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2023 Best Value Colleges for Special Education in North Carolina

15 Ranked Colleges
477 Degrees Awarded
$17,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Special Education is the 29th most popular major in the country with 36,792 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, special education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $45,679 and had an average of $24,977 in loans still to pay off.

Across North Carolina, there were 477 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,683 and $23,542 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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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 in North Carolina”.

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. 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 in North Carolina

The colleges and universities below are the best for north carolina special ed students.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Special Education in North Carolina

1
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend East Carolina University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina list. East Carolina University is located in Greenville, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 67 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

ECU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for East Carolina University is $16,550 for north carolina special ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at ECU

2

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Charlotte landed the #2 spot on the list. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a large public school situated in Charlotte, North Carolina. It awarded 84 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

UNC Charlotte also took the #1 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $17,634 for North Carolina Special Ed students per year to attend UNC Charlotte.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Special Education Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina. UNC Greensboro is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 60 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

UNC Greensboro did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $11,629 for north carolina special ed students per year to attend UNC Greensboro.

Read more about Special Education at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

4
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Appalachian State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina list. Appalachian State is a large public school situated in Boone, North Carolina. It awarded 117 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Appalachian State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for Appalachian State is $13,989 for north carolina special ed students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Appalachian State Special Education Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Wilmington. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina list. UNCW is a public institution located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNCW also took the #5 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Wilmington is $19,136 for north carolina special ed students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.

Read more about Special Education at UNCW

6
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina ranking. Located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WCU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WCU is $13,924 for North Carolina Special Ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at Western Carolina University

7

University of North Carolina at Pembroke came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina ranking. Pembroke, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

UNC Pembroke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Pembroke is $10,792 for north carolina special ed students.

Read full report on Special Education at UNC Pembroke

8
Salem crest
Salem College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Salem College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina ranking. Salem College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 5 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina special ed students list, Salem has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Salem College is $18,339 for North Carolina Special Ed students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Salem Special Education Report

9
North Carolina Central University crest
North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina

North Carolina Central University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #9. North Carolina Central University is a public institution located in Durham, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

North Carolina Central University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina Central University is $14,332 for North Carolina Special Ed students.

Full North Carolina Central University Special Education Report

10
ECSU crest
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Elizabeth City State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina list. Elizabeth City State University is a public institution located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

ECSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for ECSU is $3,704 for north carolina special ed students.

Full ECSU Special Education Report

11
UMO crest
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, North Carolina

University of Mount Olive landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina ranking. UMO is located in Mount Olive, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

UMO did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Mount Olive is $15,883 for North Carolina Special Ed students.

Read more about Special Education at UMO

12
St. Andrews crest
St. Andrews University
Laurinburg, North Carolina

St. Andrews University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina list. This small school is located in Laurinburg, North Carolina, and it awarded 3 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our north carolina special ed students list, St. Andrews has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Andrews is $24,731 for North Carolina Special Ed students.

Read more about Special Education at St. Andrews

13
Mars Hill crest
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, North Carolina

With a ranking of #13, Mars Hill University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina list. Mars Hill University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mars Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 7 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mars Hill, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mars Hill is $19,374 for North Carolina Special Ed students.

The impressive undergraduate 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 Mars Hill

14
High Point crest
High Point University
High Point, North Carolina

High Point University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina ranking. High Point, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at High Point, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for High Point University is $39,475 for North Carolina Special Ed students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at High Point University

15
Campbell crest
Campbell University
Buies Creek, North Carolina

Campbell University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Special Ed Schools in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #15. Campbell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Campbell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $26,169 for North Carolina Special Ed students per year to attend Campbell.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Campbell University Special Education Report

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Notes and References

References

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