12 Best No-GRE Speech Pathology Master's Programs Online

Students can become certified speech-language pathologists by completing a Master of Speech-Language Pathology (MSLP) degree program. MSLP programs are designed to meet the requirements for certification, which are set by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Not all ASHA-approved programs have the exact degree name as the MSLP, but all approved programs lead to a master's degree and include both didactic coursework and clinical experiences. Continue reading to explore the top no-GRE MSLP programs offered online.

Do Master's in Speech Pathology Programs Require the GRE?

Students interested in graduate school are sometimes required to submit a Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score as part of their application. Some admissions offices use this score to assess readiness and educational capacity.

There are many master's in speech pathology programs that don't require the GRE across the U.S., and a few dozen schools offer them in a hybrid format. Choosing a school that doesn't require a GRE enables students to bypass the exam and be considered for admission based on other criteria.

What Are the Admission Requirements for MSLP Programs?

Admission requirements for MSLP programs vary by school, but graduate students usually need a bachelor's degree, certain prerequisite courses, and a qualifying GPA. Some programs require students to have a bachelor's degree in a related field, or the completion of specific coursework in the field of communication sciences.

As part of the application process, students may also need to submit letters of recommendation, a background check, official transcripts, and an application fee. More competitive programs can have requirements for grades earned on prerequisite coursework and preference to students with previous healthcare or clinical experiences.

Top No-GRE MSLP Programs

Students can pursue an MSLP and prepare for certification through numerous graduate schools with no GRE requirements. Below, we discuss the top online speech-language pathology programs that do not require a GRE.

1. East Carolina University

East Carolina University offers an MS in communication sciences and disorders with a speech-language pathology track that prepares students for certification as speech-language pathologists. The program can be completed in two years of full-time study through an online format. Students complete coursework online and can fulfill clinical hours requirements at facilities close to where they live.

• Estimated tuition cost: $290 (in-state) or $1,020 (out-of-state) per credit hour
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. Pennsylvania Western University

Pennsylvania Western University has a fully online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MSSLP) that can be completed in 20 to 29 months. Coursework is delivered online, and students complete a one-week intensive session on campus, as well as two clinical externships at facilities near them. The program is open to students with an undergraduate degree in the communication sciences field and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

• Estimated tuition cost: $516 to $526 per credit hour
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

3. James Madison University

James Madison University offers an MSSLP that can be completed across three years of part-time study. Students progress through the online program in a cohort (group) model and complete a two-day on-campus session as well as four multi-day clinicals and a six-week clinical internship.

Students should have a GPA of 3.25 or higher and meet prerequisite requirements for specific coursework, including courses in biology and social science.

• Estimated tuition cost: $522 (in-state) or $1,164 (out-of-state) per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. Western Kentucky University

The MSSLP program at Western Kentucky University is open to students with a bachelor's degree who have completed (or are completing) a handful of prerequisite courses. The program starts every fall and can be completed online, although students attend a six-week internship in Bowling Green, Kentucky, during their first summer semester.

Students take courses relating to voice disorders, audiology, childhood language disorders, and dysphagia.

• Estimated tuition cost: $607 (in-state) or $917 (out-of-state) per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

5. Albizu University

Albizu University offers an MSSLP program that prepares students for licensure through online coursework and in-person practice. Students complete two one-week on-campus sessions as well as multiple externships that last four or five days and can be completed near students. The program is open to students with a bachelor's degree in any field who have previously completed a course in statistics, biology, and physics.

• Estimated tuition cost: $650 per credit hour
• Accreditation: MSCHE

6. University of Northern Colorado

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) offers a Master of Arts (MA) in speech-language pathology that can be completed over three years of part-time study. The cohort-model program consists of online coursework, along with a three-week on-campus clinical practicum in the first summer and a 12-week internship in the final summer semester. Students can begin in the fall semester and should have a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on their most recent degree program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $668 per credit hour
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

7. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire offers a part-time MS in speech-language pathology that begins in June and runs as a cohort across three years of study. Students attend a one-week in-person residency each semester and can complete clinical requirements at facilities near them. The program is open to students who have a bachelor's degree with specific courses already completed, such as a phonetics class, along with a GPA of 3.25 in communication sciences courses.

• Estimated tuition cost: $725 per credit hour
• Accreditation: HLC

8. Calvin University

Calvin University has an MA in speech-language pathology that combines online coursework with three on-campus sessions and two clinical placements near students. Students with a bachelor's degree in a field other than speech pathology can complete a 21-credit online certificate program and qualify to enter the MA program. The Master of Arts can be completed in as few as two years and includes coursework in cognitive communications, language disorders, and autism spectrum disorder.

• Estimated tuition cost: $966 per credit
• Accreditation: HLC

9. West Coast University

West Coast University offers an MSLP that can be completed in less than two years of full-time study through online coursework and two weekend in-person sessions. Incoming students do not have to hold a communication sciences degree, but they need to have completed certain prerequisite courses. The 56-credit program includes courses such as childhood language disorders, childhood dysphagia, and neurogenic speech disorders.

• Estimated tuition cost: 1,000 per credit hour
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

10. Nova Southeastern University

Nova Southeastern University offers an MSSLP that can be completed on campus or online across shortened semesters, eight to 12 weeks in length. Students can complete the three required externships at facilities that are close to them and can begin the program at three points each academic year. The 54-credit curriculum includes courses such as diagnoses of speech disorders, alternative communication, and motor speech disorders in adults.

• Estimated tuition cost: $1,274 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

FAQs About MSLP Programs That Don't Require the GRE

Many students have questions about MSLP graduate programs and how to become a speech-language pathologist (SLP). The top FAQs about the pathway to SLP certification are answered below.

Do SLPS Have To Take the GRE?

No, the GRE is not mandatory for becoming an SLP. GRE scores are required for admission to some SLP programs, such as the MSLP at New York University (NYU), but several schools offer SLP programs with no GRE requirement.

Do Online Speech Pathology Programs Require the GRE?

While some online SLP programs do require the GRE for admission, most do not. There are currently around two dozen SLP graduate programs in the U.S. that are offered online and do not require the GRE for enrollment, 10 of which are included here.

What Are the Math Requirements for SLP Programs?

MSLP programs usually have certain prerequisites, such as the completion of one class in social sciences and one class in biological sciences. Most of the SLP programs do not have a specific mathematics requirement, although many do require students to have completed a statistics course.

What Are the Required Credentials for an SLP?

Every state requires SLPs to obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. To obtain licensure, students need to complete an ASHA-approved program, fulfill hands-on experience requirements, and pass an SLP competencies exam.

Explore Master's in Speech Pathology Degrees

You can find other top programs in speech-language pathology and related fields on Learn.org. Contact the schools that offer the programs you are interested in to get started.