Choosing a speech pathology program in Ohio means weighing clinical preparation, licensure fit, cost, and the route to a master's degree - not simply selecting a recognizable university. This guide is for future speech-language pathologists, career changers, and working professionals comparing their options. It will feature a 2027 Best Speech Pathology Degree Programs Ranking in Ohio created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about which programs are worth considering. Read on to compare pathways, costs, admissions, outcomes, and career trade-offs.
Key findings about speech pathology degrees in Ohio
Speech-language pathology generally requires a qualifying graduate degree for independent clinical practice; a bachelor's degree is an important foundation but usually does not qualify a graduate for Ohio SLP licensure.
The national median annual wage for speech-language pathologists was $97,870 in May 2025, while employment is projected to grow 17% from 2025 to 2035, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; these figures support demand but do not predict an individual graduate's pay.
Program fit depends heavily on accreditation, required supervised clinical education, schedule, and total borrowing: compare public in-state pricing, private institutional aid, and the clinical placement model before relying on a ranking alone.
What can I expect from a speech pathology degree in Ohio?
A speech pathology degree typically refers to undergraduate study in speech and hearing science, communication sciences and disorders, speech-language pathology, or a related field, followed by a clinical master's degree in speech-language pathology. The graduate degree is the usual educational route for people seeking to diagnose and treat communication, swallowing, voice, fluency, language, and cognitive-communication disorders.
In Ohio, the most direct route is a bachelor's degree containing required foundational coursework, then a master's program designed to meet professional preparation standards. Students with degrees in psychology, linguistics, education, music, or another major can also enter a graduate program, but often must complete prerequisite "leveling" courses first. That can be a good career-change route, although it may add cost and time.
The comparison below clarifies what each academic level can and cannot typically do for your career goal.
Pathway
Best fit
Typical result
Bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders
Students starting college or preparing for graduate school
Foundation for graduate admission; may support assistant or support roles, subject to employer and state rules
Post-baccalaureate prerequisites
Career changers without required CSD coursework
Academic preparation for a clinical master's application; not a clinical SLP credential
Master's in speech-language pathology
Students pursuing clinical practice
Education needed to pursue Ohio licensure, supervised fellowship requirements, and professional certification steps
Doctoral study
Researchers, faculty members, and advanced specialists
Research or academic specialization; it is not normally required for entry-level clinical practice
For most applicants, the degree is worth considering when they want direct patient-facing clinical work and can complete the graduate pathway with manageable debt. It is a weaker fit for someone seeking rapid entry into a helping profession, because graduate admission, clinical training, and post-degree supervised experience make the route longer than many allied-health alternatives.
Where can I work with a speech pathology degree in Ohio?
Speech-language pathologists work wherever communication, swallowing, and related disorders are assessed or treated. Ohio's mix of large hospital systems, school districts, rehabilitation providers, pediatric practices, and long-term-care settings gives graduates several employment environments to compare.
Setting matters because the patient population, schedule, documentation burden, and compensation structure can differ more than the job title suggests.
Work setting
Common focus
Decision implication
Public and private schools
Language, speech sound disorders, fluency, and educational access
Often suits clinicians who prefer child-focused, calendar-driven work and collaboration with educators
Hospitals and rehabilitation facilities
Swallowing, stroke recovery, brain injury, voice, and acute care
Often better for students seeking medical training and adult-neurogenic clinical experiences
Outpatient clinics and pediatric practices
Ongoing therapy for children and adults
May offer focused caseloads, but scheduling and productivity expectations vary by employer
Skilled nursing and home health
Adult and geriatric communication and swallowing care
Can broaden geographic options, including smaller communities, but requires comfort with travel or facility-based care
University clinics and research settings
Specialized assessment, teaching, and research
Useful for students considering doctoral study or evidence-focused clinical practice
Students who want medical work should ask whether a program's placements include hospital-based dysphagia, neurorehabilitation, and adult caseload experience. Those committed to school employment should ask how the curriculum and placements prepare them for educational teams, individualized education programs, and Ohio school credential expectations.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median annual wage of $97,870 for speech-language pathologists in May 2025, equal to $47.05 per hour. This is a national occupation-wide median, not an Ohio starting salary, and it combines clinicians across employers, experience levels, schedules, and geographic markets.
