30 Best Master’s in Speech Therapy

At first place on our list, the University of Washington leaves nothing to be desired. Students enjoy an excellent mix of a beautiful campus, fantastic classes, and faculty who have made an impressionable imprint on speech therapy as a study. To gain admission to this program, students should have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

So what classes comprise an excellent curriculum? At the University of Washington, speech therapy students take classes like Neural Bases of Speech, Language & Hearing, Clinical Forum in Speech-Language Pathology, and Assessment & Treatment of Dysphagia.

Students must also spend over 500 hours in internships and practicums throughout their two-year master’s program. These internships require students to observe and participate in the work of established speech therapists. Students can choose to intern in one of over 270 approved locations. Between the clinical and classroom coursework, UW’s Master of Science in speech-language pathology is the best school in the nation. 

Purdue University offers an excellent Master of Science in speech-language pathology program. Applying students must submit three letters of recommendation, official transcripts from all institutions attended, an updated resume, GRE scores, and answers to the prompts on Purdue’s application. The school is selective, so you should ensure that your application is of the highest quality.

Students in this program take fantastic classes, like Neural Bases of Speech & Hearing, Language Disorders in Adults, Motor Disorders of Speech, and School Clinical Methods. Additionally, each student is required to enroll in a clinical practicum, educational externship, two healthcare externships, and a practicum. 

As a pre-professional program, Purdue’s SLP program prepares students for the Praxis test and the required clinical hours to gain licensure. The university also provides students with a year-one and year-two checklist to make sure they’re keeping up with the demands of the program and to make sure they’re prepared for their careers.

Are you ready to finish up your 20 or so years of schooling and move into the real world? If so, we don’t blame you. But you should make sure you end strong, and you could hardly finish at a better place than the University of Wisconsin. The school offers a fantastic Master of Science in speech-language pathology.

This master’s program is a clinical degree that requires coursework and field experience. To join the program, you should have a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA, three letters of recommendation, an updated resume, GRE scores, and an application essay. Note that your undergraduate degree must be in speech therapy or a related field. If not, you should have at least taken the nine SLP-related classes listed on the program website.

Students in this program take excellent courses that prepare them for equally fantastic careers. Some of these classes are Acquired Language & Cognitive-Communication Disorders in Adults; Sign Language; and Neural Mechanisms of Speech, Hearing, and Language.

As an SLP, do you want to work with children in schools? Or would you rather work with people fighting debilitating diseases in a nursing home? No matter your choice, or whether you know yet, the University of Iowa’s Master of Arts in speech-language pathology program will get you where you want to go.

The University of Iowa’s SLP program is one of the most selective programs on this list. To gain admission, students should have a 3.4 undergraduate GPA or higher, verbal GRE scores over the 40th percentile, and quantitative GRE scores anywhere over the 40th percentile. These requirements are the bare minimum—the average applicant exceeds each of those numbers.

Like other SLP programs, students combine on-campus classes with clinical experience. Some courses are Intro to Stuttering Disorders, Manual Communication, Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, and Neurogenic Disorders of Speech and Swallowing. Students must also complete two eight-week outplacement experiences and three practicums.

The ability to speak and hear are gifts, and they should be treated as such. Unfortunately, not everybody was born with these gifts, and not everybody dies with them. At the University of Illinois’s Master of Arts in speech-language pathology program, students learn how to help people confront, cope with, and recover from their communication disorders.

Applying students must provide the following things: a completed bachelor’s degree in a related field with a 3.0 or higher GPA, GRE results, two or more letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume. While these requirements aren’t as strict as other programs on this list, you should still take every component of the application process seriously. 

Students take a variety of advanced classes in the program. Some of the courses are Stuttering: Theory & Practice, Aphasia and Related Disorders, Clinical Sociolinguistics, and Advanced Language Diagnostics. Students also enroll in over 100 hours of clinical work. To graduate from this program, students must have a 3.0 or higher GPA.

