Applied Behavior Analysis Degrees (2026 stats)

Applied Behavior Analysis: what the data shows

Common questions about applied behavior analysis degrees, answered from IPEDS, College Scorecard, BLS OEWS, and O*NET in this repository—not program marketing copy.

What is a applied behavior analysis degree?

A Applied Behavior Analysis program is classified under NCES CIP 42.2814 in the Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology field family (42.28).

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

IPEDS counted 497 completions for this CIP in the survey year in our extract.

Types of applied behavior analysis degrees and related programs

Other NCES program codes in the 42.28 family with pages on EDsmart Data:

• Applied Psychology (CIP 42.2813)
• Clinical Child Psychology (CIP 42.2807)
• Clinical Psychology (CIP 42.2801)
• Community Psychology (CIP 42.2802)
• Counseling Psychology (CIP 42.2803)
• Educational Psychology (CIP 42.2806)
• Environmental Psychology (CIP 42.2808)
• Family Psychology (CIP 42.2811)
• Forensic Psychology (CIP 42.2812)
• Geropsychology (CIP 42.2809)
• Health/Medical Psychology (CIP 42.2810)
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology (CIP 42.2804)
• Performance and Sport Psychology (CIP 42.2815)
• School Psychology (CIP 42.2805)
• Somatic Psychology (CIP 42.2816)
• Transpersonal/Spiritual Psychology (CIP 42.2817)

How long does it take to get a applied behavior analysis degree?

Award levels reported to IPEDS for CIP 42.2814 in our file:

• 497 Bachelor's (9.1% of IPEDS total)—typically four years
• 4,599 Master's (83.9% of IPEDS total)—one to two years beyond a bachelor's
• 383 Doctorate (7.0% of IPEDS total)—varies by program

Time to completion depends on enrollment intensity and transfer credits; figures above describe credential type, not calendar time for every student.

What do you learn in applied behavior analysis?

O*NET skill ratings for occupations mapped to this major emphasize Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, Critical Thinking, Service Orientation, and related competencies. See the Skills section for the full list in our extract.

What degree do you need?

For Teachers, Postsecondary (top mapped occupation), O*NET incumbent surveys in our career profile report these education credentials most often: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).

O*NET education distributions describe incumbent workers, not minimum legal or employer requirements.

What jobs can you get with a applied behavior analysis degree?

Our degree→occupation mapping links Applied Behavior Analysis to the BLS roles below. Employment is U.S. OEWS; median wage is national May 2024 where published in our extract.

See Careers & Jobs for mean wages and industry context.

Is a applied behavior analysis degree worth it?

College Scorecard national medians for the Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology bachelor's program family: median debt $40,066, median earnings $50,523 four years after enrollment. Debt-to-earnings proxy: 1.16.

About 5.6% of graduates in this field family were not working and not enrolled one year after completion in Scorecard's national program medians.

Among schools reporting in our Scorecard extract, median published in-state tuition is $10,934 and median net price is $19,058.

We do not score "worth" on opinion—compare debt, earnings, wages for mapped occupations, and completion data above against your cost and career target.