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What Scholarships are Available for ABA Students?

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Even with a big demand for qualified applied behavior analysts in the market today, the position comes with some pretty high educational requirements… and some pretty high tuition costs.

Qualifying for BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) requires at least a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis, education or psychology, along with a specific group of ABA courses. For students of programs that don’t include the right mix of courses, going back to enroll in a stand-alone BACB-approved Verified Course Sequence (VCS) is the only option. This is something that can add even more to the expense of meeting the qualifications.

There’s no way around it. The education you need for board certification doesn’t come cheap.

Getting a good scholarship – or several – can cut your costs dramatically and may be the difference between being able to afford a degree or not.

Because behavior analysis is both a relatively new field and a relatively small one, it isn’t always easy to find dedicated scholarships to cover graduate programs in ABA. Many of the options out there are restricted to residents of particular states, and many are for a relatively small dollar amount.

But hope is not lost. Whether you have your eyes on a master’s in ABA specifically, or in education or psychology with an emphasis on ABA, you do have options, and we’re here to help you find them.

Here we provide an overview of some of the scholarship options available out there, where you might be able to find more like them, and what you can expect in terms of qualifying.

 

Criteria and Other Considerations When Applying for a Scholarship

All scholarships have eligibility criteria you’ll need to meet in order to be considered.

In some cases, requirements might even relate in some way to the organization or person who created the scholarship and may be surprisingly specific.

The Cynthia E. Morgan Scholarship Fund offers grants of $1,000, and is a good example of the kind of options you’ll find at the state level. As an example, this scholarship is only available to individuals who:

  • Are current residents of the state of Maryland.
  • Are juniors, seniors, or recent graduates of a Maryland high school with plans to attend an accredited Maryland post-secondary school.
  • Are the first in their immediate family to go to college.
  • Plan to enter a medical or medical-related field.

Basic criteria and other considerations you’ll need to keep in mind when looking and applying for scholarships include…

Scholastic Performance – GPA

“C” students need not apply.

You need to be an ace to be considered for virtually any scholarship. You become a de facto representative of the organization that sponsors your education, and they only want top performers as part of their entourage. Expect any sponsor to be very selective when it comes to academic performance.

This is particularly true for scholarships restricted to graduate programs. A certain minimum grade point average is more than likely to be required, frequently above 3.5.

Residency Requirements

Location matters.

Many scholarships have residency requirements, and are only available to residents of a particular state. Sometimes location requirements are even more specific than that, with some scholarships limited to graduates of certain high schools.

Others may be based on where you plan to work after getting your degree.

The Autism Recovery Foundation, for example, offers a scholarship only for ABA students who intend to pursue careers in the state of Minnesota. This is a good example of the kind of thing that is available in other states. Look for professional associations for certified and state licensed ABAs in your state to see what they have to offer.

Timing

No procrastinating.

Most scholarships have deadlines for filing and applying – no surprise there.

But sometimes there is even a deadline or a specific time range in which the scholarship can be used. Don’t expect to be able to score a scholarship and then delay enrolling by taking some time off to do some traveling or even to take a job, unless you can make it work with your class schedule.

There may also be some rules on what years of your program are eligible to be covered, with some only applying to your first year as a grad student.

Number of Scholarships Awarded

Improve your odds.

One benefit to some of the lower dollar value grants is that there may be plenty of slots available, and this could improve your odds—in other words, you and a bunch of other applicants may all receive a small slice of a larger financial pie.

When researching your options, you can check to see how many awards will be made at each level to get a better feel for what your chances are of being awarded a scholarship.

Don’t limit yourself to just one scholarship – or to one type of scholarship – either. The more you apply for, the better your odds of getting one… or more than one.

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Finding Scholarships for Applied Behavior Analysis Master’s Degree Programs

As the demand for qualified applied behavior analysts has grown, more and more scholarship have been coming online specific to the field of ABA.

Look for options through the university you’re considering enrolling in, local ABA clinics, and, of course, nonprofits and professional associations:

University Direct

Scholarships may be offered through the graduate school department offering the ABA program, as is the case with Michigan State University’s ABA program, which offers full scholarships for up to seven students. This is a good example of what’s out there at the university level.

You may be deciding between a few colleges in your state or in surrounding states, of if your net is even wider because you’re looking at online programs you may have several schools that you’re considering. Take the time to see if they offer options like the one through MSU. This might help you in making a final decision on which program you really want to enroll in.

ABA Providers

Clinics and other providers of ABA services are another possible source of scholarships. It’s worth taking the time to look through all the providers in your area to see what kind of scholarships they may be promoting on their website.

In some cases, local providers may not even have any residency requirements. The $1,000 Action Behavior Center College Scholarship, for instance, is open to any ABA student anywhere in the United States.

