Advance your career in healthcare with the nation's best online master's in gerontology.
Are you passionate about community health, advancement, and advocacy? Do you believe that geriatric populations are too often marginalized or disregarded within large, important conversations about healthcare? Do you envision yourself leading research teams or healthcare providers toward more holistic care?
Then a master's degree in gerontology may be for you!What kind of online master's in gerontology should you get?
Though each of the 15 programs on our list ensures a solid foundation in gerontology principles, each varies some in its emphasis and structure. For example, while some programs seek to prepare you for a career in fast-paced healthcare settings, others get you ready for a successful career in research methodology.
What's most important is finding a program that suits your passion and career goals. That's why here at College Choice we've been sure to differentiate those programs that provide hands-on learning from those that are based in psychological, sociological, and physiological theory. And, of course, many of programs lay somewhere in between (we've noted those as well!).
Though these degrees vary by emphasis, every one of them can be fully completed online. Not only is distance learning a flexible way to earn your degree, it's often one of the most affordable ways to advance your education and career.
Whether you're just considering online options or you're ready to enroll, be sure to check out College Choice's Most Affordable Online Colleges and Universities for a Master's Degree.
How much money do people make with an online master's in gerontology?
With a Master's in Gerontology you will be ready for careers in diverse sectors of the workforce. Whether you're seeking employment in a large hospital, a small clinic, or somewhere in between, the opportunities for one with this advanced degree vary widely. For that reason, it's difficult to nail down an exact average salary. However, one thing is for sure. Those working in gerontology and community service make good money and have stable careers.
For example, social and community service managers make on average $64,680 annually. And that's just the average. Gerontologists can make upwards of $79,530 a year! On top of all that good news, it's projected that the field will expand another 18 percent in the next few years.
What can you do with an online master's in gerontology?
Though most believe a graduate degree in gerontology puts them on the path toward direct client care—which it surely can—this degree is substantially more versatile.For example, not only can a graduate degree in gerontology set you up to work as a geriatric care manager, but you will also be fully equipped to work in mental health and psychology. Likewise, you will learn the advocacy and communication skills that will make you a great leader and manager.
You can also find yourself in an array of settings, from nursing and retirement facilities to home healthcare, hospice, nonprofit agencies, and much more. Which is to say, an online MS in Gerontology can be used in countless ways and in countless contexts.
What are the requirements for an online master's in gerontology?
To earn a master's in gerontology online you will have to commit at least one year to full time study, if not two or three. The length of the program depends on its emphasis and structure. For example, some of these schools offer degrees that are notably hands-on, preparing students for careers in direct client-care. Often these programs require field work and practicums.
Either way, you will allocate either your first term or first full year to foundations in gerontology principles. This includes everything from adult development to aging psychology, healthcare systems, and sociology. From there you will dive into specialized gerontology classes such as:
Public Policy: Economic and Social Impacts on Older Adults
Aging in the Family
Management of Healthcare Organizations
Biology of Aging
In conjunction with your coursework you will participate in research opportunities, real-world case studies, and field practicums.
What are the best online master's in gerontology?
Though some of these schools are small liberal arts colleges and others large research universities, all 15 have one thing in common: they are the nation's best online graduate gerontology programs.
To determine the nation's best programs we looked at every school offering the degree online. From there we narrowed our list by bringing in crucial factors such as the school's reputation and retention rates. From there we examined the tuition rates as well as the salaries of graduates to get an idea of the return on investment.
This thorough research gave us the nation's best online MS in gerontology degrees.Our figures and information come from the university and colleges' websites, PayScale, and nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.
Ranking
See our rankings methodology page.
