5 Top Speech Pathology Master Programs in Arizona

Speech pathology master programs in Arizona offer entry into a field with amazing growth ahead. Speech-language pathologists’ job market will grow by 29% from 2020 to 2030, which outpaces most other careers by a lot. Licensed Speech Therapists in Arizona can earn an impressive $92,800 on average per year.

Arizona’s five universities offer speech pathology master’s programs with accreditation from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). These programs boast remarkable success rates – 98% of students finish within two years, and graduates consistently pass the national Praxis exam and land jobs after graduation. Each program, from ASU’s speech pathology master’s to University of Arizona’s SLP masters, makes students complete at least 400 supervised clinical hours. This requirement ensures graduates have solid theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. The state’s growing elderly population and increased awareness of communication disorders create a rising just need for qualified SLPs.

Arizona State University – MS in Communication Disorders

Arizona State University provides one of the most complete speech pathology master programs in the southwest region. The program excels with its combination of academic excellence, clinical opportunities, and student success rates.

Master’s program overview

ASU’s Master of Science in Communication Disorders runs as a full-time residential program that students can complete within 20 months. Students enter the workforce faster without sacrificing educational quality. The program requires 60 credit hours and gives students two options: writing a thesis or taking a written complete examination.

Students build core knowledge in their first year. The coursework emphasizes assessment and intervention approaches for communication disorders throughout life. Research-to-practice philosophy guides the curriculum that blends classroom learning with guided independent online study and flipped classroom experiences. Students take core courses like Clinical Methods and Simulation, Neural Bases of Communication Disorders, Language Assessment and Intervention, and Management of Feeding and Swallowing Disorders.

The program changes its focus toward specialization in the second year through required and elective courses. Students might attend some second-year courses via ASU Sync with program approval. This option lets them join live classes remotely through Zoom while maintaining active collaboration with faculty and peers.

Admission requirements

ASU’s speech pathology master’s program has specific admission criteria. Students need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. They must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in their last 60 undergraduate hours.

Students must complete these competencies before starting the program:

• Biological sciences (BIO 160, BIO 181, or BIO 201 recommended)
• Physics or chemistry (PHY 101 or CHM 101)
• Statistics, not speech and hearing science related (HCD 300, STP 226, or PSY 230)
• Psychology, sociology, anthropology, or public health (PSY 101 or SOC 101 recommended)

Students without speech and hearing sciences background need additional competencies. These include Introduction to Phonetics, Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Speech, Hearing Science, and Clinical Methods and Treatment of Communication Disorders.

The application package needs a graduate admission application with fee, official transcripts, resume/CV, personal statement (300 words limit), three academic or professional references, and English proficiency proof for non-native speakers.

Clinical experience

Clinical training serves as the foundation of ASU’s speech pathology masters program. Students must complete 375 clock hours of supervised clinical experience and 25 guided observation hours. They start hands-on training with ground clients in on-campus clinics under experienced clinical faculty educators in their first year.

The second year places students in supervised external locations throughout the community. This experience helps them apply their knowledge in a variety of settings. Clinical opportunities exist in early intervention programs, private practice clinics, inpatient and outpatient medical sites, and public schools.

ASU has a part-time employment program for speech-language pathology assistants in public schools. Students interested in specialized skills can pursue a certificate in multilingual and multicultural services. Research-oriented students work in labs and write master’s theses to enhance their academic profile and professional preparation.

Accreditation

The Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association fully accredits ASU’s MS in Communication Disorders. A newer accreditation, published in 2019, extends through February 2027. This status confirms the program meets national standards for training qualified speech-language pathologists.

Student outcomes showcase the program’s excellence. The on-time graduation completion rate stayed between 93% and 100% from 2022-2025. The program achieved a perfect 100% pass rate on the Praxis examination across multiple reporting periods. These results prove ASU’s curriculum and clinical training prepare students well for professional certification.

ASU’s status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) shows its steadfast dedication to diverse student populations. The program features specialized tracks, including a Multilingual Multicultural Certificate Track for working with linguistically diverse clients.

Tuition and financial aid

ASU’s speech pathology masters program requires careful financial planning. Arizona residents pay base tuition of approximately $12,939 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Non-residents face higher base tuition around $37,085. All students pay extra costs: a $350 tuition surcharge, $290 graduate student support fee, and $803 in student-initiated fees.

The total estimated annual cost reaches $44,967 for Arizona residents and $69,113 for non-residents. This includes housing, meals, books, transportation, and personal expenses. In spite of that, ASU offers competitive financial support through tuition scholarships, graduate teaching assistantships, research assistantships, clinical assistantships, and Veterans Affairs traineeships.