Even if you don’t qualify for some reason, or if you don’t find that any of the clinics in your neighborhood offer anything, this is still some really beneficial footwork. Getting an idea of the professional landscape in your area will give you a feel for the type of practice you’d like to work in once you earn your degree and become certified. You never know, you might even end up talking to the provider that you eventually do your practicum or field experience with, giving you a jump on the professional networking process, and laying the groundwork for your career.

Nonprofits and Industry Groups

The field of applied behavior analysis has been growing in parallel with the rise in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses. Since ABA therapy is one of the few scientifically validated treatments for ASD, a number of autism support group and research-oriented non-profits now offer ABA scholarships. A couple of the biggest players are:

There are also ABA industry groups that either provide direct grants to ABA graduate students or offer resources for finding such grants:

  • The Society for Advancement of Behavior Analysis – SABA tops out the list in terms of dollar figures, with grants of up to $10,000 available to support student research projects.
  • Association for Behavior Analysis International – Although it’s more work than applying for some of the other scholarships on this list, ABAI is a great resource for tracking down and getting a variety of grants available from various chapters. The grants are not administered through ABAI directly, but the association provides a consolidated list of member chapter grants and links to where you can apply. These can run up to $1000 and have various criteria depending on the chapter or special interest group that is offering the grant.

Finding Scholarships for Graduate Degrees in Psychology and Education

Of course, you don’t necessarily need to earn a master’s in applied behavior analysis specifically, which means you aren’t limited to scholarships available strictly for ABA programs.

Many ABA students come to the field through advanced degrees in two other closely related fields: psychology and education. In these fields, the scholarship prospects tend to be considerably better.

Psychology Scholarships

If you cast a wider net to include programs in psychology that include a BCBA course sequence, you’ll still most certainly meet the requirements for board certification, plus you’ll find more scholarship opportunities.

These can range from small grants like the $1,000 American Psychological Foundation grants, all the way up to $25,000 fellowships like the Elizabeth Munsterberg Child Psychology Graduate Student award.

The American Psychological Association has a large database of scholarship and research grant programs that is easily searchable for specific topics of study and possible recipients.

Education Scholarships

For most teachers, an advanced degree is the surest route to better pay, and is often strongly recommended or even required to meet state licensing requirements. Perhaps you already know you want to dedicate your graduate studies to ABA, and if you’re looking at a master’s in special education, programs with a concentration in ABA are likely on your radar.

Good news: there are a large number of well-funded scholarship opportunities designed to assist master’s degree candidates in the field of education.

Of course, the federal TEACH (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education) Grant remains the most popular option out there for teachers, and it does include graduate programs in special education as one of the subject areas that qualifies. This is the obvious place to start for any teacher out there looking for some help to cover the cost of college.

But don’t stop there.

There are also other scholarships out there specifically for teachers earning a degree in special education; for example the Dorothy B. Lewis Special Education scholarship.

Other Scholarships that Aren’t Specific to Any Degree Field

You may also have other opportunities on the basis of your ethnicity, gender, income level, or location that will help provide support for your master’s degree.

Most colleges also have financial aid offices that are happy to go through the opportunities available to you and help you navigate the application process.

You can even stack up multiple scholarships from multiple sources if you’re willing to put in the work. You might be surprised how many you could qualify for.

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National Scholarships and Scholarships Organized by State

Here you’ll find all the scholarships currently available to ABAs as of 2017. Start by taking a look at options here at the top that don’t have any state residency requirements, then see what’s going on at the state level. Remember, qualifying for one scholarship isn’t likely to make you ineligible for another one, so go after any and all options that work for you.

Non-state-based ABA Scholarships

Action Behavior Centers ABA Therapy Scholarship

Benefit: $1000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident enrolled in college full-time and planning to major in ABA therapy or a related field
  • Must complete online application form with writing sample
  • Merit-based

Other details:

  • Must apply by November 30

 

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Graduate Student Research Grant

Benefit: up to $1000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student and a member of ABCT
  • Must be seeking funding for an unfunded thesis or dissertation research project approved by your faculty advisor
  • Must include letter of support from faculty advisor

Other details:

  • Grant is awarded based upon a combination of need and merit
  • Deadline to apply is April

 

Autism Speaks Sir Dennis Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellowship Program

Benefit: $32,000 for two-year fellowship (includes $24,000 stipend plus $8000 annual allowance)

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program leading to a research doctorate in autism/ABA
  • Must have identified a mentor
  • Must submit three confidential recommendations

Other details:

  • If selected, must spend 80 percent of your time engaged in research for the duration of the award
  • Application deadline- March

 

Behavioral Gerontology SIG Student Researcher Award

Benefit: $50

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate or undergraduate student who is first author on a behavioral gerontology or age-related talk or poster