Pay in Ohio can vary materially by metropolitan area, medical versus school setting, full-time status, specialty, productivity expectations, and experience. A hospital clinician handling complex swallowing and neurologic cases may have a different compensation structure from a school-based clinician whose work follows an academic calendar. Review the broader context behind a speech pathologist salary with a masters degree when comparing roles rather than using one national figure as an offer expectation.
A realistic return-on-investment calculation should include more than projected pay. Compare tuition and fees, living costs, the income you give up while enrolled, scholarships, loan interest, time to graduation, likelihood of completing the program, likely first-setting pay, and how long you expect to remain in the field. A lower-priced program with a longer commute or delayed graduation is not automatically the lower-cost choice.
The programs in the ranking serve different student priorities: research-intensive training, undergraduate preparation, graduate clinical education, urban clinical access, and smaller-campus learning. The most useful comparison is not which institution sounds most prestigious, but which program's structure matches your degree level, prerequisite status, clinical interests, and budget.
Ohio State University: Ohio State's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences houses speech and hearing science within a large academic health environment, which can appeal to students who want to connect communication disorders study with interdisciplinary health research and care. It is particularly relevant for applicants who value a major public-university setting and should confirm the exact graduate clinical sequence, cohort policies, and placement expectations directly with the program.
University of Cincinnati: Cincinnati's communication sciences and disorders offering is located within the College of Allied Health Sciences, placing the discipline alongside other health-professions education. This structure may suit students seeking an explicitly allied-health context and access to an urban clinical ecosystem, but applicants should distinguish department-level opportunities from guaranteed individual placements.
Miami University-Oxford: Miami's Speech Pathology and Audiology department offers an undergraduate departmental home that can be attractive to students who want early, discipline-specific preparation before graduate study. For students beginning at the bachelor's level, that focused academic identity can make advising and prerequisite planning clearer; it does not remove the need to earn a clinical graduate degree for SLP practice.
Bowling Green State University: Bowling Green's Communication Disorders and Sciences program gives students a dedicated academic unit for communication disorders study. Its appeal is strongest for students who want a campus-based preparation route in northwest Ohio and who will verify whether their intended degree option includes the clinical experiences needed for their post-graduation plan.
Baldwin Wallace University: Baldwin Wallace presents speech-language pathology as a distinct academic pathway at a private university, an option that may appeal to students who prioritize a smaller institutional environment over the scale of a major public campus. Private tuition should be evaluated alongside institution-specific grants and net price rather than by sticker price alone.
University of Akron Main Campus: Akron's School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology provides a clearly identified professional-school setting for the discipline. This can be a practical option for northeast Ohio students seeking to reduce relocation costs, but commuters should still budget for clinical-site travel and confirm how placements are assigned.
Case Western Reserve University: Case Western Reserve places communication sciences graduate study within psychological sciences, creating a potentially strong fit for students interested in the behavioral, cognitive, and research dimensions of communication disorders. Applicants considering research, neurocognition, or later doctoral study should ask how faculty labs and graduate clinical requirements intersect in the specific degree track.
Ohio University: Ohio University's Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences unit combines related communication disciplines in one department. That breadth may benefit students who want exposure to hearing science as well as speech-language study, while applicants focused solely on SLP should confirm that their selected curriculum meets all graduate-admission or licensure-preparation needs.
University of Toledo: Toledo's speech-language pathology program is housed in the College of Health and Human Services, connecting it to a health-and-service-oriented academic setting. It can be especially worth evaluating for students in northwest Ohio who want to compare local access against relocation costs and should ask for current clinical-site geography and supervision arrangements.
