Choosing a Kansas speech pathology program means balancing licensure eligibility, clinical preparation, cost, and where you want to practice. This guide is for prospective students and career changers comparing undergraduate communication disorders pathways and graduate speech-language pathology options. It accompanies the 2027 Most Popular Speech Pathology Degree Programs Ranking in Kansas, created by the Research.com team of data scientist to help students make an informed choice about programs worth considering. Use it to compare formats, timelines, admissions expectations, and career trade-offs before applying.
Key findings about speech pathology degrees in Kansas
For independent speech-language pathologist practice, Kansas applicants generally need a graduate degree meeting state requirements; a bachelor's degree in communication disorders is usually preparation for graduate study, not the terminal clinical credential.
The national median annual wage for speech-language pathologists was $97,870 in May 2025, and BLS projects 17% employment growth from 2025-2035; strong demand does not remove the need to plan for graduate admission, supervised experience, and licensure.
Program value hinges on completion time, clinical-placement access, net price, and CAA accreditation - not popularity alone - so compare the ranked schools alongside the cheapest speech pathology schools in Kansas before committing.
What can I expect from a speech pathology degree in Kansas?
"Speech pathology" commonly refers to speech-language pathology (SLP): assessment and treatment of speech, language, voice, fluency, swallowing, cognitive-communication, and related disorders. In Kansas, the practical education path differs sharply by degree level. A bachelor's program in communication sciences and disorders builds prerequisites for graduate school; a master's program in speech-language pathology is the usual degree needed to move toward professional licensure.
Most master's students complete advanced coursework plus supervised clinical education with children and adults. Training may occur in university clinics, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation settings, and community sites. Because clinical placements are required and schedules can vary, this is not typically a degree that can be completed fully asynchronously.
The comparison below clarifies which route fits common starting points. It is especially important for applicants changing careers, since some graduate programs admit non-CSD majors but may require additional prerequisite courses.
Route
Best fit
What it does not do
Bachelor's in communication disorders or related field
Students beginning preparation for SLP graduate school
Usually does not independently qualify a graduate for SLP licensure
Master's in speech-language pathology
Applicants seeking the clinical SLP pathway
Does not by itself eliminate post-degree supervision, examination, or state application requirements
Post-baccalaureate prerequisite coursework
Career changers with an unrelated bachelor's degree
Is not a substitute for the graduate clinical degree
Choose this field if you are comfortable with science-based assessment, detailed documentation, family collaboration, and sustained clinical feedback. Consider a related path - such as audiology, special education, occupational therapy, or counseling - if your preferred work does not center on communication and swallowing assessment and treatment.
Where can I work with a speech pathology degree in Kansas?
Kansas SLP graduates can work across the lifespan, but setting choice changes the pace, caseload, documentation, and schedule. School-based roles often focus on educational access and individualized education programs, while medical roles may involve swallowing, neurological conditions, acute-care coordination, or rehabilitation.
The main employment settings to investigate during clinical placements are:
Public and private schools, including special education cooperatives and rural districts that may have difficulty recruiting specialists.
Hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation, skilled-nursing facilities, and home-health organizations serving medical and aging populations.
Early-intervention providers and pediatric clinics supporting young children and their families.
Private practices and multidisciplinary clinics, where business operations and payer documentation can be a larger part of the role.
University clinics, research settings, and telepractice providers, subject to employer, payer, and licensure requirements.
Location matters in a largely rural state. Wichita, the Kansas City area, Topeka, and other population centers can offer more concentrated clinical employers, while smaller communities may create broader generalist roles and longer travel expectations. Ask programs where students complete placements and whether they help arrange sites near your intended region; that answer can affect both your costs and local professional network.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median annual wage of $97,870, or $47.05 per hour, for speech-language pathologists in May 2025. This is a national occupational median, not a promised starting salary in Kansas. Pay can differ substantially by setting, experience, local labor market, caseload, employer benefits, and whether the position is school-year or year-round.
Use salary information as one component of return-on-investment analysis rather than a reason to select the most expensive program. A lower-cost public option, reliable clinical completion, and less time out of the workforce can matter as much as a higher nominal wage. Readers considering healthcare settings can compare role differences in this guide to medical SLP salary.