Other details:

  • Must present winning presentation at the Association of Behavior Analysis International annual conference
  • Must submit by the first Friday in May

 

Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT) Student Paper Competition

Benefit: $1000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a current undergraduate or graduate student or recent (less than one year) graduate
  • Must have conducted the research described in the paper as a student
  • Paper must be 25-50 typewritten pages in APA format

Other details:

  • Must agree to present paper at the annual BABAT conference in Amherst, MA in October
  • Must submit by May 1

 

Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT) B.F. Skinner Foundation Student Poster Competition Award

Benefit: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be a current undergraduate or graduate student or recent (less than one year) graduate
  • Must submit a poster based upon research the student conducted as the first author
  • Poster must be accompanied by a letter from student advisor

Other details:

  • Must be able to attend the annual BABAT conference in Amherst, MA in October
  • Must apply by Aug 1

 

B.F. Skinner Foundation/BABAT Student Research Award

Benefit: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in behavior analysis
  • Must submit a student-driven research proposal approved by your department head

Other details:

  • Must be able to attend the annual BABAT conference in Amherst, MA in October
  • Must submit proposal by June 20

 

Chris Anderson Research Grant of the Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) Network SIG

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate psychology submitting a research proposal in the OBM area of ABA
  • Both the researcher (applicant) and sponsoring faculty mentor must be a member of the OBM Network

Other details:

  • Must agree to present winning research at the OBM Network Conference held every other spring
  • Must agree to submit winning research manuscript to the Journal of Organizational Behavioral Management for review and possible publication
  • Must submit proposal by January 20

 

Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders Eleanor Guetzloe Undergraduate Scholarship

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies related to working with children with behavioral needs
  • Must be a current member of the Council for Exceptional Children

 

Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior SIG Student Paper Award

Benefit: complimentary ABAI conference registration and a small monetary award

Eligibility:

  • Must be a recent graduate (one year) or a current undergraduate or graduate ABA student
  • Must be first author on a paper concerning basic experimental research issues
  • Paper must have gone through a peer review process
  • Paper must be no longer than 30 pages and adhere to APA guidelines
  • Must also submit a letter from faculty sponsor

Other details:

  • Must be available to present winning paper at the ABAI conference
  • Must submit by January 1

 

John R.Z. Abela Student Dissertation Award/ABCT

Benefit: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be a doctoral student and a member of ABCT
  • Dissertation research topic must be related to cognitive behavioral therapy, specifically the development, maintenance and/or treatment of depression in children under 18
  • Dissertation must have been successfully proposed
  • Must include letter of recommendation from dissertation advisor

Other details:

  • Application deadline is March 15

 

Leonard Krasner Student Dissertation Award/ABCT

Benefit: $1000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a doctoral student and a member of ABCT
  • Dissertation research topic must be related to cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Dissertation must have been successfully proposed
  • Must include letter of recommendation from dissertation advisor

Other details:

  • Application deadline is March 15

 

Organization for Autism Research Graduate Research Grant

Benefit: $1000 for master’s degree students conducting autism research, $2000 for doctoral or post- doctoral students

Eligibility:

  • Must be a master’s, doctoral or post-doctoral student conducting independent autism research

Other details:

  • Application deadline is February

 

Penn State World Campus Scholarship

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled a Penn State World Campus behavioral health and analysis program and have completed at least 24 credits
  • Must have a 3.2 GPA (cumulative)
  • Must file a FAFSA with the Office of Student Aid

Other details:

  • Must apply by September
  • Include personal statement, recommendation letter and essay with your completed application

 

Percy Martinez Autism Scholarship

Benefit: $5000

Eligibility:

  • Must be involved in an autism program as a volunteer or intern, OR
  • Must have interest in education, OR
  • Must be currently enrolled in or accepted to an accredited school, OR
  • Must provide two letters of recommendation

Other details:

  • Must submit a short video or essay with your application
  • Deadline: December 31, 2017

 

Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA) International Development Grant

Benefit: $1000

Eligibility:

  • Must be interested in developing and promoting behavior analysis on an international scale
  • Winners are expected to present their winning ideas at the annual SABA convention

 

SABA Innovative Student Research Grant

Benefit: up to two $2000 dissertation grants (applied research and basic research) and two $1000 master’s thesis grants (applied research and basic research) are awarded each academic year

Eligibility

  • Must be enrolled in a psychology or behavior analysis doctoral or master’s program

 

SABA Senior Student Presenter Grant

Benefit: SABA will pay for the winner’s registration to present at the SABA annual conference

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student member of ABAI (Association for Behavior Analysis International) by the grant application deadline
  • Must be the first author of a submission (paper, poster, symposium or panel)

 

SABA Sidney W. & Janet R. Bijou Grant

Benefit: up to two $10,000 grants are awarded each academic year

Eligibility:

  • Must be involved in doctoral research designed to improve understanding of child development based on ABA concepts

 

Speech Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis SIG Research and Dissemination Grant

Benefit: Two grants of $250 each are awarded each academic year- one for research and one for application or dissemination. Additionally, every completed application gets the applicant one year of free membership in the SPABA.

