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2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education in the Southeast Region

17 Ranked Colleges
45 Degrees Awarded
$31,300 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2021-2022, 35,973 people earned their degree in special education, making the major the 29th most popular in the United States. In , special education graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $45,680 and had an average of $27,516 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 5,776 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,190 and $27,074 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 45 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,674 and $121,130 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree in special education. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their special education program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region”.

Top 17 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Special Education in the Southeast Region

1
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. This fairly large school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, 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 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Vanderbilt University Special Education Report

2

Out of the 17 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #2 spot on the list. UNC Greensboro is a fairly large school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 4 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

3
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Clemson University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region. Located in Clemson, South Carolina, this large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2021-2022.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Clemson

4
KSU Georgia crest
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kennesaw State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Kennesaw, Georgia, this large public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.

Read more about Special Education at KSU Georgia

5
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Out of the 17 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Alabama landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, this large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 UA

6

Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Richmond, Virginia, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at VCU

7
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. University of Kentucky is a large public school situated in Lexington, Kentucky. It awarded 2 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.

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 1.6% 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 University of Kentucky

8
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. UF is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UF Special Education Report

9

University of North Carolina at Charlotte came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified doctorate’s special ed students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UNC Charlotte Special Education Report

10
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #10. UGA is a large school located in Athens, Georgia that handed out 5 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.

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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 UGA Special Education Report

11

University of South Carolina - Columbia came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. UofSC is located in Columbia, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of South Carolina - Columbia Special Education Report

12
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

With a ranking of #12, Auburn University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Auburn University is located in Auburn, Alabama and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at Auburn

13

Florida International University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 95 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Special Education at FIU

14
UNO crest
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana

University of New Orleans landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. UNO is a medium-sized school located in New Orleans, Louisiana that handed out 1 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at University of New Orleans

14
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Mississippi State University is a public institution located in Mississippi State, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 100 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Mississippi State Special Education Report

14
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region list. Florida Atlantic University is a public institution located in Boca Raton, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 Florida Atlantic University

14
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Georgia State University is a large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 1 doctorate’s special ed degrees in 2021-2022.

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 Georgia State Special Education Report

Notes and References

References

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