Earning a master’s in speech pathology online can pave the way for a fulfilling and in-demand career as a speech therapist or open up opportunities in related fields such as audiology, rehabilitation therapy, and other fields. This degree equips you with the essential skills to diagnose and treat communication disorders and offers valuable insights into audiology and cognitive communication. By earning a master’s in speech pathology, you’ll be well-prepared to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals with speech, language, and hearing challenges while broadening your professional horizons.
Many grad schools now offer accredited online speech pathology (SLP) programs that meet state licensure requirements while giving you the flexibility you need to balance school, work, and personal life. But with so many programs to choose from, how do you find the right one for you? This guide will help you get started on your search. You’ll find a list of this year’s best online speech pathology master’s and learn more about what the curriculum is like, program costs and length.
Best Online Master’s in Speech Pathology (SLP) Programs in 2024
Unlocking the power of communication is at the heart of a master’s degree in speech language pathology (SLP). Our 2024 rankings are here to help prospective master’s students find the most reputable online programs that blend theory with practical experience. Whether you’re starting your career or looking to advance it, our list guides you to programs that teach you how to make a difference in the lives of those who rely on speech and language support.
If you’re interested in becoming a speech-language pathologist, check out the program at Eastern New Mexico University. The program focuses on communication disorders such as swallowing disorders and language-related learning disabilities. The program prepares students to become certified speech-language pathologists in medical, school, or private settings. While hosted through their main campus, the program is offered online, hybrid, or in person, depending on a student’s preferences. This makes it a great option for those who work while getting their degree or who have significant responsibilities outside of their education. For added flexibility, students can complete the degree on a part-time or full-time basis.
Program Highlights:
Master of Science in Communicative Disorders
- Credits: 55
- Length: Varies
- Mode: Online, hybrid, or in person
- Accreditation: CAA – ASHA
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Lamar University offers an acclaimed master’s program in speech-language pathology. The curriculum covers articulation and phonological disorders, communication disorders, and clinical practice. Course topics include language disorders of school-aged children, stuttering, and neurological disorders. While most lectures can be completed online, some clinical components must be completed in person. These provide hands-on experience in the field and help students determine which subspeciality of speech language pathology they would like to work in. Graduates work in a variety of workplaces including schools, residential medical facilities, colleges, hospitals, and nonresidential healthcare facilities.
Program Highlights:
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
- Credits: 54
- Length: Two years
- Mode: Hybrid
- Accreditation: CAA – ASHA
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
Anyone considering a career as a speech-language pathologist should explore the master’s program at Fontbonne University. The program’s length varies with a longer option for students who don’t have a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology and a shorter option for students with a bachelor’s degree in the field. Course topics for both options include hearing disorders, working in speech-language clinics, and language disorders. Because the program has an in-person clinical component, students can either enroll in a hybrid option with remote lectures or a fully in-person option at Fontbonne’s main campus in Clayton, Missouri, or at one of its satallite campuses in Kansas City, Missouri or St. Paul, Minnesota.
Program Highlights:
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
- Credits: 55
- Length: Five to six semesters
- Mode: Hybrid
- Accreditation: CAA – ASHA
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | SACSCOC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
School Services & Accreditation
| Career Services | Yes |
| Academic Counseling | Yes |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Spotlight: Accredited Online SLP Programs
These online speech pathology programs profiled below will inspire your school search and give you a good benchmark to use as you consider different programs. The criteria we considered when vetting these programs included curriculum quality, student support, flexibility, and overall affordability.
All these programs hold active accreditation from the American Speech Language Association and include hands-on clinical experiences to help build real-world skills and prepare you for certification and licensure.
University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
Ideal for working professionals and busy learners, the University of Wisconsin offers a part-time speech-language pathology course of study that makes balancing academics with work, life, and other commitments easier. New students begin the ASHA-accredited and cohort-based program each June and typically graduate within three years when they enroll in two to six credits each term. This online master’s in speech pathology requires 54 credits, including 40 credits of coursework and 14 credits of hands-on clinical work.
Like other online SLP programs, UW’s program involves several in-person residencies. The first weeklong experience occurs at the beginning of the program and doubles as an orientation session where students meet faculty and colleagues. The remaining two sessions take place each summer, and the school delivers all remaining didactic requirements using flexible, convenient, and interactive online tools. The curriculum looks at topics like language assessment, counseling in communication disorders, and clinical evaluations. Applicants to this program must complete a video interview before full admission.
University of Nebraska, Kearney
At the University of Nebraska, Kearney students the master’s in speech pathology online prepares students for work as certified professionals in schools, clinics, and private practice. The 53-credit program builds core skills and knowledge in cognitive communication disorders, pediatric dysphasia, and applied rehabilitation techniques. Students also complete internship and practicum experiences plus optional electives in specialized areas like autism and bilingualism.
