15 Best Bachelors for Speech Pathology
Speech pathology is a growing field that’s very much in demand. Licensed speech pathologists help treat patients suffering from voice, language, speech and similar communication disorders. If this is a field that interests you but you don’t want to spend many years in college, you might want to check into pursuing an online bachelors in speech pathology. Below you will find all the information you need for this career as well as a list of some of the best bachelors for speech pathology programs.
What is a Speech Pathology Program?
If you’re contemplating pursuing a bachelor’s for speech pathology, becoming a speech pathologist is probably your career goal. Although speech pathologists are required to have a master’s degree, earning a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology can send you in the right direction.
A bachelor’s degree speech pathology program is also a great way to get started in this field. Speech pathology programs include course work as well as clinical education. The bachelor’s degree program usually takes around four years to complete. However, online students can often finish the program in less or more time. Course topics may include:
- Learning and language disorders of children
- Physiology and anatomy of hearing and speech
- American sign language
- Audiology
- Phonetics
- Voice disorders
- Phonological and fluency disorders
- Neural mechanisms of hearing, language, and speech
- Communication disorders
Who Needs an Online Speech Pathology Program?
Online speech pathology programs can be beneficial for all students regardless of the program or degree level. However, online speech pathology programs are especially beneficial for these students.
- Students who must continue to work while earning the degree
- Students who already have many obligations
- Students who are raising a family with limited time
- Students who don’t want to be limited to local colleges
- Students who cannot afford to take a lot of courses at one time
15 Best Online Bachelor’s of Speech Pathology Programs
Interested in pursuing an online bachelor’s degree in speech pathology? These programs may be offered as Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs. While they are both quite similar, there are some differences. The main difference is in the curriculum.
The BA offers more liberal arts courses, and the BS offers more science courses. The BS program will better prepare you for advanced studies in speech pathology. To help you along, we’ve included a list of some of the best bachelors for speech pathology programs, all of which are online programs. You can see our methodology, crafted by admissions professionals here.
1. Maryville University
Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
The communication sciences and disorders undergraduate program at Maryville is a 128-credit, 100% online program that requires no campus visits. The curriculum includes courses in education, healthcare, speech and hearing science, phonetics, audiology, and communication disorders.
Students will also complete clinic education for a capstone course. Tuition is $540 per credit. For added convenience and flexibility. The program also offers students six start dates per year. Graduates of this bachelor’s degree program prepares students for graduate studies in communication sciences and disorders.
2. Northern Arizona University
Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders
The bachelor’s degree in communication sciences & disorders is an online program that can be completed in four years or less. You’ll get 27 credit hours in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) and the program will prepare you for graduate work and for a Speech-Language Pathology Assistance (SLPA)
Northern Arizona University recommends that students start with CSD 191–Communication Disorders in Society, an introductory course, to confirm their interest in the larger program. Tuition for online students is the same for in-state and out-of-state students at $11,352 per year.inn
3. Northwestern University
Bachelor of Science in Human Communication Sciences
Northwestern University offers an online BS in Human Communications Sciences through its School of Communication. Graduates of this 4-year program are prepared to work in fields such as psychology, speech language pathology, audiology, and research.
To complete this program, students much complete 12 courses. The courses must be 11 communication sciences and disorders, and one course in communication. This is a very flexible program that offer many career opportunities.
4. University of Utah
Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education – Second BS
For those students who already have a bachelor’s degree but want to gain acceptance into a speech-language pathology or audiology program, this online second BS from University of Utah will provide the prerequisites necessary.
This 36-credit second bachelor’s degree has 18 credits of upper-division courses, and students must earn at least a 2.0 GPA. Students must take courses in the required order but may add on other courses per their own interest.
5. University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science
University of Pittsburgh offers an online bachelor’s degree in communication science through its Department of Communication Science and Disorders. Students learn about communication and swallowing disorders, anatomy and physiology of hearing and speech, language and linguistics, and speech and hearing science. Course topics in this 4-year program include audiology, speech language pathology, linguistics. Communication science, and aural rehabilitations, among others.
6. Arizona State University
Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science
The Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science program at Arizona State University is a 100% online program that teaches students not just about relevant disorders but language development, hearing, and typical speech development.
Upon completion of this 120- credit program, students are ready to seek work in this field or advance their education to an advanced degree. Students must complete 40 classes, each of which take 7.5 weeks. Students can also transfer in credits.
7. University of Arizona
Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
The BS in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Arizona is an online program Courses in this 4-year program include communication disorders; anatomy of the speech mechanism; and language science. Tuition is $500 to $600 per credit.
Students can earn their degree at their own pace and pay as they go. The program offers concentrations in culture and language; biological & biomedical science; psychology & human behavior; and education & human development.
8. Bradley University
Bachelor of Science in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences
Bradley University offers a Bachelor of Science in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences program. This online program requires completion of 120 credits, 45 of which are core courses. Students can transfer in up to 66 credits.
