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Most Popular Special Education Schools in Tennessee

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2023 Most Popular Special Education Schools in Tennessee

26 Colleges
$39,838 Avg Salary
$21,956 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Special Education School for You

In 2020-2021, special education students earned 354 degrees and certificates from a Tennessee school, making the subject the 6th in the state.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which teaching program is right for you. 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 Most Popular Special Education Schools in Tennessee to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 26 schools in Tennessee 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 colleges and universities below are the most popular for special ed majors pursuing a .

#1

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN

Our 2023 rankings named University of Memphis the most popular school in Tennessee for special education students. Located in the city of Memphis, UofM is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, special ed graduates from UofM take out $21,125 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Memphis

#2

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Special Education Schools in Tennessee list. Vanderbilt is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville.

Full Special Education at Vanderbilt University Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Schools in Tennessee list. UT Knoxville is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Knoxville.

On average, special ed graduates from UT Knoxville take out $20,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Special Education at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

#4

Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Lipscomb University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Schools in Tennessee list. Lipscomb is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Nashville.

Full Special Education at Lipscomb University Report

The excellent programs at East Tennessee State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best special education schools in Tennessee. Located in the small city of Johnson City, ETSU is a public school with a large student population.

Special Ed majors at ETSU take out an average of $18,203 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Special Education at East Tennessee State University Report

#6

Carson - Newman University

Jefferson City, TN

Carson - Newman University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Schools in Tennessee list. Carson - Newman is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Jefferson City.

Full Special Education at Carson - Newman University Report

With a ranking of #7, Middle Tennessee State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. Middle Tennessee State University is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Murfreesboro.

While working on their degree, special ed majors at Middle Tennessee State University accumulate an average of around $21,200 in student debt.

Full Special Education at Middle Tennessee State University Report

Tennessee Technological University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Schools in Tennessee ranking. Tennessee Tech University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Cookeville.

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Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Schools in Tennessee ranking. Located in the city of Nashville, TNU is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

#8

Lee University

Cleveland, TN

With a ranking of #8, Lee University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. Located in the small city of Cleveland, Lee University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

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

Read full report on Special Education at Lee University

Best Special Education Colleges in the Southeast Region

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

State Degrees Awarded
Kentucky 608
North Carolina 477
Florida 1,103
Georgia 550
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 26 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.

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