Best Online Master’s in Behavior Analysis Degree Programs

Published: Aug 27, 2021
Updated: Sep 9, 2023

Find top-ranked online master’s in behavior analysis degree programs for students wanting to apply their knowledge in the human resources and education fields and as FBI profilers.

Top 10 Online Master's in Behavioral Analysis

University of Arizona
University of Cincinnati
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of North Texas
University of Nevada, Reno
Nova Southeastern University
Eastern Kentucky University
Simmons University
Southeast Missouri State University
Northern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University 98%
Nova Southeastern University 93%
Regis College 89%
University of Nevada, Reno 88%
University of Arizona 87%
University of Southern Maine 87%
University of Cincinnati 85%
Simmons University 84%
University of North Texas 81%
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 81%

University of North Texas 26 to 1
University of Houston–Victoria 20 to 1
Southeast Missouri State University 19 to 1
University of Cincinnati 19 to 1
Northern Kentucky University 18 to 1
Tennessee Tech 18 to 1
Cameron University 18 to 1
Nova Southeastern University 17 to 1
University of Nevada, Reno 17 to 1
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 16 to 1

Regis College $44,809
Simmons University $43,062
Georgetown College $41,200
Buena Vista University $37,518
Saint Elizabeth University $34,876
Nova Southeastern University $34,570
Shenandoah University $34,490
Daemen University $31,250
William Carey University $14,100
National University $13,320

William James College $34,800
Regis College $28,800
Daemen University $23,928
Shenandoah University $22,080
Simmons University $21,384
Nova Southeastern University $21,153
Saint Elizabeth University $18,018
National University $15,480
University of Cincinnati $13,224
University of Arizona $12,106

Saint Elizabeth University
Daemen University
Regis College
Buena Vista University
University of Houston–Victoria
William James College
Cameron University
Tennessee Tech
Shenandoah University
William Carey University

University of Houston–Victoria 53%
National University 55%
William Carey University 57%
Kentucky State University 65%
Buena Vista University 66%
Saint Elizabeth University 74%
Shenandoah University 74%
Georgetown College 75%
Daemen University 78%
Tennessee Tech 79%

William James College 7 to 1
Simmons University 9 to 1
Shenandoah University 10 to 1
Buena Vista University 10 to 1
Regis College 10 to 1
Daemen University 11 to 1
Saint Elizabeth University 11 to 1
Georgetown College 12 to 1
University of Southern Maine 12 to 1
Kentucky State University 14 to 1

Cameron University $4,740
University of Houston–Victoria $5,111
Southeast Missouri State University $7,461
Kentucky State University $7,700
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $7,770
University of Nevada, Reno $7,923
University of Southern Maine $8,064
University of North Texas $8,295
Tennessee Tech $8,520
Eastern Kentucky University $9,452

Cameron University $3,564
University of Nevada, Reno $5,625
Southeast Missouri State University $5,858
University of Nebraska–Lincoln $6,138
University of North Texas $6,350
University of Houston–Victoria $6,618
Kentucky State University $7,560
University of Southern Maine $7,776
Eastern Kentucky University $9,900
Northern Kentucky University $9,900

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Behavioral Analysis

Students earning a master’s degree in behavior analysis will put theory to practice in postgraduate programs that are constructed to teach best practices for positive behavior outcomes.

Both online and on-campus programs have a range of required credits, but most are a minimum of 30 credits, which take about two to three years to complete.

Students will study positive behavior support, single-subject research designs, and evidence-based practices for helping those with mental, social, or learning disorders. Many programs include a practicum and will prepare students to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam.

Graduates commonly enter the workforce as behavior analysts, but students can also apply their knowledge in the human resources and education fields and as FBI profilers.

Learn more about what you can do with a master’s in behavior analysis.

How do we determine the best online behavior analysis master's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

44740Rehabilitation Counselors

49730Counselors, All Other

53490Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

54880Child, Family, and School Social Workers

62310Healthcare Social Workers

Best Online Master’s in Behavior Analysis Degree Programs

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Best Online Master’s in Behavior Analysis Degree Programs

Top 10 Online Master's in Behavioral Analysis

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Behavioral Analysis

What do you do while earning a master’s in behavior analysis?

How long does it take to get a master’s in behavior analysis?

What will you learn while getting a master’s in behavior analysis?

What can you do with a master’s in behavior analysis?

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

Best Online Master’s in Behavior Analysis Degree Programs

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What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+

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Resources for Prospective Grad Students