Gerontology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Gerontology is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the complexities of human aging and the experiences of older adults across the lifespan. It integrates insights from multiple scientific domains to address the physical, psychological, social, and environmental dimensions of aging in diverse populations.
- Biological Aging: Examines the cellular and physiological changes that occur with age, including genetic factors, disease progression, and the impact of lifestyle on longevity.
- Psychological Development in Later Life: Explores cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes associated with aging, including memory, identity, and mental health across the lifespan.
- Social and Cultural Aspects of Aging: Investigates how social structures, cultural norms, family dynamics, and community systems influence the aging experience and older adult well-being.
- Health and Wellness in Aging: Focuses on preventive care, chronic disease management, rehabilitation, and health promotion strategies tailored to older adults.
- Policy and Aging Services: Analyzes public policies, healthcare systems, and social programs designed to support aging populations and ensure equitable access to resources and services.
- Research Methodologies in Gerontology: Applies quantitative and qualitative research techniques to study aging trends, evaluate interventions, and inform evidence-based practice.
Gerontology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Gerontology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Gerontology degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists and Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other. 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 436,340 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists 19-1042 | $100,590 | $61,860 - $168,210 | 156,300 | $48.36 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other 19-3099 | $100,340 | $62,570 - $160,810 | 36,970 | $48.24 |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1113 | $76,210 | $45,370 - $129,280 | 13,350 | N/A |
Gerontology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $71,690 in Montana to $118,460 in District of Columbia—a 65% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, California, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 436,340 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 Gerontology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Gerontology 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 Gerontology is found at University of Southern California (USC) (124 graduates), Stark State College (51 graduates), University of Indianapolis (UIndy) (42 graduates), Northwood Technical College (Northwood Tech) (37 graduates), and University of Puerto Rico (UPR‑MSC), Medical Sciences (30 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 861 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
124 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Stark State College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
51 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| University of Indianapolis (UIndy) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
42 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | uindy.edu |
| Northwood Technical College (Northwood Tech) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
37 | Rice Lake, Wisconsin | Public | northwoodtech.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR‑MSC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
30 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | rcm.upr.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
28 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
21 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
21 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
20 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Master's
|
19 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
|
16 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
16 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Adelphi, Maryland | Public | umgc.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
12 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Western Oregon University (WOU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
12 | Monmouth, Oregon | Public | wou.edu |
| Widener University |
Master's
|
11 | Chester, Pennsylvania | Private | widener.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Yeshiva University (YU) |
Post-Master's
|
9 | New York, New York | Private | yu.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Master's
|
8 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) |
Other Award
|
8 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Public | pfw.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Post-Master's
|
8 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Post-Master's
|
8 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Master's
|
7 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Brenau University |
Master's
|
7 | Gainesville, Georgia | Private | brenau.edu |
| University of Louisiana (ULM) |
Master's
|
7 | Monroe, Louisiana | Public | ulm.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Post-Master's
|
7 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Post-Master's
|
6 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| Eastern Illinois University (EIU) |
Master's
|
6 | Charleston, Illinois | Public | eiu.edu |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) |
Master's
|
6 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | uncw.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Postbac Cert.
Residency
|
5 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Webster University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
5 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Master's
|
4 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Bethune-Cookman University (B‑CU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | cookman.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| McDaniel College |
Master's
|
4 | Westminster, Maryland | Private | mcdaniel.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| Barton College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Wilson, North Carolina | Private | barton.edu |
| Wright State University |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
4 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
4 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Master's
|
3 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Madonna University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Livonia, Michigan | Private | madonna.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Residency
|
3 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| CUNY York College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Jamaica, New York | Public | york.cuny.edu |
| Farmingdale State College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Farmingdale, New York | Public | farmingdale.edu |
| University of Akron |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Central Carolina Technical College (CCTC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Sumter, South Carolina | Public | cctech.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Master's
|
3 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| York County Community College (YCCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Wells, Maine | Public | yccc.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
2 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
2 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Other Award
|
2 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Other Award
|
2 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| Springfield College |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | springfield.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Niagara University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Niagara University, New York | Private | niagara.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Kent State University |
Post-Master's
|
2 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) |
Other Award
|
2 | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | esu.edu |
| Regent University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Master's
|
2 | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | Private | arecibo.inter.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Master's
|
1 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| Fort Lewis College (FLC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Durango, Colorado | Public | fortlewis.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Methodist College |
Other Award
|
1 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | methodistcol.edu |
| Saint Xavier University (SXU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | sxu.edu |
| Ashford University (UAGC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | San Diego, California | Private | uagc.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umaryland.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | New York, New York | Public | bmcc.cuny.edu |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Public | wssu.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Gerontology programs
How much can I earn with a Gerontology degree?
Salaries for Gerontology graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn around $100,590. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $118,460 compared to $71,690 in Montana. Approximately 436,340 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 Gerontology programs?
Currently 109 accredited institutions offer Gerontology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Southern California (USC) (124 graduates), Stark State College (51 graduates), and University of Indianapolis (UIndy) (42 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 Gerontology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 927 in 2010 to a peak of 1,214 in 2020, before declining slightly to 870 in 2023-24. This represents a 6% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, 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 Gerontology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, and Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 436,340 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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