Eligibility:

  • Must be an ABAI member prior to submission of application
  • Must be a graduate student enrolled in speech-language pathology, behavior analysis or related field
  • Must submit a faculty letter of support

Other details:

  • Must plan to present winning project at the SPABA meeting in the annual ABAI conference
  • Deadline for submission is April

 

TEACH Grant

Benefit:  varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a full-time student enrolled in a high needs field (ABA is one of them)
  • Must be a U.S. citizen/eligible non-citizen
  • Must show financial need
  • Must maintain a 3.25 GPA

Other details:

  • Must commit to teaching in this field in a low-income school upon graduation

 

The Wing Institute Student Research Grant

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student who wishes to research evidence-based education

 

Verbal Behavior SIG Student Grant

Benefit: up to $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate or undergraduate student in VB ABA
  • Must submit a proposal relevant to any topic in verbal behavior with humans or non-human animals
  • Must submit letter of support from advisor

Other details:

  • Application deadline is April 1

 

Virginia A. Roswell Student Dissertation Award/ABCT

Benefit: $1000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a doctoral student and a member of ABCT
  • Dissertation research topic must be related to cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Dissertation must have been successfully proposed
  • Must include letter of recommendation from dissertation advisor

Other details:

  • Application deadline is March 15

 

Alabama ABA Scholarships

Graduate Assistantship, Jacksonville State University M.S. in Psychology with Concentration in ABA

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in Jacksonville State University’s MS in Psychology/ABA program

 


Alaska ABA Scholarships

There were no ABA scholarships or grants available as of September 2017.

 


Arizona ABA Scholarships

Elk River Teens Path to Success Scholarship

Benefit: $500-$5000

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled full-time as a junior, senior or graduate student, with a major in counseling, psychology, social work or related field
  • Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA

Other details:

  • Must submit two letters of recommendation and college transcripts with application
  • Applications are accepted year-round

 


Arkansas ABA Scholarships

Pam Biesiot Memorial Scholarship/Arkansas Support Network

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be an employee of Arkansas Support Network, Inc. or immediate family member
  • Must be pursuing an educational endeavor that will benefit ABA/autism/disabilities

Other details:

  • Scholarship may be used for a one-day conference, college tuition, anything educational
  • Application deadline-May 29

 


California ABA Scholarships

Autism Research Postdoctoral Training Program – University of California Davis

Benefit: $30,000

Eligibility:

  • Must have a doctorate in behavioral science
  • Must be planning a career in autism research
  • Must submit a sample of written work
  • Must submit three letters of recommendation

Other details:

  • Application deadline- October

 

B.F. Skinner Foundation/California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA) Research Award

Benefit: Two $500 awards each academic year

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in California
  • Must be a member of the CalABA
  • Must have conducted the original research in behavior analysis as a graduate student

Other details:

  • Must submit application by December

 

Julie Vargas/CalABA Research Award

Benefit: Two $250 awards each academic year

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in or a recent (one year) graduate of a graduate ABA program in California
  • Must be a member of CalABA
  • Must submit a student-driven research project, dissertation or thesis approved by department head

 


Colorado ABA Scholarships

Butcher Innovation Awards

Benefit: up to $10,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher at Colorado University and an investigator on a translational or communications research study
  • Must register for and present a poster at the annual Butcher Symposium

Other details:

  • Award is for one year

 


Connecticut ABA Scholarships

Creamer Shea Memorial Scholarship for Professional Development

Benefit: up to $1000/semester; recipients may reapply for additional semesters

Eligibility:

  • Must be a special education teacher, speech language professionals, paraprofessional or other educator currently working in Connecticut with children with autism
  • Must submit application electronically
  • Must plan to study ABA at one of the following schools:
    • University of Saint Joseph – West Hartford, CT
    • Southern Connecticut State University – New Haven, CT
    • Eastern Connecticut State University – Willimantic, CT
    • Elms College- Chicopee, MA

Other details:

  • Application deadlines: July 15 for fall semester; Nov. 15 for spring semester; April 15 for summer semester

 


Delaware ABA Scholarships

Daniel and Lois Gray Memorial Scholarship/Autism Delaware

Benefit: $1000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a full-time graduate or undergraduate student at the University of Delaware pursuing a career in ABA/autism
  • Must submit a description of your career plans
  • Must submit a faculty recommendation

Other details:

  • Application deadline is April

 


District of Columbia ABA Scholarships

There were no ABA scholarships or grants available as of September 2017.

