by our College Data Analytics Team
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 “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee” 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 Tennessee, there were 354 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,838 and $21,956 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee” ranking, we looked at 26 colleges that offer a degree in special education. That schools that top this list have a program in special education in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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.
The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee special ed students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carson - Newman University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Carson - Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Welch College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee. Welch College is a small school located in Gallatin, Tennessee that handed out 3 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lipscomb University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Lipscomb University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Freed-Hardeman University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee. FHU is located in Henderson, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Memphis. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee. UofM is located in Memphis, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 69 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
With a ranking of #6, Lee University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. This small school is located in Cleveland, Tennessee, and it awarded 14 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Vanderbilt University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, 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 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 full report on Special Education at Vanderbilt University
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
Fisk University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Fisk University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Tusculum University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Tusculum University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greeneville, Tennessee. It awarded 4 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Union University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Located in Jackson, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad 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%.
East Tennessee State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large school located in Johnson City, Tennessee that handed out 28 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Special Education at East Tennessee State University
Tennessee Wesleyan University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. TWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Athens, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #14, Tennessee Technological University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Tennessee Tech University is located in Cookeville, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%.
With a ranking of #15, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a public institution located in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Lincoln Memorial University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Harrogate, Tennessee, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Lincoln Memorial University
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Middle Tennessee State University Special Education Report
Christian Brothers University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 2 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Cumberland University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #19. CU is located in Lebanon, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
With a ranking of #20, Austin Peay State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Austin Peay State University is a medium-sized school located in Clarksville, Tennessee that handed out 10 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Special Education at Austin Peay State University
With a ranking of #21, Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Nashville, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Special Education at Tennessee State University
Bethel University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #22. Located in McKenzie, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
The University of Tennessee - Martin came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Martin, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Special Education at The University of Tennessee - Martin
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large public school situated in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It awarded 1 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Full The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Special Education Report
Southern Adventist University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #25. Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Le Moyne - Owen College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #25. Memphis, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
