Gerontology: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$147,611 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
23.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−58%Modeled 10-year ROI
$55,898Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Four useful answers about Gerontology
How much do Gerontology bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $55,898 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $26,973. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Gerontology?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $50,070 to $60,172 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Gerontology?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 4 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$71,025
$8,000Annual price−$103,025
$16,000Annual price−$135,025
$19,000Current college-wide context−$147,025
$24,000Annual price−$167,025
$32,000Annual price−$199,025
$40,000Annual price−$231,025
Observed national outcomes
$55,898Median reported earnings · year 4
$50,721Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,973Median federal debt
36thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
6With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,378
- Federal debt
- $11,137
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $39,217
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,898
- Federal debt
- $26,973
- Reporting programs
- 7
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $61,113
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$50,070National median$55,89875th percentile$60,172
6 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$60,868Observed year-4 earnings$49,843
University of Northern Iowa$15,901 price · $63,876 earningsCalifornia State University, Sacramento$9,338 price · $60,868 earningsKansas State University$19,406 price · $60,172 earningsBethune-Cookman University$12,030 price · $51,623 earningsBowling Green State University-Main Campus$24,022 price · $50,070 earningsThe University of Arizona Global Campus$31,266 price · $49,843 earnings
$9,338Annual college-wide average net price$24,022
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
7 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Northern Iowa$63,8762California State University, Sacramento$60,8683Kansas State University$60,1724Bethune-Cookman University$51,6235Bowling Green State University-Main Campus$50,0706The University of Arizona Global Campus$49,8437University of Maryland Global CampusNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →20%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$107,310 median wage221,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1071+17.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$59,270–$322,020 10th–90th percentileMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410 median wage172,340 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1042+12.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$64,800–$177,780 10th–90th percentileSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$101,110 median wage37,100 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3099-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$66,120–$160,300 10th–90th percentileSocial Work Teachers, Postsecondary$77,570 median wage12,610 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1113+2.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$48,200–$126,790 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Northern IowaBachelor's Degree | Cedar Falls, IA | $63,876 | Not available | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $60,868 | $21,000 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $60,172 | $25,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Bethune-Cookman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $51,623 | Not available | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $50,070 | $26,973 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | The University of Arizona Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Chandler, AZ | $49,843 | $40,396 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of Maryland Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Adelphi, MD | Not available | $31,344 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $22,063 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.