A Growing Field
Speech Language Pathology is a field that continues to grow, not only in the amount of students who are pursuing it, but also in the amount of research being done that keeps uncovering more and more information about communication disorders and sciences. As the field seems to be growing by the second, graduate programs are trying to adjust to meet these demands–and some are doing it better than others.
How They Were Rated
U.S. News and World Report released their Top 10 Graduate Schools for Speech Language Pathology. The rating was based on a peer review, and used a scale from 1 (lowest ranking) to 5 (best ranking).
The Top 10 Language Pathologist Schools
Many of these programs have grown significantly in just the past few years, which means a lot of transitioning. With clinical work becoming a bigger focus in SLP, programs that used to be an MA, are now predominantly MS programs, or even doctorate programs. Here are the schools on the cutting edge of this growing field:
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University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA Score: 4.6
One of the oldest and largest Speech-Language Pathology programs, the University of Iowa’s program is #1 for a good reason. Still an MA, they offer a well-rounded program which is exceptional in every area.
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University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, WI Score: 4.5
As with many of its medical and therapy programs, UW-Madison has an impressive Masters of Science program with extensive clinical work and great outreach into the community.
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University of Washington in Seattle, WA Score: 4.4
The University of Washington Speech and Hearing Clinic offers great clinical experiences and many research opportunities. -
Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN Score: 4.4
The largest program in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt, this Masters of Science program supports several research projects in a state-of-the-art facility. -
Northwestern University in Chicago, IL Score: 4.3
Northwestern has a unique Masters of Science in Speech, Language, and Learning, which focuses on learning disabilities in conjunction with speech and language disorders. -
Purdue University–West Lafayette in West Lafayette, IN Score: 4.3
Purdue offers many study abroad options for SLP clinical work, and has thriving labs that have developed innovative solutions for those with speech and language disorders. -
University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ Score: 4.3
The University of Arizona program offers a certification in bilingual SLP and specializes in courses that focus on issues prevalent among bilingual children and adults. -
University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS Score: 4.2
KU has an intercampus program, where students take courses at the Medical College in Kansas City, as well as at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Lawrence. -
University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA Score: 4.2
With the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as its main clinical site, U-Pitt offers experience in a broad range of ages and settings. -
University of Texas–Austin in Austin, TX Score: 4.1
University of Texas has a large program, with a masters, doctoral and Ph.D. This school has something for whatever direction you want to go in–whether it is in the field or as a professor.
Using This Information to Find the Right Language Pathologist School that fits you.
In addition to the US News and World Report Survey, Startclass, an online grad school comparison tool, enables you to compare several colleges according to SAT score, location, size, and several other filters. This tool may help you to find exactly what you are looking for in a SLP program. Although this the top ten list is a great starting point, a resource like startclass, will enable you to find the perfect fit for wherever you are at in life and schooling.
What’s YOUR Vote for the best Language Pathologist Schools?
U.S. News and World Report bases their ratings on expert opinion, but a lot of times just the well-known or big programs make it to the top. We are wondering what YOUR vote is. Where did your Alma Mater rank? What were the strengths of your educational experience? Who do you think deserves to be on this list, and didn’t make it? Please let us know in the comments section below!
