by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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]. Read on to learn the important information every geriatric nurse/nursing student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering geriatric nurse/nursing programs.
Across the country, geriatric nurse/nursing is a popular field of study, with 641 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Geriatric Nurse/Nursing Schools ranking analyzes these 45 schools to determine the best overall colleges for geriatric nurse/nursing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of geriatric nurse/nursing programs later in this article.
Studies in Geriatric Nurse/Nursing develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations geriatric nurse/nursing graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a geriatric nurse/nursing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a geriatric nurse/nursing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several geriatric nurse/nursing degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 601 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 40 |
People currently working in careers related to geriatric nurse/nursing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in geriatric nurse/nursing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in geriatric nurse/nursing can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to geriatric nurse/nursing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to geriatric nurse/nursing.
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of geriatric nurse/nursing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $83,453 |
| 4 years | $80,149 |
| 5 years | $90,156 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for geriatric nurse/nursing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers geriatric nurse/nursing grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 45 different geriatric nurse/nursing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased geriatric nurse/nursing school rankings to help you.
Those considering geriatric nurse/nursing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 256,965 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 14,847 |
| Nursing Practice | 9,206 |
| Nursing Administration | 7,911 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 4,379 |
| Nursing Science | 4,245 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other | 4,125 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,457 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,960 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 1,505 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
