Approximately 0.2% of graduates in of Tennessee receive special education degrees every year. That means an estimated 333 special education professionals graduate from Tennessee's 23 special education schools each year.

Top Schools

Vanderbilt University, which was ranked 11th nationwide in 2010, is the top-ranked school in Tennessee that has a special education program. It is located in Nashville. In 2010, 60 students graduated from Vanderbilt University's special education program. Students at Vanderbilt University paid $39,930 per year in tuition fees.

University of Memphis, which is located in Memphis, is the second-ranked school in Tennessee that has a special education program. It received a ranking of 40th in the country in 2010. In 2010, University of Memphis graduated 14 students from its special education program. University of Memphis charged in-state students $6,780 in tuition fees per year.

Cumberland University, which was ranked 40th nationwide in 2010, is the third-ranked school in Tennessee that has a special education program. It is located in Lebanon. 6 students graduated with degree in special education from Cumberland University in 2010. Students at Cumberland University paid $18,256 per year in tuition fees.

Cost

If you choose to attend a Tennessee special education school, average tuition will be $14,365 per year. However, tuition at your particular institution may range from $5,704 per year to $39,930 per year. The highest tuition rates in 2010 at Tennessee special education schools were charged at the following schools:

1. Vanderbilt University - located in Nashville, students are charged $39,930 per year
2. Belmont University - located in Nashville, students are charged $23,680 per year
3. Union University - located in Jackson, students are charged $22,390 per year

The special education schools in Tennessee that charged the lowest tuition rates were:

1. Tennessee State University - located in Nashville, students are charged $5,704 per year
2. East Tennessee State University - located in Johnson City, students are charged $5,823 per year
3. Tennessee Technological University - located in Cookeville, students are charged $5,828 per year

A special education degree from a Tennessee school... what next?

The following counties have the largest number of Tennessee special education professionals:

1. Cannon County - 1,260 special education professionals
2. Crittenden County - 980 special education professionals
3. Anderson County - 470 special education professionals

Projected Growth

The government projects that by 2018, the number of special education professionals in the state of Tennessee will grow to 5,640. This would require a 22% growth in the profession.

Salary

On average, special education professionals earn $46,240 per year. But, salaries for special education professional can vary. In 2010, special education professional made as little as less than $30,820 per year or as much as more than $63,130 per year in Tennessee. The following counties in Tennessee have the highest average salaries for special education professionals:

1. Crittenden County - $51,310 per year
2. Catoosa County - $47,530 per year
3. Hawkins County - $47,280 per year

The Tennessee counties with the lowest average salary for special education professionals are:

1. Campbell County - $39,340 per year
2. Benton County - $41,120 per year
3. Grainger County - $42,740 per year

The special education professionals with highest average salaries in Tennessee were:

1. Preschool Special Education Teacher - $46,240 per year

On average, the lowest paid special education professionals in Tennessee were:

4. Preschool Special Education Teacher - $46,240 per year

More Information

For more data regarding a career in special education in Tennessee and to compare salaries with various related fields such as speech therapy or elementary education, take a look at the graphs and charts below.