Do you want to finish your studies and work in the Grand Canyon State? If you do, consider the University of Arizona’s Master of Science in speech-language pathology program. To gain admission to this program, students should have a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA, GRE scores in the 30th percentile or higher, three letters of recommendation, and GRE scores.

The University of Arizona stands out because it offers a three-year program for students who didn’t major in a related study. In the three-year program, students spend their first year completing prerequisite coursework like Phonetics, Language Acquisition, and Communication Disorders. Then, students begin their second year like any other student admitted to the two-year program.

Students in the two-year program take classes like Developmental Language Disorders, Preclinical Speech Science, Dysphagia, and Language Disorders in School-Age Children. Students supplement their learnings with several clinical practicums that expose them to the field and test their ability to become an SLP.

The University of Texas offers an excellent five-semester Master of Arts in speech-language pathology program. The 57-60 credit hour program imparts critical knowledge to students, puts them in the field for in-person experience, and prepares them for a lifelong career as a speech therapist.

One unique aspect of the University of Texas program is the availability of a bilingual and multicultural certificate, which focuses on Spanish-speaking populations. Spanish is the second language of most states around America, and many primarily Spanish speakers struggle with communication disorders, too. With this certificate, you’ll gain the language and cultural knowledge required to work with those populations.

Some graduate courses are Knowledge & Skills in Clinical Science, School-Age Language Disorders, Fluency, and Acquired Cognitive Communication Disorders. Like other programs, students must also work for at least 375 hours in the field. Students split these hours between adults and children, and between patients who cope with several types of communication disorders.

Students enrolled in the University of Utah’s Master of Science in speech-language pathology program can choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option. If you want to join the thesis option, the university expects you to have a rough outline of the thesis before beginning the program. The program lasts five semesters, which can take anywhere from nearly two years to over five years, depending on your time availability and speed.

This program requires 55 credit hours of work. Nineteen of those credit hours are spent in clinical practicums, which require you to observe SLPs and perform as an SLP in different contexts. The University of Utah requires all students to enroll in at least two full-time externships. The first externship must be completed in a public or private school. The second externship may be completed in a location of the student’s choosing.

The other 36 credits are spent in class, taking courses like Motor Speech Disorders, Fluency Disorders, and Swallowing Disability and Medical Management Issues. These classes will give you the background required for your practica, externships, and career as an SLP.

Do you want to attend a school known equally for its outstanding programs, student life, and sports teams? If so, you can’t do much better than Ohio State University’s Master of Arts in speech-language pathology. In this program, students can choose one of four specializations: Singing Health, Aging, Disability Services, and Applied Developmental Sciences in Education.

Besides specialization courses, students take core classes like The SLP’s Role in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Language Disorders in Adults, and Seminar in Fluency Disorders. These classes will give you the knowledge to work with all demographics in a clinical setting. You will, however, gain a focus through your experience in several clinical seminars.

Does this program sound like a match for you? Let’s make sure you meet the requirements. Admitted students must have an undergraduate degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA, though most admitted students have a 3.7 GPA or higher. Students must also submit letters of recommendation, GRE scores, short essays, and proved preparedness to begin the program. 

Your studies are almost over, and your career has nearly begun. That’s exciting! But you want to make sure that you take your master’s degree seriously, no matter how close you are to the finish line. Indiana University Bloomington’s Master of Arts in speech-language pathology is one of the best programs in the nation, and it’s an excellent place to finish your studies. 

Of note, Indiana University Bloomington offers a Bilingual Track (Spanish-English) in Speech-Language Pathology. This track is a great idea for any student who already speaks Spanish, or who wants to learn the language to engage with a greater populace and more cultures. 

The program is designed to last around two years, no matter whether your undergraduate degree is in speech therapy or an entirely different field. After finishing this program, graduates have found great success: 100% of the program’s graduates passed the Praxis exam and found employment within one year of graduating.

