Illinois · Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

Best colleges for Communication Disorders Sciences and Services in Illinois

Ranked by graduate earnings

Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University award the most Communication Disorders Sciences and Services degrees and certificates in Illinois: 160, 115 and 110 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Illinois colleges offer Communication Disorders Sciences and Services and award 946 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Communication Disorders Sciences and Services program focuses on understanding and addressing various communication disorders, including speech, language, and hearing issues. This program is ideal for students interested in helping…

Institutions
18
offering CIP 51.02
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
946
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$29,620
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$15,126
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
59%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Speech-Language Pathologists
$92,660
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Northern Illinois University
Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,1365249%—$22,500
2University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,62011585%—$21,117

Colleges awarding the most Communication Disorders Sciences and Services degrees in Illinois

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Northwestern University
Evanston Private not-for-profit
160Not reported
2University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign Public
115$29,620
3Illinois State University
Normal Public
110Not reported
4Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville Public
60Not reported
5Eastern Illinois University
Charleston Public
56Not reported
6DePaul University
Chicago Private not-for-profit
54Not reported
7Elmhurst University
Elmhurst Private not-for-profit
54Not reported
8Saint Xavier University
Chicago Private not-for-profit
53Not reported
9Northern Illinois University
Dekalb Public
52$34,136
10Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Carbondale Public
40Not reported
Show the other 8 Illinois colleges offering Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Rush UniversityChicagoPrivate not-for-profit36
Augustana CollegeRock IslandPrivate not-for-profit35
Lewis UniversityRomeovillePrivate not-for-profit33
Midwestern University - Downers Grove (Graduate only)Downers GrovePrivate not-for-profit28
Governors State UniversityUniversity ParkPublic26
Western Illinois UniversityMacombPublic21
College of DuPageGlen EllynPublic10
Trinity Christian CollegePalos HeightsPrivate not-for-profit3

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Speech-Language Pathologists (SOC 29-1127).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+15.0%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~13,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$95,410
typically Master's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingLearning Strategies

What Speech-Language Pathologists earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
9,040
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$92,660
median $95,080
Best-paying metro
$95,200
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Related careers

Speech-Language Pathologists
$92,660 avg · 9,040 jobs
Audiologists
$99,730 avg · 330 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Communication Disorders Sciences and Services programs in Illinois.

Which Illinois colleges award the most Communication Disorders Sciences and Services degrees?+

Northwestern University (160 graduates a year), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (115 graduates a year) and Illinois State University (110 graduates a year) award the most Communication Disorders Sciences and Services degrees and certificates in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Illinois colleges offer Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.

Which Communication Disorders Sciences and Services program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northern Illinois University tops the list at $34,136. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Speech-Language Pathologists earn in Illinois?+

The average annual wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in Illinois is $92,660 (median $95,080), across about 9,040 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Communication Disorders Sciences and Services program?+

The Communication Disorders Sciences and Services program focuses on understanding and addressing various communication disorders, including speech, language, and hearing issues. This program is ideal for students interested in helping…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, writing, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Speech-Language Pathologists?+

The national job outlook is about +15.0% growth with around 13,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services in other statesNevadaArizonaOregonRhode IslandMassachusettsMarylandMissouriUtah

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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