Last updated: March 9, 2026

ABA Programs in South Dakota (2026)

South Dakota punches above its weight in ABA education — offering two distinct graduate programs in a state of under a million people. The University of South Dakota's affordable 30-credit online M.S. and Augustana University's intensive 18-month track provide real choices, while the Board of Social Work's licensing framework keeps the regulatory path straightforward.

Taylor Rupe

Founder & Editor

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

ABA Programs in South Dakota (2026)

Key Takeaways

  • The University of South Dakota offers a 30-credit online M.S. in Health Sciences with ABA specialization at $466/credit for residents (~$13,974 total) — one of the most affordable ABA master's programs in the region.
  • Augustana University in Sioux Falls provides an 18-month online M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis at $575/credit — with integrated fieldwork supervision built into the program.
  • South Dakota licenses behavior analysts through the Board of Social Work Examiners (HB 1141, 2016) with an ABA Advisory Committee — $650 initial license and $300 annual renewal.
  • USD also offers a standalone graduate certificate in ABA for professionals who already hold a qualifying master's degree — a focused path to BCBA eligibility.
  • South Dakota BCBAs earn $50,000–$68,000 in the Sioux Falls metro — with the state's extremely low cost of living making these salaries stretch significantly further than comparable pay in coastal states.

South Dakota offers two solid graduate ABA programs — an unusual advantage for a state with fewer than 900,000 residents. The University of South Dakota in Vermillion delivers a 30-credit M.S. in Health Sciences with an ABA specialization online at $466/credit for in-state students (approximately $13,974 total). The program includes one hybrid course at USD's Sioux Falls location for hands-on supervised training — making it primarily but not entirely online. USD's program features an ABAI-verified course sequence and prepares graduates for the BCBA examination.

Augustana University in Sioux Falls takes a different approach: an intensive 18-month (5-semester) cohort-based online M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis. At $575/credit for coursework plus fieldwork supervision costs ($570–$890/credit depending on supervision type), Augustana integrates supervised fieldwork directly into the program. Students must be employed in a behavioral work setting to complete the 10 credits of fieldwork experience courses that run concurrently with ABA coursework — a model that works well for professionals already in the field.

South Dakota licensed behavior analysts in 2016 through HB 1141, placing regulatory authority under the Board of Social Work Examiners with a three-member ABA Advisory Committee appointed by the governor. The initial license costs $650 with $300 annual renewals — on the higher end compared to other states.

Two Programs, Two Approaches: USD's Affordable M.S. & Augustana's Intensive Track

School Tuition (In-State) Format Length Accreditation
University of South Dakota — M.S. in Health Sciences, ABA Specialization (Online) $466/credit (~$13,974 total, 30 credits) Primarily online (one hybrid course at Sioux Falls location) 1.5–2 years ABAI-Verified Course Sequence; BACB-Aligned
Augustana University — M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis (Online) $575/credit for coursework + $570–$890/credit for fieldwork supervision Fully online (cohort-based, 5 semesters) 18 months (5 semesters) BACB-Aligned

University of South Dakota — M.S. in Health Sciences, ABA Specialization (Online)

Vermillion (Online + Sioux Falls hybrid course)

Online Available

In-State Tuition

$466/credit (~$13,974 total, 30 credits)

Out-of-State

$626/credit (~$18,774 total)

Format

Primarily online (one hybrid course at Sioux Falls location)

Full-Time

1.5–2 years

Field Hours

1,500 supervised experience hours (completed separately)

Concentrations

Applied Behavior Analysis — behavioral assessment, intervention design, ethical practice, research methodology, BCBA certification preparation

  • One of the most affordable ABA master's programs in the region — ~$13,974 total for in-state students
  • ABAI-verified course sequence meets all BCBA coursework requirements
  • Primarily online with just one hybrid course at the Sioux Falls location
  • 30-credit program — leaner and more affordable than 36–42 credit alternatives
  • Health Sciences degree — positions graduates at the intersection of behavioral and health services
  • Graduate certificate in ABA also available for students with existing master's degrees
  • USD is South Dakota's flagship liberal arts university — strong research infrastructure
  • No GRE required for admission
Visit Program Website → GRE: Not required · Min GPA: 3.0

Augustana University — M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis (Online)

Sioux Falls (Online)

Online Available

In-State Tuition

$575/credit for coursework + $570–$890/credit for fieldwork supervision

Out-of-State

$575/credit for coursework + $570–$890/credit for fieldwork supervision (flat rate)

Format

Fully online (cohort-based, 5 semesters)

Full-Time

18 months (5 semesters)

Field Hours

10 credits of fieldwork experience integrated into program (must be employed in a behavioral work setting)

Concentrations

Applied Behavior Analysis — behavioral assessment, intervention, ethical practice, integrated fieldwork with concurrent supervision

