Online SLP Programs: 10 Best Speech Pathology Master’s

Online SLP programs let you earn an accredited master’s in speech-language pathology while studying from home and completing clinical hours near where you live. The degree is the same one on-campus students receive, and it leads to the same ASHA certification and state license.

Below, we compare 10 online speech pathology programs by cost, length, and format. Then we explain how clinical placements, prerequisites, and admissions work, so you can choose a program that fits your life and your profile.

Last updated: October 2026. We checked every program against its official page. Tuition and deadlines change each year, so confirm details with the program before you apply.

Online SLP programs compared

We chose programs that are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) or publicly working toward it, deliver their coursework online, and arrange clinical work near the student. The list is in alphabetical order. It is not a ranking, because the best program depends on your state, budget, and background.

Program	Credits	Length	Tuition per credit	GRE	Campus visits
Calvin University	72	2 to 3 years	$995	Not required	None
CSU Northridge	63 units	3 years	$862 (spring 2026 cohort)	See program page	None listed
James Madison University	See program page	3 years	See program page	See program page	See program page
Maryville University	57	5 semesters	About $900 (2025-26)	Not required	None
New York University	48	As few as 2 years	See program page	Not required	Two immersions in New York City
Nova Southeastern University	54	8 to 12 terms	See program page	Not required	None listed for online students
Texas Woman’s University	61	As little as 2 years	See program page	See program page	Varies by track
University of Akron and University of Cincinnati	See program page	2 years, 8 months	Set by each university	See program page	None
University of Northern Colorado	61	See program page	$751 (2026-27)	See program page	One summer visit
UW-Eau Claire	54	3 years, part time	About $747 (first year)	See program page	One week each summer

The 10 online speech pathology programs

Calvin University

Calvin’s MA in Speech-Language Pathology is offered on campus in Michigan and by distance education, and both modes are CAA accredited. The distance program is 72 credits at $995 per credit, or $71,640 in total, with no campus visits and no GRE. Calvin’s team arranges your practicum placements, starting with telehealth and moving to in-person sites near you.

Good to know: Calvin offers a Speech and Hearing Foundations certificate for applicants who still need prerequisites. The distance mode does not accept international students.

California State University, Northridge

CSUN’s MS in Communicative Disorders is a three-year, cohort-based program with all courses online. Tuition for the spring 2026 cohort was $862 per unit for 63 units, or $54,306 in total. Practicum takes place at a site near you.

Good to know: Cohorts fill early. The deadline for the spring 2027 cohort closed in June 2026, so plan about a year ahead. CSUN also runs a separate online SLP prerequisite program.

James Madison University

JMU’s online MS in Speech-Language Pathology is a CAA-accredited, three-year program taken over nine semesters in cohorts of 25 to 30 students. JMU staff help with placements.

Good to know: When we checked in October 2026, JMU’s page said the online program was not accepting applications. Check the page for future admission cycles before you plan around it.

Maryville University

Maryville’s online MS in Speech-Language Pathology is 57 credits over five full-time semesters, with starts in January and August. Total tuition was listed at $51,300 for 2025-26. There is no GRE and no campus visit. The first two semesters use live online telepractice, followed by in-person placements usually within 60 miles of your home.

Good to know: Applicants from other fields must complete nine CSD leveling courses first. Confirm the program’s current CAA status on the CAA website before you apply.

New York University

NYU Steinhardt’s online MS in Communicative Sciences and Disorders is 48 credits and can be finished in as few as two years, full time or part time. It is CAA accredited, requires no GRE, and starts in September or January. A placement specialist helps you find an approved clinical site near you.

Good to know: You must attend two on-campus clinical immersions in New York City. NYU also offers online foundation courses. It is one of the more expensive options, so check the current tuition page.

Nova Southeastern University

NSU’s MS in Speech-Language Pathology is 54 credits and CAA accredited in both its Florida campus and online formats. Online students attend a live class for one hour a week per course. You can finish in 8 to 12 terms, depending on a full-time or part-time plan, and the GRE is not required.

