20 Most Affordable Online ABA Graduate Certificate Programs

In this article, we profile the 20 most affordable online ABA graduate certificate programs.

A graduate certificate in applied behavior analysis (ABA) is generally for students who hold a master’s degree but want to earn an additional graduate ABA certificate. Individuals seeking certification as an applied behavioral analyst are required to sit for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) exam, which leads to certification as a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA). Eligibility to sit for the examination requires the completion of a sequence of board-certified online ABA courses, as seen in ABA graduate certificate programs. Few online ABA programs exist, especially those that are accredited and adhere to the stringent guidelines set forth by the BACB. To help with your research, we found BCBA online certificate programs and listed them below.

20 Most Affordable Online ABA Graduate Certificate Programs Ranking Methodology

For the purpose of this list, we looked at approximately 27 regionally and nationally accredited colleges and universities that offered online ABA graduate certificate programs in order to discover the cheapest BCBA online programs. To be included on our list, schools must offer an online program with an ABAI- or BACB-approved course sequence for certification that costs less than $50,000. The program cost was gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (College Navigator). The programs were then listed according to affordability.

Ranking the 20 Cheapest BCBA Online Programs

20. Ball State University

Online ABA Certificate

Muncie, Indiana

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $26,600

Ball State University offers online ABA programs, including the ABA certificate, which may be earned independently of a degree to help demonstrate an area of concentration. The certificate is a critical step in becoming board certified. In fact, the graduate ABA certificate program is BACB-approved, and upon completion of the coursework and independent BCBA-supervised field experience, it provides eligibility to sit for the certification exam. Courses are offered fully online and include advanced applied behavior analysis, behavioral consultation, professional issues in behavior analysis, introduction to applied behavior analysis, and verbal behavior. To be accepted into the program, which is one of the best applied behavior analysis certificate programs available, applicants must meet the admission requirements of the graduate school. In addition to offering top-rated programming, Ball State ranks with U.S. News & World Report as having tied for #70 in most innovatice schools, as well as #202 in best national universities.

19. Western Connecticut State University

Online ABA Certificate

Danbury, Connecticut

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $26,477

Western Connecticut State University offers ABA graduate certificate programs online that are designed for working professionals who want to maximize their knowledge and become eligible to sit for the Board-Certified Behavior Analysis Exam (BCBA). The graduate certificate, one of the top BCBA online certificate programs, may be earned 100% online and consists of seven online behavior analysis courses. Western Connecticut State University ranks with U.S. News & World Report among best regional universities North and top performers in social mobility, as well tying for #39 in top public schools. Courses and sequence are approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as meeting the requirements for eligibility to take the BCBA examination. Additional supervised experience is also required in order to meet the eligibility requirements.

18. Northeastern University

Online ABA Certificate

Boston, Massachussetts

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $26,095

Another one of the top online ABA programs is the graduate certificate program offered by Northeastern University. The seven-course sequence in applied behavior analysis is designed to prepare students for the ABA certification exam and meets the requirements set forth by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Some of the behavior analysis course requirements include behavioral concepts and principles, behavior assessment, single-case research design, service administration, and systematic inquiry. Successful completion of all required courses goes towards qualifying students to take the national Board-Certified Behavior Analyst examination; there is also the option of taking two additional semesters to meet the practicum requirements for the BCBA examination. Candidates for admission into this behavior analysis program must have a bachelor’s degree. Northeastern University ranks with U.S. News & World Report and offers high-ranked online ABA programs.

17. Oregon Institute of Technology 

Online ABA Graduate Certificate

Klamath Falls, Oregon

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $24,315

For individuals wanting to prepare for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) examination, Oregon Institute of Technology offers an affordable online BCBA program. This is one of the best online ABA certification programs. Consisting of 33 credits, the ABA online certificate program is open to professionals who can benefit from earning this important credential. Online courses from the ABA program cover topics like foundations of ABA, behavioral assessment, research methods in ABA, and special topics in ABA. Oregon Tech offers high rankings with U.S. News & World Report. In fact, current rankings include #2 in top public schools and #10 in regional colleges West.

