordable online speech pathology degree programs. We will also cover the admission requirements, total number of credit hours, average per credit hour cost, and featured courses to give readers a better view of the program and evaluate which institution/curriculum best suits their interests.
Becoming a speech and language pathology expert is no walk in the park. You will need both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. Your bachelor’s degree should be in one of the following:
Your master’s degree should be in either Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Sciences and Disorders.
Key Point: It is important to note that many speech language pathologists who are looking to advance their careers continue on with their education to earn a doctorate degree program.
Before enrolling in a graduate degree program, check with the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. The CAA accredits qualified master’s in SLP programs, including online programs. Graduates of CAA-accredited online master’s in speech-language pathology programs should be eligible for the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP).
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
60%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/22
University of Akron’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The University of Akron’s online Master of Speech-Language Pathology degree program is a fully online degree taught by the same on-campus experts. With its partnership with the University of Cincinnati, students can get to know peers from the other school and build a wider network, which will be very valuable in their job search.
Students in UAkron’s online MA in speech-language pathology will be required to complete clinical placements. However, they are not required to travel far to complete their experiential learning. Instead, online students can request to have their clinical placement in or near their area.
In addition to being one of the most affordable degree programs in our list, this online speech pathology master’s degree has a 100% pass rate for graduates on the Praxis national exam. Students can also benefit from the program’s 100% job placement rate.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 56-66
Average Time-to-Degree: 2.8 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
66%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/21
East Carolina University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
East Carolina University’s MS in Communication Science and Disorders is designed for students who want to enroll in a hybrid degree program. While online speech pathology degree students can complete a few lectures online, they must conduct library research, community service, and observations at healthcare facilities for some of their courses.
Students can choose between two emphases: speech-language pathology or communication sciences. The speech-language pathology concentration prepares students for certification as a clinical speech-language pathologist, while the communication sciences concentration is a non-clinical course of study with audiology or speech-language pathology courses.
The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders has received national attention for its groundbreaking research. The innovations made by ECU’s faculty have led to the development of tools and methodologies that benefit people with speech-language impairments.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 54
Average Time-to-Degree: 3 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
54%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/22
Western Kentucky University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Western Kentucky’s online MS in Speech-Language Pathology only admits students once per year in August. While coursework can be done online, students are encouraged to not hold full-time jobs, especially jobs outside the speech-language pathology field, as the coursework can be rigorous. However, some online program students work as part-time SLP assistants for credits toward the externship requirement.
There are two levels of clinical experience: Clinical Internship and Clinical Externship.
Before or during the first semester of the graduate program, Western Kentucky University students must complete 25 hours of supervised observation. Hours of guided observation must be accrued as part of university study. Moreover, the program requires students to complete a 6-week summer internship to graduate.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 60
Average Time-to-Degree: 2.5 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
30%
Student body
6K
Tennessee State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tennessee State University offers an online MS in Speech and Hearing Science curriculum focused on diagnosing, treating, and researching communicative disorders from children to adults. This program is one of the most affordable yet selective SLP degrees, accepting only 30 students per cohort. To get accepted, prospective students must meet or exceed admission expectations.
While coursework is mostly completed online, students may be required to visit the campus for face-to-face meetings and exams. In addition to online lectures, students will participate in two three-week and six-week on-campus practicums. During the program’s final year, students are required to complete clinicals in the summer. They can travel to campus or obtain a practicum in or near their residence.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 53
Average Time-to-Degree: 2 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
82%
Student body
21K
Median SAT/ACT
1200/25
James Madison University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The online MS in Speech-Language Pathology at James Madison University offers students various academic and practical experiences in working with people who have swallowing and communication issues. Online students will study in cohorts, allowing them to engage with peers and instructors more frequently. Students are, therefore, required to follow the outlined curriculum, which includes two to three courses per semester.
Due to the program’s intensive coursework, students are discouraged from keeping full-time jobs. They should be able to make time for clinical placements in their personal and professional lives.
Since 2013, JMU has maintained a 100% pass rate for graduates on the Praxis national exam.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 45
Average Time-to-Degree: 3 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
52%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/22
University of Northern Colorado’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The University of Northern Colorado’s MA in Speech-Language Pathology offers a clinician-researcher model curriculum to help students obtain entry-level positions as speech-language pathologists. Coursework gives students a solid grounding in academics and evidence-based practice (EBP) so they can become lifelong learners.
