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2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region

17 Ranked Colleges
41 Degrees Awarded
$31,300 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 36,792 people earned their degree in special education, making the major the 29th most popular in the United States. 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 the Southeast region, there were 5,866 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,190 and $24,022 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 41 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,087 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree in special education. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in special education.

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 “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region”.

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.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region doctor’s degree special ed students.

Top 17 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education in the Southeast Region

1
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s special ed degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, 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 96%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Special Education at Vanderbilt University

2

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 #2 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region. UNC Greensboro is a fairly large school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 4 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

3
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Out of the 17 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Clemson University landed the #3 spot on the list. Clemson is a public institution located in Clemson, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Special Education at Clemson

4
KSU Georgia crest
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia

Out of the 17 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Kennesaw State University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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%.

Read full report on Special Education at KSU Georgia

5
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Alabama. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. The University of Alabama is a public institution located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, 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 87%.

Full UA Special Education Report

6

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full VCU Special Education Report

7
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Lexington, Kentucky, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Special Education at University of Kentucky

8
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. University of Florida is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 4 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Florida Special Education Report

9

University of North Carolina at Charlotte came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. UNC Charlotte is a large school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 2 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Special Education at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

10
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Georgia Special Education Report

11

University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 2 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UofSC Special Education Report

12
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

Auburn University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Auburn, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s special ed degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Auburn University Special Education Report

13

With a ranking of #13, Florida International University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 1 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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 full report on Special Education at Florida International University

14
UNO crest
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana

University of New Orleans landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. New Orleans, Louisiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s special ed degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at University of New Orleans

14
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #14. Mississippi State University is a public institution located in Mississippi State, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 61 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Special Education at Mississippi State

14
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, this large public school handed out 26 degrees to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

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 Florida Atlantic University

14
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s special ed degrees to 71 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at Georgia State

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