Kent State University at Kent: Kent State's speech pathology and audiology offering is located within the College of Education, Health and Human Services, highlighting the profession's links to both education and health care. This may fit students who are still deciding between school-based and health-related practice, provided they verify that course and placement options support their preferred population.
Across these options, a common mistake is treating broad institutional resources as proof of program fit. Ask each department for its current curriculum plan, clinical-practicum model, accreditation status, graduate outcomes where available, and the percentage of students who must arrange additional travel or relocation for placements.
Time to completion depends on where you start. A traditional bachelor's degree commonly takes about four years of full-time study, while a clinical master's degree generally requires additional full-time graduate study and structured clinical education. Students entering from another major may need prerequisite coursework before beginning the master's curriculum.
Some universities offer combined or accelerated options often described as 5 year speech pathology programs. These can reduce duplicated coursework for qualified undergraduates, but they are not automatically faster in every case: students must maintain progression standards, complete all required clinical education, and meet graduate admission or continuation rules.
After the graduate degree, aspiring clinicians should plan for the supervised professional experience and examination or certification steps applicable to their intended credential. The Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board sets state licensure requirements, while the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association administers the Certificate of Clinical Competence. These are related but distinct milestones; completing a degree alone does not grant unrestricted Ohio licensure.
An online speech pathology degree can mean several different things: an online bachelor's completion program, online prerequisite coursework, a primarily online master's program with local clinical placements, or a hybrid program requiring scheduled campus intensives. For clinical SLP preparation, "online" does not mean that all learning and training occur remotely because supervised patient contact remains central to professional education.
The comparison below can help applicants decide which delivery model matches their circumstances.
Factor
Online or hybrid format
On-campus format
Course access
May reduce relocation and support students with work or family commitments
Usually offers regular in-person access to faculty, peers, and university clinics
Clinical placements
May rely on placements near the student, subject to program approval and availability
May provide closer access to affiliated local sites, but placement is still not guaranteed at one location
Schedule
Can offer asynchronous coursework, but clinical hours and live sessions may be fixed
Often follows a more predictable campus schedule with less geographic flexibility
Best fit
Students who can independently manage remote study and confirm Ohio placement eligibility before enrolling
Students who want campus community, local clinical infrastructure, and face-to-face learning
Choose online study only after confirming the program's accreditation, state authorization, Ohio licensure alignment, clinical-site process, travel requirements, and whether the program accepts students residing in Ohio. Students comparing formats can also review online masters in speech pathology to understand affordability questions specific to distance programs.
There is no single statewide average cost that reliably represents every speech pathology degree in Ohio because program type, residency, level of study, clinical fees, and institutional aid differ substantially. Public universities commonly publish different in-state and out-of-state rates, while private nonprofit universities may use one base tuition rate but offer institutional scholarships that change net cost.
For a meaningful comparison, request a written estimate covering tuition, mandatory fees, clinical fees, health insurance if required, books and testing materials, transportation to placements, background checks, and living costs. Graduate programs can also carry opportunity costs when clinical schedules limit outside employment. Students looking for price-focused comparisons should review the most affordable speech pathology programs in Ohio.
Do not compare a four-year undergraduate price with a graduate program's annual tuition as though they are interchangeable. Instead, calculate the estimated total cost to your actual endpoint: prerequisites, bachelor's degree if needed, master's degree, and post-degree licensure-related expenses.
Financial aid for speech pathology students can include federal aid, institutional scholarships, departmental awards, graduate assistantships, external professional scholarships, employer tuition support, and private education loans. Eligibility, availability, and award amounts vary by institution and enrollment level, so students should submit the FAFSA early and ask each program whether aid is renewable across clinical semesters.
Graduate students who are eligible for federal student aid may use Direct Unsubsidized Loans and may be eligible for Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, subject to federal requirements and a credit check. Graduate PLUS funding is for eligible graduate or professional students, not undergraduate students, and borrowers should review current terms through Federal Student Aid before treating it as a default funding source.
