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. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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 Tennessee, there were 335 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,838 and $21,805 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. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their special education program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
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.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee special ed students.
Out of the 26 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee that were part of this year’s ranking, Carson - Newman University landed the #1 spot on the list. Carson - Newman is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jefferson City, Tennessee. It awarded 31 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Welch College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Welch is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Gallatin, Tennessee. It awarded 1 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, 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 Lipscomb University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 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 59 students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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%.
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. Located in Henderson, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students 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%. 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 Freed-Hardeman University
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 a large public school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 63 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
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%.
Lee University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Lee University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Tennessee. It awarded 13 ’s special ed degrees 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%.
Vanderbilt University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #7. Vanderbilt University is a fairly large school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 64 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Trevecca Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 1 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 #9, Fisk University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. This small school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 0 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
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%.
Tusculum University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Located in Greeneville, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2021-2022.
Union University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Union University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jackson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
East Tennessee State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, this fairly large public school handed out 29 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Tennessee Wesleyan University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Tennessee Wesleyan University is located in Athens, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s special ed degrees to qualified 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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 Tennessee Wesleyan University
Tennessee Technological University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Located in Cookeville, Tennessee, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Tennessee Tech University
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 19 students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Harrogate, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
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 large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 10 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Middle Tennessee State University
With a ranking of #18, Christian Brothers University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. 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 2021-2022.
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%.
Cumberland University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. This small school is located in Lebanon, Tennessee, and it awarded 0 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
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%.
Austin Peay State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #20. This medium-sized school is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and it awarded 6 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
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 medium-sized school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 3 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
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%.
Read more about Special Education at Tennessee State University
Bethel University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. Bethel University is located in McKenzie, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
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%.
With a ranking of #23, The University of Tennessee - Martin did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee list. This medium-sized school is located in Martin, Tennessee, and it awarded 0 ’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at The University of Tennessee - Martin
The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Southern Adventist University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking. Located in Collegedale, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 0 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.
Le Moyne - Owen College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Tennessee ranking, coming in at #25. Le Moyne - Owen College is located in Memphis, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