In all online courses, students receive training from the same panel of faculty experts that lead the school’s in-person programming. The main SLP program runs on a part-time basis, but students can explore full-time, accelerated options in consultation with program coordinators. For career-changers and those coming from different fields, the school extends a quick online pathway to complete key course prerequisites. UN waives GRE scores for all applicants and does not charge an application fee.
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University’s online master’s in speech pathology program offers affordable tuition rates and prepares graduates for professional certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Administered by the school’s Communication Sciences and Disorders department, the program requires 60 credits that include 25 guided observation hours. Students receive training from expert faculty in motor speech disorders, aphasia, rehab audiology, neurology for speech and language, and other subjects.
All students must complete in-person internships the summer following their first year, regardless of location or program mode. The remaining courses run entirely online, and most students finish within six or seven semesters when following a core course sequence recommended by administrators. Students also complete 400 clinical hours, many of which come through externship experiences in their home locations, as they work through the program. Students can transfer up to 12 graduate-level credits and up to 50 hours from undergraduate clinical experiences.
Advantages of Earning a Master’s in Speech Pathology Online
Pursuing study at a top-notch online SLP master’s program offers distinct benefits that can give you an edge over others in the field. Studying online provides convenience and enhances your abilities by building upon your bachelor’s degree and equipping you with specialized skills crucial for success in this expanding profession. Here are some advantages you can look forward to:
License Preparation
Online SLP programs provide everything you need to obtain licensure. You’ll still need to complete the national certification exam once you graduate, but your program covers all the necessary topics and content. Some programs even offer practice tests and additional study resources.
Flexible Program Delivery
Online SLP programs accommodate a wide range of schedules and circumstances. Many of them even cater specifically to working professionals and part-time students. With the convenience of online delivery, you’ll be able to complete your classes and interact with the material in a flexible format.
Hands-On Experience
Online speech pathology master’s programs prepare you for real-world circumstances in the field. Through clinical placements and other opportunities, you gain the hands-on experience employers look for when hiring an SLP.
What You’ll Learn in an Online SLP Program
In a master’s speech pathology program, you will learn a variety of skills and knowledge essential for diagnosing and treating speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing disorders. Online speech pathology master’s programs prepare you for work as a certified professional through a combination of didactic coursework and applied field placements. In most cases, you’ll complete coursework components following a recommended or required sequence established by the program. Once all prerequisites are complete, you move to the practicum stage. This typically involves a supervised clinical placement in your home location.
Coursework requirements cover a range of SLP topics. You’ll complete theoretical classes looking at communication and motor disorders, health science research methods, and audiology assessment. In addition to electives in areas that interest you, you’ll also take applied courses in subjects like multicultural counseling and clinical diagnosis. Below are some of the most popular SLP courses found in most programs.
Common Courses
Neurology and Speech-Language Foundations
This course familiarizes students with the central nervous system and its role in speech, communication, and language development. Students learn how knowledge of these systems informs clinical diagnoses, treatment planning, and disease classification. Special attention is paid to muscles and cranial nerves, brain organization, and motor/sensory pathways.
Cognitive and Communication Disorders
Students in this class learn to identify and assess common speech-language pathology disorders. It focuses on dementia, traumatic brain injury, and other conditions that affect cognition and impact everyday communication. It also covers strategies for treatment and therapeutic rehabilitation, disease prevention, and assessment and evaluation.
Research Methods for Speech-Language Pathology
This class builds knowledge foundations in the primary research methods SLPs use to define disorders, develop treatment plans, and expand the scope of the field more broadly. Students read landmark literature in audiology and speech-language pathology and learn to critically evaluate it. Additional topics include research design, data analysis, and measurement concerns.
Speech and Language Development
Another foundational offering, this course examines speech and language development in normative situations. It focuses on how communication changes and evolves across the lifespan, including childhood and infancy, adulthood, and the later stages of life. Students consider contributing factors like literacy, cognition, socialization, and play.
Applied Capstone
Most online speech pathology programs conclude with an applied capstone component. This class gives students the opportunity to integrate and apply skills and knowledge gained across the program and to prepare for the national certification exam. This could involve a comprehensive assessment, a research-based thesis project, or some combination of the two.
Accreditation for Online Speech Pathology Master’s Degrees
Accreditation for speech pathology degree programs guarantees educational quality, enhances professional credibility, ensures eligibility for licensure and certification, facilitates credit transfer, and provides access to financial aid opportunities. There are two forms of accreditation to look for: institutional and programmatic.
Institutional accreditation applies to entire schools and is granted by independent agencies recognized by the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. A college or university typically receives either regional or national accreditation at the institutional level with regional accreditation being more prominent.