16. Texas A&M University

ABA Certification Online

College Station, Texas

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $24,106

Texas A&M University offers applied behavior analysis certification online programs designed for working students who want to become board-certified applied behavior analysts. Coursework consists of six online classes in ABA and is approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). These classes include advanced applied behavior analysis; assessment in school settings; prevention, support, and intervention for students with emotional and behavior problems; and leadership in applied behavior analysis. The program also gives the option of taking a 3-credit practicum course, which can be completed either online or face-to-face. Recognized as a top-ranked institution, Texas A&M has received rankings with U.S. News & World Report, including tying for #68 in best national universities and #37 in best colleges for veterans.

15. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Online Applied Behavioral Analysis Certificate

Chicago, Illinois

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $23,918

The one-year online ABA graduate certificate program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology prepares students to sit for the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. It is also one of the cheapest BCBA online programs available. The BCBA exam is needed to become a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, or BCBA. Courses are delivered online and guided by practitioner faculty. Online courses cover BCBA topics such as applied behavior analysis, assessment and intervention, and concepts and principles in behavior analysis. There is also an optional supervised practicum, which takes place online. Successful admission to the online BCBA program requires an earned master’s degree from an accredited institution, conferred in behavior analysis or a closely related degree. Ranked and accredited, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has earned recognition from major publications like U.S. News & World Report.

14. University of Oklahoma

Online ABA Certificate

Norman, Oklahoma

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $23,876

The online ABA graduate certificate program at the University of Oklahoma is one of the most affordable programs out there. The seven-course ABA sequence can be taken as a stand-alone certificate, or as a concentration as part of the graduate degree program. Courses are delivered online and include philosophical assumptions of behavior analysis, behavior assessment in applied behavioral analysis, behavior change in applied behavioral analysis, and personnel supervision and management in applied behavioral analysis. All coursework is approved by the Behavior Analysts Certification Board, and when combined with supervised fieldwork experiences, can lead to eligibility to sit for the certification exam. The University of Oklahoma offers a top affordable online ABA graduate certificate.

13. University of Southern Maine

Online ABA Certificate

Portland, Maine

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $22,968

The University of Southern Maine’s cheapest BCBA online programs are offered through the school’s educational psychology program and can be completed entirely via distance learning. This 24-credit certificate program is approved by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board and provides eligibility to sit for the BCBA certification examination. To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a minimum of a graduate degree in behavior analysis, education, or psychology from an institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Course requirements include behavioral principles of learning, principles and procedures for instructional intervention, consultation and collaborative problem-solving, functional behavioral assessment, and professional ethics in behavior analysis. In addition to providing one of the top ABA certificate programs online, the University of Southern Maine’s 2022 rankings with U.S. News & World Report include a place on the list of best regional universities in the North.

12. University of Arkansas

Online ABA Certificate

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $22,563

The University of Arkansas offers online BCBA certification programs that consist of 21 credits. The graduate certificate program in ABA offers a coursework sequence that has been approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, which means graduates may be eligible to sit for the certification examination. Prospective students must be admitted to the University of Arkansas Graduate School; also, they must have at least a 3.0 GPA. Courses are delivered online and taught by university professors. These behavior analysis courses include concepts and principles, behavior-change procedures, selecting and implementing interventions, and behavior assessment. According to recent rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, the University of Arkansas ranks #162 in best national universities and has tied for #78 in top public schools.

