Applied Behavior Analysis: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Applied Behavior Analysis is a specialized field dedicated to understanding and modifying behavior through evidence-based principles rooted in learning theory. This program equips students with the expertise to design, implement, and evaluate interventions that improve functional outcomes across diverse populations, with a strong emphasis on individuals with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.
- Behavior Analysis and Learning: Explores the scientific study of how behavior is influenced by environmental factors, including reinforcement, punishment, and stimulus control.
- Behavioral and Functional Assessment: Teaches systematic methods for identifying the causes and functions of behavior to inform effective intervention planning.
- Developmental Psychology: Provides foundational knowledge on cognitive, emotional, and social development across the lifespan, with a focus on atypical development.
- Applied Behavioral Analysis in Developmental Disabilities and Autism: Focuses on targeted strategies to support skill acquisition, reduce challenging behaviors, and promote independence in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Applied Behavioral Analysis in Mental Health and Aging: Examines the application of behavior analytic techniques in treating psychological disorders and supporting adaptive functioning in older adults.
- Research Methods: Develops proficiency in experimental design, data collection, and analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions.
- Evaluation of Interventions: Emphasizes the systematic monitoring and assessment of treatment outcomes to ensure fidelity, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
- Professional and Ethical Issues: Addresses the standards, responsibilities, and ethical guidelines governing the practice of behavior analysis in clinical, educational, and community settings.
Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Applied Behavior Analysis Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Applied Behavior Analysis degrees, including Managers, All Other, Psychologists, All Other and Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 762,570 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Psychologists, All Other 19-3039 | $117,580 | $51,410 - $163,570 | 17,790 | $56.53 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists 19-3033 | $95,830 | $50,470 - $170,150 | 72,190 | $46.07 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1066 | $80,330 | $47,870 - $158,900 | 41,610 | N/A |
Applied Behavior Analysis Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $78,020 in West Virginia to $134,845 in California—a 73% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Connecticut, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 762,570 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Applied Behavior Analysis by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Applied Behavior Analysis programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Applied Behavior Analysis is found at Capella University (1,277 graduates), Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) (1,195 graduates), National University (NU) (780 graduates), Purdue University Global (403 graduates), and Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (254 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 6,797 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capella University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
1,277 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
1,195 | Melbourne, Florida | Private | fit.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Master's
|
780 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Post-Master's
|
403 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Postbac Cert.
Doctorate (Research)
|
254 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
224 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| The Chicago School (TCSPP) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
218 | Los Angeles, California | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
160 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Simmons University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
137 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | simmons.edu |
| Niagara University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
113 | Niagara University, New York | Private | niagara.edu |
| Pepperdine University |
Master's
|
96 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
|
96 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Manhattanville College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
68 | Purchase, New York | Private | mville.edu |
| Mary Baldwin University (MBU) |
Master's
|
64 | Staunton, Virginia | Private | marybaldwin.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
59 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Bay Path University |
Master's
|
58 | Longmeadow, Massachusetts | Private | baypath.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
55 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Residency
|
49 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
49 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
47 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Other Award
|
46 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Cambridge College |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
45 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | cambridgecollege.edu |
| Saint Edward's University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
44 | Austin, Texas | Private | stedwards.edu |
| Arcadia University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
38 | Glenside, Pennsylvania | Private | arcadia.edu |
| Drexel University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
37 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Albizu University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
36 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | albizu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Master's
|
35 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) |
Master's
|
35 | Danbury, Connecticut | Public | wcsu.edu |
| Touro University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
35 | New York, New York | Private | touro.edu |
| University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) |
Postbac Cert.
|
35 | Irvine, California | Public | umassglobal.edu |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs |
Master's
|
35 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Regis College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
34 | Weston, Massachusetts | Private | regiscollege.edu |
| Western New England University (WNE) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
34 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | wne.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Master's
Other Award
|
34 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Master's
|
31 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
30 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Northcentral University (NCU) |
Master's
|
29 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Postbac Cert.
|
27 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| St. Joseph's University (SJNY) |
Post-Master's
|
26 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | sjny.edu |
| Fielding Graduate University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Santa Barbara, California | Private | fielding.edu |
| The Chicago School |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Master's
|
22 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Mount St. Mary's University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
21 | Emmitsburg, Maryland | Private | msmary.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Other Award
|
20 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Master's
|
19 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| The Chicago School |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Master's
|
18 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Master's
|
18 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Master's
|
17 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) |
Master's
|
16 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Private | obu.edu |
| Empire State University |
Master's
|
16 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Postbac Cert.
|
16 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Master's
|
15 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Master's
Other Award
|
15 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Cairn University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14 | Langhorne, Pennsylvania | Private | cairn.edu |
| The Chicago School |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
14 | Richardson, Texas | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
13 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Master's
|
12 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Post-Master's
|
12 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
12 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Long Island University (LIU) |
Master's
|
12 | Brookville, New York | Private | liu.edu |
| Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
12 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | pcom.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
12 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Master's
|
12 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
11 | Joplin, Missouri | Public | mssu.edu |
| Caldwell University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | Caldwell, New Jersey | Private | caldwell.edu |
| University of Houston (UHCL) |
Master's
|
11 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhcl.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
10 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| University of Saint Joseph (USJ) |
Master's
|
10 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | usj.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Kent State University |
Post-Master's
|
10 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Oklahoma City University (OCU) |
Master's
|
10 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Private | okcu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Master's
|
10 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Master's
|
9 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Rollins College |
Master's
|
9 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | rollins.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Post-Master's
|
9 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Master's
|
9 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Daemen University |
Master's
|
9 | Amherst, New York | Private | daemen.edu |
| Oregon Institute of Technology (OTI) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | Klamath Falls, Oregon | Public | oit.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| York College of Pennsylvania (YCP) |
Post-Master's
|
9 | York, Pennsylvania | Private | ycp.edu |
| Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) |
Master's
|
8 | New Haven, Connecticut | Public | southernct.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
8 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Salve Regina University |
Master's
|
8 | Newport, Rhode Island | Private | salve.edu |
| Texas A&M University |
Master's
|
8 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | tamusa.edu |
| Martinsburg College (MC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | martinsburgcollege.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Master's
|
7 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Fresno Pacific University (FPU) |
Master's
|
7 | Fresno, California | Private | fresno.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Post-Master's
|
7 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Assumption University |
Master's
|
7 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | assumption.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
7 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Master's
|
7 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Troy University (TROY) |
Master's
|
6 | Troy, Alabama | Public | troy.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| William James College (MSPP) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
6 | Newton, Massachusetts | Private | williamjames.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Applied Behavior Analysis programs
How much can I earn with a Applied Behavior Analysis degree?
Salaries for Applied Behavior Analysis graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Psychologists, All Other earn around $117,580. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $134,845 compared to $78,020 in West Virginia. Approximately 762,570 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Applied Behavior Analysis programs?
Currently 137 accredited institutions offer Applied Behavior Analysis degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Capella University (1,277 graduates), Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) (1,195 graduates), and National University (NU) (780 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Applied Behavior Analysis growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 218 in 2010 to 6,914 in 2023-24. This represents a 3,072% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Applied Behavior Analysis degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Psychologists, All Other, and Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. Related occupations employ approximately 762,570 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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