On-Campus, Online MA in Speech-Language Pathology at Calvin University
Help others discover their voice with a CAA-accredited MS in SLP, offered online or on campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a nearly 100% PRAXIS pass rate.
Calvin's faith-informed MA in Speech-Language Pathology prepares you to work as a licensed SLP in schools, hospitals, clinics, and private practice. The program is fully CAA-accredited in both residential (west Michigan) and distance education modes, requires 72 credits, and costs $966 per credit ($69,552 total). Most students complete the program in 2 years (residential) or 2 to 3 years (distance education). No GRE required.
At Calvin, we know you’re not just launching a career—you’re stepping into a role that transforms lives. Whether helping a child find their voice, supporting stroke survivors in regaining communication, or advocating for accessible care in underserved communities, your work has the power to restore dignity, foster connection, and create lasting social impact.
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Why earn a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Calvin?
Calvin's MA in SLP is a top-ranked program with impactful outcomes. Here is what sets it apart:
Rated A+ by SpeechPathologyGraduatePrograms.org.
Calvin earned an A+ on the 2026 Best SLP Master's Programs list, recognized for a nearly 100% PRAXIS pass rate, a 99% on-time completion rate, and a 100% employment rate.
CAA-accredited in both residential and distance education modes.
The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CAA) accredits both delivery modes of the program.
Two delivery modes, one credential.
Earn the same CAA-accredited MA whether you study residentially in Grand Rapids, Michigan or fully online from anywhere in the U.S. Both modes require the same 72 credits, follow the same curriculum, provide clinical placement opportunities, and lead to the same eligibility for ASHA CCC-SLP certification and professional licensure in Michigan.
Unmatched clinical support.
Calvin’s team personally arranges your practicum placements—no cold calls on your own. You can focus on building skills and confidence through in-house clinical experiences before stepping into the field.
Faculty who do the work.
Calvin's faculty includes researchers and clinicians across pediatric language, autism, cognitive communication, voice, fluency, swallowing, audiology, and more. Our expert faculty are invested in your success and provide personalized mentorship to support your career goals.
Faith-informed perspective on clinical practice.
Calvin is a Christian university, and our perspective on faith values authentic compassion and respecting differences. Our curriculum emphasizes empowering those with disabilities and cultivating solutions for grief, poverty, injustice, and racism. Students from any background are welcome; the faith dimension shapes how we teach, not who can enroll.
At a Glance
A Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Calvin is comprehensive and affordable:
- Tuition: $966 per credit ($69,552 total)
- Credits: 72 (for both CAA-accredited modes)
- PRAXIS pass rate: Nearly 100% across both modes
- Clinical placements: 5 required practicums
- GRE: Not required
- Additional scholarships: Available for Calvin alumni
Accreditation
The Master of Arts (M.A.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential and distance education) at Calvin University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
Which Mode Works for You?
Calvin offers two different ways of learning, sharing the same rigorous academic experience, but in different contexts depending on your needs.
Residential Mode
Designed for students in west Michigan, near Calvin's campus.
- Complete your degree in two years (full-time)
- Participate in five semesters of clinical placements
- Best for students who can learn on-campus at Calvin University
Distance Education Mode
Designed for students outside west Michigan.
- Complete your degree in two to three years (full-time)
- Virtual/telehealth clinical placements followed by in-person at a local speech pathology service provider
- Best for students who cannot travel to Calvin (no on-campus visits required)
Calvin students are provided with an incredible advantage coming into externships. They are introduced to technical and soft skills that are needed in their clinical placements. The students have a grasp on standardized testing, documentation, and rapport building that sets them up with a foundation to build on and succeed.
Curriculum
Through the program's 21 courses, you’ll prepare for a speech-language pathology career by analyzing language, neurological, physical, speech-sound, and voice disorders. Coursework is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) and features evidence-based perspectives to treatment.
Course Spotlights
Cognitive Communication Disorders
Through the lens of person-centered care and collaboration, you'll explore the role of the SLP in cognitive communication (including assessment, intervention, counseling, and public health roles) as guided by standards of evidence-based practice.
Language Disorders: Infants, Toddlers & Preschool Children
Study the nature, assessment and treatment of language disorders in infants, toddlers, and preschool children. Learn strategies for working with families with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
This seminar focuses on serving individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across the lifespan. You'll gain practical knowledge and skills for your future career working with individuals, families, communities, and other professionals.
SLP Practice Settings and Specializations
As a licensed speech-language pathologist, you will have the flexibility to work with children, adults, or both in diverse professional settings, from hospitals, rehab centers, and nursing homes to schools, early intervention sites, and private practices.
You can choose to build your expertise by specializing in one or multiple disorders, including but not limited to:
| Speech Sound Disorders | Treat difficulties with the physical production and articulation of speech sounds. |
| Voice Disorders | Address abnormalities in vocal pitch, volume, quality, and nasal airflow. |
| Motor Speech Disorders | Help patients with neurological impairments, such as apraxia and dysarthria, improve speech coordination. |
| Swallowing Disorders | Evaluate and treat dysphagia to ensure patients can safely eat, drink, and swallow. |
| Fluency Disorders | Address stuttering and cluttering with specialized therapies to improve fluency, pacing, and the natural flow of speech. |
Career Outcomes
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for speech-language pathologists/speech therapists is $95,410 nationally. The field is projected to grow 15%, much faster than average.
Admissions
Prospective graduate applicants with a bachelor's degree related to speech pathology and audiology or a bachelor's degree in another discipline along with prerequisite coursework may apply to the Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology program. Applications are submitted through CSDCAS.
