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Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina

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2023 Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina

17 Colleges
$38,683 Avg Salary
$23,542 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Special Education School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, special education was ranked 5th in North Carolina. In fact, 477 were awarded in the state in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for teaching students. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Teaching Degree Search has created the Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 17 schools in North Carolina to see which ones offered the best programs for teaching students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina

The following schools top our list of the Best Special Education Colleges.

Top 10 Best Special Education Schools

#1

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC

Our 2023 rankings named East Carolina University the best school in North Carolina for special education students. Located in the city of Greenville, ECU is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, special ed graduates from ECU carry an average student debtload of $26,980.

Read full report on Special Education at East Carolina University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Appalachian State University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina list. Located in the distant town of Boone, Appalachian State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Special Ed majors at Appalachian State take out an average of $21,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Special Education at Appalachian State University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina list. UNC Charlotte is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Charlotte.

Special Ed majors at UNC Charlotte take out an average of $26,648 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Special Education at University of North Carolina at Charlotte Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina list. UNC Greensboro is a large public school located in the large city of Greensboro.

On average, special ed graduates from UNC Greensboro take out $20,996 in student loans while working on their degree.

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

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend North Carolina State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina list. NC State is a very large public school located in the large city of Raleigh.

Read More…

University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for special education students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Wilmington, UNCW is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, special ed majors at UNCW accumulate an average of around $23,625 in student debt.

Read More…

#7

High Point University

High Point, NC

High Point University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for special education students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the midsize city of High Point, High Point is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

Full Special Education at High Point University Report

#8

Campbell University

Buies Creek, NC

Campbell University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Special Education Schools in North Carolina ranking. Campbell is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Buies Creek.

Full Special Education at Campbell University Report

With a ranking of #9, Western Carolina University did quite well on this year’s best schools for special education students. WCU is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Cullowhee.

While working on their degree, special ed majors at WCU accumulate an average of around $21,500 in student debt.

Read full report on Special Education at Western Carolina University

#10

Mars Hill University

Mars Hill, NC

Mars Hill University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for special education students. It came in at #10 on the list. Mars Hill is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mars Hill.

Full Special Education at Mars Hill University Report

Best Special Education Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Special Education Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Kentucky 608
Tennessee 354
Georgia 550
Florida 1,103
Virginia 1,238
West Virginia 46
South Carolina 266
Arkansas 351
Louisiana 103
Mississippi 269
Alabama 437

One of 14 majors within the teaching area of study, special education has other similar majors worth exploring.

Special Ed Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Special Education 24,497
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 3,111
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities 1,789
Elementary Special Education 1,625
Other Special Education & Teaching 1,227
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism 1,133
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs 655
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities 540
Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented 504
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments 415
Education of the Deaf 363
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances 226
Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed 222
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Junior High/Middle School Special Education Programs 181
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness 134
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities 122
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic & Other Physical Health Impairments 47
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries 1

Related Major Annual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific 110,226
Educational Administration 46,469
Teacher Education Subject Specific 43,297
General Education 29,810
Curriculum & Instruction 19,832

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 17 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to woodleywonderworks.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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