The best ABA programs in 2024 – by value for money

Have you ever tried to break a bad habit? Studies suggest that relying on willpower is not an effective strategy. Instead, using strategies to alter the environment within which we make decisions has a far more powerful effect on what we do.

This insight is at the heart of applied behavior analysis (ABA), a psychological approach that has found considerable success in helping people with autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, eating disorders, and many other groups.

In this article, we reveal the best-value accredited ABA programs in the country, so that you can become a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) without compromising on financial security.

Discover the surest path to a rewarding career with these top 20 ABA master’s programs.

What is applied behavior analysis?

Applied behavior analysis (ABA), sometimes called behavioral engineering, is a therapeutic technique for modifying human behavior. It is carried out using psychological principles related to learning.

The most important task of an applied behavior analyst is to increase desirable and helpful behavior and decrease harmful or undesirable behavior using positive reinforcement.

ABA is mainly known as a treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is also used for treating:

• Dementia
• Eating disorders
• Anger management issues
• Anxiety
• Substance abuse
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Consequences of brain injury
• Misbehaving pets

What do applied behavior analysts do?

Typically, a behavior analyst’s treatment plan looks something like this:

• Perform an assessment to determine which behaviors need intervention
• Evaluate environmental, medical, and biological factors
• Apply ABA techniques
• Measure the effects of intervention
• Adjust treatment based on progress

Best ABA master’s programs

Two key conditions for becoming a board-certified behavior analyst are 1) getting a master’s degree and 2) passing the BCBA exam. Read more about how to become a BCBA underneath this list.

Below, we list the best ABA programs by value for money at the master’s level. These ABA programs feature the optimal combination of affordable tuition and high earnings after graduation.

A master’s in ABA may be structured as either a Master of Arts or a Master of Science, but there usually aren’t significant curriculum differences between the two.

We rank degrees by value for money, i.e., return on investment (ROI). This rewards colleges that are the “best deal,” offering higher salaries after graduating school for relatively low costs up front. You can read more on our methodology page.

How we made this list

All our data comes from College Scorecard and IPEDS.

To make this list, we looked at 60 accredited applied behavior analysis master’s programs at 4-year universities in the U.S. We only included schools that disclose sufficient earnings and/or cost data to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Community colleges, fully online schools, and non-accredited institutions were excluded.

To be included on this list, programs must be registered as applied behavior analysis (42.2814) in the Department of Education’s CIP code classification system.

Accreditation

It is important to choose an ABA program that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI).

If you want to pursue a career in ABA, you should also look out for courses that meet the Verified Course Sequence (VCS) requirement. ABAI considers courses as VCS if they meet the criteria for specific coursework requirements, content hours, and faculty standards.

Programs receive approval in 3 ways:

1. As part of the curriculum included in a master’s degree program in education, psychology, or behavior analysis
2. As a graduate certificate earned concurrent with a master’s degree in education, psychology, or behavior analysis
3. As a standalone post-graduate certificate program available to those who already hold a master’s or doctorate in education, psychology or behavior analysis

How to become a behavior analyst

Behavior analysts usually need a master’s degree. In addition, most states require you to become a BCBA, or board-certified behavior analyst.

To become a full-fledged board-certified behavior analyst, you need to:

1. Get a bachelor’s degree – Majoring in psychology or counseling is the best route.
2. Get a master’s degree – Look for Applied Behavior Analysis programs accredited by the APA and ABAI.
3. Complete a practicum – You’ll need to complete a certain number of hours of fieldwork under the supervision of a licensed BCBA. Fieldwork may take up almost half of the credits in an ABA master’s program.
4. Pass the BCBA exam – The BCBA exam takes 4 hours and costs $245, plus a $125 exam appointment fee.

What degree do you need to be a behavioral analyst?

You need a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis. If you have some other type of master’s degree, you can complete additional ABA coursework from an ABAI accredited institution.

Some applied psychology master’s programs may qualify you to sit the BCBA exam as well.

Can you be a BCBA with a bachelor’s degree?

Although you need a master’s degree to become a full-fledged board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), you can become a BCaBA, or Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), with just a bachelor’s.

BCaBA-level certified behavior analysts work under the supervision of a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.

Universities with bachelor’s programs that lead to BCaBA certification are not numerous, but they do exist.

Make sure any program you’re considering is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI).

Do applied behavior analysts need a PhD?

No, you don’t need a PhD or a doctorate to become an ABA.

However, doctoral training could make you eligible for Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) certification. The BCBA-D designation does not grant any privileges beyond master’s-level BCBA certification.

This program is primarily research oriented. Students who pursue this path are likely seeking roles as professors, researchers, or clinical directors rather than advancing their clinical expertise in ABA.

Average salary with a master’s in applied behavioral analysis

The average yearly paycheck of someone with a master’s in clinical, counseling, or applied psychology (including ABA), 4 years after graduating college, is $55,962. Data comes from NCES.

Meanwhile, according to PayScale data, BCBAs earn a median salary of $72,466. This makes ABA one of the most lucrative branches of clinical/counseling/applied psychology at the master’s level.

People with a PsyD, however, earn even more: clinical and counseling psychologists (who need a doctorate) earn an average of $106,600 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Also read: The best online master’s in psychology programs with no GRE

Cheapest BCBA online programs

Because they are convenient and affordable, online degrees are getting more and more popular.  Many ABA programs allow students to complete coursework online.

The cheapest ABA online programs, by average total debt at graduation, are:

1. Western Connecticut State University – average debt $23,203 
2. National University – average debt $28,854 
3. Shenandoah University – average debt $31,205 

Final thoughts

A degree in ABA, and a career as a board-certified behavior analyst, can be a great way of helping vulnerable populations. You’ll teach people to cope with stressful environments and get the most out of life.

Choosing a fulfilling, meaningful career doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to unmanageable student debt.

Opt for a top-performing ABA master’s program that will allow you to succeed in a vitally important helping profession – without compromising on economic security.

If you’re interested in psychology, but you’re not sure ABA is the right choice for you, check out our master’s-level rankings of the best clinical psychology programs, counseling psychology programs, applied psychology programs, or marriage and family therapy programs.