The job growth for audiologists between 2014-2024 has been estimated to be 29% percent; and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics has a median annual salary of $74,890. The top 10% of audiologists earn more than $111,000 and the lower 10% earning $49,760 annually. Audiologists require a doctoral degree which typically takes four years to complete. According the National Institutes of Health, nearly 17% of Americans suffer from sort of hearing loss or balance disorders, with most of those patients members of the Baby Boomer generation who are the largest, single group of aging Americans.
Best Medical Degrees listed this profession in our 50 Top Paying Healthcare Careers and the list below considers tuition costs (not additional fees), curriculum, accreditation and institutional or program rankings as cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review or Forbes Magazine. Due to the intensive curriculum and clinical practice requirements, this list is composed of traditional, in class, programs. Only one school surveyed offered an online Au.D. for practicing professional audiologists with a Masters Degree in Audiology.
The Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) is considered the terminal degree in audiology and many masters programs are n the process of being phased out. This discipline requires state licensure, registration and certification, so it’s important you investigate that the program you choose will meet your state’s requirements.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
The current website for ASHA Foundation provides information for students who may be seeking financial assistance to complete their Au.D. The Website offers a few options and gives details on requirements and qualifications.
Fellowships and Assistantships
You may want to see if your program offers any graduate fellowships or assistantships. Often, these opportunities will reduce your tuition costs. It’s worth talking with your program director to see you may qualify.
Federal Financial Aid
There is some Federal Financial Aid for graduate and professional degrees, mostly in the form of loans; but, you may want to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s not unusual for schools, and other funding opportunities, to request the a FASA for any scholarship consideration.
Employee Reimbursement
Employers frequently offer tuition reimbursement for full time employees who wish to further their education. You should check with your Human Resources Department to see if such a program exists where you work.
Veterans, Active Military, Spouses and Dependents
Often, colleges and universities offer reduced tuition for active duty military, spouses and dependents. If you are active military, spouse, dependent or veteran, you may want to check with your school to see if you qualify based on your service.
1. Indiana University Bloomington
Ranked #13 in the U.S. News and World Report Best Audiology Programs, this Au. D. degree is offered through IU’s Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences. Accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation (CAA), this is a three year program that examines Introduction to Audiometric Testing, Auditory Anatomy and Physiology, Instrumentation and Calibration, Middle Ear Assessment, Introduction to Auditory Clinic, Auditory Disorders, Central Auditory Nervous System, Children with Hearing Loss, Speech Communication and Aging and Clinical and Externship experiences.
Founded in 1823, Indiana University Bloomington graduated its first class in 1830. Over the decades, IUB has received numerous rankings by U.S. News and World Report in several academic areas, including the Best Audiology Programs rating of #13. The school boasts an overall enrollment of over 38,000 students and is a public institution.
Program Length: 90 Credit Hours
Estimated Program Tuition Cost: $31,164 (Resident); $102,738 (Non Resident)
2. Salus University Osborne College of Audiology
Accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, this Elkins Park, Illinois university offers two programs in Au. D. degrees. One, an on campus program, emphasizes early clinical experience, state of the art pre-clinical laboratories and focuses on practice management and procedures for the professional audiologist. The school also provides an on-line bridge program if Doctor of Audiology option for professionally working, masters prepared audiologists who desire to obtain a doctorate. Shorter in length, this program requires 30 hours of core graduate work.
The original Salus University was founded in 1919 as the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and began offering degrees in audiology in 2000 with the opening of its Osborne College of Audiology. Ranked in the top 100 Best Audiology Programs by U.S. News and World Report, the university holds accreditation from the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The university currently has four colleges in optometry, education and rehabilitation, audiology, health sciences and biomedicine.
Program Length: 129 Credit Hours
Estimated Program Tuition Cost: $32,240
3. University of Buffalo SUNY
The Doctor of Audiology degree at the University of Buffalo SUNY concentrates on academic and clinical experience. Offering courses in Neural Bases, Research Methods, Acoustics & Instrumentation, Aural Rehabilitation, Hearing Aids I & II, Diagnostic Audiology I & II, Medical Audiology, Cochlear Implants and practicum and externships. This is a fully accredited ASHA (American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association) program and has received a top 20 rating by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Audiology Programs ranking.
The University of Buffalo has achieved top marks from the Kiplinger Report’s Best Value schools and has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report’s top 20, nationwide, for graduating students with the “least amount of debt.”
Founded in 1846, the University of Buffalo is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) and has a current student enrollment of over 29,000 and awarded over 8,000 degrees in 2015.
Program Length 75 Credit Hours
Estimated Program Tuition Cost: $33,900 (Resident); $77,100 (Non Resident)
4. University of Ohio
Ohio University offers an Au.D. Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) accredited degree. Offering a three-pronged doctorate, focusing on coursework, clinical practicum and research training. Successful graduates will be able to provide clinical services in identification, prevent and assessment of hearing, balance and other neural system disorders. The University of Ohio College of Health Sciences and Professions also provides an integrated Au.D/PhD program for those students who want to pursue an academic profession.
