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.
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.
National ABA Scholarships and Grants
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.
American Association on Health and Disability Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability
Award amount: $1,000
This scholarship is for undergraduate (at least one year completed) and graduate students with disabilities who are enrolled in programs related to health and disability.
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 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.
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.
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. Must be a member of or close relative to a member of the Knights of Columbus.
National Association of Junior Auxiliaries Scholarship
Award amount: Unspecified
This scholarship is for graduate students studying areas related to special needs. Applicants must reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, or Tennessee.
Organization for Autism Research
Award amount: $1,000 for master’s students and $2,000 for doctoral or postdoctoral
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.
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.
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.
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.
State Specific ABA Scholarships
Arkansas
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.
California
The B. F. Skinner Foundation Graduate Student Research Award
Award amount: 2 awards of $500 each per school year
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.
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.
Colorado
CCLD Literacy Interventionist Scholarship
Award amount: $1,800
The Colorado Council for Learning Disabilities Scholarship is available to Colorado state residents that are currently enrolled in teacher-preparation programs. Applicants must have completed at least half of their program with a 3.0 GPA and a 3.2 in literacy coursework.
Connecticut
The Craemer Shea Memorial Scholarship for Professional Development
Award amount: $1,000 per semester
CT FEAT supports increasing the number of highly skilled autism professionals in Connecticut. Special education teachers, paraprofessionals, speech-language professionals or other educators currently working with children with autism are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Florida
Florida Association for Behavior Analysis Awards and Scholarships
Award amount: Varies per award
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.
Massachusetts
Edward & Lorraine O’Neill Scholarship Fund
Award amount: $500-$700
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.
Minnesota
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.
Missouri
Bill and Mary Russell Health Care Scholarship Application
Award amount: Unspecified
Applicants must graduate students in the first year of their program, which will lead to improved quality of life for residents of the area local to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Missouri. Recipients of the scholarship must complete a paid internship at Mosaic Life Care between the first and second years of their program.
Lowell C. Kruse Healthy Choices. Healthy Lives. Scholarship
Award amount: Unspecified
Applicants must be students enrolled full time in a healthcare related program.
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Traineeship Scholarship Program
Award amount: Unspecified
This scholarship is for North Dakota teachers looking to pursue graduate level training related to special education.
Last updated: July 2022