ASD Colleges

There are colleges that are specifically modeled to meet the needs of students on the autism spectrum or students with learning disabilities. Here are some colleges that you might want to consider.


The College Internship Program

4 locations at:

Brevard Center in Melbourne, Florida
Berkshire Center in Lee, Massachusetts
Bloomington Center in Bloomington, Illinois
Berkley Center in Berkley, California

The College Internship Program provides individualized academic, internship and independent living experiences for students with Asperger syndrome and nonverbal learning differences. Students live in apartments with other students and receive support and instruction in money management, cooking skills, and cleaning and apartment maintenance. They are also offered social and recreational support. The student also receives support from an academic coordinator and from tutors. Students can participate in individual and small group instruction and receive assistance in time management and organizational skills. Some students attend classes at local colleges in the area where they can receive accommodations. Counseling is also available to students on an individual basis or in group sessions. The Brevard and Berkshire Centers also offer individual training modules designed specifically for students with Asperger syndrome or nonverbal learning differences. The modules may include social stories, instruction in disclosure, theory of mind, sensory integration, couching and role play, and biomedical interventions. Tuition ranges from $33,000 a year to $58,000 per year. Room and board are approximately $1,000 per month.



Minnesota Life College

Minnesota Life College (MLC), located in Richfield, Minnesota, is a not-for-profit, vocational and life skills training program for young adults with learning disabilities including Asperger Syndrome and high-functioning autism. Since 1996 the college is dedicated to helping their students make a successful transition to independent living and financial self-sufficiency. The program stresses independent living skills, social skills development, and decision-making. Students also receive help in the area of health and wellness through fitness programs and recreational activities. Students live in apartments while they work, do internships, or attend traditional postsecondary schools.

Students are required to be at least 18 years of age, graduated from high school, and have a score of 70 or above on intellectual testing. Students must also have the ability to volunteer or work with minimal supervision and have stable behavior and impulse control. This is a three-year program and costs approximately $28,000 a year for tuition and room and board.



The College Program for Students with Higher Functioning Autism

The College Program for Students with Higher Functioning Autism at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia provides academic, social and life skills to support to Marshall University students with high-functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome. Their goal is to develop strategies based on the student’s individual needs that will assist the student to successfully earn a college degree. Faculty, tutors, and students at the university are given training related to autism and the unique learning style of students with ASD. Each student, with their family’s help, participates in person-centered planning activities and develops the student’s individual support plan. When the student begins classes an assistant may be assigned to help them in transitioning from class to class. Students check in regularly with staff to discuss any concerns or issues. This is a small program and designed to serve only ten students. ASD students in this program pay the same tuition fees paid by the other students at Marshall University.