Colleges for Autistic Students
More than half of young adults with ASD do not go to college after high school. And while 35 percent will attempt to attend college later, most do not get admitted or they do but then drop out. Though many colleges and universities provide an array of services to students with learning or physical disabilities, those with ASD have needs that extend beyond the classroom, and their success in classroom is directly implicated in those needs.
But it is not dire. There are many schools across the nation that have recognized those needs and have put programs in place to secure the academic and social experience of their students with ASD. These programs go way above and beyond the services typically offered by a Disability Resource Center.
For example, in addition to providing academic advising many of the schools below provide guidance and counseling on life skills, including hygiene awareness, dorm decorum, communication techniques with peers and faculty, and more. Similarly, many of the best schools for students with ASD offer vital transition programs. Because high school is so different than college—the latter being marked by independence and self-sufficiency—many students have a hard time with the adjustment. The transition program is an effective way schools help students have a smooth passage into college life.
The colleges and universities on our ranking are just these kind of schools. They have not only recognized the diverse needs of students with ASD, and met those needs, they've recognized the importance of neuro-diversity on campus. They have identified and removed hurdles, and promoted self-advocacy and development across social, academic, and vocational levels. They have introduced neuro-diversity into the curriculum and given athletes with ASD an inclusive place to play. They are, hands down, the best colleges and universities in the nation for those with ASD who are eager to earn their college degree.
If you're interested in colleges that cater to students with disabilities, please check out our ranking of the Best Disability Friendly Colleges and Universities.
Featured Colleges and Universities
What are the Best Colleges and Universities for Students with ASD?
[/hen-ui-heading]Though some of the schools below are large, elite research universities and others are small, private liberal arts school, they all share one significant thing in common: they are the most neuro-inclusive institutions of higher learning in the country.
To identify, evaluate, and narrow such an important list, here at College Choice we started with those schools that are TPSID funded. TPSID—Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities—is a national program that provides grants to colleges and universities that are committed to serving their students with ASD. From there we analyzed which schools offer scholarships or funding assistance to their ASD students, those that provide high school to college transition programs, and those that have ASD specific centers and social groups. Once we aggregated that list we then factored in retention rates—a reflection of student satisfaction—reputation, and tuition cost.
What we concluded with, after such extensive research, are those colleges and universities that offer the best resources and services to their ASD students, ensuring they thrive both academically and socially. Our figures and information come from the university and colleges' websites, PayScale, nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics, and from the U.S. Department of Education and Autism Speaks.
Quick note: tuition reflects in-state rates. Please check the school's website for current out-of-state tuition rates.
