Last updated: March 9, 2026

ABA Programs in Kansas (2026)

Kansas isn't just another state with ABA programs — it's where the field was invented. Baer, Wolf, and Risley founded applied behavior analysis at the University of Kansas in the 1960s, and KU's department still anchors the discipline globally. Here's how to study ABA at the source.

Taylor Rupe

Founder & Editor

B.A. in Psychology, University of Washington — Seattle

ABA Programs in Kansas (2026)

Key Takeaways

  • The University of Kansas Department of Applied Behavioral Science is where Baer, Wolf, and Risley founded ABA in the 1960s and launched the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis in 1968 — KU's ABAI-accredited on-campus M.A. carries unmatched heritage.
  • KU's online M.A. in Applied Behavioral Science at $795/credit (~$23,850 total for 30 credits) has a 93% BCBA pass rate and is seeking ABAI accreditation as of Fall 2025.
  • Wichita State University offers an 18-credit ABA certificate at $339/credit for residents (~$6,102 total) — the cheapest path to BCBA coursework in Kansas for professionals with existing graduate degrees.
  • The Kansas BSRB has licensed behavior analysts since 2014 — one of the earlier states to regulate the profession, with a $70 application fee and no additional state exam beyond the BCBA.
  • Kansas BCBA-certified professionals earn $60,000–$78,000 in the Kansas City metro, with the state's cost of living 12–15% below the national average — and KC-area BCBAs can access both Kansas and Missouri job markets.

The University of Kansas Department of Applied Behavioral Science is sacred ground for behavior analysis. In 1963, Frances Degen Horowitz established the department and recruited Donald Baer, Montrose Wolf, and Todd Risley — the three scholars who defined applied behavior analysis as a scientific discipline. Their 1968 article articulating the dimensions of ABA remains the field's most cited paper, and they founded the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis that same year. Studying ABA at KU is studying at the source.

KU offers two paths: the ABAI-accredited on-campus M.A. at $452/credit for residents (approximately $13,560 total) and the fully online M.A. at $795/credit flat rate ($23,850 total) with a 93% BCBA pass rate. Both require 30 credit hours including a thesis component. For students who already hold a graduate degree, Wichita State University offers an 18-credit ABA certificate at just $339/credit for residents — meeting BACB coursework requirements for under $6,200.

Kansas was among the earlier states to license behavior analysts, establishing its framework through the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board in 2014. The $70 application fee is straightforward, with no additional state exam required beyond BCBA certification. Kansas City — straddling both Kansas and Missouri — is the primary job market, giving graduates access to employers on both sides of the state line.

Where ABA Was Born: KU's Legacy Programs & WSU's Certificate

School Tuition (In-State) Format Length Accreditation
University of Kansas — M.A. in Applied Behavioral Science (On-Campus) $452/credit (~$13,560 total, 30 credits) On-campus (full-time) 2 years ABAI-Accredited; BACB-Aligned
University of Kansas — M.A. in Applied Behavioral Science (Online) $795/credit (~$23,850 total, 30 credits) Fully online (synchronous, asynchronous, and hybrid) 2–2.5 years (median 2.5 years) Seeking ABAI Accreditation (Fall 2025); BACB-Aligned
Wichita State University — Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis $339/credit (~$6,102 total, 18 credits) On-campus 1–1.5 years BACB-Aligned

University of Kansas — M.A. in Applied Behavioral Science (On-Campus)

Lawrence

In-State Tuition

$452/credit (~$13,560 total, 30 credits)

Out-of-State

$1,085/credit (~$32,550 total)

Format

On-campus (full-time)

Full-Time

2 years

Field Hours

1,500 supervised experience hours (practicum integrated)

Concentrations

Applied Behavioral Science — behavioral assessment, intervention, evaluation, thesis research

  • The founding department of ABA — Baer, Wolf, and Risley defined the field here in the 1960s
  • ABAI-accredited master's program with decades of continuous operation
  • Home to the Center for the History of Behavior Analysis — preserving the discipline's intellectual heritage
  • Birthplace of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis — still the field's premier research journal
  • 30-credit curriculum includes thesis requirement — trains scientist-practitioners, not just clinicians
  • In-state tuition of $452/credit puts total cost around $13,560 — exceptional value for an ABAI-accredited program
  • No GRE required — admissions focused on research interests and academic preparation
Visit Program Website → GRE: Not required · Min GPA: 3.0

University of Kansas — M.A. in Applied Behavioral Science (Online)

Lawrence (Online)

Online Available

In-State Tuition

$795/credit (~$23,850 total, 30 credits)

Out-of-State

$795/credit (~$23,850 total, flat rate)

Format

Fully online (synchronous, asynchronous, and hybrid)

Full-Time

2–2.5 years (median 2.5 years)

Field Hours

1,500 supervised experience hours (completed at approved sites)

Concentrations

Applied Behavioral Science — ABA focus, behavioral assessment, analysis, intervention, evaluation

  • 93% BCBA pass rate — among the highest for online ABA programs nationally
  • Same KU Department of Applied Behavioral Science that founded the field — online delivery of the founding program's legacy
  • Seeking ABAI accreditation as of Fall 2025 — expected to strengthen the credential further
  • Flat $795/credit regardless of residency — ~$23,850 total for 30 credits
  • 21 degrees conferred in 2024 with 4 dedicated faculty members
  • Capstone research project embedded throughout coursework — not a traditional thesis but still research-oriented
  • Group supervision hours available through approved clinical practicum sites
Visit Program Website → GRE: Not required · Min GPA: 3.0