This framework shows why two offers with similar pay can produce very different financial outcomes.
ROI factor
Why it matters for an SLP student
Net tuition and fees
Compare resident tuition, required clinical fees, books, testing, and travel after grants - not the published tuition rate alone.
Program duration
An extra term can add tuition and delay full-time professional earnings.
Clinical-placement logistics
Unpaid placement travel, parking, housing, and reduced work hours can materially raise total cost.
Borrowing and repayment
Evaluate expected debt, interest, repayment plan, baseline earnings, post-degree earnings, time horizon, and uncertainty.
Completion probability
A program that fits your prerequisites, schedule, and support needs can reduce the risk of costly delays.
The programs below represent different points in the Kansas preparation pipeline. Graduate clinical programs should be assessed first for CAA accreditation and licensure alignment; an undergraduate program should be assessed for how well it prepares you for competitive graduate admission.
University of Kansas: KU's Intercampus Program in Communicative Disorders brings together academic and clinical training through its communicative-disorders structure rather than presenting speech pathology as an isolated undergraduate major. That configuration can suit students seeking a university-based pathway with access to interdisciplinary health-professions perspectives, but applicants should confirm the current degree track, clinical sequence, and accreditation status for their intended entry year.
Wichita State University: Wichita State's communication sciences and disorders offering provides a clear undergraduate-to-graduate departmental route, which can simplify advising for students who begin in the discipline early. Its Wichita location may be particularly useful for students who want to explore clinical placements and employers in the state's largest metropolitan area; verify whether placement locations and schedules fit your transportation and work needs.
Fort Hays State University: Fort Hays State emphasizes an undergraduate communication disorders pathway, making it a distinct choice for students who need foundational coursework before applying to a clinical master's program. This can be a practical option for students in western or rural Kansas, but it should be viewed as graduate-school preparation rather than a stand-alone route to SLP licensure.
Kansas State University: Kansas State's graduate communication sciences and disorders program is housed within applied human sciences, a structure that connects communication disorders education with human-development and family-oriented perspectives. It may appeal to applicants who want a graduate clinical pathway in Manhattan, but the decisive comparison points remain current CAA status, required clinical experiences, total program cost, and placement support.
These distinctions are useful starting points, not outcome guarantees. Before ranking one option above another for yourself, ask each department for its current curriculum plan, clinical-placement process, completion requirements, cohort policies, and the disclosures relevant to Kansas licensure.
For students starting from high school, the conventional sequence is about four years for a bachelor's degree followed by roughly two years of full-time graduate study, then the supervised post-graduate requirements and examination steps required for professional practice. Actual timelines vary because clinical sequencing is fixed at many programs and graduate admission is competitive.
Students with a bachelor's degree outside communication disorders often need prerequisite coursework before or during the application process. That can add time, but it may be preferable to enrolling in a program that does not clearly map non-CSD entrants to required foundational content.
Accelerated or combined options can reduce duplication for students who commit early, but they are not automatically the cheaper choice. Review how 5 year SLP programs handle progression standards, financial aid, graduate tuition, and clinical requirements before assuming a shorter calendar equals a better investment.
For an aspiring licensed SLP, "online" rarely means no in-person obligations. Distance-oriented programs may deliver lectures online, but clinical skills instruction, observation, simulation, and supervised practicum still require carefully arranged hands-on experiences. On-campus programs can make access to faculty, campus clinics, and local placement networks more direct, although commuting and relocation may increase costs.
The right format depends on your need for flexibility and your ability to complete clinical requirements where you live. This comparison identifies the practical distinction.
Consideration
Online or hybrid format
On-campus format
Course access
May reduce relocation and expand access to didactic courses
Usually provides scheduled face-to-face instruction and campus access
Clinical education
Still requires approved supervised experiences; local placement availability is critical
May draw more directly on university-affiliated clinics and regional partners
Best fit
Self-directed students with dependable technology and workable placement logistics
Students who value in-person structure or want to build a local network near campus
Underestimating relocation, commuting, and reduced work flexibility
Before enrolling in a distance program, obtain written confirmation of whether it accepts Kansas residents, supports placement development in Kansas, and is designed to meet the educational requirements relevant to Kansas licensure. Compare delivery models with these online slp programs, but prioritize accreditation and clinical feasibility over convenience alone.
