Best colleges for Special Education and Teaching in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
East Carolina University, Appalachian State University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro are the top bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. East Carolina University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,185, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Appalachian State University and East Carolina University award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in North Carolina: 81, 61 and 52 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 North Carolina colleges offer Special Education and Teaching and award 316 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Special Education and Teaching program prepares students to work with individuals who have a range of disabilities and special needs. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of students…
Top 6 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,185 | 52 | 63% | — | $26,416 |
| 2 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,283 | 61 | 75% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,967 | 29 | 56% | — | $24,000 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,692 | 81 | 69% | — | $26,602 |
| 5 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,376 | 21 | 60% | — | $20,485 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,584 | 8 | 71% | — | $19,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in North Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 81 | $42,692 |
| 2 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 61 | $43,283 |
| 3 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 52 | $44,185 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 29 | $42,967 |
| 5 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 21 | $41,376 |
| 6 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 7 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 8 | $42,584 |
| 9 | Lees-McRae College Banner Elk Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | High Point University High Point Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 12 North Carolina colleges offering Special Education and Teaching
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 5 |
| William Peace University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 4 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City | Public | 1 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pfeiffer University | Misenheimer | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Special Education Teachers, Preschool (SOC 25-2051).
Top skills
What Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Special Education and Teaching programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (81 graduates a year), Appalachian State University (61 graduates a year) and East Carolina University (52 graduates a year) award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 North Carolina colleges offer Special Education and Teaching.
What is the best college for Special Education and Teaching in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, East Carolina University leads among bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,185, College Scorecard. Appalachian State University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the largest, with 81 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Special Education and Teaching program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, East Carolina University tops the list at $44,185. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in North Carolina is $59,310 (median $60,180), across about 640 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Special Education and Teaching program?+
The Special Education and Teaching program prepares students to work with individuals who have a range of disabilities and special needs. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Special Education Teachers, Preschool?+
The national job outlook is about +1.4% growth with around 2,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card