Last updated: March 9, 2026

ABA Programs in Mississippi (2026)

Mississippi puts two public university ABA pathways on the table: Mississippi State's fully online master's that charges everyone in-state tuition, and Ole Miss's 30-credit M.Ed. for students who want the education framework. Both feed into the Mississippi Autism Board's unique 3-year licensing cycle.

Taylor Rupe

Founder & Editor

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

ABA Programs in Mississippi (2026)

Key Takeaways

  • Mississippi State University offers a fully online 40-credit M.S. in Educational Psychology with ABA concentration at $558/credit (~$22,320 total) — and charges in-state tuition for all students regardless of residency.
  • The University of Mississippi provides a 30-credit M.Ed. in Special Education with ABA specialization at $534/credit for residents (~$16,020 total) — the cheapest option for Mississippi residents.
  • MSU also offers a standalone online ABA certificate for professionals with existing master's degrees who need BCBA coursework.
  • The Mississippi Autism Board licenses behavior analysts on a unique 3-year cycle with a $250 application fee — license validity is tied directly to BACB certification expiration, with immediate revocation if BCBA lapses.
  • Mississippi BCBAs earn $50,000–$66,000 in Jackson and along the Gulf Coast, but the state's lowest cost of living in the nation gives those salaries outsized purchasing power.

Mississippi State University offers the state's most accessible ABA path — a fully online 40-credit M.S. in Educational Psychology with an ABA concentration. MSU charges in-state tuition to all students regardless of residency, making it an attractive option for out-of-state students as well. The program is designed to meet 2027 BACB coursework requirements and includes 10 core educational psychology hours, 24 ABA concentration hours, and 6 hours of practicum. Students are admitted for fall semester only.

The University of Mississippi takes a leaner approach with its 30-credit M.Ed. in Special Education with an ABA specialization. Ole Miss's program is the state's only one housed in an education school, focusing specifically on classroom applications of behavior analysis. At $534/credit for in-state students (approximately $16,020 total), it's the cheapest option for Mississippi residents. MSU also offers a standalone ABA certificate for professionals who already hold a qualifying master's degree.

Mississippi's licensing authority is unique: the Mississippi Autism Board, established by the state legislature in 2015, serves as the dedicated regulator for behavior analysts. The Board uses a 3-year licensing cycle with an important catch — your license cannot exceed your BACB certification expiration date, and certification lapses trigger immediate license revocation. This tight coupling between state licensure and national certification is more aggressive than most states.

MSU's Online M.S. for Everyone & Ole Miss's Budget-Friendly M.Ed.

School Tuition (In-State) Format Length Accreditation
Mississippi State University — M.S. in Educational Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis (Online) $558/credit (~$22,320 total, 40 credits) Fully online (100%) 2 years BACB-Aligned; Pursuing ABAI Accreditation
University of Mississippi — M.Ed. in Special Education, ABA Specialization $534/credit (~$16,020 total, 30 credits) On-campus and online options available 1.5–2 years BACB-Aligned
Mississippi State University — Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (Online) $558/credit (in-state rate for all students) Fully online (100%) 1 year BACB-Aligned

Mississippi State University — M.S. in Educational Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis (Online)

Starkville (Online)

Online Available

In-State Tuition

$558/credit (~$22,320 total, 40 credits)

Out-of-State

$558/credit (~$22,320 total — in-state rate for all students)

Format

Fully online (100%)

Full-Time

2 years

Field Hours

1,500 supervised experience hours (6 credits of practicum included)

Concentrations

Educational Psychology — Applied Behavior Analysis concentration, BCBA certification preparation, behavioral assessment and intervention

  • In-state tuition for ALL students regardless of residency — $558/credit, ~$22,320 total
  • Fully online delivery — accessible from anywhere in the country
  • Designed to meet 2027 BACB coursework requirements — forward-looking curriculum
  • 40-credit program includes 10 core educational psychology hours + 24 ABA concentration hours + 6 practicum credits
  • Faculty actively pursuing ABAI accreditation — working toward the strongest credential
  • Fall admission only — cohort-based structure
  • Lower GPA requirement (2.75) than most ABA programs — more accessible entry point
Visit Program Website → GRE: Not required · Min GPA: 2.75

University of Mississippi — M.Ed. in Special Education, ABA Specialization

Oxford

Online Available

In-State Tuition

$534/credit (~$16,020 total, 30 credits)

Out-of-State

$1,580/credit (~$47,400 total)

Format

On-campus and online options available

Full-Time

1.5–2 years

Field Hours

45 advisor-approved field experience hours (plus 1,500 supervised experience hours for BCBA completed separately)

Concentrations

Special Education — Applied Behavior Analysis specialization, classroom behavioral intervention, assessment, capstone research

  • Cheapest ABA option for Mississippi residents — $534/credit, ~$16,020 total for 30 credits
  • Only ABA program in Mississippi housed in an education school — classroom-focused behavioral training
  • Leaner 30-credit curriculum — 10 fewer credits than MSU's 40-credit program
  • Emphasis on ethical practice, supervisory training, and classroom applications
  • Capstone research project (3 credits) develops analytical skills
  • Both on-campus and online delivery options available
  • Ole Miss brand recognition across the Southeast — strong alumni network
Visit Program Website → GRE: Not required · Min GPA: 3.0

