by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 143 U.S. colleges awarded 7,220 degrees and certificates in Applied Behavior Analysis. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 89% of graduates. College Factual ranks 81 schools in its 2027 Best Applied Behavior Analysis Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $55,107 one year after completing, rising to $71,095 after four years.
A major in Applied Behavior Analysis involves the study of Applied Behavior Analysis. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Principles Of Learning And Behavior To Enhance The Development, Abilities, And Choices Of Children And Adults; And That Prepares Individuals To Address The Behavioral Needs Of Individuals, Especially Those With Developmental Disabilities And Autism. Includes Instruction In Behavior Analysis And Learning, Behavioral And Functional Assessment, Developmental Psychology, Applied Behavioral Analysis In Developmental Disabilities And Autism, Applied Behavioral Analysis In Mental Health And Aging, Research Methods, Evaluation Of Interventions, And Professional And Ethical Issues.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, applied behavior analysis draws strong interest, with 7,220 degrees awarded annually. 143 colleges award applied behavior analysis degrees, an average of 50 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,352.
By level, the 7,220 awards include 19 certificates, 539 bachelor’s degrees, 6,412 master’s degrees and 203 doctorates.
Women earned 87% of applied behavior analysis degrees and certificates in the latest year (6,288 of 7,220). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,396) and Hispanic or Latino (1,613), and international students earned 190.
College Factual ranks 81 schools in its 2027 Best Applied Behavior Analysis Schools ranking, including 11 for bachelor’s degrees, 68 for master’s degrees and 22 for doctorates. It also ranks applied behavior analysis schools within 21 states. In all, 143 colleges offer applied behavior analysis programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Applied Behavior Analysis Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common applied behavior analysis credential is the master’s degree: 6,412 of the 7,220 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to applied behavior analysis call most for Active Listening, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Psychology and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long an applied behavior analysis degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 19 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 539 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6,412 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 203 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to applied behavior analysis, at 33.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 20.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.3% |
| Master’s degree | 7.3% |
| Some college courses | 5.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
13 occupations are related to Applied Behavior Analysis, with an average median salary of $102,041; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Basic Skills Improvement Program Instructional Aide (BSIP Instructional Aide), SPED Paraeducator (Special Education Paraeducator), Education Support Professional and SPED TA (Special Education Teaching Assistant).
The occupation related to applied behavior analysis with the most projected jobs is Teaching Assistants, Special Education, at 656,798.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | 656,798 | 9.5% |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
Applied Behavior Analysis graduates earn a median $55,107 one year after completing their program, $71,095 after four years and $67,444 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,107 |
| 4 years | $71,095 |
| 5 years | $67,444 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to applied behavior analysis is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | $96,801 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
Applied Behavior Analysis has 16 similar majors in the Psychology field, which together award 35,967 degrees a year; the largest are Counseling Psychology (12,299), Clinical Psychology (6,412) and School Psychology (3,735). Browse all Psychology majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 12,299 |
| Clinical Psychology | 6,412 |
| School Psychology | 3,735 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3,171 |
| Applied Psychology | 3,004 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,736 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,876 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 711 |
| Family Psychology | 630 |
| Community Psychology | 467 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
