Special Education Programs Near Asheville, North Carolina

Quick answer: 19 colleges within 100 miles of Asheville, North Carolina award a special education degree, the nearest about 18 miles away (IPEDS Completions, 2024).

Compare special education programs you can start from Asheville:

Special Education Program Access Near Asheville, North Carolina

Distance from AshevilleColleges awarding this degree
Within 25 miles1
Within 50 miles4
Within 100 miles19
Within 250 miles77

Source: IPEDS Completions, 2024, counting institutions that reported awarding this degree, joined to IPEDS institution coordinates. Distances are straight-line.

There are 4 degree-awarding colleges within 50 miles of Asheville, rising to 19 within 100 miles. The nearest is about 18 miles away, so a hybrid schedule is workable but a daily commute would be a commitment.

Choosing A Special Education Program From Asheville

The subject matter does not change by location: learning differences and disabilities, individualized education programs, behavior support, and inclusive instruction. What changes is how you take it. Ask each college whether the program holds accreditation from a recognized institutional accreditor, how much of the coursework is delivered online, and which components require you on campus. Credit transfer is decided by the receiving institution and genuinely varies, so request a written transfer evaluation before you enroll.

Colleges Near Asheville

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 158 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC 104.2 miles away BOC Score 72.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 68.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 23
  • Annual completions: 1289
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $65,370 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC 66.1 miles away BOC Score 69.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 73.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 933
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,010 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC 39.9 miles away BOC Score 63.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 858
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,667 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

High Point University

High Point, NC 146.1 miles away BOC Score 62.5
Tuition $45,312 - $65,548
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 75.3%
  • Graduation rate: 72.1%
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 307
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $65,028 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC 157.5 miles away BOC Score 59.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 57.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 331
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,594 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte, NC 100.4 miles away BOC Score 55.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 63.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 25
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $70,176 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Salem College

Winston-Salem, NC 134.3 miles away BOC Score 48.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 56.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 10
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,227 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Pfeiffer University

Misenheimer, NC 127.8 miles away BOC Score 44.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 38.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Annual completions: 51
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,619 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC 55.9 miles away BOC Score 39.4
Tuition $33,250 - $49,498
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 76.8%
  • Graduation rate: 43.1%
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 72
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,979 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Mars Hill University

Mars Hill, NC 17.8 miles away BOC Score 34.8
Tuition $37,736 - $50,099
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 67.9%
  • Graduation rate: 43.2%
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 50
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,256 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Earn in North Carolina

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in North Carolina earn a median $58,260 per year against $65,120 nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The North Carolina median for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school is $58,260 per year, below the national median of $65,120, on state employment of 4,430 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

These are statewide figures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish wages at city level, so no page can tell you what this job pays in Asheville specifically. For the metro-level picture where it is published, and the full percentile spread, see the North Carolina page.

Other North Carolina Cities

Forest City * Shelby * Boone * Rockingham * Pinehurst * Burlington * Laurinburg * Sanford

Sources

  • U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions, 2024 - institutions awarding this degree, with IPEDS institution coordinates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School (SOC 25-2052)

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.