[Gerontology](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/gerontology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for gerontology students.
The right gerontology school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Gerontology Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Gerontology Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College the best value for a degree in gerontology in the United States. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $11,137. Soon after graduation, gerontology degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana State University earned it the #2 place for gerontology. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $25,582. Soon after graduation, gerontology degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $53,952. That is a strong return on a $25,582 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in gerontology will find it at Stark State College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Gerontology graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Gerontology graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in gerontology will find it at University Of Georgia, which ranked #4. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the gerontology program here. Early-career gerontology graduates make about $53,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for gerontology. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $19,844. Soon after graduation, gerontology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #6 position for value in gerontology this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $24,293. Early-career gerontology graduates make about $43,603. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Youngstown State University came in at #7 for value in gerontology this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $26,373. Early-career gerontology graduates make about $49,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #8 spot for gerontology value this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Gerontology graduates carry a median of $21,783 in student loans. Soon after graduation, gerontology degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $48,906. Set against $21,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value gerontology schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $24,673. Soon after graduation, gerontology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $51,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Georgia State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value gerontology schools. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, while out-of-state students pay about $24,840. Students borrow a median of $26,091 to complete the gerontology program here. Early-career gerontology graduates make about $51,103. Set against $26,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #11 for value in gerontology this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Gerontology graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Gerontology graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $65,174 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #12 among the best values for gerontology. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the gerontology program here. Early-career gerontology graduates make about $49,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Indianapolis landed the #13 spot for gerontology value this year. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,200. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $26,699. Gerontology graduates of University Of Indianapolis earn a median of $69,331 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,699 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #14 for value in gerontology this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Gerontology graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. Early-career gerontology graduates make about $57,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland University College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value gerontology schools. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $31,344. Soon after graduation, gerontology degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $43,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Southern California placed #16 among the best values for gerontology. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Typical student debt for gerontology graduates is $15,625. Soon after graduation, gerontology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $57,270. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Yeshiva University came in at #17 for value in gerontology this year. Located in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,800. Students borrow a median of $20,625 to complete the gerontology program here. Soon after graduation, gerontology degree recipients from Yeshiva University generally make around $52,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Gerontology](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/gerontology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
