Best Online Special Education Programs in Poplar Bluff, MO (2026)

Poplar Bluff, Missouri has 3 accredited schools offering special education programs, with tuition ranging from $8,090 to $25,082 per year for indexed programs. Poplar Bluff has a population of about 16,243. Median household income is $42,035 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Missouri, the top-earning special education-related role is Special Education Teacher, Preschool at a median $62,250 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Special Education Schools to Poplar Bluff

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer special education programs near Poplar Bluff, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Poplar Bluff city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Poplar Bluff. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Three Rivers College

Poplar Bluff, MO 1.4 miles from Poplar Bluff BOC Score 40.9
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 29%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $32,442
Avg net price $8,496/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 38

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center

Poplar Bluff, MO 2.6 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 2 year
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 19

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Missouri schools on the Missouri special education page.


Special Education Wages Near Poplar Bluff

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Missouri, statewide)
Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten and Elementary School$57,260
Special Education Teacher, Middle School$50,370
Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$55,920
Special Education Teacher, Preschool$62,250

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Poplar Bluff at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population16,243Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$42,035Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+16.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Poplar Bluff-Area Cities With Special Education Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited special education schools are near Poplar Bluff, MO?

Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering special education programs near Poplar Bluff. The closest is Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO (62.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (92.7 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying special education roles in Missouri?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying special education-related roles in Missouri are: Special Education Teacher, Preschool ($62,250), Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten and Elementary School ($57,260), Special Education Teacher, Secondary School ($55,920). Wages for Poplar Bluff workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Paragould instead of Poplar Bluff?

Paragould, AR is 49.2 miles from Poplar Bluff and has its own set of local special education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Poplar Bluff an affordable place to study special education?

Poplar Bluff’s median household income of $42,035 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Poplar Bluff while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Special Education Programs

Other Programs Available in Poplar Bluff

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Poplar Bluff:

Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.