15 Best Online Master’s in Speech Therapy

The best program on our list, California State University – Tseng College offers an excellent Master of Science in communicative disorders program. Students in this program complete classes that are 100% online, participate in a clinical practicum at an institution near them, and complete an adult externship. 

Some classes students will take are Interviewing and Counseling in Communicative Disorders, Language Disorders, and Neurogenic Disorders of Cognition and Language. These classes are more advanced and specific than undergraduate courses, and students should prepare accordingly.

While all of the classes are online, students must participate in several real-world clinical experiences to gain their degrees. First, they must do a clinical practicum three times in pediatric facilities. This experience will require them to be available for at least 12 to 16 hours per week. Additionally, students must have an externship at an adult care facility. The adult externship requires students to be available eight hours per day, five days per week, for the 12 weeks of the summer session.

The University of Akron is a close second, with an online Master of Arts in speech-language pathology that beats most on-campus programs in the nation. The program prepares students for their careers through professional education and clinical training. Additionally, the school provides services to the professional community through continuing education, mentoring, consulting, joint research, and provision of clinical service through contracts.

Students will take classes like Language and Literacy Development, Neuroscience for Communicative Disorders, and Augmentative Communication. After these classes, students will be able to demonstrate a broad-based knowledge of the foundations, theories, and application of speech-language pathology. Additionally, they’ll know how to practice the profession ethically.

Besides online coursework, students will participate in clinical practicums and enroll in an external internship. These two experiences are invaluable to students because it connects theory with practice. Thus, students will graduate this program with the intellectual and experiential foundation to thrive as an SLP.

Idaho State University’s Master of Science in speech-language pathology program is one of the best in the country. The school offers a two-year full-time campus program or a three-year online distance learning program. The latter program allows students to complete academic coursework in the comfort of their own homes.

Some classes students will take are Early Language Development & Disorders, Speech Sound Disorders, and Neurogenic Disorders of Language and Cognition. Again, these classes are more specific, detailed, and nuanced than undergraduate coursework. Specificity is necessary, though. Otherwise, how can you treat a multitude of patients, each with different conditions? The program also includes an optional thesis.

Like most other schools in this list, this program requires students to participate in clinical practicums. Students must participate in an 8-week summer clinical experience, which is held on the Pocatello Campus. Next, students must complete a clinical practicum on the Meridian Campus that’s one-week long.

East Carolina University offers an outstanding M.S. in communication sciences and disorders. It is a three-year full-time program, comprising academic and clinical studies. Unlike other schools’ programs, which differ between the online and campus offerings, ECU’s online program is equal to its on-campus degree. Same classes, some clinical studies, same everything. Of course, the difference is that you can study from the comfort of your home.

Some sample classes from ECU’s program are Language Disorders, Language & Learning Disabilities, Craniofacial Anomalies & Alaryngeal Rehabilitation, and Stuttering. Each course provides students with the vital information required to work as an SLP. Students must hold a clinical internship every summer of their studies, and the second and third spring. 

To graduate from the program, students must complete 54-60 credit hours, 400 clinical hours, and obtain a 162 or higher on the PRAXIS speech-language pathology exam. This program is rigorous—students must hold a 3.0 out of 4.0 in all but one of their courses to graduate.

With affordable tuition, excellent classes, and highly regarded faculty, Florida State University has one of the best online master’s in communication science & disorders in the nation. In this program, students combine part-time online learning with clinical studies that are available across Florida.

Students take classes like Voice Disorders, Advanced Aural Rehab, Nature of Autism, and Medical Speech-Language Pathology. These classes orient students to the many nuances and different conditions that they’ll find in the field. For their practicum, students can work in schools, hospitals, private practices, or any other site relevant to the degree. Due to the geographically restrictive nature of the program, students must live in Florida to enroll in the distance learning option.

Graduates from this program have gone onto successful careers in many contexts. In a few examples, graduate SLPs have worked in rehabilitation centers, government health facilities, and private practices. This program is a fantastic option for any Florida-living resident, and any person considering relocating to Florida.