Students who want to enroll in the program should consider the time commitment required. Students must partake in academic classes and clinical seminars using various technologies, including web-based instruction. Additionally, online students will participate in two to three weeks of on-campus class meetings and a full-time, twelve-week internship in a medical environment.
Students must continue working as SLPAs at a location where they can complete their clinical hours while supervised by an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist. A second full-time internship at a school will be necessary if the student’s place of employment is not a public school.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 63-75
Average Time-to-Degree: 3 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
48%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1091/19
Texas Woman's University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Texas Woman’s University’s distance learning MS in Speech-Language Pathology allows students to choose between healthcare and school-focused tracks. Students must obtain and maintain sponsorship throughout the program from an authorized Texas educational organization or an authorized Texas healthcare organization, depending on which track they take.
The healthcare focus track is best for students who want to practice speech-language pathology in healthcare settings. Online students in this track must complete a three-day residency requirement for three summer semesters.
On the other hand, the schools-focused track is best for students who intend to work in Texas public schools after completion. This track requires online students to complete a six-day residency at the beginning of the program.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 61
Average Time-to-Degree: 2 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
75%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/27
University of South Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The University of South Florida runs an MS in Speech-Language Pathology online program, another affordable but very competitive online SLP degree. Most applicants to the program are either working as SLP assistants or clinicians in public schools. The program uses the department’s world-class resources, including seasoned scientists and clinicians with expertise in various specializations.
There are three ways to enter the program:
Graduate assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and research assistantships are just a few financing options available to students.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 62
Average Time-to-Degree: 3 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
68%
Student body
10K
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire offers an online MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, designed to be completed part-time. Students must complete 14 clinical practicum credits on top of their online coursework, including externships and practicum enrollments.
Online students, however, can choose to complete externships and practicums in their localities. Before graduation, all students must spend a week on campus each summer and pass an oral comprehensive exam.
Admissions are selective, admitting a maximum of 25 students per year. Only one application review per program is conducted each year.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 54
Average Time-to-Degree: 3 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
54%
Student body
34K
Median SAT/ACT
1005/19
California State University, Northridge’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The 100% online MS in Communicative Disorders at California State University, Northridge is geared toward students who want to help people restore and improve their speech. The program has recently won an award from the University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) National Awards Committee as the Outstanding Master of Science in Communicative Disorders program.
Throughout the program, students are expected to complete five clinical practicums. Students must be available full-time for the 12-week adult externship from June through the end of August. Additionally, students must complete at least 80 clock hours during their adult externship and 75 for pediatric clinics.
The program does not accept international students.
Admission Requirements:
Required Credit Hours: 63
Average Time-to-Degree: 3 years
Per Credit Hour Cost:
Featured Courses:
There’s no one-size-fits-all in education. Cost is just one of the factors students must consider when choosing the best online speech pathology program.
Even the cheapest online SLP programs might not be in your best interests.
And while the list of the most affordable online SLP programs ensures a high caliber of education, you still need to consider the other factors in determining which online program best suits your interests and needs.
Other factors to consider include:
Not all online master’s degree programs in speech and language pathology are equal. While some focus on specific topics and demographics, other online speech-language pathology programs allow students to choose between tracks.
In selecting the best online master’s in speech pathology, it’s crucial to consider programs that align with your future professional goals.
For example, if you want to focus on a degree that allows you to work in elementary and secondary schools, you might want to enroll in the school-focused track at Texas Woman’s University.
If you want to increase your competitiveness in applying for a position in an audiology and speech center, consider master’s degrees that focus on communicative disorders.
With the rising cost of college-level education, it’s essential to continually research and round up each school’s cost and financial aid opportunities.
The online speech pathology programs listed are some of the most affordable master’s in speech pathology degrees in the country, but they don’t offer the same financial aid opportunities. Some schools offer government and federal student loans, grants, and scholarships, while others provide external funding sources.
The best way to find out what opportunities are available is by contacting the school’s Financial Aid office.
