Find Teaching Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region

Find Schools Near

2023 Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region

217 Colleges
$42,190 Avg Salary
$24,022 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Special Education School for You

In 2020-2021, 36,792 special education students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #4 most popular in the country.

Today's teaching students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Teaching Degree Search has created the Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 217 schools in the Southeast Region to see which programs were the most popular for teaching students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Special Education program at each school on the list.

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

#1

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Our 2023 rankings named Liberty University the most popular school in the Southeast Region for special education students. Liberty University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Lynchburg.

On average, special ed graduates from Liberty University take out $31,153 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Special Education at Liberty University

#2

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

Out of the 217 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, George Mason University landed the # 2 spot on the list. GMU is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fairfax.

Full Special Education at George Mason University Report

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means The University of West Florida is a great place for special education students. Located in the small city of Pensacola, UWF is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at UWF take out is $28,750.

Read More…

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Arkansas State University - Main Campus is a great place for special education students. A-State is a large public school located in the small city of Jonesboro.

Read full report on Special Education at Arkansas State University - Main Campus

#5

University of West Alabama

Livingston, AL

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of West Alabama. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the remote area of Livingston, University of West Alabama is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Read More…

University of Central Florida ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. UCF is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando.

Full Special Education at University of Central Florida Report

Eastern Kentucky University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for special education students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the distant town of Richmond, Eastern is a public school with a large student population.

On average, special ed graduates from Eastern take out $28,881 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

Appalachian State University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. Appalachian State is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Boone.

The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at Appalachian State take out is $21,500.

Read full report on Special Education at Appalachian State University

#9

University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, KY

University of the Cumberlands did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for special education students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the town of Williamsburg, Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

Read full report on Special Education at University of the Cumberlands

#10

University of West Georgia

Carrollton, GA

With a ranking of #10, University of West Georgia did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. University of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton.

Full Special Education at University of West Georgia Report

#11

Miami Dade College

Miami, FL

With a ranking of #11, Miami Dade College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. MDC is a very large public school located in the large city of Miami.

After completing their degree, special ed graduates from MDC carry an average student debt load of $9,500.

Read full report on Special Education at Miami Dade College

#12

Auburn University

Auburn, AL

With a ranking of #12, Auburn University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. Auburn is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn.

After completing their degree, special ed graduates from Auburn carry an average student debt load of $22,250. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $512, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Special Education at Auburn University

#13

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular special education programs. Located in the city of Gainesville, UF is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read More…

#14

Georgetown College

Georgetown, KY

With a ranking of #14, Georgetown College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Georgetown.

Read full report on Special Education at Georgetown College

#15

William Carey University

Hattiesburg, MS

With a ranking of #15, William Carey University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. Located in the small city of Hattiesburg, William Carey University is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

Full Special Education at William Carey University Report

With a ranking of #16, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. Located in the city of Charlotte, UNC Charlotte is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, special ed graduates from UNC Charlotte carry an average student debt load of $26,648.

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

#17

University of Georgia

Athens, GA

With a ranking of #17, University of Georgia did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. UGA is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Athens.

The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at UGA take out is $25,000.

Read More…

Georgia College & State University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. Georgia College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Milledgeville.

On average, special ed graduates from Georgia College take out $22,866 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Special Education at Georgia College & State University Report

#19

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA

With a ranking of #19, Georgia State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. Located in the large city of Atlanta, Georgia State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Full Special Education at Georgia State University Report

#20

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN

University of Memphis did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for special education students. It came in at #20 on the list. UofM is a fairly large public school located in the city of Memphis.

The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at UofM take out is $21,125.

Full Special Education at University of Memphis Report

With a ranking of #20, Florida International University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. FIU is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Miami.

Read More…

#22

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA

Old Dominion University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Old Dominion is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Norfolk.

Full Special Education at Old Dominion University Report

#22

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC

East Carolina University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. ECU is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Greenville.

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

Read full report on Special Education at East Carolina University

#24

Radford University

Radford, VA

Radford University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular special education programs. Located in the suburb of Radford, Radford is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Read More…

#24

Broward College

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Broward College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular special education programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Fort Lauderdale, BC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, special ed graduates from BC carry an average student debt load of $15,237.

Read full report on Special Education at Broward College

#26

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS
#28

Mississippi College

Clinton, MS
#29

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL
#30

Southeastern University

Lakeland, FL
#32

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Special Education students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our Most Popular Special Education Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
33 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
34 Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA
35 Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY
35 University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR
37 Morehead State University Morehead, KY
38 Campbellsville University Campbellsville, KY
38 Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL
40 University of South Florida - Main Campus Tampa, FL
40 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
42 Clemson University Clemson, SC
43 Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL

Best Special Education Colleges by State

Explore the best special education schools for a specific state in the Southeast region.

State Degrees Awarded
Kentucky 608
Tennessee 354
North Carolina 477
Georgia 550
Florida 1,103
Virginia 1,238
West Virginia 46
South Carolina 266
Arkansas 351
Louisiana 103
Mississippi 269
Alabama 437

Special Education is one of 14 different types of teaching programs to choose from.

Special Ed Concentrations

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 25 schools only.

  • 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.

Featured Schools

Find Teaching Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited education & teaching schools across the U.S.