2026 Best Value Gerontology Schools in California
[Gerontology](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/gerontology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong gerontology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for gerontology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Gerontology Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the gerontology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Gerontology Schools
California State University Sacramento tops our 2026 list of the best value gerontology schools in California. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the gerontology program here. Gerontology graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $38,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value gerontology schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Gerontology graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Gerontology graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $57,270 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
More Gerontology Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