For prospective students without the prerequisite coursework, we offer a Speech and Hearing Foundations certificate to prepare for applying to the master's program.
Admissions Details
Admission Requirements
Degree Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent coursework in speech pathology and audiology, or with degrees in other disciplines/areas of study.
- If you have a degree in another major, you need to complete the necessary prerequisites PRIOR to starting to the Master’s program.
Transcripts
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended. Must be uploaded to CSDCAS application.
Additional Requirements
- 3 letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic and/or professional abilities. (Must be uploaded to CSDCAS application.) Strong applications have at least one academic recommendation from a professor in your communication sciences and disorders curriculum.
Prerequisite Content Areas
- Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech Mechanism
- Phonetics
- Speech & Hearing Science
- Child Language Development
- Audiology: Testing and Diagnosis
- Biology course
- Statistics course
- Social Science or Behavioral Science course
- Physics or Chemistry course
Prerequisite CSD courses must have been completed within the last seven years.
How to Apply
CSDCAS Application
- This application is required in order to enroll in the Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology program.
- Application must be completed (e-submitted, payment received, transcripts received) at least four weeks in advance of the deadline to ensure the application is verified on time by CSDCAS. Applications not verified by the deadline will not be eligible for that admissions cycle.
- CSDCAS charges a fee to apply using the centralized application system. Calvin does not charge a separate application fee.
Additional Information
- Complete this online form to provide additional information for Calvin's MA in speech-language pathology.
Application Deadlines
MA program, residential and distance mode: Applications for Fall 2026 start date will open via CSDCAS at the end of July and are due June 15, 2026.
International Students
- Due to students being required to be supervised by ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists for all clinical placements, including externships, our program is unable to accept international students for the distance education mode
- Applicants who have been granted asylum in the U.S. are eligible to apply to the distance education mode. If an online student with asylum status leaves the US during their program, externship placements cannot be guaranteed and students will be unable to complete the program.
The care and consideration poured into the courses to include up-to-date evidence-based practice, neurodiversity affirming and whole-person care, and the overall rigor of the programs has thoroughly prepared me to begin my externships. I feel confident in my clinical skills and have felt well-supported throughout the entire program. Every instructor truly wants us to succeed.
Featured Faculty Highlights
Explore Speech Pathology and Audiology at Calvin
Learn more about our program and career outcomes.
Excellent outcomes
See the PRAXIS examination pass rates and graduation rates for our students.
View our student handbook
There's a lot to know about our programs. Browse through our handbook to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question not answered here? Email spaud@calvin.edu.
Yes. Calvin's MA in Speech-Language Pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CAA-ASHA). Both the residential and distance education modes are accredited.
Calvin maintains a nearly 100% PRAXIS pass rate across both residential and distance education delivery modes.
Tuition is $966 per credit. The program requires 72 total credits, for a total program cost of $69,552. The credit requirement and per-credit tuition rate are the same for both residential and distance education students. Financial aid and scholarships are available; ask the admissions team about the Master's Blessing scholarship for Calvin alumni.
Residential students typically complete the Michigan-based program in two years (full-time). Distance education students complete the speech pathology program online in two to three years (also full-time, with flexibility built into the pacing).
No. Calvin does not require GRE or GMAT scores for admission to the MA in Speech-Language Pathology program.
Applicants can have either a bachelor's degree in speech pathology and audiology (or a closely related field) or a bachelor's degree in another discipline. Applicants with degrees in other fields need to complete prerequisite coursework before starting the MA program. Calvin offers the Speech and Hearing Foundations Certificate for applicants who need prerequisite coursework.
Distance education students complete clinical practicums in two phases: an initial phase of virtual telepractice, followed by an in-person clinical placement at a local speech pathology service provider in your area.
We can issue immigration documents for the residential program, but due to students being required to be supervised by ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists for all clinical placements, including externships, our program is unable to accept international students for the distance education mode.
Applicants who have been granted asylum in the U.S. are eligible to apply to the distance education mode. If an online student with asylum status leaves the US during their program, externship placements cannot be guaranteed and students will be unable to complete the program.
Calvin is a Christian liberal arts university, and our perspective on faith shapes how we teach the ethical dimensions of clinical practice: client autonomy, neurodiversity-affirming care, and serving across cultural, linguistic, and ability differences. Students of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome. There is no requirement of religious participation or belief.
If you enroll in the program as a first-year student, you will complete three semesters of undergraduate pre-professional requirements and then apply to the BA-MA program by January 15, usually during your junior year. Transfer students may apply after completing designated prerequisite courses. If you are accepted into the five-year program, you will earn both a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology and a master’s degree in speech pathology. You must meet the academic requirements, as outlined in the SPAUD Student Academic and Clinical Handbook to remain in the program. If you are not accepted into the five-year program, you may continue to be enrolled in the four-year program and apply to graduate programs at other institutions in your senior year, as long as you meet the retention requirements.
Yes, the bachelor’s degree is a four-year program in speech pathology and audiology designed for students who plan to complete their graduate work at other institutions. It includes additional cross-disciplinary undergraduate requirements in science and math. Students who choose this option may enroll only in undergraduate-level courses, not graduate-level courses. You must meet the academic requirements, as outlined in the SPAUD Student Academic and Clinical Handbook to remain in the program.
You must earn at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average every semester across all of your courses, You also must meet the essential functions required to practice as a speech-language pathologist, as outlined in the appendix of the SPAUD Student Academic and Clinical Handbook.
Faculty
Ready to Apply?
Calvin accepts applications through the Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS). Applications for Fall 2026 start date will open via CSDCAS at the end of July and are due June 15, 2026.