by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools in North Carolina to determine which ones were the best for special education students pursuing a master's degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 101 master's degrees in special education during the 2021-2022 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The special ed master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality special ed program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for special education students working on their master's degree.
The special ed school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools in North Carolina.
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for special education students seeking a a master's degree.
Every student who is interested in a master's degree in special education needs to check out University of North Carolina at Charlotte. UNC Charlotte is a very large public university located in the large city of Charlotte.More information about a master’s in special education from University of North Carolina at Charlotte
East Carolina University is a wonderful decision for individuals interested in a master's degree in special education. Located in the city of Greenville, ECU is a public university with a fairly large student population.
After graduation, special ed master's recipients typically earn about $50,433 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in special education from East Carolina University
It's hard to beat Elon University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in special education. Elon is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the midsize suburb of Elon.More information about a master’s in special education from Elon University
Appalachian State University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in special education. Appalachian State is a very large public university located in the distant town of Boone.More information about a master’s in special education from Appalachian State University
Explore all the Best Special Education Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 208 | 580 |
| Georgia | 190 | 265 |
| Virginia | 182 | 863 |
| Tennessee | 166 | 127 |
| Alabama | 151 | 210 |
| Kentucky | 147 | 391 |
| Louisiana | 147 | 47 |
| South Carolina | 146 | 102 |
| Mississippi | 145 | 216 |
| Arkansas | 121 | 227 |
| West Virginia | 112 | 41 |
One of 14 majors within the Education area of study, Special Education has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 763 |
| Educational Administration | 748 |
| Student Counseling | 464 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 229 |
| Curriculum & Instruction | 161 |
| Instructional Media Design | 120 |
| General Education | 117 |
| Teaching English or French | 57 |
| Other Education | 21 |
| Educational Assessment | 7 |
