by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2021-2022, 35,973 people earned their degree in special education, making the major the 29th most popular in the United States. In , special education graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $45,680 and had an average of $27,516 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southeast region, there were 5,776 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,190 and $27,074 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region” ranking looked at 208 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in special education. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in special education.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgetown College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Georgetown College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Georgetown, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 63 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carlos Albizu University - Miami. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Carlos Albizu University - Miami is a small school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 8 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Carlos Albizu University - Miami
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of West Florida. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region. The University of West Florida is a fairly large school located in Pensacola, Florida that handed out 279 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full The University of West Florida Special Education Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of West Alabama. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Livingston, Alabama, this medium-sized public school handed out 154 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 University of West Alabama
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William Carey University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Hattiesburg, Mississippi is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 80 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, 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 87%.
Read more about Special Education at William Carey University
Converse College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Converse College is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 28 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
William Peace University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This small school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 5 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #8, Florida Memorial University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Miami Gardens, Florida, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 16 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2021-2022.
Read more about Special Education at Florida Memorial University
Mississippi College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Mississippi College is a small school located in Clinton, Mississippi that handed out 67 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad 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%.
South Georgia State College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. South Georgia State College is a small school located in Douglas, Georgia that handed out 25 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Special Education at South Georgia State College
Carson - Newman University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Carson - Newman University is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 31 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 full report on Special Education at Carson - Newman University
Averett University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #12. AU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Danville, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Jonesboro, Arkansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 157 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
George Mason University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and it awarded 385 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Georgia College & State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Georgia College is a medium-sized public school situated in Milledgeville, Georgia. It awarded 106 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Georgia College & State University Special Education Report
Morehead State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Morehead, Kentucky is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 47 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of the Cumberlands ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. University of the Cumberlands is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Williamsburg, Kentucky. It awarded 108 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at University of the Cumberlands
St. Andrews University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. St. Andrews is located in Laurinburg, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Salem College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #19. Salem is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Radford University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Radford University is a medium-sized school located in Radford, Virginia that handed out 54 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Georgia Southwestern State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. GSW is a public institution located in Americus, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Eastern Kentucky University is a fairly large public school situated in Richmond, Kentucky. It awarded 70 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.
Mars Hill University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This small school is located in Mars Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 6 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Kentucky State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Kentucky State University is located in Frankfort, Kentucky and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #25, Southeastern University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Southeastern University is located in Lakeland, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 49 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Not only did these schools make the top 32 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