11. St. Joseph’s College

Online Applied Behavioral Analysis Certificate

Brooklyn, New York

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $20,592

The online ABA certification programs from St. Joseph’s College meet the most recent academic requirements for licensure as Licensed Behavior Analysts in accordance with the New York State Commissioner’s Regulations. The online ABA program is open to students looking for top ABA certificate programs online who wish to receive licensing and sit for the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. Classes are delivered online and consist of 29 credits that include topics like advanced research methods in autism, assessment of autism spectrum disorder, basic principles of applied behavior analysis, ethics for behavioral analysis, and maintenance of student records. An optional six-credit supervised practicum is also available for students who want to earn additional experience. Students seeking the ABA certification online must possess a master’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, conferred in a related field of study like behavior analysis, education, or psychology.

10. Slippery Rock University

Online ABA Certificate

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $18,216

Here is another option for BCBA online certification program. Slippery Rock University offers an online BCBA program that prepares students to sit for the BCBA examination. The website describes applied behavior analysis as “the application of science to the study of human behavior” and says that it is quite effective for a number of situations, including autism, social work, and counseling. This program prepares students to use that application of science to help change people’s lives for the better. Some of the courses include techniques in applied behavior analysis, applications in applied behavior analysis, ethical issues in the science and practice of behavior analysis, and issues in the behavioral treatment of autism. This university ranks with U.S. News & World Report as having tied for #32 in best colleges for veterans, and ranking #43 in best value schools. 

9. St. Joseph’s University 

Online ABA Certificate

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $18,144

St. Joseph’s University offers online ABA graduate certificate programs that prepare qualifying students for BCBA examination. The certificate program is fully approved by the BACB to fulfill specific coursework requirements necessary to become eligible to sit for the BCBA examination. Required courses consist of 24 credits, covering topics like intro to autism spectrum disorder, intro to applied behavior analysis, ABA ethics and professionalism, and behavior assessment and intervention. Start terms are offered in spring, summer and fall. In addition to quality programming, St. Joseph’s University offers ranking prestige with U.S. News & World Report, as it is ranked #3 in best colleges for veterans and has tied for #8 in best regional universities North. 

8. Cairn University

Online Applied Behavioral Analysis Certificate

Langhorne, Pennsylvania

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $16,596

Cairn University is one of the first Christian colleges to offer BACB-verified online ABA programs that integrate extensive autism training. The program may be started in any semester and completed in just four semesters, including one summer. The course sequence is verified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) as meeting requirements for exam eligibility. Students must hold a master’s degree in education, psychology, or ABA to enter the behavior analysis program. A 20% discount is offered for educators working in Christian schools. Cairn offers one of the most affordable programs on our list, and it is ranked with U.S. News & World Report, including tying for #50 in top performers on social mobility.

7. Bowling Green State University 

Online Behavior Analysis Certificate

Bowling Green, Ohio

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $15,823

Bowling Green State University offers an online behavior analysis certificate that is offered in six seven-week online courses; this is among the best applied behavior analysis certificate programs available and also one of the cheapest BCBA online programs. The university offers an online course sequence for those interested in ABA certification online, or in becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst or a Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. All online courses and coursework meet the requirements for eligibility to take the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst Examination. Some of the online ABA courses include ethical issues and professional standards in applied behavior analysis, behavior research methods, and functional behavior assessment. Bowling Green State University has earned recognition from major publications like U.S. News & World Report. In fact, Bowling Green State University’s 2022 rankings include a place among top national universities, top public schools and best performers on social mobility. 

6. University of North Texas

Online Applied Behavioral Analysis Certificate

Denton, Texas

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $12,666

One of the top ABA graduate certificate programs online, and also one of the cheapest BCBA online programs, is offered by University of North Texas and is open to students holding a master’s degree in a related field of study who are looking for the best BCBA online certification programs. The certificate course sequence is taught fully online in an asynchronous format. The course sequence meets the requirements of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB). Students meeting the requirements become eligible to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst examination. These online courses can be started throughout the year and work for either full- or part-time study. According to the program website, this degree prepares students to work with “children with autism, patients in healthcare institutions, people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and students in educational settings.” 

