2023 Most Popular Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education
74
Ranked Colleges
204
Degrees Awarded
$91,539
Avg Salary
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 “Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 204 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,260 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate” ranking looked at 74 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in special education. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in special education.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate”.
Top 34 Most Popular Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia University in the City of New York. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. Columbia University in the City of New York is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, 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 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Special Education at Columbia University in the City of New York
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Kansas. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read more about Special Education at KU
Out of the 74 schools in the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the #3 spot on the list. Vanderbilt University is a fairly large school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 9 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%. 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.
Read full report on Special Education at Vanderbilt University
Out of the 74 schools in the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #3 spot on the list. SRU is located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 more about Special Education at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Teachers College at Columbia University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. Teachers College at Columbia University is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Teachers College at Columbia University Special Education Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Austin. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. The University of Texas at Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 9 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 97%. 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 UT Austin
University of Northern Colorado landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. University of Northern Colorado is a fairly large public school situated in Greeley, Colorado. It awarded 7 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%.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Northern Colorado
Saint Louis University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #8. Saint Louis University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 6 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 90%. 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. 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 more about Special Education at SLU
University of New Mexico - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. UNM is a large school located in Albuquerque, New Mexico that handed out 5 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Special Education at University of New Mexico - Main Campus
With a ranking of #9, George Washington University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.
Full George Washington University Special Education Report
With a ranking of #9, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. Texas Tech University is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Special Education at Texas Tech University
University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #9. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Special Education at University of Washington - Seattle Campus
University of Nevada - Las Vegas came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a large public school situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. It awarded 5 doctorate’s special ed 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%.
Read more about Special Education at UNLV
Washington State University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. Pullman, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s special ed degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Washington State University Special Education Report
With a ranking of #15, University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
Full UNC Greensboro Special Education Report
University of Florida ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. UF is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 4 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Special Education at University of Florida
University of Utah landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Special Education at University of Utah
Illinois State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. Illinois State University is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 4 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Full Illinois State University Special Education Report
University of Arizona came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. University of Arizona is a large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 4 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
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 more about Special Education at University of Arizona
With a ranking of #15, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Special Education Report
The University of Alabama did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #15. UA is a large school located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that handed out 4 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at UA
Chapman University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Orange, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Chapman University Special Education Report
With a ranking of #22, Texas Woman’s University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. TWU is a fairly large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Texas Woman’s University Special Education Report
Utah State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. Logan, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s special ed degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 more about Special Education at USU
Clemson University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Clemson, South Carolina, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about Special Education at Clemson
With a ranking of #22, Gallaudet University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. Gallaudet is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Special Education at Gallaudet
University of North Texas landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. University of North Texas is a public institution located in Denton, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of North Texas Special Education Report
With a ranking of #22, University of Maryland - College Park did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. University of Maryland - College Park is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Special Education at University of Maryland - College Park
University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read more about Special Education at University of Missouri - Columbia
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s special ed 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Special Education Report
Duquesne University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. Duquesne is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Duquesne University Special Education Report
University of Georgia came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking. UGA 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.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Georgia
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate list. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s 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%.
Read full report on Special Education at Virginia Commonwealth University
Kennesaw State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #22. Kennesaw State University is located in Kennesaw, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Full KSU Georgia Special Education Report
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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