 


Florida ABA Scholarships

B.F. Skinner Foundation Florida Graduate Student Research Scholarship

Benefit: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must attend a graduate-level program in Florida
  • Must be a member of FABA (Florida Association for Behavioral Analysis)
  • Must submit a proposal for a student-driven ABA research project, dissertation or thesis that has been approved by your department head
  • Must submit a faculty letter of support

Other details:

  • Must submit cover letter, abstract, introduction, methods and references electronically to [email protected]. Faculty letter of support must be emailed directly from the faculty member.
  • Application deadline is August 1

 

Project Intensive Intervention Grant at Florida Atlantic University

Benefit: covers tuition in Department of Exceptional Student Education with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) master’s degree program

Eligibility:

  • Must apply and be accepted into the ESE department graduate program

Other details:

  • Must maintain Project Intensive Intervention service obligation requirement
  • Must meet ESE Department degree completion requirements to maintain enrollment in grant program

 


Georgia ABA Scholarships

Jan L. Branham Scholarship/University of Georgia College of Education

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a currently enrolled graduate student studying ABA/autism at the University of Georgia

 


Hawaii ABA Scholarships

M.Ed. SPED: Ho’olako Grant Cohort/University of Hawai’i at Manoa College of Education

Benefit: Tuition stipend for 33 credits, initial $1400 stipend at beginning of program, $600 registration and travel stipend to attend regional or state conference to present research

Eligibility:

  • Must already hold a Hawaii teaching license and have two years of experience with ABA/autistic students in a rural, remote or disadvantaged area within the state of Hawaii
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA and a bachelor’s degree

Other details:

  • Application deadline: October 1

 


Idaho ABA Scholarships

Dr. Stephen S. & Susan Feit Scholarship/Idaho State University

Benefit:  varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be an Idaho State University student in the Department of Counseling
  • Must write an essay on your educational aims and career choices

Other details:

  • Application deadline is October

 


Illinois ABA Scholarships

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Merit Scholarship

Benefit: up to $10,000, renewable up to three years for full-time five-year degree programs and up to two years for full-time programs of four years or less

Eligibility:

  • Must be a new, incoming, domestic student of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
  • Must have a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or a combined GRE score of 1300 (if test taken before 8/1/11) or 315 (test taken after 8/1/11)

Other details:

  • Must maintain full-time student status and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to keep the scholarship
  • Application deadline of April 15 for fall program

 

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology President’s Scholarship

Benefit: up to $7000, non-renewable

Eligibility:

  • Must be a new, incoming, domestic student of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
  • Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 for post-bachelor’s programs or 3.5 for post-master’s programs

Other details:

  • Must maintain full-time student status and a cumulative GPA of 3.2 to keep the scholarship
  • Application deadline of April 15 for fall program

 

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Dean’s Scholarship

Benefit: up to $5000, non-renewable

Eligibility:

  • Must be a new, incoming student of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
  • Must have demonstrated prior academic excellence, service contributions and achievements

Other details:

  • Must maintain full-time student status and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to keep the scholarship
  • Application deadline of April 15 for fall program

 

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Global Impact Scholarship

Benefit: $1000, non-renewable

Eligibility:

  • Must be a new or returning international student of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology enrolled in an on-campus program
  • Must submit an essay sharing your journey to The Chicago School and how your education will help you impact the ABA field

Other details:

  • Application deadline of April 15 for fall program

 

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology International Student Grant

Benefit: between $1500 and $14,500 (non-renewable)

Eligibility:

  • Must be a new, international student accepted into The Chicago School of Professional Psychology enrolled in an online or on-campus program

Other details:

  • Must maintain full-time academic status in good academic standing to remain eligible
  • Deadline to apply is April 15 for fall program

 


Indiana ABA Scholarships

Ball State University Graduate Assistantship/Masters in ABA program

Benefit: varies, includes stipend and a majority waiver of tuition cost

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student in Ball State’s Masters in ABA program
  • Must agree to work 20 hours/week (full-time) or 10 hours/week (part-time)

 

Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Psychology/Indiana University

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must have experience providing ABA-related interventions to individuals with autism
  • Must have a Ph.D. or Psy. D. in Psychology
  • Must have completed a predoctoral internship program
  • Must be eligible for temporary licensure in Indiana
  • Must submit three letters of reference

Other details:

  • If selected, must work 20-30 hours/week with clients in outpatient setting and 10 hours/week research

 


Iowa ABA Scholarships

There are no known  ABA scholarships out Iowa at this time.