Good to know: NSU admits online cohorts in winter and fall, and places students at sites close to home across the United States. It requires 18 semester hours of CSD prerequisites completed within the past 10 years.

Texas Woman’s University

TWU’s MS in Speech-Language Pathology is 61 credits and CAA accredited. It has two distance tracks. The schools-focused track meets through regional Education Service Centers across Texas and live webinars. The healthcare-focused track uses live webinars plus three days on the Denton campus each summer.

Good to know: The distance tracks are built around Texas school districts and service centers, and each track starts only every other summer. Distance students can work as licensed SLP assistants while enrolled.

University of Akron and University of Cincinnati

The Collaborative Distance Learning program is run jointly by two Ohio universities, and each admits 22 students. It starts every January and takes eight semesters in a row, or two years and eight months. All courses are online, with no campus visits, and you do not need to live in Ohio.

Good to know: Clinical placements begin in the third semester, within 50 miles of your home, for at least two to three days a week. The program says full-time work is realistic only in the first two semesters.

University of Northern Colorado

UNC’s MA in Speech-Language Pathology is a 61-credit, CAA-accredited program that can be completed online with one summer visit to the Greeley campus. Tuition for 2026-27 is $751 per credit, with no student or technology fees.

Good to know: UNC admits online students in cohorts, so ask when the next one starts.

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

UW-Eau Claire’s online MS is a part-time, three-year program of 54 credits, built for people who keep working. Tuition is estimated at $747 per credit in the first year. You spend one week on campus in each of three summers and finish with a full-time externship.

Good to know: A new cohort starts each June. Applications for the June 2027 cohort are due November 1, 2026. The program expects about 30 credits of CSD prerequisites and a 3.25 GPA in that coursework.

How do online SLP programs work?

The academic courses are online, through live video classes, recorded lectures, or both. The clinical training is in person. ASHA certification requires at least 400 supervised clinical hours: 25 of guided observation and 375 of direct client contact. Up to 75 of the direct hours may come from clinical simulation.

Three differences between programs matter most:

• Who finds your placements. Some programs arrange every site for you. Others expect you to help find them. Ask before you apply.
• Campus visits. In the list above, they range from none to one week every summer.
• Live or flexible classes. Live classes build community but fix your schedule. Asynchronous classes fit around work.

After you graduate, you pass the Praxis exam and complete a clinical fellowship of at least 1,260 hours over a minimum of 36 weeks. You can then hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) and apply for your state license.

Is an online speech pathology degree accredited?

It is if the program is accredited by the CAA, the accrediting body within ASHA. Accreditation covers the master’s program in both on-campus and distance formats, and your diploma does not say “online”.

As of May 2026, the CAA lists 334 master’s programs in speech-language pathology, 299 of them fully accredited and the rest in candidate status. Check any program in the CAA program list. Also confirm that the program can enroll students in your state and meets your state’s licensing rules.

Admission requirements for online SLP programs

Requirements vary, but most programs ask for:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• A minimum GPA, often 3.0, and sometimes higher in CSD courses
• CSD prerequisite courses if your degree is in another field
• One course each in biological science, physics or chemistry, social or behavioral science, and statistics
• Two or three letters of recommendation and a personal statement
• An application through CSDCAS, the shared application system many programs use

Many programs no longer require the GRE, including several in this list. Some programs also interview applicants.

What if my bachelor’s degree is not in CSD?

You can still apply after completing leveling courses such as phonetics, anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing, speech science, language development, and audiology. The number varies a lot. In this list alone, Nova Southeastern asks for 18 semester hours, Texas Woman’s has an eight-course leveling sequence, and UW-Eau Claire expects about 30 credits.

Several of these universities also sell the prerequisites online, including Calvin, CSUN, and NYU. For the full picture, read our guide to online SLP prerequisites and leveling programs.

How much do online SLP programs cost?

