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2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee

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

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee” 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” 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Special Education Schools

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”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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

The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education in Tennessee

#1

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tennessee Technological University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Tennessee Tech University is a fairly large public school situated in Cookeville, Tennessee. It awarded 11 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tennessee Tech University, the school also landed 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 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 Technological University

#2

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 #2 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee. This large school is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Middle Tennessee State University also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $12,464 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students per year to attend Middle Tennessee State University.

Read more about Special Education at Middle Tennessee State University

#3

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Memphis. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee. University of Memphis is a large school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 52 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

UofM also took the #4 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UofM is $13,248 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Memphis

#11 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga landed the #4 spot on the 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is $12,952 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Full UT Chattanooga Special Education Report

#5

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend East Tennessee State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large school located in Johnson City, Tennessee that handed out 10 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

ETSU also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for ETSU is $14,332 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at East Tennessee State University

#19 in overall quality

The University of Tennessee - Martin ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. UT 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. The estimated yearly cost for UT Martin is $10,955 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Full UT Martin Special Education Report

With a ranking of #7, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. This large school is located in Knoxville, Tennessee, and it awarded 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 estimated yearly cost for UT Knoxville is $18,825 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Read full report on Special Education at UT Knoxville

#8

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee

Austin Peay State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Austin Peay State University is a fairly large school located in Clarksville, Tennessee that handed out 10 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Austin Peay State University also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Peay State University is $13,692 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at Austin Peay State University

#9

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee

Lee University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Cleveland, Tennessee, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Lee University also took the #8 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lee University is $17,696 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at Lee University

#10

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee
#7 in overall quality

Freed-Hardeman University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. FHU is a small school located in Henderson, Tennessee that handed out 2 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

FHU also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $16,703 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students per year to attend Freed-Hardeman University.

Full Freed-Hardeman University Special Education Report

#11

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Union University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. This small school is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

Union also took the #6 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Union is $28,249 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Special Education at Union

#12

Lincoln Memorial University

Harrogate, Tennessee
#13 in overall quality

Lincoln Memorial University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. LMU is located in Harrogate, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students list, LMU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for LMU is $15,180 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.

Read full report on Special Education at Lincoln Memorial University

#13

Tennessee Wesleyan University

Athens, Tennessee
#12 in overall quality

Tennessee Wesleyan University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Tennessee Wesleyan University is a small school located in Athens, Tennessee that handed out 5 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TWU, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend TWU is $13,636 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Read more about Special Education at Tennessee Wesleyan University

#14

Cumberland University

Lebanon, Tennessee
#16 in overall quality

Cumberland University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Cumberland University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lebanon, Tennessee. It awarded 1 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

CU also made our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for CU is $24,458 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students.

Full Cumberland University Special Education Report

#15

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, Tennessee

Carson - Newman University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Carson - Newman is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Carson - Newman also took the #9 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carson - Newman University is $17,471 for tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at Carson - Newman

#16

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#17 in overall quality

Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Trevecca Nazarene University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

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. The yearly cost to attend Trevecca Nazarene University is $17,499 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Full TNU 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 ranking, coming in at #17. Tusculum is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greeneville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students list, Tusculum has also earned the #20 rank 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 per year to attend Tusculum University.

Read more about Special Education at Tusculum University

#18

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
#3 in overall quality

Lipscomb University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Lipscomb University 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.

Lipscomb also took the #3 spot in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lipscomb University is $24,749 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Read more about Special Education at Lipscomb University

#19

Christian Brothers University

Memphis, Tennessee
#15 in overall quality

Christian Brothers University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee list. Christian Brothers is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 2 bachelors’s special ed degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree special ed students list, Christian Brothers has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Christian Brothers is $11,900 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students.

Full Christian Brothers Special Education Report

#20

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#1 in overall quality

Vanderbilt University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee ranking. Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees 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. It costs about $19,432 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Special Ed students per year to attend Vanderbilt University.

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%. 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Full Vanderbilt University Special Education Report

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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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