Known for having an extensive and diverse educational landscape, Texas offers multiple university and college options in speech-language pathology that students can choose from. Other than having world-class institutions, you will be able to find state-of-the-art campuses that include the latest developments and research opportunities that students can conduct. If you plan on becoming a future leader and want to excel in your field as a speech-language pathologist, Texas is one of those states where you’ll get the opportunity to explore many options for yourself. The state of Texas offers over 25 degree programs focused on speech therapy and speech-language pathology.
| CAA-Recognized SLP Master’s Programs | 23 (19 Accredited, 4 Candidate) — the largest single-state program count in the U.S. |
| Average SLP Salary in Texas | $92,800 per year (BLS, May 2024) — slightly below the national median of $95,410 |
| Licensing Body | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists Advisory Board |
| Clinical Fellowship | 36 weeks / 1,260 hours under a CCC-SLP mentor |
| Praxis Exam | 5331 (national passing score 162) |
| National Job Growth | 15% projected growth (2024-2034, BLS) |
| Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) | Not a member — Texas has not enacted ASLP-IC legislation |
2026 Updates for Texas SLP Candidates
- Texas now has 23 CAA-recognized SLP master’s programs — more than any other state. Nineteen hold full accreditation; four are in CAA candidate status (East Texas Baptist, Hardin-Simmons, UT Tyler, and West Coast University). Both candidate and accredited programs confer ASHA certification eligibility on graduates.
- Three new programs entered candidate status since 2022. East Texas Baptist University (Marshall) and the University of Texas at Tyler both entered candidacy in May 2024; West Coast University (Dallas) entered in February 2022. The expansion is partly a response to a long-standing SLP shortage across Texas school districts and medical settings.
- Texas has not enacted the ASLP-IC compact. 36 other state-level jurisdictions are now compact members; Texas is not among them. SLPs moving to or from Texas still need to apply for a full TDLR license rather than using compact privileges.
Texas’s CAA-Recognized Speech-Language Pathology Programs
Texas has 23 CAA-recognized SLP master’s programs across the state — from El Paso in the west to East Texas Baptist near the Louisiana border, with major program density in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin-San Antonio, and Lubbock metros. Below, programs are listed alphabetically with the basics on each. See the comparison table further down for a region-by-region overview.
Abilene Christian University — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Abilene Christian’s program has been CAA-accredited since September 2002 and runs both campus and CAA-recognized distance-education tracks. ACU is a private Christian university; the program is housed in the College of Education and Human Services in Abilene.
Baylor University — Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Baylor’s hybrid online MS has been CAA-accredited since June 1990 and runs through Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences in Waco. The program combines online didactic coursework with in-person clinical residencies; tuition runs around $1,400-1,500 per credit, placing Baylor at the higher end of the cost range.
East Texas Baptist University — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
East Texas Baptist entered CAA candidate status in May 2024, making it one of the two newest Texas programs. The Marshall campus serves East Texas and the I-20 corridor up to Shreveport. Candidate status confers ASHA certification eligibility on graduates.
Hardin-Simmons University — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Hardin-Simmons entered CAA candidate status in May 2021 and is working through its initial accreditation cycle. The private university in Abilene runs a residential cohort program. Clinical placements span West Texas school districts and regional hospitals.
Lamar University — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Lamar has been CAA-accredited since August 1981 and is located in Beaumont, in southeast Texas near the Louisiana border. The program serves the Beaumont-Port Arthur and Houston-East Texas clinical placement networks.
Our Lady of the Lake University — Master of Arts in Communication and Learning Disorders
Our Lady of the Lake holds the longest CAA accreditation tenure of any Texas program — continuously accredited since September 1969. The private Catholic university in San Antonio serves the South Texas clinical network and emphasizes culturally-responsive, bilingual SLP practice given the metro’s demographic profile.
Stephen F. Austin State University — Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
SFA has been CAA-accredited since April 1992 and runs both on-campus and CAA-recognized distance-education tracks. The 50-credit MA is in Nacogdoches, a 2.5-hour drive from either Houston or Dallas. SFA is one of Texas’s more affordable state-school options.
