National rankings reflect Iowa's enduring leadership in communication sciences and disorders.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Two graduate programs in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders again rank among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings for 2026.

Speech-Language Pathology student working with young child

The speech-language pathology program rose to No. 3, continuing a steady climb from No. 6 to No. 5 in 2024. Iowa’s audiology program remains ranked second in the nation and is the top-ranked public program, making Iowa the only public university with both programs ranked in the top three.

“Our national rankings reflect both the strength of our faculty today and a legacy that has shaped this field for generations,” said Eric Hunter, Department Executive Officer and Harriet B. and Harold S. Brady Chair in Liberal Arts and Sciences. “We are proud to carry that responsibility forward in service to Iowa and beyond.”

Hunter, a nationally recognized expert in the field, joined Iowa in 2023 as part of the University of Iowa's Transformational Faculty Hiring Program, aimed at attracting world-class faculty to strategic programs and areas of excellence. He earned a PhD from Iowa’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders program in 2001.

Iowa’s leadership in communication sciences and disorders dates to 1897, when Carl Seashore’s pioneering work helped establish speech pathology as a discipline of study, and his research continues to impact the field.

Philip Combiths instructing SLP students in class

“What’s especially exciting is how this recognition reflects the depth and vitality of the research enterprise within the department,” said Sara Sanders, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Our faculty are advancing the field in meaningful ways, and that intellectual energy is driving the program’s continued excellence.”

In 2025, the department moved into the state-of-the-art Health Sciences Academic Building, a $249 million facility designed to elevate experiential learning, clinical training, and interdisciplinary research. The new space features advanced teaching and research labs and the newly relocated Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic, expanding opportunities for student learning while continuing to serve Iowans.

In addition to audiology and speech-language pathology, CLAS is home to several other programs highlighted in the latest graduate program rankings, including printmaking (No.7), clinical psychology (No.24), and English (No.26).