By far the best SLP program in Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh’s Master of Science in speech-language pathology leaves nothing to be desired. To have a good chance of gaining admission into this very selective program, applying students should have a 3.5 or higher GPA, submit GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, and an updated resume.

The University of Pittsburgh’s curriculum comprises 60 credits of traditional classes and field experiences. Some courses students take are Neurogenic Language and Cognitive Communication Disorders; Child Language Disorders; Dysphagia; and Fluency Disorders. These classes will help you build an understanding so you’re never short of knowledge when you become a licensed SLP. 

There are four required clinical practicums: Clinic Practicum in Audiology, Clinic Practicum in SLP – Network, Clinic Practicum in SLP – Outplacement, and Practicum in Schools. These experiences will help you adjust to a career as an SLP and provide you hundreds of hours of the required clinical experience to become an SLP.

As far as the best graduate schools go, you’ll never wrong by choosing the school nearest to you as long as it’s one of the best 30 or 50 schools in the nation. If you live in or near Minnesota, you’ll be more than pleased with the University of Minnesota’s Master of Arts in speech-language pathology. 

This program emphasizes evidence-based practices, the ethics of a medical practitioner, and the nuanced understanding of speech-language communication conditions. Applying students should have taken the following prerequisite courses prior to admission: Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech & Hearing Mechanisms, Phonetics, Speech Science, and Rehabilitative Audiology.

Career outcomes for graduates of the University of Minnesota SLP program are strong. Of note, 100% of graduates have passed the Praxis exam and found employment in the SLP field within one year of graduating. If you want to take an excellent program with an emphasis on clinical studies, be sure to consider applying to the University of Minnesota’s program.

Do you live near Kansas, and you’re interested in gaining a Master of Arts in speech-language pathology at an excellent institution by you? If so, look no further. The University of Kansas’s SLP master’s program holds a light to the best institutions in the nation. Between its accomplished faculty members, excellent classes, and focused clinical work, you can’t go wrong by choosing this program.

Interested? To apply, students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher, but admitted students have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.85. Besides that, students need 25 hours of clinical practice experience, a resume, a purpose statement, and letters of recommendation. Students aren’t required to have majored in an SLP-related field, but they must finish prerequisite courses before the program technically begins.

Students in this program learn the following classes: Multicultural Considerations in Speech-Language-Hearing, Professional Issues, Evaluation of Speech and Language, and Advanced Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology. Like all other master’s programs, students must spend months in clinical practica.

The University of North Carolina’s Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences program is one of the best of its kind. The 60-credit curriculum blends foundational studies, recent research, and on-the-ground experiences in local speech therapy work environments. Students who don’t wish to become ASHA certified can choose a non-clinical track of the program.

The average profile of an admitted student is as follows: a vast range of life experience, 3.74 GPA, GRE scores in at least the 70th percentile, extensive extracurricular activities, and completed prerequisite courses. While you can still gain admittance without meeting all of these standards, you’ll have to focus on the quality of your resume, purpose statement, and letters of recommendation.

The University of North Carolina offers an excellent opportunity for bilingual students to gain clinical experiences in Spanish-speaking environments. Alongside their master’s degree, students can work toward a certificate in latin american studies to prove their ability to work in Spanish-speaking settings.

The University of Florida is noted for excellent student life, an active sports community, and outstanding academics. And the school’s Master of Arts in communication sciences and disorders program is no exception to the high-quality academics of the school. As long as students pass each course and enter the program having completed the required prerequisite courses, students should graduate within two years.

At the University of Florida’s communication sciences and disorders program, students take classes like Speech Pathology: Stuttering, Neuro-cognitive Language Disorders, Introduction to Graduate Research, and Voice Disorders. Besides in-school courses, students take a combination of practica and externships to gain field experience.

The outcome for the University of Florida’s graduates is strong. Of the 74 graduates who took the Praxis exam post-graduation, 73 passed. And almost every graduate found employment within three years of graduation. If you want to attend an excellent school with promising outcomes, look no further than the University of Florida.

