Geriatric Nursing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Geriatric Nursing is a specialized field dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of older adults through expert clinical care and comprehensive disease management. This program equips registered nurses with advanced knowledge and skills to address the unique physiological, psychological, and social challenges associated with aging.
- Geriatric Primary Care: Focuses on preventive strategies, routine health assessments, and long-term wellness planning tailored to older adults.
- Geriatric Diagnosis: Emphasizes the accurate identification of complex conditions common in aging populations, including atypical presentations of illness.
- Mental Health and Aging: Explores cognitive changes, depression, dementia, and behavioral health issues prevalent in older adults, with an emphasis on compassionate care approaches.
- Primary Care Management: Covers coordinated care models that integrate medical, social, and psychological support to optimize patient outcomes across care settings.
- Geriatric Acute and Chronic Illness: Provides in-depth understanding of managing conditions such as heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, and respiratory disorders in older patients.
- Advanced Nursing Practices for Geriatric Patients: Builds clinical expertise in holistic, patient-centered interventions designed for frailty, functional decline, and polypharmacy.
- Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Integrates current research and clinical guidelines to ensure interventions are effective, safe, and grounded in data.
- Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology: Examines age-related changes in organ systems and disease mechanisms specific to older adults.
- Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics: Addresses safe medication use, drug interactions, dosing adjustments, and adverse effect management in elderly populations.
Geriatric Nursing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Geriatric Nursing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Geriatric Nursing degrees, including Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 3,663,650 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners 29-1171 | $129,210 | $97,960 - $169,950 | 307,390 | $62.12 |
| Registered Nurses 29-1141 | $93,600 | $66,030 - $135,320 | 3,282,010 | $45.00 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1072 | $79,940 | $47,950 - $130,040 | 74,250 | N/A |
Geriatric Nursing Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $85,040 in Arkansas to $135,317 in California—a 59% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Oregon, and Hawaii. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,663,650 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Geriatric Nursing by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 45 institutions offering Geriatric Nursing programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Geriatric Nursing is found at CUNY Hunter College (87 graduates), Purdue University Global (82 graduates), George Washington University (GW) (58 graduates), Walden University (51 graduates), and Maryville University of Saint Louis (41 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 641 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Hunter College |
Master's
|
87 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Master's
|
82 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
58 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Walden University |
Post-Master's
|
51 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | waldenu.edu |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
41 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions (MGH IHP) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
33 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mghihp.edu |
| Spring Arbor University (SAU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
32 | Spring Arbor, Michigan | Private | arbor.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
28 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Herzing University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
16 | Madison, Wisconsin | Private | herzing.edu |
| Graceland University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
15 | Lamoni, Iowa | Private | graceland.edu |
| West Coast University (WCU) |
Post-Master's
|
15 | Anaheim, California | Private | westcoastuniversity.edu |
| Seattle University (Seattle U) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
14 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattleu.edu |
| Husson University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
14 | Bangor, Maine | Private | husson.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| University of Southern Indiana (USI) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
12 | Evansville, Indiana | Public | usi.edu |
| Saint Joseph's College of Maine (SJC) |
Master's
|
12 | Standish, Maine | Private | sjcme.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Master's
|
12 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
11 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
11 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Master's
|
10 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
8 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
8 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| Keuka College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
7 | Keuka Park, New York | Private | keuka.edu |
| University of Akron |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Caribbean University |
Master's
|
5 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | caribbean.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Master's
|
4 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Post-Master's
|
4 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
4 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| Saint Mary's College |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
3 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | saintmarys.edu |
| University of Portland (UP) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
3 | Portland, Oregon | Private | up.edu |
| West Coast University (WCU) |
Post-Master's
|
3 | Richardson, Texas | Private | westcoastuniversity.edu |
| Jacksonville University (JU) |
Post-Master's
|
2 | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | ju.edu |
| Mount Saint Mary College (MSMC) |
Post-Master's
|
2 | Newburgh, New York | Private | msmc.edu |
| University of Saint Francis (USF) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Private | sf.edu |
| Briar Cliff University |
Master's
|
1 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | briarcliff.edu |
| Morningside University |
Master's
|
1 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | morningside.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Flint, Michigan | Public | umflint.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| Malone University |
Master's
|
1 | Canton, Ohio | Private | malone.edu |
| Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU) |
Master's
|
1 | Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania | Private | gmercyu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Norwich University |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Northfield, Vermont | Private | norwich.edu |
| Edgewood College |
Master's
|
1 | Madison, Wisconsin | Private | edgewood.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Geriatric Nursing programs
How much can I earn with a Geriatric Nursing degree?
Salaries for Geriatric Nursing graduates vary by role and location. Nurse Practitioners earn a median of $129,210 annually, while Registered Nurses earn around $93,600. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $135,317 compared to $85,040 in Arkansas. Approximately 3,663,650 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Geriatric Nursing programs?
Currently 45 accredited institutions offer Geriatric Nursing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include CUNY Hunter College (87 graduates), Purdue University Global (82 graduates), and George Washington University (GW) (58 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Geriatric Nursing growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 76 in 2010 to a peak of 665 in 2020, before declining slightly to 641 in 2023-24. This represents a 743% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Geriatric Nursing degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 3,663,650 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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