Before accepting loans, compare the school's financial-aid offer with your full program length and likely ability to work during practicum. If affordability is the primary constraint, compare Ohio choices first, then use nearby alternatives such as speech pathology programs in arizona only when relocation, residency, and clinical-placement consequences make sense for your plan.
View the chart data as a table
Annual wage by percentile for Speech-Language Pathologists (Ohio) (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025))
Category
Value
10th
61,840
25th
77,250
50th (median)
93,300
75th
105,500
90th
125,330
Prerequisites vary by degree level and institution. Undergraduate applicants generally need standard college admission materials, while graduate applicants typically need a completed bachelor's degree, prerequisite communication-sciences coursework, transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and evidence that they can succeed in a rigorous clinical curriculum. Some programs may request observation experience, interviews, or additional materials.
For career changers, the key question is not whether your original major is acceptable; it is which specific foundational courses are missing. Common requirements can include phonetics, speech and hearing science, language development, anatomy and physiology related to speech and hearing, audiology, research methods, and statistics. Schools may set minimum grade and grade-point-average standards for these courses.
Applicants should avoid assuming that a general online course will automatically transfer. Obtain written confirmation that each prerequisite satisfies the target graduate program's requirement, ask about expiration policies for older science courses, and clarify whether observation hours must meet a particular documentation standard. Applicants looking broadly at admissions selectivity can compare SLP programs online, but admission difficulty should never outweigh accreditation and licensure fit.
Speech pathology curricula build from communication science into clinical decision-making. A bachelor's curriculum usually emphasizes foundations, while a master's curriculum adds advanced diagnosis, treatment planning, evidence-based practice, ethics, and supervised clinical practicum.
The courses below are common examples, although titles and sequencing differ across Ohio institutions.
Phonetics and speech science, which establish how speech sounds are produced and analyzed.
Anatomy and physiology of speech, hearing, and swallowing systems, which support later clinical assessment.
Language development and language disorders across the lifespan, which prepare students for child and adult communication needs.
Audiology and aural rehabilitation foundations, which help clinicians understand hearing-related communication issues.
Voice, fluency, motor speech, and neurogenic communication disorders, which cover major clinical practice areas.
Swallowing disorders, assessment, and intervention, which are particularly important for medical settings.
Research methods and evidence-based practice, which teach students to evaluate clinical evidence rather than rely solely on habit.
Clinical practicum and supervision, which translate classroom learning into documented patient-care experience.
When comparing curricula, look beyond the course catalog. Ask how many clinical terms students complete, whether adult and pediatric cases are available, how supervisors evaluate performance, and whether the sequence allows remediation without delaying graduation.
Speech pathology programs may not always use formal "concentrations," but students can often develop a specialty through electives, clinical placements, faculty research, and capstone projects. A specialization should be chosen as an area of preparation rather than a guarantee of a particular job.
Common areas of emphasis include pediatric language and autism-related communication support, school-based practice, medical speech-language pathology, dysphagia, adult neurogenic disorders, voice, fluency, bilingual or multilingual service delivery, augmentative and alternative communication, and hearing-related communication disorders.
Students interested in a specialty should verify that it appears in actual clinical training rather than only in a course description. For example, a student hoping to work in acute care should ask about supervised swallowing evaluations, adult neurological placements, and faculty expertise; a student interested in schools should ask about educational placements and language-literacy intervention experience.
The best program is the one that creates a credible, affordable route to your intended practice setting and licensure plan. Rankings are useful for building a shortlist, but they cannot tell you whether a program accepts your prerequisites, can support your clinical interests, or will create an unsustainable debt load.
Use the following process to compare Ohio programs before applying:
Confirm that the exact degree program holds appropriate accreditation or is clearly designed to meet the professional standards relevant to your goal.
Check Ohio licensure requirements with the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board and compare them with the program's written disclosures.
Request a complete cost estimate, including clinical travel, fees, insurance, and likely living expenses - not tuition alone.