The program helps 92% of students receive some form of financial aid. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) yearly to access federal financial aid options like grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Students can request budget reviews through a Student Budget Review form with Financial Aid and Scholarship Services for unexpected expenses.

University of Arizona – MS in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

The University of Arizona stands out from other speech pathology master programs because of its flexible pathways and strong clinical foundations. U of A gives students a choice between a traditional two-year program and an extended three-year option that fits students from different academic backgrounds.

Program overview

U of A’s speech-language pathology education centers on a detailed two-year Master of Science program that prepares you for professional practice. Students without a background in speech and hearing sciences can take a three-year master’s program. This option starts with foundation courses before moving into regular clinical training.

Students learn through a mix of classroom work and hands-on clinical training with children and adults. The program shines because it lets students work together with world-class faculty on cutting-edge research projects. This blend of research and clinical training creates well-rounded professionals ready for different career paths.

U of A also gives students unique chances to advance their education. They can work toward a research PhD while earning their clinical MS degree, either one after another or at the same time. This path makes it easy for students who want to build the scientific foundations of the field beyond clinical work.

Admission requirements

U of A’s SLP masters program has specific requirements for admission. Students need a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Most successful applicants have GPAs around 3.7 or higher in their last 60 units.

The two-year program needs:

• A bachelor’s degree in Speech, Language, Hearing Science (SLHS) or Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD), or finishing a post-baccalaureate program in these fields
• Classes in Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech Mechanism, Clinical Phonetics, Language Acquisition, and Communication Disorders
• Courses in Statistics, Physical Sciences (physics or chemistry), Behavioral/Social Sciences, and Biological Sciences that meet ASHA requirements

Extra courses in Neuroscience/Neuroanatomy, Auditory Rehabilitation, Speech Sound Disorders, and a second Communication Disorders course help but aren’t required. U of A doesn’t look at GRE scores for admission.

Applications start November 1st each year. The school looks at all parts of your application together. Strong candidates usually have research experience, volunteer work, relevant job history, and submit compelling personal statements and recommendation letters.

Clinical experience

Clinical education is the heart of U of A’s SLP masters program. Students get real experience at the university’s Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic and many other training sites in the community.

Students train in various medical settings including:

• Banner University Medical Centers (North and Tucson)
• Mayo Clinic Arizona Neurology in Phoenix
• Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix
• Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
• Several other hospitals and medical facilities

Students also work in schools with children from age 3 through high school. This includes helping those who need AAC and bilingual services. Special training spots include the ALS Clinic, Aphasia Center of Tucson, Cochlear Implant Clinic, and various specialized speech and language centers.

These varied experiences help students master all types of communication disorders while working with different client groups. This complete approach ensures graduates can handle complex patient needs throughout their lives.

Accreditation

U of A’s Master of Science program in Speech-Language Pathology holds full accreditation from the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The program got its latest accreditation in July 2021, lasting until September 30, 2029. This eight-year period shows the program’s steady quality.

The accreditation means the program meets strict national standards and prepares graduates for ASHA certification in Speech-Language Pathology. Students know they’re getting education that meets top professional standards.

U of A shows strong support for equity and inclusion. Their official materials state, “The Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences is committed to creating and maintaining an environment free of discrimination—in the classroom, the clinical setting, and the workplace”. The program takes pride in students who join ASHA’s Minority Student Leadership Program.

Tuition and financial aid

U of A’s SLP masters program costs vary by residency status. Arizona residents pay about $12,700 yearly in tuition and fees, while non-residents pay about $23,400. These numbers cover a full academic year based on six-unit semester rates.

Living costs bring the total yearly estimate to $40,200 for Arizona residents and $48,400 for non-residents. The full program costs non-residents about $45,000. This price stays competitive with similar programs nationwide.

Students can get financial help in several ways. U of A offers scholarship matching through Scholarship Universe, outside funding options, and help for admitted students. Graduate assistantships and associateships provide support while building educational and professional skills.

First-year costs including fall, spring, and summer total about $23,525. Later semesters cost continuing students around $12,652 for fall and spring. Students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to get federal aid.

Northern Arizona University – MS in Clinical Speech-Language Pathology

Northern Arizona University has a solid Master of Science program in Clinical Speech-Language Pathology. The program runs at the Flagstaff Mountain Campus and combines practical experience with detailed coursework.

Program overview

The Clinical Speech-Language Pathology Master’s program at Northern Arizona University blends theory with hands-on experience over two years. The curriculum meets American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) standards that you need to start your professional practice. Once you graduate, you’ll be ready to apply for ASHA’s clinical certification requirements.