Kansas ABA Scholarships

University of Kansas Scholarships

  • ASD-EBD Partnership Grant
    • Benefit: $10,000 for full-time master’s student, $26,000 for full-time doctoral student
    • Eligibility:
      • Must be a full-time master’s or doctoral student at the University of Kansas in an applied behavioral science program
      • Must submit a resume and statement of your work with ASD students
    • Other details:
      • Upon acceptance of grant, you must sign a contract with the U.S. Department of Education stating that you are committed to maintaining full-time employment for two years with ASD students
  • Helen Jedlicka Mandigo Student Scholarship
    • Benefit: $500
    • Eligibility:
      • Must be enrolled at University of Kansas in an applied behavioral science program
      • Must be currently receiving financial aid/assistance
    • Other details:
      • Must submit application by March 28
  • Harley S. Nelson Family Scholarship
    • Benefit: $1500
    • Eligibility:
      • Must be enrolled in humanities or social sciences at the University of Kansas
      • Merit-based award

 


Kentucky ABA Scholarships

Janet Johnson Memorial Scholarship/Northern Kentucky University

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a special education/ABA major at Northern Kentucky University
  • Must have a 2.5 GPA
  • Preference given to candidates with experience working with children with special needs
  • Must include recommendation by education professor

 


Louisiana ABA Scholarships

McNeese State University Graduate Assistantship- MA in Psychology with concentration in ABA

Benefit: varies, includes monthly stipend and 50% tuition reduction

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student in the school’s MA in Psychology/ABA program
  • If selected, must agree to work in the McNeese Autism Program

 


Maine ABA Scholarships

Lynda J. Mazzola Memorial Scholarship Fund/Autism Society of Maine

Benefit: $2500

Eligibility:

  • Must have completed a bachelor’s degree and have been accepted to a master’s or doctoral ABA program
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Merit-based
  • Must submit essay

Other details

  • Application deadline: April 15

 


Maryland ABA Scholarships

Bridgers-Moore Autism Studies Scholarship/Towson University

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be in the Towson University Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Autism Studies and plan to pursue a career in ABA/autism
  • Must possess a master’s or doctoral degree in a related field
  • Must write an essay
  • Must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0

Other details:

  • Application deadline: Nov. 15

 

Dorothy Lattner Memorial Scholarship/Autism Society Montgomery County, MD

Benefit: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be an educator living in or working in Montgomery County, MD
  • Must be furthering your studies in the ABA/Autism field

Other details:

  • Application deadline: September 15

 


Massachusetts ABA Scholarships

William James College Behavioral Health Initiative Scholarship

Benefit: varies, renewable annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in William James College’s counseling department in good academic standing and work at a Community Mental Health agency

Other details:

  • Application deadline- October

 


Michigan ABA Scholarships

Michigan State University ABA Scholarships

Benefit: Seven scholarships covering up to 18 credit hours are available for the college’s fully online program

Eligibility:

  • Must be a permanent Michigan resident
  • Must have a master’s degree in behavior analysis, education or psychology
  • Must have a supervisor for fieldwork hours to be completed along with coursework

Other details:

  • Must submit a statement of why you want to be a behavioral analyst
  • Must state what you plan to do with the credential
  • Must state how you plan to accumulate the required supervised fieldwork hours
  • Must submit two letters of recommendation
  • Must submit transcripts from any undergraduate and graduate courses taken
  • Application deadline is Nov. 1

 


Minnesota ABA Scholarships

Autism Recovery Foundation Applied Behavioral Analysis Graduate Program Scholarship

Benefit: $1000 per year, recipients may re-apply

Eligibility:

  • Must intend to pursue a career in ABA and autism in Minnesota (preference given to those planning to work with underserved populations or in rural areas)
  • Must be admitted to or enrolled full- or part-time in a course program accredited by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board

Other details:

  • Submit application online
  • Application deadline for fall: July 1
  • Application deadline for spring: Nov 1

 


Mississippi ABA Scholarships

Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources Scholarship/University of Southern Mississippi

Benefit: varies, includes an internship with a monthly stipend

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student in the University of Southern Mississippi Department of Psychology’s Applied Behavior Analysis master’s program

 

University of Southern Mississippi Dr. Stan Kuczaj Psychology Scholarship

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student at the University of Southern Mississippi in the psychology program, focusing on brain and behavior

Other details:

  • Application deadline: February 15

 


Missouri ABA Scholarships

Missouri State University Scholarships:

Arbuckle Leadership Award

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be at least an undergraduate sophomore or enrolled in the Master of Science in Psychology program at MSU
  • Must submit two letters of recommendation

 

Bryan Scot Schowengerdt Memorial Scholarship

Benefit: $550 per academic year

Eligibility:

  • Must be at least a sophomore full-time student at MSU with a major in psychology
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA
  • Must show financial need