Ask how clinical placements are assigned, whether students can request population or setting preferences, and what travel may be required.
Compare graduation, licensure-exam, certification, and employment outcomes only when the school identifies the reporting period and methodology.
Evaluate schedule realism: include prerequisites, course load, practicum, commuting, caregiving, and your ability to reduce paid work.
Speak with admissions staff about transfer credits, prerequisite approvals, deferral rules, and support if a clinical placement is delayed.
Common red flags include vague answers about accreditation, no written explanation of clinical placement expectations, pressure to borrow before receiving a full cost estimate, and outcome claims without a date or denominator. Also avoid choosing a program solely because it is nearby: a longer commute to repeated clinical sites can change both cost and workload.
A speech pathology degree can lead to several career directions, but the level of education determines which roles are realistic. The clinical speech-language pathologist path generally requires a graduate degree and completion of Ohio's applicable licensure requirements. A bachelor's degree alone can support related work but does not usually authorize independent SLP clinical practice.
Potential career paths include:
Licensed speech-language pathologist in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, long-term-care settings, or home health.
Pediatric or school-based clinician serving students with speech, language, literacy, fluency, and communication-access needs.
Medical or rehabilitation clinician focusing on swallowing, stroke, traumatic brain injury, voice, and adult neurogenic disorders.
Speech-language pathology assistant or communication-support role where permitted and defined by employer and state requirements.
Clinical researcher, university instructor, or faculty member after additional graduate research training.
Specialized consultant in augmentative communication, voice, bilingual service delivery, or other areas developed through experience and continuing education.
Students who want to work in schools should compare educational credential requirements with clinical licensure rules, because employer and state education requirements can differ from health-care employment requirements. Students who prefer research or university teaching should consider whether a clinical master's alone meets their long-term goals or whether a research doctorate is more appropriate.
View the chart data as a table
Total tuition + mandatory fees (resident, this ranking) (Source: Research.com SLP dataset)
Category
Value
20,000-30,000 USD
1
30,000-40,000 USD
2
40,000-50,000 USD
4
50,000-60,000 USD
0
60,000-70,000 USD
1
70,000-80,000 USD
0
80,000-90,000 USD
0
90,000-100,000 USD
0
100,000-110,000 USD
1
The job market for speech-language pathologists is favorable nationally, though local opportunity depends on setting, location, and employer needs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 17% employment growth for speech-language pathologists from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 12,500 openings per year on average over the decade.
For an Ohio student, the implication is not that every geographic area or specialty will hire at the same rate. Larger metropolitan areas may offer more hospital systems, specialized clinics, and university-affiliated care, while rural and smaller communities may create broader generalist needs but fewer highly specialized roles. Consider where you are willing to live, whether you prefer school or medical employment, and whether your program's placements help you build contacts in that market.
Technology is changing documentation, telepractice, and communication-support tools, but it does not remove the need for clinical judgment, ethical practice, and supervised training. Employers increasingly value clinicians who can document efficiently, collaborate across disciplines, serve diverse populations, and use evidence-based approaches. Students should choose programs that teach these capabilities through actual coursework and placements, not only through marketing language.
2027 Best Speech Pathology Degree Programs Ranking in Ohio
Investing in professional education can affect a student's debt, time to licensure, career mobility, and long-term earning potential. Research.com's team recognizes that applicants need more than reputation-based recommendations, so the ranking is designed to evaluate programs using consistent, source-verifiable indicators.
Research.com rankings assess academic and research strength, cost, graduate outcomes, student profile, and institutional quality, then rank programs according to the dimension identified in the ranking title. On-campus rankings use data-driven, entropy-based weights that are set for the individual ranking. Online-program rankings use a distance-learning adaptation that excludes campus-related indicators and emphasizes program structure and student support, with fixed weights for graduation rate (30%), research (25%), institutional profile (15%), and students, cost, and course factors (10% each).
