# Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

> A program that focuses on the application of biomedical, psychological, and physical principles to the study of the scientific bases, development, and treatment of speech, language, hearing, and cognitive communication problems caused by disease, injury, or disability. Includes instruction in language science, hearing science, speech and voice science, biology of communication, behavioral linguistics, psychology, and applications to the development of diagnostic and rehabilitative strategies and technologies.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/communication-disorders-sciences-and-services
- CIP code: 51.02 (Health Professions and Related Programs)
- Colleges offering it: 292 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 32 | $36,992 | $54,398 | $15,937 |
| Associate's | 39 | $54,848 | $45,971 | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 292 | $33,256 | $58,490 | $19,500 |
| Master's | 292 | $62,256 | $65,786 | $41,000 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 13 | $35,008 | not reported | $13,269 |
| Doctoral | 100 | $82,031 | $89,233 | $81,215 |
| First professional | 66 | $80,837 | $89,193 | $85,488 |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 46 | $60,019 | not reported | $37,216 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Washington-Seattle](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-seattle-main-campus-3075) | Seattle, WA | $80,947 | $12,500 |
| [Loma Linda University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loma-linda-university-1516) | Loma Linda, CA | $79,062 | not reported |
| [CUNY Queens College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-queens-college-746) | Queens, NY | $78,281 | not reported |
| [University of the Pacific](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-the-pacific-3061) | Stockton, CA | $77,549 | $22,362 |
| [Iona College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/iona-college-1302) | New Rochelle, NY | $77,352 | $20,500 |
| [New York University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | New York, NY | $75,970 | not reported |
| [Long Island University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/long-island-university-1520) | Brookville, NY | $75,502 | not reported |
| [California State University-Long Beach](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-long-beach-371) | Long Beach, CA | $75,137 | $19,218 |
| [St. John's University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-john-s-university-new-york-2579) | Queens, NY | $74,937 | $23,250 |
| [Molloy College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/molloy-college-1749) | Rockville Centre, NY | $74,070 | $25,500 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-specialties-teachers-postsecondary): $107,310 median pay
- [Speech-Language Pathologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/speech-language-pathologists): $97,870 median pay
- [Audiologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/audiologists): $95,780 median pay

## More in Health Professions and Related Programs

- [Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/registered-nursing-nursing-administration-nursing-research-and-clinical-nursing): 1,111 colleges
- [Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/allied-health-diagnostic-intervention-and-treatment-professions): 930 colleges
- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/health-and-medical-administrative-services): 890 colleges
- [Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/practical-nursing-vocational-nursing-and-nursing-assistants): 864 colleges
- [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/allied-health-and-medical-assisting-services): 796 colleges
- [Public Health](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-health): 540 colleges
- [Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/health-services-allied-health-health-sciences-general): 461 colleges
- [Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/mental-and-social-health-services-and-allied-professions): 424 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/