Texas A&M University, Kingsville — Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
TAMUK’s program in Kingsville achieved full CAA accreditation in May 2000 after candidacy from 1997. The South Texas location near Corpus Christi gives students placement access to the Coastal Bend region and emphasis on bilingual Spanish-English practice.
Texas Christian University — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
TCU has been CAA-accredited since September 1987 and runs the Davies School of Communication Sciences and Disorders on the Fort Worth campus. The private university serves the DFW metro’s clinical placement network across school districts, hospital systems, and private practices.
Texas State University — Master of Arts in Communication Disorders
Texas State has been CAA-accredited since September 1970, one of the longer tenures in the state. The program offers both MA (39 credits, thesis option) and MS (36 credits) tracks with specializations in bilingual SLP, autism, and fluency. Located in Round Rock just north of Austin.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
TTUHSC has been CAA-accredited since August 1982 and is one of Texas’s few SLP programs embedded in a dedicated health sciences university. The Lubbock campus provides direct access to medical-setting clinical placements through the TTUHSC system, with rotations in pediatric, neurogenic, and dysphagia settings.
Texas Woman’s University — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
TWU has been CAA-accredited since September 1991 and runs both campus and CAA-recognized distance-education tracks. The 61-credit program is in Denton and is one of Texas’s more affordable state-school options. TWU went coeducational in graduate programs in 1972 but kept the historic name.
The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
UT San Antonio HSC’s SLP program achieved full CAA accreditation in July 2022 after candidacy from 2017. The health sciences center setting on San Antonio’s south side gives students medical-school clinical placements through the UT Health San Antonio system.
The University of Texas at Tyler — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
UT Tyler entered CAA candidate status in May 2024 alongside East Texas Baptist. The Tyler campus serves East Texas and the I-20 corridor; the program is housed in the School of Health Professions.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley — Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
UTRGV has been CAA-accredited since July 1994. The Edinburg campus in deep South Texas focuses heavily on bilingual Spanish-English SLP practice given the regional demographic profile, and graduates are often recruited specifically for bilingual school district roles.
University of Houston — Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
U of Houston has been CAA-accredited since May 1972, one of Texas’s longest tenures. The program serves the greater Houston clinical placement network including the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world. Graduates often place into TMC-affiliated hospitals and rehabilitation settings.
University of North Texas — Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders
UNT has been CAA-accredited since July 1976. The Denton campus serves the DFW metro and is roughly 40 miles north of Dallas. UNT’s SLP program is one of the larger cohorts in the state.
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (Austin)
USAHS achieved full CAA accreditation in July 2022 after candidacy from 2018 and runs as a CAA-recognized distance-education program from its Austin campus. The private institution specializes in health sciences and serves a national student body alongside Texas residents.
University of Texas at Dallas — Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders
UT Dallas has been CAA-accredited since October 1982 and runs the Callier Center for Communication Disorders, one of the most research-active SLP programs in the country. Clinical placements include the Callier Center’s on-campus clinic plus DFW-metro school and medical sites.
University of Texas, Austin — Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders
UT Austin has been CAA-accredited since December 1971 and runs the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences within the Moody College of Communication. The R1 flagship setting offers extensive research opportunities; the program is consistently ranked among the strongest in the country.
University of Texas, El Paso — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
UTEP has been CAA-accredited since April 1991. The El Paso campus serves far-West Texas and the border region, with strong emphasis on bilingual Spanish-English clinical practice given the metro’s demographic profile.
West Coast University — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
West Coast University entered CAA candidate status in February 2022 and runs the Texas program from its Dallas campus as a CAA-recognized distance-education track. WCU is a for-profit institution focused on health sciences professional education.
West Texas A&M University — Master of Science in Communication Disorders
West Texas A&M achieved full CAA accreditation in August 2002 after candidacy from 1999. The Canyon campus near Amarillo serves the Texas Panhandle and is one of Texas’s more affordable state-school options. Thesis and non-thesis tracks are available.