5. Capella University

Online ABA Certificate

Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $14,784

Capella University offers an online behavior analysis certificate that is affordable, high-quality, and BCBA-approved. Capella University’s ABA professors are actively engaged in the profession, and they are well qualified to teach ABA. Also, credits from this program can apply towards Capella University’s MS in Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis. Students at this university will have the opportunity to use software that can help them prepare for the real world. In the online courses, students will learn to tell the difference between therapeutic approaches that use behavior analysis and those that do not, and they will practice dealing with ethical dilemmas that arise when practicing applied behavior analysis. Also, they will design learning systems to deal with socially problematic behaviors. Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Comission.

4. Mary Baldwin University

Online Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate

Staunton, Virginia

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $13,170

Mary Baldwin offers one of the most affordable online ABA certificate programs on our list, and it’s not just affordable, it’s flexible. In fact, besides the ABA certificate, students have the option to earn a Comprehensive Certificate in Autism Disorders from Mary Baldwin University. Both the autism disorders certificate and the ABA certificate can count towards another degree, whether it is a bachelor’s or a master’s degree. Both certificates are available online. The online ABA certificate is verified and meets BACB standards. Mary Baldwin University ranks with U. S. News & World Report as having tied for #100 in top performers in social mobility, among other rankings. 

3. University of Massachusetts Global

Online Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate

Irvine, California

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $12,720

ABA graduate certificate programs online like the one offered at University of Massachusetts Global are designed with the working student in mind, which makes this a great option for those looking for the best online ABA certificate programs. The online ABA program prepares behavior analysts to help people achieve personal goals, reduce challenges, and improve their quality of life. This 21-credit program is offered fully online and consists of seven courses, each running eight weeks in length. The online courses align with the BCBA programmatic requirements and explore topics like the foundational concepts and principles of applied behavior analysis; using and analyzing measurement, data, and experimental design on applied behavior analysis; assesment to guide and evaluate intervention in applied behavior analysis; and the science and philosophical underpinnings of applied behavior analysis. The online ABA certificate from UMass Global is one of the cheapest BCBA online programs or online ABA certificates available.

2. Purdue University Global

Online ABA Certificate

West Lafayette, Indiana

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $10,582

Purdue University Global is an entirely online branch of Purdue University. The ABA online certificate is high-quality as well as affordable; this university is well-known for its BCBA certification online programs and has experience in offering quality online education. This particular cheapest BCBA online program offers two start dates in July, one in August, and one in September. In this 30-credit ABA certificate online program, students learn during 10-week terms; the program estimates that it should take students about 15 hours of effort per week. Professors are professionals in the field of ABA, and this course sequence is approved by the BACB and is ABAI-accredited. Purdue University Global is recognized by U. S. News & World Report as ranking #5 in top public schools.

1. Arizona State University

Online Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate

Tempe, Arizona

Website

Graduate Tuition/Fees: $9,982

Offered through the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University’s online ABA program ranks first on our list of cheapest BCBA online programs. The online ABA certificate consists of 21 credits, which include seven courses that may be completed either over a two-year period while concurrently pursuing an online graduate degree or as a stand-alone graduate certificate. Online courses meet the requirements of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, and upon completion, students are eligible to sit for the exam. Some of the courses include ethics of applied behavior analysis, philosophical foundations of applied behavior analysis in educational settings, and behavior analytic assessment. To be eligible for admission into the behavior analysis program, applicants must have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field or a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. ASU ranks with U.S. News & World Report as the 117th best national university.

ABA Staff

July 2022

Related Resources:

• 10 Best ABA PhD Degree Programs
• 10 Best ABA Master’s Degree Programs
• 5 Traits of a Successful ABA Therapist
• 10 Duties of an ABA Therapist in an Autism Clinic
• What Jobs Can I Get with an ABA Degree?
• What is the Difference Between an ABA and an LBA?

This concludes our ranking of the top 20 BCBA certification online programs.