The University of Georgia’s Master of Education in communication sciences and disorders is a non-thesis program. The program emphasizes clinical experience over research, and preparation for the profession over scholarly study. If you want to break into the SLP profession as a trained graduate, this school is for you.

Students enroll in the summer semester, and if they complete their studies and clinical practices on-time, they can graduate after their second spring semester. Some classes students in this program take are Multicultural Issues in SLP, Language Assessment and Intervention – Preschool Children, Neurogenic Speech Disorders, Voice Disorders, and Neurobiology of Communication.

Students also take part in clinical practica and mini-internships. These experiences encourage students to observe and take part in the SLP profession in different contexts, like schools and hospitals. That way, students can have an idea of the type of SLP work they want to do post-graduation.

All of the programs on this list are excellent, but not all of them provide you the opportunity to study a few miles from the ocean. San Diego State University’s location is fantastic, but so is its Master of Arts in speech, language, and hearing sciences program. To gain admission, students must have a 3.2 or higher GPA and GRE scores. Note that the average GPA of incoming students is around 3.8.

The standard program includes two years of study and clinical practica, including the summer between the first and second years. In this time, students enroll in courses like Clinical Issues in Aural Rehabilitation, Speech-Language Screening of Children, Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and Acquired Neuromotor Speech Disorders. 

Besides on-campus studies, students must complete clinical practice in a public school, participate in a few research studies, and complete a project or a thesis. At SDSU you can also choose the option to specialize in bilingualism. 

The University of South Florida has one of the best Master of Science in speech-language pathology programs in the nation. It is also one of the top five school options for students living in the Southeast region of the country. This program lasts six semesters and combines clinical experience with on-campus academic studies.

Students at this school aren’t required to have received a bachelor’s degree in a similar area. If they don’t, though, students will have to take around one year of prerequisite courses before the master’s program technically begins. Then, students will be enrolled, taking a combination of core classes, elective courses, and clinical practica. 

Unique to the University of South Florida, the Suncoast Consortium Track is an excellent option for people who have graduated from a bachelor’s program and now work directly with speech-language pathologists. In this program, students take nine semesters of online and in-person classes as they continue their work as SLP assistants or paraprofessionals.

Another showing from Florida, Florida State University’s Master of Science in communication science & disorders is about as good as it gets. Students complete the program in small cohorts, which adds a level of familiarity, camaraderie, and community to the program. Applying students must have a 3.0 or higher from an accredited university, an updated resume, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of intent.

Students take a combination of core courses, elective classes, clinical coursework, and clinical practicum courses. Some core and elective classes are Speech and Swallowing Disorders, Developmental Communication Disorders, Motor Speech Disorders, and Advanced Aural Rehab. Besides on-campus courses, students must take part in clinical experience for 23 credits. 

At Florida State University, students are graced by the presence of accomplished faculty members. Some of them are professors in the field, while others are experienced SLPs who have developed the desire and ability to educate aspiring SLPs.

With world-renowned faculty, top-of-the-line classes, and links to outstanding clinical facilities, the University of Maryland’s Master of Arts Program in speech-language pathology is a fantastic program. One hundred percent of graduates from the University of Maryland have passed the ASHA Praxis exam, and 95% have found employment within a year of graduation.  Applying students must submit official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, a personal statement, and a $75 non-refundable application fee.

At the University of Maryland, students take classes like Language Disorders in School-Age, Alternative & Augmentative Communication; Foundations of Scientific Enquiry; and Bilingual Assessment & Intervention. These courses orient students to the latest research and foundational topics in speech therapy.

Students choose clinical experiences from the following places: The Language-Learning Early-Advantage Program, an acclaimed preschool; Avoidance Reduction Group Therapy; The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, and more. Each of these state-of-the-art facilities offers students insight into the latest practices in speech therapy. 