Programmatic accreditation pertains to specific courses of study and provides extra backing or satisfies certification and licensure requirements. In addition to institutional accreditation, quality SLP programs hold accreditation from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
What You Can Do with a Master’s in Speech Pathology
An online master’s in speech pathology opens up diverse career opportunities in healthcare and medical science. Graduates can work in hospitals, clinics, schools, community health centers, or private practices, serving various age groups with speech, language, and swallowing disorders. They often collaborate with professionals like occupational therapists, psychologists, and audiologists to provide comprehensive care. Some speech pathologists pursue research or teaching roles at universities.
These five professions are open to people with online SLP master’s degrees, and each career outpaces average job growth and earnings numbers nationwide. Work for certified SLPs is expected to grow by 21% from 2021 to 2031, which is over twice the national job growth rate. SLPs also benefit from higher average salaries in comparison to most other fields..
Speech-Language Pathologist
Most graduates of online SLP programs become licensed speech-language pathologists. Also known as speech therapists, these professionals diagnose and treat common communication disorders in children and adults. Some work in private practice, but most fulfill roles in large medical facilities alongside doctors, occupational or physical therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$51,310 | $79,060 | $125,560 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Audiologist
An online master’s in speech-language pathology prepares you for advanced roles like that of the audiologist. In most cases, this profession usually requires a doctorate, but an SLP master’s degree lays a solid foundation for that training. Audiologists specialize in helping patients with hearing or balance problems.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$58,920 | $78,950 | $120,210 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Translator or Interpreter
A speech-language pathology background can equip you for work as a translator or interpreter. Translators and interpreters work in a wide range of settings from hospitals and doctor’s offices to courtrooms, schools, and conference centers. They convert important information from one language to another, facilitating clear communication between parties that do not share a common language.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$29,360 | $49,110 | $97,760 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Occupational Therapist
SLP professionals often work alongside occupational therapists to help patients manage everyday activities through therapeutic intervention. This role requires additional training in occupational therapy, but an online master’s in speech-language pathology prepares you to provide specialized care for patients with needs in both fields.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$60,680 | $85,570 | $123,840 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
Rehabilitation Director
Rehabilitation directors manage a group of healthcare specialists within a medical facility’s rehabilitation department, including those focusing on speech-language pathology. They oversee the department’s operations, coordinate financial efforts, hire and supervise staff, and work with other managers. They may also work directly with patients.
| 10th Percentile | Median Annual Pay | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
$66,000 | $89,524 | $120,000 |
Source: PayScale, 2022
Costs and Financial Aid for Online Master’s Degrees in Speech Pathology
Securing financial aid in advance to help fund your education allows you to focus on your studies and graduate with little or no debt. Most online SLP programs offer financial aid to new and returning students. Nova Southeastern and the University of North Texas, for example, both administer grants and scholarships set aside for SLP students.
Professional organizations like ASHA also offer financial aid along with key resources to help you secure funding for your online SLP master’s. For more information on these and other opportunities, see our financial aid guide for graduate students.
What Your Speech Pathology Master’s Could Cost
| School Name | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Total Tuition Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Emerson College | 54 | $1,322 | $71,388 |
University of Northern Colorado | 75 | $618 | $46,350 |
Calvin University | 72 | $920 | $66,240 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Speech Pathology Programs
What are the admissions requirements for an online SLP program?
Because speech pathology is a technical field relying on broad-based scientific knowledge, many programs want applicants to complete course prerequisites before admission. In general, expect requirements for classes in anatomy and physiology, speech science, audiology, and clinical procedures. If you possess a related undergraduate degree, some of those requirements may be waived.
A prospective SLP master’s student should also plan to submit:
- Official academic transcripts for all previous work
- An updated professional resume
- Two to three letters of recommendation
- An admissions essay or responses to specific writing prompts
- Recent GRE scores (waived in some cases)
If you don’t meet the academic prerequisites, many universities offer online SLP-prep programs, including San Diego State University Global Campus and the University of South Florida.
Some schools also require a video or phone interview as a part of the admission process. Applicants also usually need to pay an application fee of $50 to $75.
How long will it take to finish my master’s in speech pathology?
Timeframes for completion vary widely and depend on factors like enrollment status, academic background, and program requirements. Most online SLP programs expect students to enroll on a part-time basis and set the pace the program with that mind.
For example, the schools we’ve profiled admit students part-time and structure the program for graduation within three years or so. You can always personalize your pacing with an advisor. Some programs, like the one at Western Kentucky University with a six-year maximum time frame, designate time limits.
Can I earn a master’s in speech pathology 100% online, or do I need to visit campus?
Online speech pathology programs deliver all didactic coursework entirely online. Most schools use synchronous or asynchronous formats for coursework. This means you can study at your own pace for the most part, interacting with content and completing assignments at your convenience.
Speech-language pathology is a hands-on profession. For that reason, all SLP programs require in-person clinical experiences. Most schools work with students to identify placements and supervisors to fit their interests, location, and career goals. Other in-person requirements often include initial orientation sessions and/or yearly summer residencies.