Gerontology graduates earn $54,051 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $39,369 and $71,812. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Gerontology as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Interdisciplinary Studies and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Gerontology is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $54,051 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 177 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 951 students complete it each year, most walking away with a master's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$37,623
Median Earnings · 4yr
$54,051
Colleges Offering
177
Graduates / Year
951
Avg Net Price / yr
$20,197
How Much Do Gerontology Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Gerontology, a typical graduate earns $54,051, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $39,369 and $71,812, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $37,623 at one year out to $54,051 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$54,051
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$55,897
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Gerontology graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$39,36925th pct.
$54,051Median
$71,81275th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $54,051 and an estimated $80,788 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.4 years.
Based on outcomes from 43 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 951 students who complete Gerontology programs each year, the majority (41%) earn a master's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
20%22%41%
Master's41%
Post-Bacc Cert.22%
Bachelor's20%
What Can You Do With a Gerontology Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Gerontology graduates show up in 3 different occupations, and Health Specialties Teachers pay the most at $107,310/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Doctoral or professional degree10,500 openings/yr172K employed nationally
WritingActive LearningScienceSpeakingJudgment and Decision Making
Day-to-day responsibilities
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.
Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
Teach courses in social work. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, or handouts.
Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
Top Colleges for Gerontology
Not sure where to study Gerontology? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Gerontology graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Gerontology is not the only path through Interdisciplinary Studies: 38 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Gerontology program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Gerontology shows 3 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $37,623 at graduation to $54,051 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +17.9% over the next decade, with Health Specialties Teachers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 36,500 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $54,051 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($39,369) and 75th ($71,812) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Gerontology Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Gerontology graduates earn?
$54,051 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $39,369 and $71,812, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Gerontology degree?
$37,623 in the first year out. That grows to $54,051 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Gerontology degree?
Health Specialties Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $107,310 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Gerontology program take?
Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many Gerontology students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.
How many colleges offer Gerontology?
177 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Gerontology degree worth it?
$54,051 median earnings four years out against $20,197 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Gerontology and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Gerontology is the narrower of the two: Interdisciplinary Studies covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Gerontology-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Gerontology graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Gerontology graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Gerontology graduates?
Outlook is strong overall: related occupations average +11.0% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Health Specialties Teachers are among the strongest-growth roles at +17.9%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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