Students need 63-69 total units split into different areas. This includes 31-34 units of clinical speech-language pathology coursework, 8 units of additional coursework, 6 units of electives or graduate research, 6-9 units of clinical practica, and 12 units of fieldwork experience or externship. Your final clinical experience lets you practice full-time for 12 weeks at a pre-arranged clinical site.

NAU’s program stands out because it has multiple ways to complete your degree:

• Full-time Track: Students who have a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology
• Full-time Leveler Track: Students coming from other bachelor’s degree backgrounds
• Summers Track: Working professionals can finish their degree through summer classes, online courses during the academic year, and clinical practicals

The program teaches you how to assess and treat communication and swallowing disorders in a variety of populations. You’ll learn evidence-based practices, cultural competence, and ethical standards—skills you need to help diverse communities.

Admission requirements

Getting into NAU’s speech pathology master’s program means meeting specific requirements. You’ll need to apply through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS).

You must have knowledge in these basic areas before starting:

• Biological sciences (no lab needed)
• Physical sciences (chemistry or physics, no lab needed)
• Statistics (course must have “statistics” in the title)
• Social/behavioral sciences (psychology, sociology, anthropology)

The program also needs these prerequisite courses:

• Anatomy and physiology of speech and swallowing
• Hearing science
• Communication development in children
• Phonetics
• Speech science
• Introduction to audiology

Students who haven’t taken the neurological foundations course can take CSD 508 during their graduate program. You’ll need three recommendation letters, a personal statement, and a list of your field-related courses.

NAU’s Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan lets qualified students start their master’s while finishing their bachelor’s. This plan shares 12 units between both programs.

Clinical experience

Clinical education builds the foundation of NAU’s speech pathology program. Your studies include supervised clinical practica in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and schools. These experiences build your confidence with clients and help develop your clinical judgment.

The program requires 6-9 units of clinical practica and a major 12-unit fieldwork experience or externship. Your final experience includes 12 weeks of full-time clinical practice at a pre-arranged site, giving you ground experience before you graduate.

NAU also lets top undergraduate Communication Sciences and Disorders students take graduate courses in their senior year through its Accelerated BS to MS Program. This saves money since undergraduate scholarships can pay for graduate courses taken during undergraduate studies.

The Graduate Certificate in Culturally Responsive Practice in Speech-Language Pathology is a chance to specialize. This certificate equips you to help people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds—filling a gap where 92 percent of clinicians are white, monolingual English speakers in our faster-growing diverse U.S. population.

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Midwestern University – MS in Speech-Language Pathology

Midwestern University’s Speech-Language Pathology program puts patients first. Expert faculty clinicians teach evidence-based care with strong ethical principles. The Glendale Campus in Arizona helps you learn to review and treat disorders in speech, language, voice, communication, and swallowing for patients of all ages.

Program overview

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Midwestern University has a well-laid-out seven-quarter curriculum that runs for 21 months for traditional track students. Students without Communication Sciences and Disorders background can take the 24-month Leveling Track. This track starts one quarter early in summer with online prerequisites at no extra tuition cost.

Students learn both theory and hands-on clinical practice. The program starts with five quarters of classroom learning and ends with two quarters of advanced practical training. Every student must complete either a master’s thesis or an evidence-based capstone project. They also take part in clinical work at the Speech-Language Institute, the program’s on-campus clinic.

The final two quarters involve full-time advanced training at various Phoenix locations. These include Mayo Clinic, Barrow Neurological Institute, and Banner Health. This training prepares you to work in outpatient clinics, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other healthcare facilities.

Midwestern’s One Health Initiative lets you work with students from other healthcare fields. You’ll also get research opportunities and access to modern classrooms with innovative technology.

Admission requirements

The traditional track needs a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited school. This can be in Communication Sciences and Disorders or another field with completed prerequisites. Here are the required prerequisites:

• Anatomy and Physiology of Communication Mechanisms
• Phonetics
• Speech and Language Development
• Speech and Hearing Science
• Statistics
• One course each in biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences

You need a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. The application needs two recommendation letters, a CSDCAS application, and a passed criminal background check from Midwestern University.

The Leveling Track might work better if you don’t have SLP-specific prerequisites. This track only needs statistics, biological sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences courses before you start.

Clinical experience

Clinical education is the cornerstone of Midwestern’s program. You’ll start working with expert faculty clinicians at the Midwestern University Speech-Language Institute early in your studies. There, you’ll review, treat, and care for patients.

