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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

20 Ranked Colleges
195 Degrees Awarded
$12,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 33,249 people earned their degree in special education, making the major the 39th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, special education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $43,879 and had an average of $28,500 in loans still to pay off.

Across Tennessee, there were 355 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,620 and $23,730 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 195 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 20 colleges that offered a degree in special education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent special education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the special education program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The special ed school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

#1

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Vanderbilt University is $3,156 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Special Education at Vanderbilt University

#2

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tennessee Wesleyan University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Athens, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 degrees to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

TWU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee Wesleyan University is $10,002 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Special Education at TWU

#3

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Middle Tennessee State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 17 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, Middle Tennessee State University has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Middle Tennessee State University is $8,919 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Special Education at Middle Tennessee State University

#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 1 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Chattanooga has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is $8,108 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Special Education at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 26 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Knoxville also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $10,224 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UT Knoxville Special Education Report

#6

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee

Tennessee Technological University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Cookeville, Tennessee, this fairly large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, Tennessee Tech University has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $11,641 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Tennessee Technological University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Tennessee Tech University

#7

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. East Tennessee State University is located in Johnson City, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

ETSU also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $10,632 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend ETSU.

Read full report on Special Education at East Tennessee State University

#8

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s special ed degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, UofM has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $10,256 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Memphis.

Read more about Special Education at UofM

#19 in overall quality

The University of Tennessee - Martin landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Tennessee - Martin is a medium-sized public school situated in Martin, Tennessee. It awarded 1 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Martin also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $7,524 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Tennessee - Martin.

Read more about Special Education at UT Martin

#10

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Lincoln Memorial University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. LMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Harrogate, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

LMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln Memorial University is $9,736 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Lincoln Memorial University

#11

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, Tennessee
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Christian Brothers University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, Christian Brothers has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $9,496 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Christian Brothers.

Full Christian Brothers University Special Education Report

#12

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Freed-Hardeman University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. FHU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Henderson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

FHU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $13,512 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Freed-Hardeman University.

Full FHU Special Education Report

#13

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#17 in overall quality

Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. TNU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TNU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $15,228 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Trevecca Nazarene University.

Read more about Special Education at Trevecca Nazarene University

#14

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee

With a ranking of #14, Austin Peay State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Clarksville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s special ed degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, Austin Peay State University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Austin Peay State University is $10,909 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Austin Peay State University Special Education Report

#15

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee

Carson - Newman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Carson - Newman University is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Carson - Newman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $14,686 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carson - Newman.

Read full report on Special Education at Carson - Newman

#16

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee

With a ranking of #16, Lee University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lee University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Tennessee. It awarded 6 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Lee University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lee University is $13,841 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Special Education at Lee University

#17

Tusculum University

Greeneville, Tennessee
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Tusculum University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Greeneville, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

Tusculum did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $13,752 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Tusculum.

Full Tusculum Special Education Report

#18

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
#3 in overall quality

Lipscomb University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lipscomb is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 5 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Lipscomb did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Lipscomb is $20,036 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Special Education at Lipscomb University

#19

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee
#16 in overall quality

Cumberland University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cumberland University is a small school located in Lebanon, Tennessee that handed out 1 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

CU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cumberland University is $21,979 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Special Education at CU

#20

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

Union University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Union did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $26,079 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Union.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Special Education at Union

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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