Western Kentucky University offers an excellent Master of Science in communication disorders program. With the degree and licensure, graduates can work with the communicatively impaired in hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, and schools. Program admission is competitive. Students should have a 3.0 or higher GPA, letters of reference, an essay, and GRE scores.

The program has 14 required core courses, including Fluency Disorders, Aphasia, Neurology for Speech and Language, and Rehab Audiology. These courses will expand your knowledge tenfold and teach you the required details for SLP practice. Additionally, students must take three clinical courses for 400 total hours: Clinical Methods in Speech-Language Pathology, Clinical Internship, and Clinical Externship. Note that externships cannot be completed in California.

The program charges $707 per credit hour, but the school does have available grants and loans for applying students. Ninety percent of the WKU students who applied for assistance in recent years received an offer of financial aid.

Some online SLP programs differ from their in-person companion, but James Madison’s M.S. degree is a notable exception to this rule. The online version of this degree holds students to the same standards and offers a parallel curriculum. While anybody can apply to this program, it caters especially to career changers and non-traditional students.

If you don’t have an SLP-related undergraduate degree, you can still gain admittance after finishing five classes through JMU. These classes are Introduction to Audiology, Language Development, Phonetics, Anatomy & Physiology of Ear and Voice, and Acoustics of Hearing and Speech. Some core courses of the master’s program are Augmentative Communication, Voice Disorders, and Language Disorders in Adults.

Applying students must provide a written statement regarding career goals and reason for pursuing the degree. Additionally, they must provide GRE scores, official transcripts, two reference letters, and a three-minute video response to a provided prompt. The admission process is very competitive, so students should take the application seriously.

Texas Woman’s University offers an expedited online master’s in speech-language pathology program. While the curriculum is strenuous, students can complete the required coursework and clinical studies in as little as two years. Throughout their studies, students focus on the critical subjects within speech therapy, like the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of speech-related disorders.

Over three years, 95% of TWU graduates have passed the PRAXIS exam, which speaks to the quality of the program. It also speaks to the balanced nature of the program—students balance core classes, electives, and clinical experiences to gather the knowledge required to succeed. 

Prospective students should note that cohorts begin every two years. Thus, you should make sure before applying that you’re not applying to a program two years out. Admitted students can compete for several scholarships awarded by the Department of Communication Sciences & Oral Health. The scholarships are competitive, but anybody needing financial assistance should still apply.

Besides its reputation as the stomping grounds of Bon Iver, University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire offers a fantastic Master of Science in communication sciences and disorders program. Prospective students can take an on-campus two-year program or a part-time online program that lasts three years.

Students will take classes to develop an understanding of normal speech, hearing, swallowing and language development and behavior. Additionally, they’ll learn vital investigative procedures in communication sciences and disorders. Students will take 54 credits of online courses, and they can write a thesis if they wish. If they do write a thesis, students must defend their thesis with an oral examination about its contents.

Students must complete two externships in their final year in the program. These experiences help students gain an understanding of clinical work, develop the experience to jump into a job, and offer them the chance to decide whether the profession is right for them. Students will also participate in practicums in hospitals, clinics, community agencies, nursing homes, private practices and schools.

The University of Northern Colorado has a 50-year-old Master of Arts in speech-language pathology program. It’s to be expected, then, that the school boasts a 100% job placement rate among recent graduates and a 100% pass rate on the national Praxis exam in speech-language pathology. Expected or not, these rates are impressive. 

UNC offers an excellent three-year online program. This model, like others on this list, combines clinical experiences and high-demand classes that require students to be engaged. Coursework comprises 33 credit hours of online courses, one or two internships, seven credit hours of research classes, and 14-19 credit hours in a clinical practicum. In the third semester of the program, students travel to the University of Northern Colorado for two weeks, where they focus on lab sessions and career planning. 

Admission requirements are as follows: students must have a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA, a relatively high GRE score, a relevant undergraduate degree, and experience as an SLPA or similar program.