With the aid of scholarships and other financial aid opportunities, excluding loans, almost any institution can become one of the most affordable universities!
Online master’s in speech pathology degrees are not always 100% online. Most online master’s degrees require students to complete hands-on learning requirements like internships, clinical placements, and practicums. Students should therefore determine whether the school’s requirements would fit their circumstances.
Luckily, several online schools allow students to complete their experiential learning requirements in or near their local areas of residence. Some online schools, however, require online students to travel to the campus.
In addition to the face-to-face requirement, you should also consider the class delivery. Online courses can either be asynchronous or synchronous.
The asynchronous class format does not require students to complete assignments on the same day they are assigned. Instead, this format allows students to accomplish tasks by the deadline, such as the end of the week.
Furthermore, asynchronous classes do not require their student to be in the same classroom simultaneously with the professor and other students. The schedules of the students are not synchronized.
The synchronous online master’s in speech language pathology program, on the other hand, requires students to meet with their lecturer and their peers at specific times. Such programs can still be delivered entirely online. However, they have tighter time constraints and more closely resemble the group learning experiences of in-person classes.
Deciding whether you want to enroll full-time or part-time is another major factor. The same course materials are covered in both full-time and part-time online speech pathology master’s programs. Both require students to complete around 60 credit hours and internship rotations to qualify for state licensure.
The primary distinction between full-time and part-time enrollment is the time required to finish the degrees and how many classes are taken simultaneously.
Full-time options allow you to graduate in two to 2.5 years, while part-time degrees may take three to six years.
If you have a job to keep, choose an online degree that allows students to enroll part-time. However, we must remind you that most online master’s in speech pathology, part-time or not, do not advise students to keep a full-time job.
As an online student, you don’t have the opportunity or privilege to walk around the campus to locate student support services. When choosing an online degree program, make sure that the school offers these services for their online students. Some essential student support services include job placement and internship opportunities, academic advising, and mentoring/alumni engagement.
Back to TopSpeech pathologists are medical specialists who evaluate, identify, and treat conditions affecting cognition, voice, language, fluency, and communication. They can work in healthcare facilities, schools, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, speech and language centers, and even patients’ homes. Some SLPs choose to operate independently as a consultant or on a contract basis delivering services in various healthcare institutions.
Some SLPs pursue a specialty within the field, such as dealing with a particular age group or disorder. Master’s in speech-language graduates can also advance their careers and become managers, supervisors, or mentors for other speech pathologists in a healthcare setting.
Some speech therapists use their education to work in a field related to speech language pathology, such as audiology, counseling, special education, disability law, or hospital administration.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that the job growth for SLPs is expected to grow faster than the national average. This anticipated increase is in part due to the baby-boom population growing older, whose odds of acquiring speech, language, and swallowing problems rise with age. In regards to pediatric work, a better understanding of speech abnormalities, especially in children, may increase career prospects for speech pathologists who wish to work with the younger population.
In addition to working in physical locations, SLPs are now experiencing an increasing demand for “Telehealth,” a more recent therapeutic approach that, depending on the kind of therapy required, has consistently shown to be effective. Many SLPs do not offer teletherapy, despite many patients wanting it. This means that now is the best time to become one of the pioneers in telehealth.
Back to TopPursuing a master’s degree, online or on campus, is a huge investment. It requires dedication and financial commitment. While some appreciate the affordability and flexibility online degree programs offer, some prefer the format of live lectures.
The ASHA recognizes the legitimacy of studying speech pathology online, and prospective students can access the ASHA’s list of authorized institutions by searching for “distance education.”
If you dream of becoming a speech pathologist, a master’s degree is worth it since it’s required for SLP licensure.
Moreover, the expected job growth rate in the field would lead many to strongly agree that a master’s degree in speech language pathology is definitely worth it.
However, many SLPs in school settings express greater dissatisfaction with their employment. They often feel a lack of employer support. Based on this factor, if a high level of job satisfaction and employer support are important to you, you may want to consider a position in a healthcare setting.
Additionally, some employers require SLPs to meet strict metrics for billable productivity, leaving inadequate time for other work-related duties that the employer cannot bill.
Many SLPs travel from client to client. This might not be suitable for people who prefer stability and their own workspace.