Comparing Texas’s SLP Programs by Region
Click any program name to jump to its detailed profile.
| Region | Program | Location | Type | CAA Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Texas | UT Austin | Austin | Public R1 | Accredited (1971) |
| Central Texas | Texas State University | Round Rock | Public | Accredited (1970) |
| Central Texas | U of St. Augustine | Austin | Private | Accredited (2022) |
| DFW Metro | UT Dallas | Dallas | Public | Accredited (1982) |
| DFW Metro | University of North Texas | Denton | Public | Accredited (1976) |
| DFW Metro | Texas Woman’s University | Denton | Public | Accredited (1991) |
| DFW Metro | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth | Private | Accredited (1987) |
| DFW Metro | West Coast University | Dallas | Private (for-profit) | Candidate (2022) |
| Houston / East TX | University of Houston | Houston | Public R1 | Accredited (1972) |
| Houston / East TX | Stephen F. Austin State | Nacogdoches | Public | Accredited (1992) |
| Houston / East TX | Lamar University | Beaumont | Public | Accredited (1981) |
| Houston / East TX | UT Tyler | Tyler | Public | Candidate (2024) |
| Houston / East TX | East Texas Baptist | Marshall | Private | Candidate (2024) |
| San Antonio | Our Lady of the Lake | San Antonio | Private (Catholic) | Accredited (1969) |
| San Antonio | UT San Antonio HSC | San Antonio | Public (health sci) | Accredited (2022) |
| West Texas | Texas Tech HSC | Lubbock | Public (health sci) | Accredited (1982) |
| West Texas | West Texas A&M | Canyon | Public | Accredited (2002) |
| West Texas | UT El Paso | El Paso | Public | Accredited (1991) |
| West Texas | Abilene Christian | Abilene | Private | Accredited (2002) |
| West Texas | Hardin-Simmons | Abilene | Private | Candidate (2021) |
| South Texas | UT Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | Public | Accredited (1994) |
| South Texas | Texas A&M Kingsville | Kingsville | Public | Accredited (2000) |
| Waco | Baylor University | Waco | Private | Accredited (1990) |
Frequently Asked Questions: Texas SLP Programs
How many CAA-accredited SLP master’s programs are in Texas?
Twenty-three CAA-recognized programs — the most of any state. Nineteen hold full accreditation; four are in CAA candidate status (East Texas Baptist, Hardin-Simmons, UT Tyler, and West Coast University). Both candidate and accredited programs confer ASHA certification eligibility on graduates.
How long does it take to become a licensed SLP in Texas?
About six years total: four for a bachelor’s degree, two for a CAA-accredited master’s, and a 36-week Clinical Fellowship under a licensed CCC-SLP. After passing the Praxis 5331, you apply for licensure through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Texas?
The mean annual wage for SLPs in Texas is $92,800 (BLS, May 2024), slightly below the national median of $95,410. Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth metro positions in medical settings typically run on the higher end; rural and South Texas placements often align closer to the state mean.
Can I do my SLP master’s online while living in Texas?
Yes. Five Texas programs run CAA-recognized distance-education tracks: Abilene Christian, Baylor, Stephen F. Austin, Texas Woman’s, and University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. West Coast University’s candidate program also runs primarily online. Several out-of-state online programs also accept Texas residents.
Does Texas participate in the ASLP-IC interstate compact?
No. Texas has not enacted ASLP-IC compact legislation. SLPs moving to or from Texas need a full TDLR license rather than a compact privilege. Track the ASLP-IC homepage for any future changes in Texas’s status.
Which Texas programs emphasize bilingual Spanish-English practice?
Three programs build bilingual practice explicitly into the curriculum given their regional demographics: UT Rio Grande Valley (Edinburg), UT El Paso, and Texas A&M Kingsville. Our Lady of the Lake (San Antonio) and Texas State (Round Rock) also offer bilingual concentrations within broader curricula.
About the Author
Emily Waters earned her M.S. in Communication Disorders from Emerson University and holds ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). She is a practicing speech-language pathologist based in Boston, Massachusetts, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Online Speech Pathology Programs.
References
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024): Speech-Language Pathologists, SOC 29-1127. bls.gov/oes/current/oes291127.htm
- Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), program directory. caa.asha.org
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Speech-Language Pathologists. tdlr.texas.gov/sp
- Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC). aslpcompact.com
- ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). asha.org/certification
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