Last Updated
April 14, 2025Written By
Daniel Ortiz, M.A., CCC‑SLPWithin the nation’s best Speech-Language Pathology degree programs, Connecticut stands out as a top choice. At institutions such as UConn and Southern Connecticut State University, you can begin your journey with solid undergraduate programs in Communication Disorders. The foundation they provide enables good starting points while providing access to additional education. You will find excellent graduate programs available at UConn, SCSU and Sacred Heart University. All of these programs are ASHA-accredited and offer practical clinical training that meets or exceeds national best practices.
Students can select from traditional and online SLP classes and some programs offer fast speech pathology degree options to accelerate students’ career start. The state stands out due to affordable in-state tuition at public universities and special bilingual and multicultural clinical practice opportunities. Due to its small size, Connecticut allows students to complete clinical practicum assignments in both urban and rural settings. Rich educational environments emerge from strong connections between local schools together with hospitals and clinics. The supportive community-based environment prepares you for licensure while building professional networks that last a lifetime. Researchers should look to Connecticut when seeking a comprehensive SLP education with both academic research and real-world practice together with individualized attention.
Speechpathology.org brings you the top speech-language pathology programs in Connecticut based on what students care about most: strong academics, real-world experience, and reputation. Discover leading speech-language pathology programs in Connecticut and learn how we choose them at speechpathology.org/rankings-methology.
Storrs, CT - Public 4-Year - uconn.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
The University of Connecticut's Master of Arts in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences is an ASHA-accredited, two to three-year campus program that prepares students for speech-language pathology careers through rigorous clinical training. It offers comprehensive coursework, hands-on practicum experiences across multiple external sites, and both thesis and non-thesis tracks, requiring a minimum of 400 clinical hours. Full-time enrollment is mandatory, with an application deadline of January 15. This program does not require an entrance exam and includes a school certification option, ensuring graduates are equipped for diverse healthcare and educational settings.
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The Ph.D. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Connecticut is a four to five-year, full-time campus program designed for aspiring scientists, emphasizing a solid scientific foundation with theoretical and experimental coursework. Ideal for those with a master's in SLP or related fields, it offers interdisciplinary training, including NIH-funded T32 programs, and prepares students for impactful communication disorders research. An advisory committee guides the academic program, with applications due by December 1. This program does not require an entrance exam and is suited for students seeking advanced research careers.
Fairfield, CT - Private 4-year - sacredheart.edu
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Sacred Heart University's Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is a comprehensive two-year graduate program that prepares students for ASHA certification and state licensure. The program features two track options for different academic backgrounds and requires 400 supervised clinical practicum hours. Students engage in interprofessional learning and real-world clinical experiences across diverse populations. The program emphasizes evidence-based practices and offers specializations in autism and medical settings. No entrance exam is required for admission.
Concentration: Autism Spectrum Disorders - Campus Based - Visit Website
Sacred Heart University's Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders focuses on preparing clinicians to work with individuals on the autism spectrum. This ASHA-accredited program includes 400 hours of supervised clinical practicum and interprofessional healthcare learning. Students develop expertise in communication disorders through specialized coursework and diverse clinical placements. The program offers both two and three-year tracks and prepares graduates for national certification and Connecticut state licensure. No entrance exam is required.
Concentration: Medical Settings - Campus Based - Visit Website
Sacred Heart University's Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology with a concentration in Medical Settings prepares students for clinical roles in healthcare environments. This program includes 400 hours of supervised clinical practicum and emphasizes evidence-based practice and interprofessional learning. Students gain experience in diverse medical settings while working toward ASHA certification and state licensure. The program offers both two and three-year track options and focuses on developing compassionate professionals. No entrance exam is required for admission.
West Haven, CT - Private 4-year - newhaven.edu
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The University of New Haven's Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is an intensive 63-credit program spanning five semesters, designed to prepare graduates for diverse healthcare environments. Students complete 400 hours of supervised clinical practice across multiple rotations, gaining hands-on experience in diagnosing and treating communication disorders. The curriculum includes specialized coursework in language development, cognitive disorders, and rehabilitation techniques, with opportunities for school placements. Admission requires a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, prerequisite coursework, professional recommendations, and clinical observation hours. This program follows ASHA certification pathways and does not require an entrance exam.
At both the bachelor’s and master’s levels, Connecticut features excellent pathways in speech pathology. The bachelor of arts in Communication Disorders serves as good foundational education. It has a good general base in speech, language and hearing science. As provided by institutions such as UConn and Southern Connecticut State University, these programs are basic theory and introductory clinical experience. To be admitted to these programs one must have a high school diploma, good science and English grades, and sometimes volunteer or observation hours. With a bachelor’s degree, graduates are allowed to work as speech pathology assistants or in other support roles in educational or research institutions.