Arizona State University has one of the largest student bodies of any university in the world. As such, they cater to each of their many students, offering a vast range of degree programs. Within each program, the university emphasizes quality in addition to quantity. And Arizona State University’s Master of Science in communication disorders is no exception to this rule.

Besides the normal full-time program, ASU students can choose from three program options. In the part-time employment program, students can finish the program part-time while working in public schools. The multilingual/multicultural Program is for students who want to work with patients from diverse backgrounds. Of note, this program grants accepted students a partial tuition waiver. Finally, the East Carolina University/Arizona State University joint program allows students to take online courses through ECU and clinical studies through ASU.

Students in ASU’s communication disorders program take classes like Special Populations & Syndromes, Motor Speech Disorders, and Neural Bases of Communication Disorders. These classes will give you the foundation to build a strong career in the SLP field. 

Are you ready to finish your last stretch of studies before becoming a speech therapist? We bet. And the University of Texas at Dallas is one of the best universities for you to complete your studies. The school has a fantastic Master of Science in communication disorders program, combining excellent classes and the clinical training required to gain licensure.

While some schools separate coursework from clinical studies and internships, this program requires students to enroll in clinical studies or an internship during each term of the program. Students can join the program during the fall, spring, or summer semesters, providing flexibility to all applicants. 

Students at this school take the following core courses: Assessment and Intervention of Language Impairments in Preschool and School-Age Children, Neurogenic Communication Disorders, Dysphagia, and Stuttering. These courses will prepare you to work with patients of all ages who deal with all types of communication disorders.

It’s no secret that the speech-language pathology field is booming right now. There are more jobs than ever before, and there still aren’t enough SLPs to cover all of the patients in need. If you want to join the ranks, consider finishing your studies at the University of Nebraska. The university’s Master of Science in speech-language pathology program consistently ranks in the top 10% of graduate programs nationwide. 

The average cumulative GPA of admitted students hovers around 3.83 out of 4.0, and GRE scores are in the 50th percentile or higher. The university is very selective, but as the statistics show, the admissions department values your grades more than your test scores. Additionally, you can prove yourself with a diverse resume, excellent letters of recommendation, and a poignant purpose statement.

Around 98% of Nebraska students complete the master’s program on-time. One hundred percent of them pass the Praxis test, and around 93% of graduates find employment within one year of graduating. 

Hands-on learners will love Temple University’s Master of Arts in speech, language, and hearing science. While every speech therapy graduate school includes clinical experience in their curriculum, Temple emphasizes it. The faculty finds that students learn quickest when knowledge is applied, and if you believe that statement, you should consider Temple University. 

Temple University is proud to have over 80 clinical affiliates in Pennsylvania. Through all of these connections, students can have excellent clinical experiences in schools, private practices, nursing homes, and universities. Students in the speech, language, and hearing science program also have the option to perform supervised research on the Temple campus.

This master’s program lasts two years, including two summers, for students who have completed the prerequisite classes. For students who didn’t major in a related field, they can spend a year taking prerequisite classes at Temple University before officially enrolling in the two-year master’s program. Students can also write a thesis, but it isn’t required. 

Do you want to join the highly esteemed Master of Arts in speech-language pathology at the University of Connecticut? Applying students should have three letters of reference, two essay forms, and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (the average GPA of accepted students is 3.7). GRE scores aren’t required, but they are accepted, and a good GRE score is worth reporting on the application. 

Furthermore, students must record 25 hours of clinical observation before being accepted into the program. Clinical observation and experience is a central component of any SLP program, and, obviously, it’s the central point of any SLP’s career. At UConn, you will continue your clinical experience until you meet licensure requirements.

So how much clinical experience does it take? At UConn, students must record 400 hours of clinical practicum. Of these 400 hours, 375 must be in direct work with patients, while 25 hours must be spent observing professional SLPs. Students will spend a full summer in clinical work, but they will also spend time throughout the regular school year gaining clinical experience.

