Audiology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Audiology is a specialized health science discipline focused on the assessment, diagnosis, and management of hearing and balance disorders across the lifespan. Professionals in this field play a critical role in improving patient quality of life by restoring or enhancing auditory function through evidence-based interventions and advanced technology.
- Acoustics: The scientific study of sound waves, their physical properties, and how they interact with the environment and human hearing systems.
- Anatomy and physiology of hearing: In-depth exploration of the structure and functional mechanisms of the auditory system, including the outer, middle, and inner ear components.
- Hearing measurement: Training in objective and subjective testing methods to evaluate hearing thresholds, speech recognition, and auditory processing abilities.
- Auditory pathology: Analysis of the causes, progression, and clinical manifestations of hearing and balance disorders, including sensorineural and conductive hearing loss.
- Middle and inner ear analysis: Specialized evaluation techniques for diagnosing conditions affecting the middle ear (e.g., otitis media) and inner ear (e.g., Ménière’s disease).
- Rehabilitation therapies: Application of strategies to improve communication skills, auditory training, and auditory integration for individuals with hearing impairments.
- Assistive technologies: Hands-on experience with hearing aids, cochlear implants, FM systems, and other devices designed to amplify sound and support auditory access.
- Pediatric and special applications: Focus on early detection, intervention, and management of hearing disorders in infants, children, and individuals with developmental or neurological conditions.
Audiology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Audiology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Audiology degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 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 244,450 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 |
| Audiologists 29-1181 | $92,120 | $61,930 - $129,830 | 14,730 | $44.29 |
Audiology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,090 in Hawaii to $140,040 in District of Columbia—a 191% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Arkansas, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 244,450 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 Audiology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 68 institutions offering Audiology 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 Audiology is found at Ohio State University, Main Campus (169 graduates), Portland State University (PSU) (73 graduates), Cleveland State University (CSU) (53 graduates), Salus University (51 graduates), and A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) (47 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 988 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
169 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
73 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| Salus University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
51 | Elkins Park, Pennsylvania | Private | salus.edu |
| A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
Doctorate (Other)
|
47 | Kirksville, Missouri | Private | atsu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Professional)
|
36 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | uthsc.edu |
| Gallaudet University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Other)
|
18 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gallaudet.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
16 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
14 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
|
13 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
12 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
12 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
12 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
12 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
12 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
12 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttuhsc.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
11 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
11 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
11 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
11 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC-NO) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | lsuhsc.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Public | unc.edu |
| University of Akron |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Kent State University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
10 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Public | sfasu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
9 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
9 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
9 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| California State University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | unco.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Rush University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | rushu.rush.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| University of South Alabama (USA) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
7 | Mobile, Alabama | Public | southalabama.edu |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
7 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | uams.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
7 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
7 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of South Dakota (USD) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
7 | Vermillion, South Dakota | Public | usd.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
7 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| James Madison University (JMU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Public | jmu.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
6 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
6 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
6 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
6 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
6 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
6 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
5 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
5 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
4 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
4 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
4 | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Public | uwsp.edu |
| University of Montevallo |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Montevallo, Alabama | Public | montevallo.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Audiology programs
How much can I earn with a Audiology degree?
Salaries for Audiology graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Audiologists earn around $92,120. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $140,040 compared to $48,090 in Hawaii. Approximately 244,450 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 Audiology programs?
Currently 68 accredited institutions offer Audiology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Ohio State University, Main Campus (169 graduates), Portland State University (PSU) (73 graduates), and Cleveland State University (CSU) (53 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 Audiology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 1,572 in 2010 to a peak of 1,027 in 2020, before declining slightly to 988 in 2023-24. This represents a 37% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, 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 Audiology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Audiologists, . Related occupations employ approximately 244,450 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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