  • Intensive 18-month cohort model — structured pace with clear graduation timeline
  • Integrated fieldwork supervision — complete supervised hours within the program structure
  • Two supervision options: full Augustana supervision ($890/credit) or external BCBA with Augustana group supervision ($570/credit)
  • Requires employment in a behavioral work setting — designed for working professionals already in ABA
  • Multiple cohort start dates: Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Fall 2026
  • Flat tuition rate locked for continuously enrolled students
  • Augustana's Sharon Lust School of Education — dedicated ABA program faculty
Visit Program Website → GRE: Not required · Min GPA: 3.0

Board of Social Work — ABA Advisory Committee Since 2016

Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst

Issued by: South Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners — ABA Advisory Committee

  • Current BCBA certification from the BACB in good standing
  • Master's degree with coursework meeting BACB requirements
  • Minimum 1,500 hours of supervised fieldwork experience
  • Application to the Board of Social Work Examiners — $650 initial license fee
  • South Dakota enacted behavior analyst licensure through HB 1141 in 2016
  • Three-member ABA Advisory Committee (governor-appointed) makes recommendations to the Board on ABA-specific issues
  • Licensed Assistant Applied Behavior Analyst credential available for BCaBA holders

Renewal

Annual renewal with a $300 fee. Must maintain BACB certification in active status and complete 32 CEUs per two-year cycle including ethics requirements. The annual renewal cycle and $300 fee make South Dakota one of the more expensive states for maintaining licensure.

Visit Licensing Board →

Behavior Analyst Pay in Sioux Falls, Rapid City & the Northern Plains

BLS Median

$48,000

Entry Level

$32,000–$40,000

Experienced

$50,000–$68,000 (BCBA-certified, Sioux Falls metro)

Top Earners

$72,000–$90,000+ (clinical directors, private practice, cross-border positions)

South Dakota's estimated BLS median of approximately $48,000 for the broader behavioral health counselor category is below the national average of $59,190. However, South Dakota has one of the lowest costs of living in the country — the gap in purchasing power is much smaller than the nominal salary difference suggests. Sioux Falls is the largest city and primary ABA job market, with Rapid City as the secondary hub. The Sioux Falls metro straddles the Iowa and Minnesota borders, giving BCBAs access to multi-state opportunities. South Dakota's $300 annual license renewal fee is among the highest state-level costs, partially offsetting the cost-of-living advantage.

ABA Demand Across South Dakota's Spread-Out Population

BLS Employment

1,180

Projected Growth

19% nationally through 2034

Top Employers

Sanford Health, Avera Health, LifeScape, South Dakota Department of Social Services, school districts (Sioux Falls, Rapid City)

South Dakota's ABA workforce is concentrated in Sioux Falls, which has experienced rapid population growth and expanding behavioral health infrastructure. Sanford Health and Avera Health are the state's two largest healthcare systems, both headquartered in Sioux Falls and operating across multiple states. LifeScape (formerly Children's Care Hospital) provides comprehensive behavioral and developmental disability services. The South Dakota Department of Social Services funds ABA services through Medicaid. Rapid City serves western South Dakota and the Black Hills region. The Pine Ridge and Rosebud Indian Reservations face severe behavioral health shortages — tribal health programs represent an underserved but growing demand sector. South Dakota's two ABA graduate programs help build a local workforce pipeline, but many graduates relocate to higher-salary states.

Frequently Asked Questions

USD is substantially cheaper for coursework: $466/credit for in-state students (~$13,974 for 30 credits) vs. Augustana's $575/credit plus additional fieldwork supervision fees. However, Augustana integrates fieldwork supervision into the program structure, which can save money on external supervision arrangements. If total cost is the priority, USD wins. If structured fieldwork integration matters more, Augustana's model has advantages.
Yes — Augustana's program requires students to be employed in a behavioral work setting, because the 10 credits of fieldwork experience courses run concurrently with coursework at your workplace. This is by design: the program is built for working professionals who can immediately apply coursework to their current clinical practice. If you're not currently working in ABA, USD's program may be a better fit since fieldwork is completed separately.
South Dakota's $650 initial license and $300 annual renewal fees are among the highest in the nation for behavior analyst licensure. Most states charge $50–$150 per renewal cycle (often biennial), making South Dakota roughly 2–4 times more expensive for ongoing licensure costs. This adds approximately $3,000 over a decade of practice. The Board of Social Work Examiners sets these fees to cover administrative costs of the ABA Advisory Committee and licensing program.
The graduate certificate provides the BCBA-required ABA coursework, but BCBA certification also requires a qualifying master's degree. If you already hold a master's in psychology, education, health sciences, or a related field, the certificate adds ABA coursework for BCBA eligibility at a lower cost than a full second master's. If you don't have a qualifying master's, you'll need USD's full M.S. program.
Tribal health programs serving the Pine Ridge Reservation (Oglala Lakota), Rosebud Reservation (Sicangu Lakota), and other tribal communities face severe behavioral health shortages. These positions often offer competitive salaries, federal Indian Health Service benefits, student loan repayment programs (up to $40,000 through NHSC), and the opportunity to serve communities with significant unmet behavioral health needs. Cultural competency and willingness to work within tribal governance frameworks are essential. Telehealth is expanding BCBA access to remote reservation communities.