For the programs above where we could confirm a current figure, total tuition runs from about $40,000 to more than $70,000. Per-credit rates range from about $747 to $995, and NYU costs more. Compare total cost, not the per-credit rate, because programs range from 48 to 72 credits.

Add these to your budget:

• University and course fees, and fees for clinical supervision at some sites
• Travel and housing for campus visits
• Lost income during full-time placements in your final terms
• Application fees, background checks, and the Praxis exam

Online tuition is often the same for residents of every state, which helps if your own state’s programs are expensive. Ask each program about scholarships and whether part-time students qualify for federal aid.

What are the easiest online SLP programs to get into?

There is no reliable list. Programs rarely publish admission rates for their online cohorts, and the university-wide acceptance rates you see quoted online describe undergraduate admissions, not the SLP master’s. Cohorts are small, often 20 to 60 students, so admission is competitive almost everywhere.

You can improve your odds by choosing programs that fit your profile:

• More than one start date a year. Programs with fall and spring or winter cohorts have more seats.
• No GRE. This helps if testing is your weak point.
• Newer programs. Programs in CAA candidate status often receive fewer applications.
• Holistic review. Some programs give weight to SLPA, classroom, or healthcare experience.
• Recent grades count most. Strong grades in leveling courses can balance an older, lower GPA.

Easier admission does not mean an easier program, and less selective programs are often the most expensive. To see how real applicants did, search the GradCafe results database for speech-language pathology and the school you are considering. Results are self-reported, so use them as examples and not as official statistics.

How to choose an online SLP program

Ask each program these questions:

1. Is it CAA accredited, and can it enroll students from my state?
2. Who arranges clinical placements, and are there sites near me?
3. How many campus visits are required, and when?
4. Are classes live or asynchronous, and can I study part time?
5. Which prerequisites does it require, and how recent must they be?
6. What is the total cost, including fees and travel?
7. What are the Praxis pass rate, completion rate, and employment rate? Accredited programs publish these.

Is an online SLP degree worth it?

For most graduates, the numbers are encouraging. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, speech-language pathologists earned a median of $97,870 a year in May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 17% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 12,500 openings a year.

Pay depends on where you work:

Setting	Median annual pay (May 2025)
Nursing and residential care facilities	$109,660
Hospitals	$103,690
Therapy and audiology offices	$98,910
Schools and other educational services	$83,120

Employers and licensing boards look at your accreditation, license, and certification, not at whether your classes were online. The main trade-off is practical: an online program asks for more self-discipline, and your final clinical terms will limit how much you can work.

Frequently asked questions

Are online SLP programs fully online?

No. Coursework can be fully online, but the 375 hours of direct clinical contact are completed in person at approved sites, with a limited amount of simulation allowed. Some programs also require short campus visits.

How long do online SLP programs take?

Most take two to three years. Full-time programs can finish in about five semesters, and part-time programs designed for working students usually take three years.

Can I get into an online SLP program without a CSD degree?

Yes. You first complete the leveling courses your target programs require, plus one course each in biology, physics or chemistry, social or behavioral science, and statistics.

Do online SLP programs require the GRE?

Many do not. In our list, Calvin, Maryville, NYU, and Nova Southeastern state that the GRE is not required. Check each program’s current admissions page.

Can I work while enrolled in an online SLP program?

Often yes in the first year, especially in part-time programs. Clinical placements usually run during the day for several days a week, so most students cut back on work in the final terms.

Do I need a master’s degree to become a speech-language pathologist?

Yes for ASHA certification, which requires a graduate degree, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a master’s as the typical entry-level education. State licensing rules vary, and some states license bachelor’s-level SLP assistants who work under supervision.

Next steps

Shortlist three to five programs from the table, confirm that each one can enroll students from your state, and write down their prerequisites and deadlines. Several cohorts close their applications close to a year before classes start.

Then use the GradCafe community to plan:

• Search admissions results to see when SLP programs send decisions.
• Ask current students about placements and workload in the Speech-Language Pathology forum.
• When your own decisions arrive, submit your result to help the next applicant.