Mississippi State University — Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (Online)

Starkville (Online)

Online Available

In-State Tuition

$558/credit (in-state rate for all students)

Out-of-State

$558/credit (same rate for all students)

Format

Fully online (100%)

Full-Time

1 year

Field Hours

1,500 supervised experience hours (completed separately)

Concentrations

Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate — BCBA coursework for professionals with existing master's degrees

  • Designed for professionals with existing master's degrees in education, psychology, or related fields
  • Same in-state-for-all pricing as MSU's full master's program — $558/credit
  • Fully online — complete from anywhere while working
  • Completable in approximately 1 year — efficient add-on to an existing degree
  • Meets BACB coursework requirements for BCBA exam eligibility
  • Same faculty as the full M.S. program
Visit Program Website → GRE: Not required · Min GPA: 2.75

Mississippi Autism Board — 3-Year Cycles & Strict BACB Coupling

Licensed Behavior Analyst

Issued by: Mississippi Autism Board

  • Current BCBA certification from the BACB in good standing
  • Master's degree meeting BACB educational requirements
  • Application through the Mississippi Autism Board — $250 application fee for behavior analysts
  • $100 application fee for assistant behavior analysts (BCaBA holders)
  • Optional $75 temporary license available while application is processed
  • No additional state exam required beyond the BCBA exam
  • Established by the Mississippi state legislature in 2015

Renewal

License valid for 3 years but cannot exceed BACB certification expiration date — immediate revocation if BCBA certification lapses. 12 hours of continuing education per year (36 hours over 3 years), including at least 1 hour of ethics/legal each year. CE must be approved by BACB or Mississippi Autism Board.

Visit Licensing Board →

BCBA Earnings in Jackson, the Gulf Coast & Oxford

BLS Median

$46,810

Entry Level

$30,000–$37,000

Experienced

$50,000–$66,000 (BCBA-certified, Jackson metro and Gulf Coast)

Top Earners

$70,000–$88,000+ (clinical directors, private practice)

Mississippi's BLS median of approximately $46,810 for the broader behavioral health counselor category is among the lowest nationally, but Mississippi has the lowest cost of living in the entire country. A BCBA earning $55,000 in Jackson has purchasing power comparable to $70,000+ in Nashville or $80,000+ in Atlanta. The Gulf Coast region (Gulfport-Biloxi) offers slightly different dynamics due to the tourism and military economy. Oxford and Starkville benefit from their university communities but have smaller ABA job markets. The critical point: Mississippi's cost-of-living advantage makes nominal salary figures misleading — real purchasing power is genuinely competitive.

ABA Careers From Jackson to the Gulf Coast

BLS Employment

2,220

Projected Growth

19% nationally through 2034

Top Employers

Mississippi Department of Mental Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Millcreek of Mississippi, Magnolia Speech School (Jackson), Gulf Coast regional providers

Mississippi's ABA workforce is small but growing, with Jackson as the primary hub. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health oversees statewide behavioral services and employs behavior analysts in various capacities. The University of Mississippi Medical Center provides clinical and research positions. Millcreek of Mississippi — one of the state's largest providers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — is a significant employer. The Gulf Coast region has growing demand driven by Keesler Air Force Base families and the general population boom. Mississippi's unique Autism Board structure — tying licensure directly to BACB certification — means the formal BCBA workforce is precisely tracked. Rural areas face significant BCBA shortages, creating opportunities for telehealth-based ABA practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — Mississippi State's online M.S. in Educational Psychology (ABA) charges $558/credit to all students regardless of where they live. This makes it one of the more affordable online ABA master's programs nationally at approximately $22,320 total. It's a deliberate strategy to attract students from across the country to MSU's online programs.
The Mississippi Autism Board has one of the strictest BACB coupling rules in the country. Your state license cannot exceed your BCBA certification expiration date, and if your BACB certification lapses for any reason, your Mississippi license is immediately revoked — not suspended, revoked. This means maintaining your BCBA certification is non-negotiable. Stay current with your BACB continuing education and renewal.
Ole Miss's M.Ed. offers both on-campus and online delivery options. This gives students flexibility to attend in Oxford or complete coursework remotely. The program is housed in the School of Education's Teacher Education department, making it distinctly education-focused compared to MSU's educational psychology framework.
The Mississippi Autism Board was established by the state legislature in 2015 specifically to regulate behavior analysts. The name reflects ABA's strong association with autism treatment in the state's legislative framework. Despite the name, the Board licenses all behavior analysts — not just those working with autism. It functions as a standalone regulatory body with its own forms, fees, and licensing requirements at msautismboard.ms.gov.
MSU offers a more comprehensive 40-credit program that's pursuing ABAI accreditation and is fully online with in-state pricing for everyone — better for out-of-state students or those wanting deeper preparation. Ole Miss is leaner (30 credits) and cheaper for Mississippi residents ($16,020 vs. $22,320) with a classroom-focused education framework — better for students who want school-based ABA careers. Both meet BCBA requirements.