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MASTER'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 3011

Gerontology: is this master's degree worth it?

National picture across 4 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$61,113 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$61,113Median year-4 earnings

$21,832Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$61,113Median reported earnings · year 4

$66,811Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

19thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

4Reporting programs

4With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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

2 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $39,217
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $55,898
Federal debt: $26,973
Reporting programs: 7

6 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $61,113
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 4

4 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$47,856National median$61,11375th percentile$71,482

4 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1University of Southern California$79,668 2University of Massachusetts-Boston$71,482 3Brenau University$50,743 4Capella University$47,856

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1071 · 1 crosswalk linksMedical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSOC 19-1042 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 19-3099 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Work Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1113 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR GERONTOLOGY

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	University of Southern CaliforniaMaster's Degree	Los Angeles, CA	$79,668	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,740
2	University of Massachusetts-BostonMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$71,482	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,707
3	Brenau UniversityMaster's Degree	Gainesville, GA	$50,743	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,924
4	Capella UniversityMaster's Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$47,856	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,956

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.