Kansas state guide
ABA Programs in Kansas (2026): KU as the 1968 ABA Origin, Plus Wichita State and Online
Kansas holds an extraordinary place in the history of applied behavior analysis. The 1968 founding paper of the field, by Donald Baer, Montrose Wolf, and Todd Risley, was published while all three were at the University of Kansas. KU's Department of Applied Behavioral Science is among the oldest in the country and continues to anchor academic preparation. Kansas City metro, Wichita, Topeka, and Lawrence anchor the BCBA employer base; rural Kansas residents combine online coursework with KS-based fieldwork.
Key Takeaways
- 01The University of Kansas is the academic birthplace of applied behavior analysis. The foundational 1968 paper by Donald Baer, Montrose Wolf, and Todd Risley, Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis, was published while all three were at KU. The Department of Applied Behavioral Science at KU is among the oldest in the field.
- 02Kansas City (KS side: Wyandotte and Johnson counties), Wichita (Sedgwick County), Topeka (Shawnee County), and Lawrence (Douglas County) anchor the urban BCBA employer base.
- 03Kansas licenses behavior analysts (LBAs) through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, with biennial renewal and 30 CE hours per cycle (including 4 in ethics).
- 04The two in-state programs are the University of Kansas (ABAI-accredited M.A. in Applied Behavioral Science, on-campus or fully online) and Wichita State (online M.Ed.). Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Fort Hays, and Washburn do not offer a confirmed ABA program.
- 05KanCare (KS Medicaid) plus state autism insurance mandate cover ABA for eligible children. Persistent HRSA HPSA designations across rural KS open NHSC and PSLF loan-repayment programs.
- 06For new BCBAs, Children's Mercy Kansas City (KC metro spillover), KU Medical Center, KU Center for Child Health and Development, Wichita-area employers, and Kansas City-metro spillover agencies are the most consistent hiring sources.
KU and the 1968 ABA Origin Story
The University of Kansas occupies an unusual place in the history of applied behavior analysis. The field-defining 1968 paper Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis, by Donald Baer, Montrose Wolf, and Todd Risley, was published while all three were at KU. The paper laid out the seven dimensions of ABA (applied, behavioral, analytic, technological, conceptually systematic, effective, and generality) that still define the field today.
KU's Department of Applied Behavioral Science is one of the oldest dedicated ABA departments in the world. The Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and the KU Center for Child Health and Development continue to anchor ABA research and clinical training in Kansas.
How to Become a BCBA in Kansas
- Earn a master's degree from a BACB-aligned program.
- Complete 1,500 to 2,000 supervised fieldwork hours at a KS-based site.
- Pass the BCBA exam.
- Apply for the Kansas behavior analyst license through the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board.
- Maintain renewal and complete required continuing education.
Kansas Behavior Analyst License
KS Insurance and KanCare
Kansas requires state-regulated insurance plans to cover ABA. KanCare (KS Medicaid) covers ABA for eligible children, including telehealth delivery to rural counties.
In-State ABA and BCBA Programs in Kansas
| Program | Metro | Credits | In-State Total | Out-of-State Total | Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Kansas, M.A. in Applied Behavioral Science | Lawrence (on-campus or online) | 30 | $366/credit hour; $795/credit hour (online) | $977/credit hour; $795/credit hour (online) | ABAI-Accredited |
| Wichita State University, M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis (Online) | Wichita (online) | 36 | $260/credit hour | $260/credit hour | BACB Coursework |
The academic birthplace of ABA and an ABAI-accredited program. Offered on-campus in Lawrence or fully online ($795/credit flat for everyone); a 24-credit online graduate certificate is also available. The strongest reputation among Kansas programs.
Visit program website →A fully online M.Ed. in ABA, plus a 21-credit graduate certificate. Strong fit for working professionals in the Wichita metro and across south-central Kansas. Pittsburg State, Emporia State, Fort Hays, and Washburn do not offer a confirmed ABA program.
Visit program website →Online Programs Accessible from Kansas
Many Kansas residents combine BACB-aligned online coursework with KS-based fieldwork. Confirm a program's current status in the ABAI accredited programs directory before enrolling.
Indiana public-university fully online ABA master's with affordable per-credit tuition.
Visit program website →Florida public-university online M.S. Smaller cohorts than larger national online programs.
Visit program website →FlexPath competency-based pacing for working professionals.
Visit program website →ASU Online M.A. with structured cohorts and national name recognition.
Visit program website →Where Kansas BCBAs Work
KS BCBA employers concentrate in the Kansas City and Wichita metros with statewide rural coverage through ESUs and telehealth.
- Children's Mercy Kansas City. Major pediatric specialty hospital serving both sides of the KC metro. Developmental and behavioral pediatrics, autism specialty programs.
- KU Medical Center + KU Center for Child Health and Development. Academic medical center plus the historic ABA research-and-clinical anchor at KU. The strongest research-track BCBA setting in Kansas.
- Heartspring (Wichita). Long-running nonprofit school and pediatric ABA clinic for children with autism and developmental disabilities; a major Wichita-area BCBA employer.
- Kansas public school districts. Shawnee Mission School District, Olathe Public Schools, Blue Valley School District (KC suburbs), Wichita Public Schools, Topeka USD 501, plus rural districts hire BCBAs.
- Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, Community Services and Programs. Statewide services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Private ABA agencies. Summit Behavioral Services (KC + Wichita, partnered with ~40 school districts), BlueGems ABA, Cultivate, and Atlas Autism Health (Overland Park / Lenexa) serve the KC metro and Wichita, plus rural telehealth providers.
- Veterans Affairs Eastern Kansas Health Care System (Topeka, Leavenworth) + Wichita VA. Federal-pay-band positions.
BCBA Salary in Kansas by Metro
BLS does not publish a standalone behavior-analyst occupation. Most BCBA work in KS codes under SOC 21-1018. For national BCBA pay context see the BCBA salary guide. Across KS metros for 2026:
- Kansas City metro (KS side) BCBA: approximately $66,000 to $82,000.
- Wichita BCBA: approximately $62,000 to $78,000.
- Topeka / Lawrence BCBA: approximately $60,000 to $76,000.
- Rural KS BCBA: approximately $56,000 to $72,000.
- KS RBT (statewide): approximately $34,000 to $44,000.
Kansas state income tax is moderate. Cost of living runs below national average, which improves real take-home purchasing power.
Workforce, Shortages, and Loan Repayment
- HRSA HPSA designations: Most non-metro KS counties carry mental-health HPSA designations. HRSA HPSA data.
- PSLF: BCBAs at KS public schools, KU Medical Center, Children's Mercy KC, VA medical centers, and qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits can pursue federal loan forgiveness.
- NHSC Loan Repayment: NHSC covers eligible clinicians in HPSA areas.
- Kansas State Loan Repayment Program (KS-SLRP): State-administered loan repayment supplementing NHSC.
For broader context see our ABA programs by state directory or nearby state guides: Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
01How do I become a BCBA in Kansas?+
02Why is KU the academic birthplace of ABA?+
03Can I complete an ABA master's online while living in Kansas?+
04What does the BLS report for KS BCBAs?+
Sources
- Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board, Behavior Analyst
- University of Kansas, M.A. in Applied Behavioral Science
- Wichita State University, M.Ed. in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Heartspring (Wichita)
- Children's Mercy Kansas City
- KanCare (Kansas Medicaid)
- ABAI, Accredited Programs Directory
- BACB, U.S. Licensure of Behavior Analysts
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Kansas (May 2024)