Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at University of Arizona

The University of Arizona's Communication Disorders program ranks at just the 10th percentile among Arizona schools—significantly trailing both ASU options, which graduate students earning $37,074 their first year compared to UA's $24,044. That's a $13,000 gap right out of the gate, which matters when you're considering similar debt loads and in-state tuition decisions.

The program does show impressive earnings growth, jumping 113% by year four to reach $51,149. However, this trajectory likely reflects the field's licensing requirements rather than UA-specific advantages—many graduates pursue additional credentials or begin working in clinical settings that require supervised hours before full certification. The relatively modest debt of $18,127 is genuinely good news and below most in-state peers, though it doesn't compensate for the weak initial positioning.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual career choices heavily influence these numbers. Still, the pattern is concerning enough to warrant a serious look at ASU's programs, which offer identical pathways at the same in-state tuition rate but with substantially stronger early earnings. If your child is committed to speech pathology or audiology, they'll likely pursue a master's degree anyway, making that first job's salary less critical—but starting $13,000 behind peers from down the road is a tangible disadvantage worth understanding before committing.