Courses include anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism; communication sciences and disorders; speech and hearing science; phonetics; language development; and linguistic diversity. This program can be completed in 8 semesters or 2.7 years.
9. University of Florida Online
Bachelor of Health Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
The communication sciences and disorders undergraduate program at the University of Florida Online is a flexible and affordable program for students interested in speech, communication, and speech pathology. Graduates are prepared to work in a variety of settings. This program is not for students interested in pursuing a second degree. UF Online boasts of having some of the lowest tuition rates in the nation. Tuition is about $112 per credit hour.
10. Eastern New Mexico University
Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders
ENMU offers a 4-year online Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders program that’s ideal for students interested in helping patients with speech, language, communication, and audiology problems. This online program allows students to interact and collaborate with other students. This program is a great foundation for students interested in earning a graduate degree. Tuition is $275 per credit hour.
11. University of Montana
Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Sciences and Disorders
The BA in communicative sciences and disorders program is a fully online program that can be completed in two years if the student has completed all required general education courses. Students in this program can also earn the Speech Language Pathology Assistant Certificate by completing a few addition courses. Courses are 8 weeks long and 7 weeks in the summer. Each course requires about 90-135 hours of study.
12. Utah State University
Bachelor of Science in Hearing Sciences
Students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders and deaf education can choose from two online programs. Utah State University offers this program as a BS or BA option. This 60-credit program is fully online. Students will have courses like language science, child language development, basic audiology, and acquired communication disorders. Students can also take advantage of USU’s tutoring services. Tuition is about $382 per credit hour.
13. Columbia College
Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
Columbia College offers a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology that is offered both online and on campus. Upon completion of this program, graduates are prepared to pursue an advanced degree or earn the Speech Language Pathology Assistant Certificate.
They are also eligible to sit for any industry-related certification exams. The curriculum includes both 7-week and 15-week courses. Students who choose a clinical track are required to complete an internship at an approved medical facility. Up to 90 credits can be transferred into the program.
14. University of Maryland
Bachelor of Science in Hearing and Speech Sciences
The bachelor’s degree in hearing and speech sciences at the University of Maryland is an online program that takes about four years to complete. The curriculum prepares students to work in this field or advance their education in audiology or speech-language pathology.
Course topics include speech and hearing science; linguistics; speech and language development in children; language disorders in children; aural rehabilitation; speech-language pathology; and methods of audiology.
15. Abilene Christian University
Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Abilene Christian University has a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders program. This pre-professional program can be completed all online. The program requires completing 120 credit hours. Of these hours, 9-15 are in Bible, and 60 are electives.
Other courses include language development and disorders; intercultural communication; speech and language disorders; and intervention for language/speech disorders in school. Tuition is about $395 per credit hour. ACU has a locked-in tuition policy that guarantees your tuition will not change throughout the time you’re enrolled and completing the program.
Salary and Job Prospects for BA and BS in Speech Pathology/Audiology/Communication Science Graduates
As stated above, an individual must have a master’s degree to work as a licensed speech pathologist. However, don’t let this make you think you can’t do a lot with a bachelor’s degree because you may have many good job opportunities in speech pathology.
Below are some potential jobs along for those with a BS or BA in speech therapy or a similar related field. Also listed are the average annual wages for these positions and the predicted job growth from 2022-2032. This information comes from a 2022 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides – $37,060 average wage; 23% job growth
- Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides – $57,240 average wage; 19% job growth
- Hearing Aide Specialist – $61,550 average wage; 14.5% job growth
- Health Education Specialist $59,990 average wage; 7% job growth
- Communications Teacher, postsecondary – $90,950 average wage; 8%
Admissions Requirements
Every college and program have some admission requirements for their speech pathology bachelor degree programs. Some may require an entrance exam, and others may not. Here are the most common admission requirements, however; you should check each school separately because they all vary in their requirements.
- High school diploma or GED
- Submitted online application
- GPA of at least 2.5
- Official transcripts for all colleges attended
- Must have completed certain courses (math, English, science)
- ACT or SAT scores
Why an Online Program
The need for a degree seems to increase more every year. High school graduates often find it difficult to get a good job without a degree. This is especially true with speech pathology. Some people may want to earn a degree but are unable to attend college fulltime for one reason or another.
Perhaps they can’t afford to quit their job, or they may live a great distance from a college. Their lives may already be so full that they don’t seem to be able to fit in studying and attending college. This is where online programs come in handy. Students can earn their degree at their own pace and at their convenience.
Getting Started
Whether your goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology or advance further, there are specific steps you must follow.
Determine what you want to learn and pursue with the degree.
- Research schools that offer the program and curriculum you need.
- Make sure the college/program is accredited.
- Find out if the school offers the option of online education.
- Does the school offer the speech pathology program in a bachelor’s degree?
- Does the program offer different areas of concentration?
- Find out what prerequisite courses you may have to complete prior to enrolling.
- Learn about any admission requirements the school or program might have.