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2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid

20 Ranked Colleges
195 Degrees Awarded
$16,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor's in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in special education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality special education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the special education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education in Tennessee (With Aid)

#1

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Middle Tennessee State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid. Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Middle Tennessee State University, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $12,464 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students with aid per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.

Full Middle Tennessee State University Special Education Report

#2

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Memphis. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UofM, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $13,248 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid per year to attend UofM.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Memphis

#3

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Tennessee Wesleyan University landed the #3 spot on the list. Athens, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s special ed degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

TWU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tennessee Wesleyan University is $13,636 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid.

Full TWU Special Education Report

#4

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, East Tennessee State University landed the #4 spot on the list. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large public school situated in Johnson City, Tennessee. It awarded 10 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ETSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ETSU is $14,332 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students with aid.

Read full report on Special Education at East Tennessee State University

#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Martin. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Martin, Tennessee, this medium-sized public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

UT Martin also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Martin is $10,955 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students with aid.

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

#6

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee

Tennessee Technological University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Tennessee Tech University is a fairly large public school situated in Cookeville, Tennessee. It awarded 11 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Tennessee Tech University also took the #2 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $15,929 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid per year to attend Tennessee Technological University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Tennessee Tech University Special Education Report

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 1 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Chattanooga also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is $12,952 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid.

Read more about Special Education at UT Chattanooga

#8

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#1 in overall quality

Vanderbilt University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s special ed degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt also took the #1 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Vanderbilt is $19,432 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Vanderbilt University

#9

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee
#7 in overall quality

Freed-Hardeman University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Freed-Hardeman University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Henderson, Tennessee. It awarded 2 bachelors’s special ed 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. The estimated yearly cost for FHU is $16,703 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students with aid.

Read full report on Special Education at Freed-Hardeman University

#10

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee

Lee University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cleveland, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s special ed degrees to 6 students 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. It costs about $17,696 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid per year to attend Lee University.

Full Lee University Special Education Report

#11

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee

Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. 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.

Austin Peay State University also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $13,692 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid per year to attend Austin Peay State University.

Read full report on Special Education at Austin Peay State University

#12

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee

Carson - Newman University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 22 degrees to qualified bachelors’s special ed students in 2019-2020.

Carson - Newman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Carson - Newman is $17,471 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid.

Read full report on Special Education at Carson - Newman University

#13

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

TNU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $17,499 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid per year to attend TNU.

Read full report on Special Education at Trevecca Nazarene University

#14

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, Tennessee
#15 in overall quality

Christian Brothers University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. Christian Brothers University is a small school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 2 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Christian Brothers did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Christian Brothers is $11,900 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid.

Read full report on Special Education at Christian Brothers University

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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 took the #10 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $18,825 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UT Knoxville Special Education Report

#16

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Lincoln Memorial University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid list. Lincoln Memorial University 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 also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Lincoln Memorial University is $15,180 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lincoln Memorial University Special Education Report

#17

Tusculum University

Greeneville, Tennessee
#20 in overall quality

Tusculum University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Tusculum is located in Greeneville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Tusculum also took the #20 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $17,537 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students with aid per year to attend Tusculum University.

Read full report on Special Education at Tusculum University

#18

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
#3 in overall quality

Lipscomb University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lipscomb is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lipscomb, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $24,749 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students with aid per year to attend Lipscomb.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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%.

Full Lipscomb Special Education Report

#19

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

Union University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking. Union University is a small school located in Jackson, Tennessee that handed out 3 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students with aid list, Union has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Union University is $28,249 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students with aid.

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 student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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.

Full Union Special Education Report

#20

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee
#16 in overall quality

Cumberland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. CU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lebanon, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CU is $24,458 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students with aid.

Read full report on Special Education at Cumberland University

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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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