The ranking draws on the following sources to improve comparability and credibility across institutions:
IPEDS database, which provides standardized institutional reporting on enrollment, completions, pricing, and student outcomes.
Peterson's database, which contributes program and institutional information used for comparative analysis.
For readers, the value of the ranking is a more disciplined shortlist: it can help identify schools to investigate, reveal trade-offs between cost and institutional indicators, and create better questions for admissions offices. It should not replace checking current accreditation, clinical-placement policies, tuition, and Ohio licensure eligibility. Read more about how the ranking was created before treating any ranking position as a final enrollment decision.
Master of Arts: Speech-Language Pathology (MA-SLP)
100.00
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Two years, 5-6 semesters of consecutive full-time enrollment (Autumn/Spring/Summer of years one and two)
Acceptance rate
31% (71 of 229 applications)
GPA range
2.92 - 4.00
Offers with funding
~7% (5 of 71 offers)
Application deadline
Fall admission: December 15
Class size
26
Degrees granted
31
Application process
CSDCAS University online application
Prerequisites
Undergraduate prerequisites required: Yes; prerequisite courses offered; available online
Additional requirements
Capstone
Accreditation
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID 8c2e1eaf-58bc-40b8-bc61-774da0da3a81Valid 2019-2027
Verify accreditation
Ohio State University earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 100.0/100, supported by 100% Praxis pass rate and 100% program completion rate. Its Master of Arts: Speech-Language Pathology (MA-SLP) is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2027, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2026 (in process).
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 08/04/2025)
Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology (On-Campus)
97.56
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 years (6 semesters)
Required credits
75
Acceptance rate
60% (187 of 312 applications)
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Offers with funding
~5% (10 of 187 offers)
Application deadline
Fall admission: January 5
Class size
111
Degrees granted
115
Application process
CSDCAS University online application
Prerequisites
Undergraduate prerequisites required: Yes; prerequisite courses offered; available online
Additional requirements
Comprehensive exam; Capstone
Accreditation
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID 7d1468b7-5385-4b5e-b424-d89068bc5fbaValid 2023-2031
Last known review scheduled for August 2030
Verify accreditation
University of Cincinnati earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 97.56/100, supported by 97% Praxis pass rate and 100% program completion rate. Its Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology (On-Campus) is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2031, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2030.
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 09/30/2025)
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID 21a9c4b9-3e2f-4d47-a228-3cf2ad19c112Valid 2024-2032
Last known review scheduled for 2032
Verify accreditation
Miami University-Oxford earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 96.97/100, supported by 100% Praxis pass rate and 100% program completion rate. Its Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2032, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2032.
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 08/16/2024)
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID 4bfcdfd2-6af3-40ce-962f-71b1ec176c41Valid 2019-2027
Verify accreditation
Bowling Green State University earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 93.18/100, supported by 99% Praxis pass rate and 95% program completion rate. Its Master of Science in Communication Disorders with a specialization in Speech-Language Pathology is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2027, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2026 (in process).
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 10/24/2025)
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID dbf28528-e376-476c-bcb3-a31436333d66Valid 2024-2032
Last known review scheduled for August 2031
Verify accreditation
Baldwin Wallace University earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 91.61/100, supported by 100% Praxis pass rate and 100% program completion rate. Its Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2032, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2031.
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 10/18/2025)
Fall admission: 12/15 Spring admission: 9/30 Summer admission: 6/15
Class size
51
Degrees granted
40
Application process
CSDCAS
Prerequisites
Undergraduate prerequisites required: Yes; prerequisite courses offered; available online
Additional requirements
Comprehensive exam
Accreditation
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID 54cf6b21-d2c8-4cd7-80b1-ae1ff3ab0bf5Valid 2023-2031
Last known review scheduled for February 2030
Verify accreditation
University of Akron Main Campus earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 91.08/100, supported by 100% Praxis pass rate and 100% program completion rate. Its Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2031, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2030.
