Best Gerontology Programs in the United States (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Interdisciplinary Studies Colleges in the United States
This page ranks the 7 Gerontology programs in the United States by median earnings of Gerontology graduates four years after completing. University of Northern Iowa leads the list at $63,876, followed by California State University-Sacramento at $60,868 and Kansas State University at $60,172.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $51,623, with a spread of $32,024 from the highest to the lowest reported value. For 2 of the 7 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 86% of the list, with 6 public schools and 1 private nonprofit program. California State University-Sacramento ranks 10th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on the page.
California State University-Sacramento posts the lowest average net price at $9,338, while Western Oregon University reports the highest admission rate, admitting 98% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA | $63,876 | $15,901 | $10,863 | 92.7% |
| University of Northern Iowa reports median earnings of $63,876 for its Gerontology graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. | |||||
| 2 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $60,868 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
| California State University-Sacramento carries an average net price of $9,338, the lowest among the 7 programs, and ranks 10th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 3 | Kansas State University · Manhattan, KS | $60,172 | $19,406 | $13,178 | 81.7% |
| Kansas State University admits 82% of applicants and its Gerontology graduates four years after completing earn a median of $60,172. | |||||
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman University · Daytona Beach, FL | $51,623 | $12,030 | $10,896 | 88.2% |
| A private nonprofit university in Daytona Beach, Bethune-Cookman University shows median federal debt of $31,000 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 5 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH | $50,070 | $24,022 | $18,396 | 81.0% |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus ranks 5th on this list, with an average net price of $18,396 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 6 | Western Oregon University · Monmouth, OR | $36,848 | $17,237 | $15,575 | 98.1% |
| Western Oregon University posts an admission rate of 98% and its Gerontology graduates four years after completing earn a median of $36,848. | |||||
| 7 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $31,852 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
| University of South Florida ranks 63rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $31,852 for its Gerontology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Gerontology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the United States appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. For 2 of the 7 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 7 schools with a published figure. University of Northern Iowa leads California State University-Sacramento by $3,008, while the spread from top to bottom reaches $32,024.
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