College Support for Autistic Students Is Growing—Here’s Where to Find It

The process of applying to college can be both exciting and overwhelming with many factors to consider such as location, size, type of school, majors, residential life, campus culture and affordability.  For autistic students, finding a college that is the right fit can come with its own set of unique challenges.

In the past decade, we have seen a dramatic rise in the number of college programs designed to meet the diverse needs of incoming students. More and more schools are offering specialized programs that may be geared towards a specific population, such as those with an ASD diagnosis.  In addition to typical academic accommodations/services, these programs may offer individualized support in the following areas:

• Transition to college

• Social skills

• Executive functioning

• Independent living

• Career preparation

Programs may be free or fee-based, may have a separate application process and may require recent documentation of a diagnosis.

An important  first step in this journey is to anticipate or determine what support your student may need as they transition to college. Are the accommodations your student uses in high school offered at the college? Would your student benefit from additional services or support beyond what is typically offered to college students, making  participation in a program a key criteria in their college search?

At The College Spy, we work with many autistic students, and it has been exciting to learn about and guide our students towards the program that best suits their needs! In this post, we will share information on some well-regarded programs for autistic students.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Rochester, New York
Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,000

RIT’s Spectrum Support Program (SSP) was developed to provide support for neurodivergent and autistic students. This fee-based program offers three levels of support ranging in cost from $1400-$3000 per term. There is a focus on social skills, wellness & self-care, advocacy, academic planning and career preparation.

SSP students are paired with a coach who provides  guidance towards meeting academic, social and career-related goals during regular meetings.  Students can connect with one another at social events such as game nights, mixers and volunteer opportunities.  Pre-arrival programming is designed to assist with a smooth transition to the first year of college. More information about the SSP program at RIT can be found here.

Marshall University
Huntington, West Virginia
Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,000

The College Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CPSASD)  is a fee-based program ($5,000/semester) that offers individualized support and services in the following areas: academic support & monitoring, social skills, independent living and help with accommodations & communication with professors.

Students participate in weekly social skill groups, mentoring and planned social activities. The Summer Transition Program is a five-week program offered not only to incoming Marshall students, but rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates. More information can be found here.

University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,600

The  Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) is a fee-based program ($5700/year) that offers support in the following areas; academic, executive functioning, social skills and college transition. Students participate in weekly meetings with a coach who provides support as needed in the areas of academic planning, time management & organization, self monitoring and accessing resources. More information on this program can be found here.

Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,300

The Access Plus program is fee based ($9,600/semester) and provides services to students with ASD to support academic achievement, independent living and campus life. Students attend weekly support groups that focus on topics such as social skills, time management and career preparation. Access Plus staff and peer mentors encourage students to participate in campus social activities and supervise a daily study hall. You can find more information about this support program here.

Kutztown University
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,300

The My Place program is fee based and offers three tiers of support ($500-$3000/semester). In addition to typical academic accommodations, there is a focus on executive functioning skills, career development, social skills and independent living. Students participate in weekly coaching sessions, study halls and social events. There is a Neurodiverse living learning community where access to sensory-reduced housing, dining and study areas is provided as needed. If you would like to learn more about this program, please click here.

At The College Spy, we specialize in guiding autistic and neurodivergent students toward colleges where they can succeed and feel supported. We get to know your student, including their interests, learning style, and priorities, and then recommend colleges that fit both their needs and aspirations. Our College List Building package is ideal for families who want personalized help choosing the right colleges to include on their list. Please reach out to us to schedule a free consultation to discuss if this package is right for your student.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I know what level of support my student will need in college?

  Start by identifying the types of accommodations and supports your student currently uses in high school. Consider whether those will be enough given that during college, the demands will increase while supports generally decrease.. Some students thrive with standard accommodations (such as extended time or testing in an alternate location) while others benefit from structured coaching, social support, or living-learning communities. An experienced college advisor can help assess your student’s needs and match them with the right resources.

• Do these fee-based support programs affect college admissions decisions?

  They do not.  Most programs are separate from the college’s admissions process. Students apply to the college and the support program separately. Having a diagnosis of autism and needing support will not negatively impact your child’s ability to get into college.

• What’s the difference between a college’s disability services office and a specialized support program?

  All colleges are legally required to provide academic accommodations to eligible students, and every college has a disability services office to meet this requirement. However, specialized programs, like those featured in this post, offer additional  support beyond accommodations such as executive functioning coaching, social skills development, or transition guidance. These programs often have their own application process and may charge a separate fee.