Boulder, Colorado is recognizable by the famous Flatirons, a bohemian scene, access to beautiful nature, and a world-famous university. The University of Colorado Boulder’s master’s degree in speech-language pathology is an excellent option for aspiring SLPs who are also nature lovers and Colorado residents.

There are three options within CU Boulder’s SLP program. The first is for those who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Those students will take two years of classes and clinical experiences before completing the degree. Some courses students take are Neurogenic Speech Disorders, Resonance Disorders, and Development and Intervention in Childhood Hearing Loss.

The second option is for those who didn’t have an undergraduate major related to speech-language pathology. For these students, the last two years are the same as the first option. The difference is that students must spend a year taking prerequisite courses like Phonetics, Hearing Science, and Audiological Evaluation. The final track is for those who want to complete a thesis. Those students will be more focused on research than on clinical work.

The University of Virginia is one of the best public universities in the United States and around the world. Its graduates have become leaders in many fields, including speech-language pathology. The University of Virginia’s Master of Education in communication sciences and disorders is an excellent option for anybody who wishes to become a clinical SLP professional.

Students at the University of Virginia take excellent classes like Prevention, Assessment, and Intervention; Disorders of Phonology and Articulation; and Disorders of Communication Based in Cognitive Dysfunction: Adults. This program lasts two years, and it combines classroom learning with clinical experience.

The University of Virginia has an option for students who didn’t graduate with a bachelor’s in a related field. This track follows the two-year master’s degree program, but it adds a year for students to complete required prerequisite work. The school accepts around 27 students per year, making this program very selective. If you want to gain admittance, be sure that you’re presenting yourself in the best possible way on your application.

Are you a resident of the Pelican State, and are you pretty sure that you don’t want to leave? Or do you live elsewhere, but you’re pretty sure you want to live in Louisiana? If either of these statements apply, check out Louisiana State University’s Master of Arts program in speech-language pathology.

This program stands out for a few reasons. First, each of the master-level classes are taught by educators who hold Ph.D. degrees, which isn’t standard for SLP programs. Second, the university has affiliate agreements with dozens of top-of-the-line facilities for SLP professionals and students in SLP programs. Lastly, students in this program have access to leading faculty and research from related LSU programs. Through these connections, students can expand their studies and network.

Students in this program can choose between a thesis and non-thesis track. Either way, students must complete 39 credit hours of courses to graduate from the program. 

Go Green, Go White! Well, sports fan or not, any aspiring SLP will be enamored with Michigan State University’s Master of Arts program in communicative sciences and disorders. The faculty is great, as it should be, and the classes are carefully designed and taught. Additionally, Michigan State University has connected to over 100 facilities near Lansing. Students can complete required clinical hours in these facilities, and exceed those hours if they wish to do so.

Students in this program take the following classes: Research Methods in Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Autism and Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Acquired Language Disorders, and Assessment and Treatment of Dysphagia. These classes are invaluable to your future as a licensed SLP.

Students can take an optional thesis track. Those who choose not to write a thesis have to take six additional credits in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders. Additionally, they must pass a final examination to graduate from Michigan State University’s program.

All of the programs on this list are excellent. Each of them is unique in their own way, but we chose each school because they equally prepare students for careers as speech therapists. The University of Alabama is no exception—the program is outstanding, and it stands out for its own reasons. Of note, students in this program dive into the past of speech therapy as well as the present and future.

Sound like a match? Let’s make sure you can get in. To gain admission, the University of Alabama expects students to have a 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate degree, a GRE or MAT score, a statement of purpose, an updated resume, and at least two letters of recommendation. The school is quite selective, so take the time to carefully fill out your application.

Students who have completed the prerequisite courses before admission can finish the program in as few as five semesters. Those who haven’t can finish the program in as few as seven semesters. But there’s no rush. The University of Alabama will graduate you as long as you maintain good grades and you finish the program within six years.