There is no single reliable statewide "average cost" that captures a Kansas speech pathology degree, because students may be comparing undergraduate versus graduate tuition, resident versus nonresident rates, public versus private nonprofit institutions, and different clinical travel demands. A more useful estimate is each program's total net cost through completion.
For public institutions, Kansas residency can materially affect tuition. Graduate students should also budget for clinical attire, background checks, immunizations, professional liability requirements, testing, textbooks, parking, travel, and possible temporary housing for placements. These costs can be significant even when tuition appears competitive.
Request a written cost-of-attendance estimate for every year of enrollment. Compare it with the number of required terms and likely unpaid clinical hours; focusing only on the first-year tuition bill is a common and expensive mistake.
Financial aid for speech pathology students may combine federal aid, institutional scholarships, state resources, work opportunities, and private scholarships. Eligibility, funding limits, and application deadlines differ, so students should begin with the FAFSA and each university's financial-aid office rather than assuming graduate aid works like undergraduate aid.
Potential funding sources to investigate include:
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for eligible graduate and professional students, subject to federal annual and aggregate limits.
Graduate PLUS Loans for eligible graduate or professional students who complete the required application and credit check; borrowers should review federal terms and borrowing implications before using this option.
University and department scholarships, including awards tied to academic progress, clinical interests, or service commitments.
Graduate assistantships where available, recognizing that intensive clinic schedules may limit the hours students can realistically work.
Employer tuition assistance or service-based opportunities, which should be evaluated for work commitments and repayment obligations.
Reduce borrowing by asking whether scholarships continue beyond the first year, whether assistantships are compatible with clinical placements, and whether aid changes after undergraduate enrollment. Never count on a future employer or loan-forgiveness program unless you have verified the exact eligibility rules in writing.
View the chart data as a table
Annual wage by percentile for Speech-Language Pathologists (Kansas) (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025))
Category
Value
10th
59,390
25th
65,010
50th (median)
80,120
75th
99,650
90th
108,390
Prerequisites depend on whether you are applying to an undergraduate major or a clinical master's program. Undergraduate applicants generally need standard university admission materials. Graduate applicants commonly need a bachelor's degree, academic transcripts, prerequisite coursework, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and evidence that they can succeed in science-heavy and clinical coursework.
For master's admission, communication disorders programs frequently expect foundations in areas such as phonetics, language development, speech and hearing science, anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing mechanisms, audiology, and statistics. Requirements vary by school, particularly for applicants with non-CSD majors.
The most important admissions question is not simply whether a program accepts your prior major; it is whether it identifies every missing prerequisite, when it must be completed, and whether completing it will delay clinical sequencing. Applicants seeking a less selective route should still compare prerequisites, cohort capacity, and licensure alignment rather than relying on lists of easiest online SLP programs to get into.
Speech pathology curricula combine scientific foundations, diagnosis, intervention, ethics, and supervised practice. Course titles differ, but students should expect a progression from understanding communication systems to making evidence-informed clinical decisions under supervision.
A typical program includes coursework in the following areas:
Anatomy and physiology of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing systems.
Phonetics, speech science, acoustics, and speech sound disorders.
Language development and language disorders across childhood and adulthood.
Audiology and aural rehabilitation foundations.
Voice, fluency, motor speech, cognitive-communication, and dysphagia.
Clinical methods, assessment, treatment planning, documentation, counseling, and professional ethics.
Research methods and evidence-based practice.
Supervised practicum and externship experiences.
When comparing curricula, look beyond course names. Ask how programs teach dysphagia, multicultural and multilingual assessment, telepractice, and interprofessional collaboration, because employers may expect graduates to apply these skills in complex real cases.
At the graduate level, SLP programs commonly prepare generalists for broad professional practice rather than awarding highly separate clinical majors. Students may still develop focus through electives, faculty research, clinic assignments, externships, and capstone work.