For the licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist, an SLP master’s degree is sufficient. The Connecticut schools including UConn, Southern Connecticut State and Sacred Heart University offer ASHA-accredited master’s programs of good clinical training. Applying to these programs requires a bachelor’s degree, communication sciences prerequisite courses, competitive GPA (3.0 or higher) and documented clinical observation hours. A master’s degree will enable you to work at diverse settings such as schools, hospitals, private practices, or rehabilitation centers.
The University of Connecticut offers a strong option for doctorate degree in speech-language pathology within the state of Connecticut through its PhD program. The PhD in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences is a research-focused program and is suitable for those who are interested in building academic knowledge or have career goals in teaching, research or healthcare leadership. Admission to the program is typically reserved for individuals holding a master’s degree in speech pathology or a related field, with excellent academic performance, GRE results, recommendation letters, and a defined research plan that aligns with faculty interests.
A Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD) is a clinical doctoral degree for those who want to increase their clinical skills but are not interested in pursuing a PhD. level. Currently, there is no SLPD offered at any Connecticut institution. Students interested in this clinical doctorate should check online or non-resident programs from reputable institutions. An SLPD is likely to have the same admission standards as the PhD program, except that it will place greater emphasis on clinical experience and leadership in practice. Careers that come out of the PhD include academic positions, research scientist positions, and other administrative positions in healthcare organizations. The graduates of an SLPD are likely to move ahead in advanced clinical practice, specialty consultancy or management positions in clinics. So, it is a question of whether you are interested in research and studies or practical work and management.
Speech Pathologists in Connecticut follow well-established licensure and certification procedures. Start your path to licensure with a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an ASHA-accredited program. This ensures that you have the academic and clinical training required for high-quality patient care.
Following graduation, you must complete a Clinical Fellowship which covers 36 weeks of full-time or 48 weeks of part-time clinical experience. The fellowship includes no less than 1,080 hours of supervised clinical experience but often extends to 1,440 hours for part-time attendees of the program. You will perform your clinical duties under a licensed and experienced SLP who delivers supervisory guidance and monitors your developmental progress through regular supervisory sessions.
After achieving your degree, fellowship, and speaking exam results you submit an application to the Connecticut Department of Public Health for state licensure. Speech-language pathologists working in Connecticut public schools need both regular certification and a school SLP endorsement known as certification 061 after fulfilling educational and clinical practicum requirements. The detailed requirements serve to sustain high professional standards across Connecticut.
Several fast-track SLP degree options are available in Connecticut for those who want to enter practice as speech-language pathologists. Four-year bachelor’s programs in Communication Disorders exist at many schools and provide a thorough background in speech, language and hearing sciences. Some schools offer combined bachelor and master’s degrees which enable students to move directly from undergraduate study into graduate level work in approximately five years. This accelerated path enables students to save time and decrease the time between obtaining their degrees, thus allowing them to meet prerequisites and begin advanced clinical training sooner.
Master’s programs are two years of full-time study to achieve full SLP licensure. Some universities in Connecticut provide accelerated master’s programs that allow students to finish their studies in five semesters. These programs allow you to start your clinical fellowship sooner and boost the start of your professional career. The availability of a combined master’s and clinical doctorate (SLPD) program in Connecticut is currently absent but the available bachelor’s and master’s options create an expedited pathway to an speech pathology license. Those who want to pursue research or an academic position should look at the PhD in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences at UConn which completes in four to five years. These fast-track programs are intended to support you in reaching your career objectives in a timely manner while fulfilling both educational and clinical requirements.
| School Name | Highlights | Retention & Grad Rates |
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| University of Connecticut |
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| Sacred Heart University |
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| University of New Haven |
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The public universities Southern Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut maintain competitive tuition rates which make them suitable options for undergraduate speech pathology students. A bachelor’s course in Communication Disorders lasts for four years. Annual tuition for in-state students in these programs ranges between low and mid five-figure amounts. This makes the undergraduate pathway both affordable and excellent for individuals interested in communication sciences.
Public universities offering advanced training provide individuals with master’s programs in speech-language pathology. A full-time master’s program typically finishes its coursework within two years. In-state tuition rates for these graduate programs remain very affordable when compared to private institutions and usually amount to less than $35,000 over the course of the entire program. SCSU and UConn maintain great reputations for providing high-quality clinical training which provides you with the necessary practical skills needed for SLP licensure while keeping costs reasonable. The educational programs have been created to provide a full educational experience without the high costs that many other states impose. The low tuition along with thorough clinical training positions Connecticut as an attractive choice for speech pathology professionals.
| School Name | Highlights | Annual Estimated Tuition & Fees |
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| University of Connecticut |
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| University of New Haven |
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| Sacred Heart University |
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