Speech Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), sometimes called speech therapists, work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat, speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
CAREER DESCRIPTION*
- National median salary: $95,410
- National projected career growth: 15%
- According to ASHA, 54.2% of SLP’s are employed in educational settings; 39.3% are employed in health care settings
- Help individuals improve vocabulary and sentence structure used in oral and written language
- Help individuals develop and strengthen muscles used to swallow
- Counsel individuals on how to cope with communications disorders
TYPICAL EDUCATION**
- Years of School (including undergraduate): 6
- Average Entering GPA: 3.805 (2020)
COMPETITIVE STUDENTS ALWAYS...
- Maintain a 3.5 GPA to remain competitive
- Volunteer in the community (local health departments, community engagement organizations)
- Begin networking – make positive connections with faculty and community leaders
- Participate in professional student organization
- National Student Speech-Language Hearing Assoc.
- Listen and communicate well
NEARBY SCHOOLS
- University of Nebraska at Omaha
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- University of Nebraska at Kearney
- Midwestern University-Illinois
- University of Northern Colorado
- University of Northern Iowa
*Data and information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
**Data and information from UNL
Last update: 9.2025