Gerontology at Ashford University

Ashford's gerontology program presents serious concerns that should make any parent look elsewhere. Graduates earn around $33,700 annually with no growth between years one and four—essentially stalling at an income that would struggle to support independent living in San Diego while carrying $40,400 in debt. That's roughly 20% more debt than what graduates at Cal State Sacramento carry, despite Sacramento graduates earning $5,000 more per year.

The debt load here is particularly alarming: it sits in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of gerontology programs burden their students with less debt. While earnings fall below both California's median ($36,084) and the national median ($37,623) for this degree, the real problem is the combination—modest earnings that don't grow paired with above-average debt creates a financial trap that will take years to escape.

The small sample size means these numbers could shift with more data, but they align with a troubling pattern. For a field focused on caring for aging populations—work that's both needed and meaningful—graduates here are underprepared to manage their own financial security. If your child is committed to gerontology, Cal State Sacramento or other California public universities offer the same degree with significantly better financial outcomes.