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 09/01/2026)
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID 22932ec4-8269-43b4-b05c-2bb988bcb990Valid 2024-2032
Last known review scheduled for August 2031
Verify accreditation
Case Western Reserve University earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 90.7/100, supported by 100% Praxis pass rate and 100% program completion rate. Its Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2032, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2031.
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 10/31/2025)
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID a7eca297-8ceb-4280-87b4-df5d8b4e5ff9Valid 2019-2027
Verify accreditation
Ohio University earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 89.99/100, supported by 95% Praxis pass rate and 99% program completion rate. Its Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2027, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2026 (in process).
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 10/30/2025)
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID e25928e9-7261-4241-a9c2-917bc6f3c40fValid 2022-2030
Last known review scheduled for February 2029
Verify accreditation
University of Toledo earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 82.67/100, supported by 98% Praxis pass rate and 98% program completion rate. Its Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2030, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2029.
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 10/22/2025)
6 academic terms (2 years) for clinical track; 5 terms for non-clinical track
Acceptance rate
48% (74 of 155 applications)
GPA range
2.90 - 4.00
Application deadline
Fall admission: January 15 Spring admission: October 1
Class size
32
Degrees granted
31
Application process
CSDCAS University online application
Prerequisites
Undergraduate prerequisites required: Yes; prerequisite courses offered; available online
Additional requirements
Comprehensive exam
Accreditation
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID 9374b828-0511-4616-b6ec-7bef12326a8cValid 2025-2033
Last known review scheduled for February 2032
Verify accreditation
Kent State University at Kent earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 81.71/100, with 2-year completion pathway among the verified factors supporting its position. Its Speech Language Pathology - M.A. is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2033, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2032.
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 10/31/2025)
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID 7c50a820-6e0f-456c-bc56-5fc95f592393Valid 2019-2027
Verify accreditation
Cleveland State University earned a Research.com SLP Program Score of 64.51/100, supported by 93% Praxis pass rate and 95% program completion rate. Its Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communication Sciences and Disorders is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2027, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2026 (in process).
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 10/31/2025)
Frequently asked questions about speech pathology degree in Ohio
Do I need a master's degree to become a speech-language pathologist in Ohio?
In most cases, yes. A master's degree in speech-language pathology or a qualifying equivalent is the standard educational level for pursuing clinical licensure. You must also meet Ohio's additional licensure requirements.
How do I know whether an Ohio speech pathology program supports licensure?
Check the program's current accreditation and professional-licensure disclosure, then verify requirements with the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board. Do this before applying, especially for online or hybrid programs.
Can I enter an SLP master's program with a non-CSD bachelor's degree?
Often, yes. You may need post-baccalaureate prerequisite courses first. Each graduate program decides which courses, grades, and observation experiences it will accept.
Are online speech pathology degrees available to Ohio residents?
Some online or hybrid programs may accept Ohio residents, but availability does not prove Ohio licensure compatibility. Confirm state authorization, clinical placement procedures, travel requirements, and licensure disclosures in writing.
Is speech pathology a good career financially?
The national median wage was $97,870 in May 2025 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but financial value depends on your borrowing, completion timeline, work setting, and local job options. Compare total program cost against a conservative employment plan.
Should I choose the highest-ranked program?
Not automatically. Use the ranking to identify credible options, then prioritize accreditation, prerequisites, clinical placement quality, affordability, scheduling, and fit with your desired practice setting.
See What Experts Have To Say About Studying Speech Pathology
ASHA EdFind - Accredited Speech-Language Pathology Programs Used to verify CAA accreditation or candidacy status for graduate SLP programs. https://find.asha.org/ed/
Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Used to verify interstate practice privileges and participating states for speech-language pathologists. https://aslpcompact.com/compact-map/
Ohio State University - Master of Arts: Speech-Language Pathology (MA-SLP) Official program page (curriculum, tuition, and admissions). https://sphs.osu.edu/grad/ma