Other details:

  • Preference given to Missouri resident from Bates County

 

Jennifer L. Stewart Memorial Psychology Scholarship

Benefit: $2000/year

Eligibility:

  • Must be a MSU graduate student in the master’s program in psychology
  • Must plan to work with children and/or young adults
  • Must have a 3.25 GPA

Other details:

  • Application deadline: March 1

 

Larry and Meredith Bass Memorial Scholarship

Benefit: $250

Eligibility:

  • Must be a sophomore or greater psychology student at MSU
  • Must have a cumulative and departmental GPA of 3.3
  • Must have a desire to seek a Ph.D. or Psy. D. in psychology
  • Must demonstrate financial need

Other details:

  • Application deadline: March 1

 


Montana ABA Scholarships

Graduate Assistantship/Montana State University Billings

Benefit: $2500/semester

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in MSU’s Special Education/ABA program

 


Nebraska ABA Scholarships

Assistantship/Fellowship: University of Nebraska Medical Center Medical Sciences Interdepartmental Area/ Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis

Benefit: two years of funding

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled full-time in the Ph.D. in ABA program at UNMC
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA
  • Must have completed at least 12 months as a Ph.D. student

Other details:

  • Application deadline: March 1

 


Nevada ABA Scholarships

Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis Student Research Presentation Award

Benefit: $100

Eligibility:

  • Must be an undergraduate or graduate student or recent graduate (six months) of an ABA program
  • Preference is given to students/graduates conducting research in or near Nevada
  • Presentation may be single (one student for 50 minutes) or dual (two students each speaking for 25 minutes)

Other details:

  • Must present winning presentation at a NABA board meeting
  • Must submit by September 22

 


New Hampshire ABA Scholarships

There are no scholarships at this time.


New Jersey ABA Scholarships

ABA Graduate Assistantship at Caldwell University

Benefit: 100% tuition up to 9 graduate credits/year

Eligibility:

  • Given to an ABA student chosen by department chairs at Caldwell University

 


New Mexico ABA Scholarships

University of New Mexico Graduate Assistantship

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in UNM’s Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis program taking at least six hours of graduate course work
  • Must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • If selected, must agree to work 10 to 20 hours/week

 


New York ABA Scholarships

Endowed Teaching as Applied Behavior Analysis Scholarship/Teachers College Columbia University

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be accepted into the Teachers College of Columbia University
  • Must complete general scholarship application with admissions application
  • Must indicate ABA major on application

Other details:

  • Application deadline: Nov. 1 for spring semester, April 15 for summer/fall semesters

Foundation for Empowering Citizens with Autism, Inc. Scholarship

Benefit: varies (usually $500)

Eligibility:

  • Must be a resident of New York or enrolled in a New York college or university in a continuing education program involving ABA/working with children with autism

 


North Carolina ABA Scholarships

North Carolina Association for Behavior Analysis Student Scholarship Award

Benefit: $100 plus complimentary conference registration for the North Carolina Association of Behavior Analysis annual conference

Eligibility: not specified

Other details: contact NCABA

 


North Dakota ABA Scholarships

North Dakota Counseling Association Graduate Scholarship Program

Benefit: $1000

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a graduate ABA program in a North Dakota college or university

Other details:

  • Application deadline: Nov. 8

 


Ohio ABA Scholarships

Hazel F. Gabbard Award/University of Cincinnati

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a master’s or doctoral student in psychology/ABA at University of Cincinnati

Other details:

  • Students are nominated by department faculty for award and selected by the Dean of the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services

 


Oklahoma ABA Scholarships

No scholarships at this time.

 


Oregon ABA Scholarships

Education Scholarship/Southern Oregon University M.Ed. Program with Emphasis in ABA and ASD

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student in Southern Oregon University’s M.Ed. program with Emphasis in ABA and ASD

Other details:

  • Application deadline: May 8

 


Pennsylvania ABA Scholarships

CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) Psychology Internship Program

Benefit: $28,352 for one year, distributed bi-weekly

Eligibility:

  • Must be a doctoral -level student studying psychology with an emphasis on ABA/autism
  • Must commit to work for one year

 

East Stroudsburg University Scholarships
Class of… Endowed Scholarships

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a special education student at East Stroudsburg University
  • Must have completed at least 30 credits
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA
  • Must demonstrate financial need

Dr. John Kovalkoski Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a special education student at East Stroudsburg University

SOAR (Success: Opportunity + Ambition = Reality) Annual Scholarship

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a special education student at East Stroudsburg University
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA
  • Preference is given to full-time students who are single parents

 

Roger Dunlap III Scholarship/Slippery Rock University

Benefit: $1000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a junior or senior special education major with service or involvement working with autism

 


Rhode Island ABA Scholarships

Alfred and Mark Kosowski Fund- University of Rhode Island

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a full-time graduate student at the University of Rhode Island in a behavioral science program

 


South Carolina ABA Scholarships

South Carolina Autism Society Scholarship-University of South Carolina Department of Education

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be an undergraduate or graduate student in the University of South Carolina Department of Education wishing to study autism disorders

Other details:

  • Application deadline: March

 


South Dakota ABA Scholarships

There were no ABA scholarships or grants available as of September 2017.

