Gerontology
Students study the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging, including elder care systems, retirement planning, age-related diseases, and policies affecting older adults. Graduates typically pursue careers in senior living administration, healthcare management, social services for the elderly, geriatric care management, and aging-related policy organizations. With the baby boomer generation aging, demand for gerontology professionals is growing rapidly.
What Gerontology graduates do
Your work will focus on one of society's most significant trends: the aging population. Many graduates pursue advanced degrees to enter research or academia. As a medical scientist, you might run clinical trials for new dementia treatments or analyze cellular changes associated with aging. As a social scientist, you could be modeling the economic impact of longer lifespans for a government agency. Others find their place in the university classroom, teaching future nurses and social workers how to provide compassionate, effective care for older adults.
These career paths typically begin with research assistant or teaching assistant roles while pursuing a master's or Ph.D., progressing to lead scientist or tenured professor. While the demand for health specialties educators is growing rapidly, some niche social science roles face headwinds. AI will become a significant partner in your work, automating routine data analysis and literature reviews. This won't eliminate your job, but it will change it, shifting your focus toward complex research design, interpreting nuanced findings, and providing the human judgment that algorithms lack.
Related majors worth comparing: Multicultural Studies, Cultural Studies, and Biopsychology.
Where Gerontology graduates work
Common career paths for Gerontology graduates, with median salaries, projected growth, and AI exposure per role. Roughly 41,500 combined openings per year across these roles.
| Role | Median Pay | Annual Openings | 10-yr Growth | AI Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
|
$105,620
$74K–$176K
|
27,400 | +17.3% | Moderate · 48% |
|
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
|
$100,590
$77K–$134K
|
9,600 | +8.7% | High · 52% |
|
Social scientists and related workers, all other
|
$100,340
$79K–$128K
|
3,200 | -1.7% | High · 52% |
|
Social work teachers, postsecondary
|
$76,210
$57K–$99K
|
1,300 | +2.3% | Moderate · 42% |
Best schools for Gerontology
Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 5 of 5.
| # | School | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Ashford University
San Diego, CA · Private for-profit
|
25 | $33,706 | 5.8x |
Highest Earnings Top 5
| University of Maryland Global Campus
MD |
$43,840 |
| California State University-Sacramento
CA |
$38,461 |
| Kansas State University
KS |
$37,623 |
| Ashford University
CA |
$33,706 |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
OH |
$33,497 |
Best ROI Top 5
| California State University-Sacramento
CA |
19.4x |
| University of Maryland Global Campus
MD |
17.4x |
| Kansas State University
KS |
14.3x |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
OH |
7.2x |
| Ashford University
CA |
5.8x |
Related majors
Similar fields of study often offered alongside Gerontology.
Frequently asked about Gerontology
How much do Gerontology graduates earn?
Across 5 schools, Gerontology graduates earn an average of $37,425 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $33,497 to $43,840 depending on the school.
Will AI affect Gerontology careers?
AI exposure for Gerontology is rated "High." With 55% of tasks potentially affected by large language models, most career functions face meaningful automation pressure in the coming decade.
Where should I study Gerontology?
University of Maryland Global Campus leads all 5 programs with a DegreeOutlook Score of 53/100. Graduates earn $43,840/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.
What's the outlook for a Gerontology degree?
On average, Gerontology graduates earn 12.8x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.