Last Updated
April 16, 2025Written By
Cynthia Harris, M.S., CCC‑SLPFor those pursuing speech pathology degrees, Utah presents a good potential as it offers several high quality accredited degree programs with a good job market. The University of Utah, Utah State University, and Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions are among the top university choices. Every one of these universities is well-known for strong clinical training and research opportunities that prepare students well for their speech-language pathologist careers – be they research or clinically based.
Current projections show strong job growth of 29% for speech pathologists in Utah between 2022 and 2032, compare this to the 18% projected growth nationwide and you will see the need for more SLPs in Utah. Along with the rapid growth, Utah boasts a national average salary of approximately $85,000 per year with lower than average living costs. All these factors make Utah an attractive place to start an SLP career. This overview looks at the best programs, contrasts degree levels, reviews licensure standards, and outlines the most time- and cost-effective paths, so you know what to expect from SLP degree programs in Utah.
Choosing the right speech pathology program in Utah just got easier. Our rankings focus on what truly matters—outcomes, clinical training, and academic quality. speechpathology.org helps SLP students in Utah compare the best schools. Find out how we rank them at speechpathology.org/rankings-methology.
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The University of Utah's PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders is a rigorous, campus-based program aimed at fostering advanced research skills and specialized knowledge. Ideal for aspiring researchers, it demands a 3.0 GPA, GRE scores, and three recommendation letters for admission. Notably, it participates in the Western Regional Graduate Program, offering tuition benefits to eligible students. With a focus on independent research and tailored coursework, this program prepares graduates for leadership roles in the field. Application deadline is January 15. Highlights include 'Requires GRE', 'Campus-based program', and 'Reduced tuition eligible' for WRGP participants.
A Bachelor’s of Speech-Language Pathology like the Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders offered by Utah State University is a four year course and it takes about 120 credits. It is an excellent way to begin the profession without having to attend graduate school first, as it only requires high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores for admission. This degree prepares one for jobs like speech language pathology assistant (SLPA) in schools or clinics, working under the direction of a licensed SLP or jobs in special education which involve working with children with communication disorders. It is also a good stepping stone towards a master’s degree if one has not yet decided to pursue further education.
The master’s degree in speech pathology, offered at places like the University of Utah, is 2 years and has about 60 credits and is necessary to become a fully licensed SLP. You must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, maintain a certain GPA, possibly submit your GRE scores, and get letter(s) of recommendation to apply to the program, which is geared toward advanced level learning. It enables a master’s degree to practice as a speech therapist in hospitals, schools or in private practice, and treat speech disorders directly.
At the University of Utah and Utah State University, the Communication Sciences and Disorders PhD is a research focused SLP doctorate degree. It is 4-5 years and around 90 credits to complete. Admission is a master’s degree, strong research background, and letters of recommendation, and in-state tuition at public universities is around $11,000 per year. It prepares graduates for academic positions, research roles, or clinical supervision and the potential to earn greater than $100,000 annually in academia.
The SLPD is offered by Rocky Mountain University, this 2-3 year, 40-50 credit program is for licensed speech pathologists with at least two years of experience and costs $18,498 per year. Utah SLP licensure and national certification (CCC-SLP) are required for admission, focusing on advanced clinical practice, leadership, and specialization. Graduates can work as clinical directors or master clinicians, based on the high paying markets.
The Utah Division of Professional Licensing keeps the Speech-Language Pathologist licensure process. It is imperative that the process to become a licensed practicing professional is well defined to ensure that those providing the services are qualified and reasonable.
The basic requirement for licensure is a master’s degree in SLP or similar fields. Third is a clinical fellowship, which has to be 36 consecutive weeks of employment by a licensed SLP. Finally, the applicant must pass the Praxis exam in speech pathology to confirm their knowledge. It is crucial to know that the Utah license is good for 2 years. After that, the licensees can renew their license by completing 20 hours of continuing education. This guarantees that professionals are updating themselves with the current research and practices.
Many SLPs in Utah will also pursue the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP). This is not required for their Utah licensure, but since the CCC-SLP requirements are very similar to those of the Utah license it isn’t a significant amount of additional work, but it has a big payoff. The CCC-SLP allows SLPs to make themselves more attractive to employers and may help to allow a speech-language pathologists to move to another state and continue practicing as an SLP with ease.
The process for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) to obtain their license involves obtaining a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders or related fields and completing the SLPA certificate program, which includes the clinical practicum hours while working under a licensed SLP. The SLPA license is also good for 2 years and can be renewed once the applicant has fulfilled the continuing education requirement of 20 contact hours. The license and ASHA’s C-SLPA certification are quite similar and SLPAs can also hold this certification.
The SLP fastest path is through a master’s degree program that is 2 years or 60 credits for full time students. The University of Utah and Utah State University offer this timeline and there are no widely advertised combined bachelor’s-master’s tracks to shorten duration. The standard for bachelor’s degrees in communication sciences and disorders is four years; however, it is possible to reduce this to three years by taking summer courses or by transferring in community college credits if planned with advisors. Longer are the speech pathology doctoral programs, e.g. PhD (4-5 years) and SLPD (2-3 years), SLPD is the quickest advanced option for experienced SLPs available.
For Utah residents pursuing an affordable Speech-Language Pathology degree, the best place to start is at the state’s public universities, such as the University of Utah or Utah State University. The current in-state tuition for a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders is about $11,000 per year, which comes to $44,000 over four years, and a two-year master’s degree at the University of Utah is around $22,000, or $367 to $600 per credit, depending on typical credit loads. Out-of-state public tuition rises to $29,837 per year in Utah, or $1,000 per credit.
Private universities are something different without the standard in-state/out-of-state tuition structure. Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions has tuition $933 per credit hour, for its MS in Medical Speech-Language Pathology (which is $64,377 total) or $1,021 per SLPD credit ($40,840 in three years) and doesn’t differentiate between instate and out-of-state students. It attracts those who want specialized training but at a price.
Brigham Young University (BYU), however, has a master’s at $6,304 per year ($12,608 in total), a lower flat rate because it’s church-funded rather than residency-based. BYU has a higher tuition rate for non-members roughly $9,000 per year which makes it a very affordable speech pathology option. For budget-conscious students, starting with a public bachelor’s and master’s is less than $66,000, which is a savings edge versus private paths, unless scholarships shift the balance.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in SLP and have been researching licensing requirements or are simply interested in learning more about SLP
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