Best Schools for Gerontology

Gerontology graduates earn a median of $56,075 within four years of graduating, ranking #179 out of 283 tracked majors — 10% below the median across all fields. There are 9 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 222 recent graduates.

Earnings for Gerontology vary little between colleges — $50,070 to $63,876 from bottom to top. That is the usual pattern: the field you choose separates earnings more than the college you choose.

Early career salary growth is modest: Gerontology graduates see an average 2% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$56,075

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#179

of 283 Majors

222

Graduates

Public vs Private: Gerontology

Public (7 schools)

$58,747

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (2 schools)

$51,623

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Gerontology, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Gerontology by State

Also by state: California

Top Gerontology Schools by Graduate Earnings

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

$63,876

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

2yr: $39,927 (13)

1yr: $56,361 (18)

Acceptance: 94.4%

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS · Public

Bethune-Cookman University

Daytona Beach, FL · Private

$51,623

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 99.9%

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Bowling Green, OH · Public

$50,070

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

2yr: $31,133 (22)

1yr: $28,599 (21)

Acceptance: 80.6%

Western Oregon University

Monmouth, OR · Public

$36,848

2yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

1yr: $33,454 (16)

Grads: 16

Acceptance: 98.7%

Pennsylvania Western University

California, PA · Public

$35,060

2yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

1yr: $33,905 (16)

Grads: 16

Acceptance: 93.7%

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL · Public

$31,852

2yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

1yr: $24,858 (17)

Grads: 17

Acceptance: 41.0%

Barton College

Wilson, NC · Private

$30,228

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 95.9%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Psychology, Other $33,808 Education, General $33,758 Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics $33,743 Communication and Media Studies $33,623 Microbiological Sciences and Immunology $33,562 Education, Other $33,362

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Gerontology?

University of Northern Iowa ranks #1 for Gerontology with median graduate earnings of $63,876 within four years of graduating. There are 9 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Gerontology graduates earn?

Gerontology graduates earn an average of $56,075 within four years of graduating. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $50,070 to $63,876 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Gerontology program?

The average acceptance rate across Gerontology programs is 86.3%. The most selective program is at University of South Florida with a 41.0% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Gerontology?

Private Gerontology programs average $51,623 in early earnings vs $58,747 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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