New York University needs no introduction. From an excellent business school to theater school, the university is known throughout the world. Having NYU on your resume is a golden ticket with many employers. Thankfully, NYU also boasts an excellent online master’s program in speech-language pathology.

The program comprises 48 graduate-level credits, seven online foundation courses, and 375 direct clinical contact hours. Some foundational classes are Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Swallow Mechanism, Phonetics, and the Science of Language. Students also take classes in more specific categories. Some of these courses are Motor Speech Disorders, Adult Language Disorders, Language Development and Disorders in School-Aged Children, and Fluency Disorders.

Students are to complete a five-part sequence of on-campus clinical practica and clinical experiences at their placement site. These sequences are as follows: an on-campus pre-clinic practicum; an on-campus diagnostic assessment practicum; and a clinical field placement at a treatment, pediatrics, and adults-focused facility.

Some people’s lives are too busy or complex to relocate and exclusively focus on a full-time on-campus program. The University of South Carolina had these people in mind when they devised their online Master of Science – distance education (MS-DE) in speech-language pathology program. 

Applying students must submit three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and an official college transcript. While USC accepts students that don’t have a speech-language pathology background, they’re admitted with the stipulation that they have to complete prerequisite coursework as part of the program. Thus, the typically three-year program becomes a four-year program. 

This extra time allows students to hold jobs, and participate in MCD courses and synchronous “live” class meetings in the comfort of their home environment. Students are also permitted to take quizzes and tests online, and take some proctored exams in regional testing sites located near their homes. Students must partake in three clinical experiences: a five-week clinical practicum in South Carolina, a six-to-eight-week clinical practicum, and a eight-to-ten-week clinical practicum. 

The University of Montana offers a unique online Master of Science in speech-language pathology program. While most universities require students to take classes in all SLP disciplines, the University of Montana requires students to choose between an emphasis on developmental disorders or an emphasis on acquired disorders.

To enroll in this program, students must have completed ten prerequisite courses, some of which are Intro to Audiology, Speech Sciences, Clinical Processes, and Neuroanatomy and Physiology. These classes are critical—without them, students lack the foundation to understand more advanced concepts. Students can complete this program in as little as two years, but most take longer.

A sample semester includes the following courses: Articulation & Phonological Disorders, Swallowing Disorders, Fluency Disorders, Clinical Processes of Prof Practice, and Acquired Cognitive Communication Disorder. Additionally, students must enroll in a clinical practicum at the University of Montana’s RiteCare Clinic during their first summer term. Students must also take practica throughout the remainder of the program in off-campus sites.

The University of Rhode Island’s speech-language pathology M.S. program is notable for its flexibility. Students can enroll full-time and complete the program in two years, or they can take it slow with a four to five year program. 

Prospective students should note that this program is more demanding and more competitive than most programs on this list. To ensure admittance to this program, applicants should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a 3.5 or higher GPA, a two-page personal statement, two letters of recommendation from faculty of your undergraduate program, and an optional third letter of recommendation. 

Students must take a minimum of 54 credits to graduate, 10 of which will be earned through clinical practicums. Some courses students will take are Cultural and Linguistics Diversity in Communicative Disorders, Language Disorders in School-Aged Children, Voice Disorders, and Language Disorders in Adults. Students will also choose electives from a large pool, depending on their particular interests.

There’s a chance you haven’t heard of Nova Southeastern University before, and, sure, it isn’t as big of a name as the rest of the schools on this list. Yet, it has one of the best online Master of Science in speech-language pathology programs, and nobody should overlook that. It prepares students for success in the field, wherever they end up. 

Applicants must provide the following things before gaining admittance: official transcript, a minimum 3.0 GPA from all college-level courses, the completion of six prerequisite courses with a B- or higher grade, two essays, 25 hours of clinical observation, and three letters of recommendation. Does this process sound rigorous to you? Well, it is. This institution only wants excellent students, and its admittance process works accordingly.

Enrolled students take classes like Diagnosis of Language and Speech Disorders, Language Disorders in Adults, Clinical Processes, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Additionally, students must enroll in two clinical lab practicums, an adult externship, and a pediatric school or non-school externship.