ABA Scholarships
Pursue your education in ABA with assistance from scholarships
The field of Applied Behavior Analysis is constantly evolving, with new programs, new accreditation, more consistency and guidelines and improved oversight. Behavior Analysts can use technology and various scientifically-backed strategies to change behavior.
Job growth in this field is growing at a far faster rate than average. Demand for Behavior Analysts grew 127% in the years 2017 to 2018. Due to this demand, there is an increased need for those with the desire to obtain the education necessary to earn the BCBA certification.
Since a BCBA certification requires a graduate-level education, there are costs associated with those programs that might make education seem out of reach. Luckily, there are scholarships available to those interested in pursuing this field. Check out our list of scholarships available to aspiring BCBAs.
Associations
Action Behavior Centers ABA Therapy Scholarship
Award amount: $1,000
This scholarship is awarded twice a year to US-based students pursing higher education in a field that will benefit the clinical therapy or research for Autism Spectrum Disorders. There are no minimum GPA requirements, and applicants will be chosen based on the quality of their essay and their passion for the field.
Autism Recovery Foundation Applied Behavioral Analysis Scholarship Program
Award amount: $1,000 for BCBA’s and $500 for BCaBA’s
Applicants must be interested in pursuing a career in the field of autism and applied behavior analysis and must reside in Minnesota. Applicants will be evaluated on a combination of community service, work experience and recommendations and preference is given to those looking to work in rural or underserved areas.
Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis Grants
Award amount: $1500 to $3000
SABA provides annual grants to support research in behavior analysis. There are academic grants, international grants, and project grants. The Innovative Student Research Grant is awarded to doctoral or master’s degree students studying psychology or behavior analysis. Each year, two dissertation grants and two master’s thesis grants are awarded.
Forrest J. Files Research Award
Award amount: Varies
The Student Paper Competition is held annually and looks at behavior-analytic empirical reports that have been published in the last year, are under review and/or are submissions ready. Submissions are reviewed by behavior analysts and the winner is invited to give a presentation at the annual conference.
AFT Robert G. Porter Scholars Program
Award amount: $1,000 to $8,000
The American Federation of Teachers offers a variety of grants to students who are set to reclaim a just society for all through their academic and future works. Grants range from $1,000 awards up to $8,000 for all four years of school.
VB SIG Student Grant Competition
Award amount: $500
The Verbal Behaviors Special Interest Group provides up to $500 for empirical research relevant to any verbal behavior topic. These can include rule-governed behavior, private events, assessments, second language acquisition and more. Proposals will be reviewed annually, and awards given out after a blind review by a panel.
Student Research Paper Competition
Award amount:
http://verbalbehaviorsig.org/student-paper-competition.html
AASEA Memorial Scholarship
Award amount: $2,000
Scholarships are given to undergraduate Juniors and Seniors, or graduate students interested in fields related to the delivery of services to children with special needs. The areas of Early Childhood Special Education, K-12 Special Education, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Special Education Administration and Supervision will be considered.
AASEA Legacy Scholarship
Award amount: $2,000
The AASEA Legacy Scholarship is similar to the Memorial Scholarship, but for the Legacy Scholarship, applicants should have a family member who is a current AASEA member. For both scholarships, applicants must reside in Arkansas.
Bethesda Auxiliary Scholarships
Award amount: $3,000
Multiple scholarships are awarded to undergraduate and post-graduate students pursuing degrees in areas that will prepare and serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Students must also be active Lutherans or Seminarians.
Graduate
Bishop Charles P. Greco Graduate Fellowships
Award amount: $2,000 maximum
The Knights of Columbus awards the Bishop Charles P. Greco award annually to students enrolled full-time in a master’s program specific for teachers of people with various intellectual disabilities.
Graduate Student Research Grant
Award amount: $1,000
The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies sponsors a grant for graduate student research. Applicants need to submit a letter of recommendation from an advisor and will be awarded the grant based on merit and need.
Autism Speaks Fellowship Programs
Award amount: Varies
Autism Speaks offers many pre- and postdoctoral fellowship programs. They implement new approaches to make sure the research extends beyond limiting paradigms. Generous donors made all fellowship programs possible.
Organization for Autism Research
Award amount: $1,000 for master’s students and $2,000 for doctoral or post-doctoral
The Graduate Research Grant Competition offers grant awards for students conducting autism research at a master’s level and above. The fund looks for projects that are practical and provide objective results and will help adults with autism function in society.
The Sidney W. and Janet R. Bijou Grant
Award amount: $10,000
This endowment provides two $10,000 awards per year to doctoral students in departments of education, psychology or related areas that can support behavioral development research.
State and Regional
Autism Recovery Foundation Applied Behavioral Analysis Scholarship Program
Award amount: $1,000 for BCBA’s and $500 for BCaBA’s
Applicants must be interested in pursuing a career in the field of autism and applied behavior analysis and must reside in Minnesota. Applicants will be evaluated on a combination of community service, work experience and recommendations and preference is given to those looking to work in rural or underserved areas.
Edward & Lorraine O’Neill Scholarship Fund
Award amount: $500-$700
State: Massachusetts
This particular scholarship is organized by the Arc of Cape Cod. This scholarship is available to any high school graduate or college aged student residing in Cape Cod who plan on working with children or adults with developmental disabilities.
CCLD Literacy Interventionist Scholarship
Award amount: $1,800
State: Colorado
The Colorado Council for Learning Disabilities Scholarship is available to Colorado state residents that are currently enrolled in teacher-preparation programs.
Janice Paige Hughes Scholarship Fund
Award amount: $12,500
State: Delaware
This scholarship program is eligible for college students that are currently Juniors or Seniors and residing within Delaware county. Applicants must be majoring in education and specializing in the teaching of special education.
The Craemer Shea Memorial Scholarship for Professional Development
Award amount: $1,000 per semester
State: Connecticut
CT FEAT supports increasing the number of highly skilled autism professionals in Connecticut. Special education teachers, paraprofessionals, speech-language professionals or other educatosr currently working with children with autism are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Florida Association for Behavior Analysis Awards and Scholarships
Award amount: Varies per award
State: Florida
Comprised of The Behavior Change for a Sustainable World Research Award, The Glenn Latham Scholarship Award, The Cathy Lee Buchanan Behavior Change Success Award, The Charles Kimber Public Service Award, The Michael Hemingway and Gerald Shook Public Service Award, The David Niederpruem Memorial Fund and The B. F. Skinner Foundation Florida Graduate Student Research Award.
The B. F. Skinner Foundation Graduate Student Research Award
Award amount: 2 awards of $500 each per school year
State: California
Encourages knowledge sharing and research analysis among graduate students in California. Applicants of this award must be attending a graduate-level program in California and members of CalABA.
Julie Vargas Research Award
Award amount: 2 awards of $250.00 each per year.
State: California
This award promotes Skinnerian science and provides recognition for students conducting behavior analytic research. Applicants must reside within California and be one calendar year past graduation from a graduate-level program.
College Specific
Michigan State University Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate Scholarships
Award amount: Up to 18 credits
MSU offers seven scholarships covering up to 18 credit hours for the fully online certificate program. Applicants must be permanent Michigan residents, have a master’s degree in psychology, behavior analysis or education and have a supervisor selected for fieldwork hours to earn the BCBA certification.
Dr. Elizabeth Street Scholarship for Applied Behavior Analysis
Award amount: $600
Students with at least 76 credit hours who reside in Washington state can apply for this scholarship designed for those accepted into the Psychology program at Central Washington University.