Common focus areas include pediatric language and literacy, autism and developmental disabilities, adult neurogenic communication disorders, voice, fluency, swallowing disorders, augmentative and alternative communication, bilingual or multilingual service delivery, and telepractice. Availability can change with faculty expertise and placement capacity.
Choose a program for its required clinical foundation first. A narrow interest should guide your elective and placement questions, but it should not lead you to overlook whether the program prepares you for the full scope expected of entry-level SLPs.
The best Kansas program is the one that creates a realistic path to your intended credential at a cost and schedule you can complete. Popularity and published tuition are useful signals, but neither confirms that a program fits your prerequisites, clinical needs, or intended state of practice.
Use this application-review sequence to compare programs consistently:
Confirm current CAA accreditation for the graduate program and review Kansas educational requirements for licensure.
Map your completed coursework against each program's prerequisites and identify any added terms.
Request total cost estimates, including resident status, mandatory fees, clinical travel, and likely living costs.
Ask how clinical placements are assigned, whether students may need to travel, and what support is provided if a site changes.
Review progression, remediation, completion, and outcomes disclosures with an admissions representative.
Compare how each schedule affects employment, caregiving, commuting, and your capacity to finish on time.
Red flags include vague answers about accreditation or placements, a program that will not clarify Kansas eligibility, pressure to borrow before you receive a full cost estimate, and assuming transfer credit will automatically apply. Transfer policies are institution-specific; obtain a written evaluation before choosing a prerequisite or undergraduate pathway.
A speech pathology degree can lead to different roles depending on degree level and licensure progress. The master's-plus-licensure route supports clinical SLP positions, while a bachelor's degree more often supports graduate-school preparation or related support roles that do not require independent SLP licensure.
The table distinguishes paths that applicants often confuse.
Career direction
Typical education position
Planning note
Speech-language pathologist
Clinical graduate degree and completion of applicable Kansas licensing requirements
Verify education, examination, supervised experience, and application requirements before enrolling.
School-based SLP
Clinical SLP pathway plus any school-employer or education-agency requirements
Ask about school placements if this is your preferred setting.
SLP assistant or support role
Requirements vary by employer and state rules
Do not assume a communication disorders bachelor's degree automatically authorizes a particular assistant role.
Graduate study in related fields
Bachelor's degree with discipline-specific prerequisites
A communication disorders foundation may support applications to adjacent helping professions.
Kansas professional licensure is separate from national certification. Applicants should consult the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services' Health Occupations Credentialing requirements and, where relevant, employer or school-system requirements. Graduation alone does not automatically confer authority to practice.
View the chart data as a table
CAA accreditation status (Source: ASHA CAA)
Category
Value
Accredited
4
The national labor-market outlook for speech-language pathologists is favorable: BLS projects employment growth of 17% from 2025 to 2035, with about 12,500 openings per year on average nationwide during that decade. BLS describes this as much faster than the average for all occupations. These figures indicate broad demand, but they are not a Kansas-only forecast and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of a local job offer.
For Kansas applicants, demand is likely to be shaped by school services, healthcare access, aging-related care, pediatric needs, and the practical challenge of serving rural communities. Students who are open to different settings or communities may have a wider search range than those limiting themselves to one metro area or a highly specialized setting.
Build employability before graduation by selecting varied clinical experiences, learning documentation systems, seeking feedback on professional communication, and understanding the populations served by likely employers. Ask each program where recent placements occur and whether its clinical network aligns with the communities where you want to begin your career.
2027 Most Popular Speech Pathology Degree Programs Ranking in Kansas
Research.com recognizes that investing in education can affect a student's finances, career timeline, and professional eligibility for years. The ranking was designed to make program comparison more transparent by bringing together standardized institutional, student, cost, and outcome information rather than relying on reputation alone.
Research.com rankings score programs on academic and research strength, cost, graduate outcomes, student profile, and institutional quality, then rank schools according to the dimension named in the ranking. On-campus rankings use data-driven, entropy-based weights determined for the ranking. Online-program rankings use a distance-learning-adapted approach 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 consistency and allow readers to verify the types of evidence considered:
IPEDS database - institutional reporting on enrollment, completions, finance, and other postsecondary measures.
