by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 43 U.S. colleges awarded 680 degrees and certificates in Geriatric Nurse/Nursing. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 95% of graduates. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Geriatric Nurse/Nursing Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $82,702 one year after completing, rising to $94,428 after four years.
A degree in Geriatric Nurse/Nursing involves the study of Geriatric Nurse/nursing. A Program That Prepares Registered Nurses To Provide Health Care To Aging And Elderly Patients. Includes Instruction In Geriatric Primary Care, Geriatric Diagnosis, Mental Health And Aging, Primary Care Management, Geriatric Acute And Chronic Illness, Advanced Nursing Practices For Geriatric Patients, Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Advanced Physiology, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, And Pharmacotherapeutics. Examples: [Gerontological Nurse Practitioner].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, geriatric nurse/nursing is a popular field of study, with 680 degrees awarded annually. 43 colleges award geriatric nurse/nursing degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 91.
By level, the 680 awards include 645 master’s degrees and 35 doctorates.
Women earned 87% of geriatric nurse/nursing degrees and certificates in the latest year (591 of 680). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (366) and Asian (111), and international students earned 10.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Geriatric Nurse/Nursing Schools ranking, including 15 for master’s degrees and 11 for doctorates. It also ranks geriatric nurse/nursing schools within 10 states. In all, 43 colleges offer geriatric nurse/nursing programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Geriatric Nurse/Nursing Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common geriatric nurse/nursing credential is the master’s degree: 645 of the 680 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to geriatric nurse/nursing call most for Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, Psychology and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Expression and Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a geriatric nurse/nursing degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 645 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 35 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to geriatric nurse/nursing, at 44.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 44.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.8% |
| First professional degree | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Geriatric Nurse/Nursing, with an average median salary of $91,600; the strongest outlook belongs to Critical Care Nurses, at 14.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Pediatric Oncology Nurse, Psychiatric RN (Psychiatric Registered Nurse), Nurse and Staff Nurse.
The occupation related to geriatric nurse/nursing with the most projected jobs is Registered Nurses, at 3,793,806.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 3,793,806 | 10.2% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 2,031,912 | 3.3% |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | 1,937,405 | 12.3% |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 1,349,827 | 0.0% |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | 790,445 | 5.7% |
| Critical Care Nurses | 590,563 | 14.4% |
| Acute Care Nurses | 191,452 | 4.1% |
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing graduates earn a median $82,702 one year after completing their program, $94,428 after four years and $90,122 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $82,702 |
| 4 years | $94,428 |
| 5 years | $90,122 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to geriatric nurse/nursing is Nurse Practitioners, with a median salary of $147,651.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | $147,651 |
| Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | $143,854 |
| Registered Nurses | $105,741 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,718 |
| Critical Care Nurses | $65,103 |
| Acute Care Nurses | $56,247 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialists | $52,889 |
Geriatric Nurse/Nursing has 22 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 317,373 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (263,353), Family Practice Nurse/Nursing (14,704) and Nursing Practice (9,385). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 263,353 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 14,704 |
| Nursing Practice | 9,385 |
| Nursing Administration | 7,806 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 5,359 |
| Nursing Science | 4,606 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other | 3,955 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 2,183 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,125 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 934 |
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