Communication Sciences and Disorders: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Communication Sciences and Disorders is a rigorous, science-based discipline dedicated to understanding the biological, psychological, and physical foundations of human communication. The program prepares students to analyze, assess, and intervene in speech, language, hearing, and cognitive communication disorders resulting from illness, trauma, or developmental challenges. Graduates are equipped to contribute to clinical practice, research, and the advancement of diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.
- Language Science: Explores the structure, acquisition, and processing of spoken and written language, including phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
- Hearing Science: Investigates the physiology and mechanics of auditory perception, sound processing, and the impact of hearing loss on communication.
- Speech and Voice Science: Focuses on the anatomical and physiological mechanisms underlying speech production, vocal quality, resonance, and voice disorders.
- Biology of Communication: Examines the neural, genetic, and physiological systems that support speech and language functions across the lifespan.
- Behavioral Linguistics: Studies how language behavior is shaped by environmental, cognitive, and social factors, particularly in developmental and acquired disorders.
- Psychology: Applies psychological principles to understand the emotional, cognitive, and social aspects of communication impairments and their impact on individuals and families.
- Diagnostic and Rehabilitative Strategies: Develops evidence-based approaches for identifying communication disorders and designing personalized intervention plans using clinical assessment tools and therapeutic techniques.
- Technological Applications: Integrates emerging technologies—such as assistive devices, speech-generating systems, and digital assessment platforms—into clinical and research contexts.
Communication Sciences and Disorders Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Communication Sciences and Disorders Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Communication Sciences and Disorders degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 423,240 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Speech-Language Pathologists 29-1127 | $95,410 | $60,480 - $132,850 | 178,790 | $45.87 |
| Audiologists 29-1181 | $92,120 | $61,930 - $129,830 | 14,730 | $44.29 |
Communication Sciences and Disorders Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $74,777 in Louisiana to $129,010 in District of Columbia—a 73% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Arkansas, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 423,240 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Communication Sciences and Disorders by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Communication Sciences and Disorders programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Communication Sciences and Disorders is found at Baylor University (307 graduates), Utah State University (USU) (234 graduates), Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (206 graduates), California State University (CSUN), Northridge (205 graduates), and California State University (CSUF), Fullerton (180 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 6,598 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
307 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
234 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
|
206 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
205 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
180 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
158 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
147 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
141 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
138 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
135 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
112 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
109 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
105 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttuhsc.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
100 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
98 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
93 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
91 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
91 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions (MGH IHP) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
86 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mghihp.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
85 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
81 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
80 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
75 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
74 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
|
71 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
70 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Elmhurst University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
70 | Elmhurst, Illinois | Private | elmhurst.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
69 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
67 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| California State University (CSUEB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
64 | Hayward, California | Public | csueastbay.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
|
64 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
|
63 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
62 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
60 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
58 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
58 | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Public | uwsp.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
56 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
54 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Western Carolina University (WCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
54 | Cullowhee, North Carolina | Public | wcu.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Public | sfasu.edu |
| Eastern Illinois University (EIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52 | Charleston, Illinois | Public | eiu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52 | Kingsville, Texas | Public | tamuk.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| University of South Dakota (USD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Vermillion, South Dakota | Public | usd.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | River Falls, Wisconsin | Public | uwrf.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
47 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Minot State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45 | Minot, North Dakota | Public | minotstateu.edu |
| Chapman University |
Master's
|
44 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
43 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Texas A & M International University (TAMIU) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Laredo, Texas | Public | tamiu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
40 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| California Baptist University (CBU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Riverside, California | Private | calbaptist.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Truman State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Kirksville, Missouri | Public | truman.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Master's
|
36 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Biola University |
Bachelor's
|
35 | La Mirada, California | Private | biola.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| North Carolina Central University (NCCU) |
Master's
|
35 | Durham, North Carolina | Public | nccu.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Canyon, Texas | Public | wtamu.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Kearney, Nebraska | Public | unk.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
32 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | ollusa.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| Butler University |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
29 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Lebanon Valley College (LVC) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Annville, Pennsylvania | Private | lvc.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Western Illinois University (WIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Macomb, Illinois | Public | wiu.edu |
| Albizu University |
Bachelor's
|
27 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | albizu.edu |
| Saint Mary's College |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | saintmarys.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OUHSC) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | ouhsc.edu |
| Augustana College |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Rock Island, Illinois | Private | augustana.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Communication Sciences and Disorders programs
How much can I earn with a Communication Sciences and Disorders degree?
Salaries for Communication Sciences and Disorders graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Speech-Language Pathologists earn around $95,410. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $129,010 compared to $74,777 in Louisiana. Approximately 423,240 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Communication Sciences and Disorders programs?
Currently 160 accredited institutions offer Communication Sciences and Disorders degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Baylor University (307 graduates), Utah State University (USU) (234 graduates), and Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (206 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Communication Sciences and Disorders growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 4,604 in 2010 to 7,097 in 2023-24. This represents a 54% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Communication Sciences and Disorders degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Audiologists. Related occupations employ approximately 423,240 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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