Peterson's database - program and admissions information used to supplement institutional data.
College Scorecard database - federal information on costs, completion, and student outcomes where available.
Readers can use the ranking as a starting point to identify popular options, compare program characteristics, and build a shorter application list. It should not replace checking current tuition, CAA accreditation status, clinical-placement policies, and Kansas licensure eligibility directly with each school. Find additional detail about the approach at Research.com's methodology page.
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID c9bd252b-4a08-4fb2-a4c0-cb255bf4857aValid 2024-2032
Last known review scheduled for August 2031
Verify accreditation
University of Kansas earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 46.55/100, supported by 94% program completion rate and 97% Praxis pass rate. Its Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology (M.A. SLP) 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 10/28/2025)
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID 35eca6ca-19c9-41eb-9183-16a1640a3c77Valid 2025-2033
Last known review scheduled for August 2032
Verify accreditation
Wichita State University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 45.02/100, supported by 97% program completion rate and 100% Praxis pass rate. Its Master of Arts in Communication Sciences (speech-language pathology, residential) 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 09/19/2025)
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 8a6f12b6-b803-4431-b99b-4e3e76efa085Valid 2021-2029
Last known review scheduled for August 2028
Verify accreditation
Fort Hays State University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 43.27/100, supported by 100% program completion rate and 92% Praxis pass rate. Its Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is listed by ASHA EdFind as CAA-accredited through 2029, with the most recently listed accreditation review scheduled for 2028.
Admissions data from
ASHA EdFind
(updated 09/24/2025)
Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
42.18
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Two-year full-time program with consecutive semester enrollment. Majority of CSD undergraduates (about 90%) complete in six semesters (including summer)
Required credits
Minimum 31 graduate credit hours in academic coursework; 51 total credits (non-thesis option); 56 total credits (thesis option)
Acceptance rate
44% (36 of 82 applications)
GPA range
3.10 - 4.00
Offers with funding
~8% (3 of 36 offers)
Application deadline
Fall admission: January 15 Spring admission: October 1 Summer admission: January 15
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA
Status AccreditedID c0e1c8a4-6c6e-4dc6-91d3-92c5e553090fValid 2026-2033
Last known review scheduled for February 2032
Verify accreditation
Kansas State University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 42.18/100, supported by 92% program completion rate and 98% Praxis pass rate. Its Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders 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 10/17/2025)
Frequently asked questions about speech pathology degree in Kansas
Do I need a master's degree to become an SLP in Kansas?
In the usual clinical pathway, yes. A bachelor's degree in communication disorders is generally preparation for graduate study, while Kansas licensure requires meeting graduate education and other state requirements.
Are Kansas speech pathology programs accredited?
Accreditation is program-specific and can change. For a clinical master's program, verify current accreditation through the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and confirm state licensure alignment before applying.
Can I become an SLP with a bachelor's degree in another field?
Often, yes, but you may need prerequisite communication-disorders courses before or as part of graduate preparation. Each master's program decides which prior coursework it accepts.
Can I complete a Kansas SLP degree fully online?
Didactic courses may be online or hybrid, but clinical education requires supervised hands-on experiences. Confirm that a distance program can support approved placements and Kansas eligibility.
How long does the SLP path take?
A common route is four years for a bachelor's degree and about two years for a full-time master's degree, followed by required supervised and examination steps. Prerequisites, part-time enrollment, and placement sequencing can extend that timeline.
Is speech pathology a good investment?
It can be for students who can complete a licensure-aligned graduate program with manageable debt and who want clinical communication-disorders work. Compare total net cost, time out of the workforce, clinical support, completion fit, and likely employment setting - not salary alone.
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/
University of Kansas - Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology (M.A. SLP) Official program page (curriculum, tuition, and admissions). https://splh.ku.edu/graduate-degree-programs
Wichita State University - Master of Arts in Communication Sciences (speech-language pathology, residential) Official program page (curriculum, tuition, and admissions). https://www.wichita.edu/slp