Wichita State University — Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis

Wichita

In-State Tuition

$339/credit (~$6,102 total, 18 credits)

Out-of-State

$832/credit (~$14,976 total)

Format

On-campus

Full-Time

1–1.5 years

Field Hours

1,500 supervised experience hours (completed separately)

Concentrations

Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate — BACB-required coursework (270 classroom hours) for BCBA exam eligibility

  • Most affordable ABA coursework in Kansas — $339/credit for residents, ~$6,102 total for 18 credits
  • Meets BACB-required 270 classroom hours of graduate-level instruction
  • Can be completed concurrently while pursuing a separate graduate degree — flexible stacking
  • Wichita State's School of Education home — Intervention Services, Leadership, and Education department
  • $25 filing fee to apply — minimal barrier to entry
  • Wichita is Kansas's largest city with a growing ABA job market
Visit Program Website → GRE: Not required · Min GPA: 3.0

Kansas BSRB — Licensed Since 2014 with $70 Application

Licensed Behavior Analyst

Issued by: Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB)

  • Current BCBA certification from the BACB in good standing
  • Master's degree meeting BACB educational requirements
  • Application through the Kansas BSRB
  • Application fee: $70 (LBA); $70 (LaBA for BCaBA holders)
  • No additional state exam required beyond the BCBA exam
  • Kansas has regulated behavior analysts since 2014 — one of the earlier states to establish licensure

Renewal

Annual renewal fee of $120 for LBA. Continuing education per BACB standards — random audits conducted by the BSRB. Must maintain BCBA certification in good standing.

Visit Licensing Board →

BCBA Earnings in Kansas City, Wichita & Topeka

BLS Median

$57,760

Entry Level

$36,000–$44,000

Experienced

$60,000–$78,000 (BCBA-certified, Kansas City metro)

Top Earners

$82,000–$105,000+ (clinical directors, private practice owners)

Kansas's BLS median of approximately $57,760 for the broader behavioral health counselor category is near the national average. BCBA-certified professionals in the Kansas City metro typically earn $60,000–$78,000, with Wichita and Topeka running somewhat lower. The critical advantage: Kansas's cost of living is approximately 12–15% below the national average. A $70,000 BCBA salary in Kansas has purchasing power equivalent to roughly $80,000–$82,000 in a state at the national average. Kansas City BCBAs also benefit from dual-state access — the metro straddles Kansas and Missouri, effectively doubling available positions.

KC Metro's Dual-State ABA Job Market

BLS Employment

3,890

Projected Growth

19% nationally through 2034

Top Employers

Children's Mercy Kansas City, University of Kansas Health System, Heartspring (Wichita), Kansas City Behavioral Health Group, Kansas Department of Education

The Kansas City metro drives most of the state's ABA positions, with Children's Mercy Kansas City serving as a premier pediatric hospital and major employer of behavior analysts. The University of Kansas Health System and KU's own ABA clinic provide clinical and research positions. Wichita's Heartspring — a residential and day school for children with disabilities — is one of the oldest and most respected ABA employers in the Midwest. School-based ABA positions are growing across the state, with the Kansas Department of Education supporting behavioral intervention services. KU's status as the birthplace of ABA creates a steady pipeline of trained graduates, though many relocate to higher-salary markets after graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The University of Kansas is literally where applied behavior analysis was invented as a discipline. In the 1960s, Donald Baer, Montrose Wolf, and Todd Risley joined the faculty and defined ABA's core dimensions in what became the field's most-cited article. They founded the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis in 1968. Wolf developed the Teaching-Family Model, Risley pioneered early education interventions, and Baer shaped behavioral development theory. KU still houses the Center for the History of Behavior Analysis. No other university can claim this heritage.
The on-campus program is ABAI-accredited and more affordable for Kansas residents ($452/credit vs. $795), with direct access to KU's research labs and clinical sites. The online program has a strong 93% BCBA pass rate and is seeking ABAI accreditation — choose it if you can't relocate to Lawrence or need to work full-time. Both carry the KU Applied Behavioral Science name, which is unmatched in the field.
WSU's 18-credit certificate provides the BACB-required 270 classroom hours of graduate instruction, but you still need a qualifying master's degree from any field to sit for the BCBA exam. If you already hold a master's in psychology, education, or a related field, the certificate adds the specific ABA coursework without a second degree. If you don't have a master's yet, you'll need KU's full M.A. program.
No — Missouri requires its own separate licensure through the Division of Professional Registration. However, both states require BCBA certification as the foundation, so your education and fieldwork transfer directly. Many Kansas City-area BCBAs hold dual licensure in both Kansas and Missouri to maximize job opportunities across the metro. The dual-state access is a genuine career advantage.
Kansas's BCBA salaries ($60,000–$78,000 in KC) are competitive with Missouri's similar range and higher than Nebraska's entry-level market. Colorado offers higher nominal salaries but has no state licensure and a significantly higher cost of living. Kansas's 12–15% cost-of-living advantage means your dollar goes further. The Kansas City metro's dual-state job market gives Kansas BCBAs more opportunities than most mid-sized metros, and KU's historic program creates strong professional networks throughout the region.