 


Tennessee ABA Scholarships

Vanderbilt University Department of Special Education Grant for Preparation of Training Certified Behavior Analysts with Advanced Knowledge in Special Education

Benefit: Grant will pay tuition for two years of full-time study as a graduate student in the school’s special education and ABA program

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in Vanderbilt’s M. Ed. Program studying special education and ABA
  • Must have 3.0 GPA
  • Must have three letters of recommendation
  • Must have strong GRE scores
  • Preference given to applicants with teacher licensure in Special Education

 


Texas ABA Scholarships

Texas Autism Collaborative Autism Leadership Grant

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a potential doctoral student in ABA/autism field
  • Must have experience working with people with autism and plan to have a career in autism/ABA

 

Texas Tech Burkhart Center Autism Studies Scholarship

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a master’s or doctoral student involved in ABA/autism education research

 


Utah ABA Scholarships

University of Utah Department of Special Education Leadership Training Grant

Benefit: $30,000/year

Eligibility:

  • Must be a full-time University of Utah doctoral student in ABA
  • Must participate in research assistant activities for at least 20 hours/week
  • If not already certified, must sit for the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst exam

 


Vermont ABA Scholarships

Castleton Educators Scholarship

Benefit: up to $1440 per semester

Eligibility:

  • Must be a licensed, working K-12 educator
  • Must be continuing your education at Castleton University in the Master in Education/ABA program
  • Must maintain a 3.0 GPA

 


Virginia ABA Scholarships

Deborah Braffman Schroeder Research Scholarship/Virginia Commonwealth University

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in VCU’s psychology/ABA program
  • Must pursue research in psychology
  • Must submit a letter of recommendation from faculty advisor

Other details:

  • Application deadline: February 28

 

Donald D. Hammill Scholarship/Lynchburg College

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in Lynchburg College’s graduate special education/ABA program

 

Dr. Peter Zucker Scholarship/Virginia Commonwealth University

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in VCU’s psychology/ABA program
  • Must have a GPA of 3.5

Other details:

  • Application deadline: Feb 28

 

Katherine C. Radford Scholarship/Lynchburg College

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in Lynchburg College’s special education/ABA program

 

KOVAR Scholarship/Lynchburg College

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in Lynchburg College’s special education/ABA program

Other details:

  • Funded by the Knights of Columbus

 

Buckley Moss Scholarship/Lynchburg College

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in Lynchburg College’s special education/ABA program

 

Powell Foundation Scholarship/Lynchburg College

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be from Campbell or Pittsylvania counties in Virginia
  • Must be a graduate student in Lynchburg College’s special education/ABA program

Other details:

  • Funded by the Powell Foundation of Altavista

 


Washington ABA Scholarships

Covey Teacher Endowment/University of Washington Department of Education

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in the University of Washington M.Ed. Special Education/ABA program
  • Must intend to teach in Seattle public schools

 

Dr. Elizabeth Street Scholarship for Applied Behavior Analysis for Graduate Students/Central Washington University

Benefit: varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be a Washington resident
  • Must be a graduate student in the MS ABA program at Central Washington University
  • Must submit a 300-word essay on your career goals for working with autistic/special needs children/adolescents

Other details:

  • Application deadline: Feb 1

 


West Virginia ABA Scholarships

Graduate Assistantship- West Virginia University Ph.D. in Psychology-Behavior Analysis program

Benefit: varies, includes stipend, health insurance and partial tuition waiver

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in WVU’s Ph.D. in Psychology-Behavior Analysis program
  • Must remain in academic good standing
  • If chosen, must agree to work 20 hours/week

 


Wisconsin ABA Scholarships

Kadane Foundation Scholarship/Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin

Benefit: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must reside in one of the following counties in Wisconsin: Sauk, Rock, Richland, Lafayette, Iowa, Green, Grant, Dane, Crawford, Columbia)
  • Must be a current member of the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin
  • Must be enrolled in a degree program to serve those with autism

Other details:

  • Application deadline: June 2

 

Som N. Ghei and Ram Kaur Ghei Scholarship/University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Benefit: $1500

Eligibility:

  • Must be an undergraduate or graduate student in Psychology/ABA at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

 


Wyoming ABA Scholarships

There were no ABA scholarships or grants available as of September 2022.

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