The clinical experience starts with one quarter of classroom work. This leads to four quarters of hands-on training at the Speech-Language Institute. This approach helps you build clinical skills step by step with faculty guidance.

Your final two quarters include advanced internships lasting up to twelve weeks. You can choose placements across the country or stay in the Phoenix area. Local options include prestigious hospitals, private practices with team-based care, and top Arizona schools.

Accreditation

The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association fully accredits this program.

The program earned an eight-year reaccreditation in 2024 – the longest possible term. The CAA found that the program met all 49 standards across six areas and 150 specific elements. No improvements or follow-ups were needed.

The accreditation team praised several program strengths. They noted how well faculty members work together to create “a culture of productivity and focus on responsiveness to individualized student learning needs and success”.

Tuition and financial aid

First-year students at the Glendale campus for 2025-2026 will pay $49,203 in tuition. Total tuition and fees come to $50,518. Second-year students pay similar tuition but slightly less in total fees at $50,248.

Your budget should include:

• Books, course materials, and supplies: $2,559 first year, $1,120 second year
• Health insurance: $3,996 first year, $4,200 second year
• Housing: $6,300-$19,125 first year (9-month budget)
• Food: $4,500 for campus or off-campus options

Total costs change based on where you live. Students living on campus need about $30,703, while off-campus students should plan for around $40,954.

The program offers Federal Work-Study for qualified students. Midwestern University splits full-time enrollment charges by the number of quarters in the academic year.

A.T. Still University – MS in Speech-Language Pathology

A.T. Still University’s Speech-Language Pathology program stands out with its strong emphasis on multicultural education and bilingual service delivery.

Program overview

This unique 66-credit-hour full-time program runs for two years with a well-laid-out curriculum. Students start with residential didactic and clinical training in Arizona during their first year. The final year shifts coursework online, which allows clinical opportunities nationwide. Graduates learn to address communication disorders through culturally responsive practices. The program offers students exposure to various clinical cases in a web-based environment where they learn about articulation, language, swallowing, and voice disorders.

Admission requirements

A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution is mandatory. Students must meet GPA requirements of either a 3.0 cumulative GPA overall, 3.0 for the last 60 credits, or undergo a comprehensive review if below minimum requirements. The program needs three semester credit hours each in biological science, physical science, statistics, and social/behavioral sciences. Students will appreciate that GRE scores aren’t required.

Clinical experience

Students begin their clinical practica with simulation labs that provide 30 clinical hours. The curriculum builds progressively as students take on more clinical responsibility each semester. Clinical rotations take place in healthcare and school settings, leading to advanced clinical practicums in the final year. Students accumulate up to 400 supervised clinical hours in settings of all types.

Accreditation

The program currently holds Candidate for Accreditation status from the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). This “pre-accreditation” status remains valid for five years maximum (2022-2027). The program’s success shows in its 97% on-time completion rate (three-year average) and perfect 100% Praxis examination pass rate.

Tuition and financial aid

Annual tuition costs $43,484 per year. Students must also pay a $1,440 Student Technology Fee, $199 Clinic Fee, and $269 Lab Fee. ATSU’s financial aid office works with each student to create tailored financial aid packages. The university follows federal aid principles and provides tailored College Financing Plans to accepted students.

Choose an Arizona SLP Master’s Program Today

Your path to a rewarding career as a speech-language pathologist starts with picking the right master’s program. Arizona offers five excellent accredited programs, each with its own strengths and unique approach. The University of Arizona excels in research. Midwestern University focuses on clinical training. A.T. Still University emphasizes multicultural perspectives. You’ll find a program that matches your professional goals perfectly.

The numbers tell an amazing story about these programs’ quality. Most programs have nearly 100% completion rates. Students pass their Praxis exams with perfect scores and land jobs right after graduation. These programs meet strict accreditation requirements and provide complete clinical training to prepare you for real-life challenges.

Of course, costs differ between schools. Public universities charge around $12,000 yearly for in-state students, while private schools can cost up to $49,000. The good news? Every program offers financial aid options to help make your education more affordable.

Your future job outlook looks bright. Speech therapy jobs will grow 29% – much faster than other careers. Arizona speech therapists earn an average of $92,800 yearly, which means great financial stability. This growth comes from our aging population needing more services and people’s increased awareness of communication disorders at every age.

The best program for you depends on what matters most to you. Think over the location, specialty options, clinical placements, program length, and costs. Whatever Arizona speech pathology program you choose, you’ll graduate ready to change your clients’ lives while enjoying a satisfying career with excellent prospects.