Rated in the top 50 of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Audiology Programs, this program in communication sciences and disorders dates to 1937 when it was housed in the Dramatic Art and Speech in the College of Fine Arts. The University of Ohio is located in Athens, Ohio, was founded in 1804 and now has an enrollment of over 17,000 and a national ranking by U.S. News and World Report’s Public National Universities, the Carnegie Foundation for it’s research activities and in the top 15 of “Best Buys” Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2015.
Program Length: 48 Months
Estimated Program Tuition Cost: $37,776 (Resident); $69,744 (Non Resident)
5. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Coming in the top 100 of U.S. News and World Report’s Top Audiology Programs, this Doctor of Audiology degree is offered through UA’s College of Health Professions and holds accreditation from the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology (CAA) and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Coursework for this degree includes: Educational Audiology, Basic Diagnostic Audiology, Anatomy and Physiology of the Auditory and Vestibular Systems,Clinical Electrophysiology, Medical Audiology, Genetics of Hearing Loss, as well as Pediatric Audiology and others.
The University of Arkansas Little Rock was established in 1927 and the University of Arkansas Medical for Medical Sciences started in 1879, eventually merging with state university. The university has an enrollment estimate of over 11,000 students, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers 10 doctoral programs.
Program Length: 118 Credit Hours
Estimated Program Tuition Cost: $43,792 (Resident); $94,605 (Non Resident)
6. Iowa University
This degree is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and ranked #2 by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Audiology Programs. Requiring a bachelor’s degree, this AuD requires pre-requisite undergraduate courses described on the website. The AuD curriculum includes work in Foundations of Clinical Practice, Communication Disorders of Aging, Hearing Aids, Rehabilitative Audiology, Medical Audiology and Practicum as well as Clinical Rotations.
The Audiology Doctorate is housed in the University of Iowa’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa. IU was established in 1847, nine days after Iowa was granted statehood. Currently, Iowa University has over 30,000 students and is ranked #82 in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities ranking as well as in the top 100 of Best Schools for Vets.
Program Length: 95 Credit Hours
Estimated Program Tuition: $48,000 (Resident); $120,000 (Non Resident)
7. Northern Ohio Au.D Consortium
This is a consortium program in collaboration with the University of Akron, Kent State University and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, known at the Northern Ohio Au.D. Consortium (NOAC). A Doctor of Audiology degree, this program merges the best in principles and practices in evaluation, treatment and provision of hearing and balance services. Courses include studies in basic and applied physical acoustics in audiology, acoustic phonetics, critical analysis of audiology research and a fulltime clinical practicum. Classes are conducted at the University of Akron.
The University of Akron is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the NOAC program has been ranked #30 by U.S. News and World Report in its Best Audiology Programs. This Ohio school is affiliated with the University System of Ohio and was founded in 1870 as Buchtel College. The school has an enrollment in excess of 23,000 students and offers more than 300 degree programs for undergraduates and graduates. The school is ranked #188 in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities rating and has been ranked one of the Top Public Schools by the same publication.
Program Length: 120 Credit Hours
Estimated Program Tuition $60,600 (Resident); $105,720 (Non Resident)
8. University of Memphis
This university has a Au. D. degree through its School of Communication Sciences and Disorder which is CAA accredited. Ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Audiology Programs ratings, this program provides training in Hearing Science, Anatomy and Physiology of the Auditory System, Audiological Concepts, Rehabilitative Audiology, Hearing Conservation, Evidence Based Practice in Amplification, as well as a clinical practicum.
Established in 1912 as the West Tennessee State Normal School, the University of Memphis is now the flagship institution of the Tennessee Board of Regents and welcomes over 21,000 students to its Memphis campus each year. The university holds accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and has 13 colleges and offers 17 undergraduate, 54 graduate subjects and 26 doctoral programs.
Program Length: 99 Credit Hours
Estimated Program Tuition: $59,004 (Resident); $107,316 (Non Resident)
9. Gallaudett University
Beginning in 1864 in Washington, D.C., Gallaudett University is internationally known as an educational community which encompasses deaf, hard of hearing and hearing students seeking an education in a bilingual environment. The Doctor in Audiology degree is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and holds a #34 rating in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Audiology Programs. The university is ranked #1 in U.S. News and World Report in it’s Best Value Schools and has an enrollment of 1,400.
This program examines Diagnostic Audiology, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics,
Anatomy & Physiology of the Auditory & Vestibular System, Introduction to Practicum, PST American Sign Language, Acoustic Phonetics, Informational Counseling and Multicultural Issues, Neural Bases of Hearing, Speech, and Language, Communication Technology, Internship in Audiology and Externships.
Program Length: 99 Credit Hours
Estimated Program Tuition: $68,400
10. University of Cincinnati
This program offered by the University of Cincinnati is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and is a Doctor of Audiology degree. The course of study includes Advanced Hearing Science, Diagnostic Audiology, Pharmacology in Audiology, Pediatric Audiology Assessment, Noise and Hearing; and audiology practicum, capstone and externships.
Ranked #26 by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Audiology Programs, the program is provided through the university’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. The University of Cincinnati traces its roots to 1819 when the Cincinnati College and Medical College of Ohio were chartered. The name changed to the one we know now in 1870. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and currently has an enrollment in excess of 25,000 students. The school has tuition options for those students in Kentucky and Indiana.
Program Length: 107 Credit Hours
Estimated Program Tuition: $80,399 (Resident); $146,520 (Non Resident)