Best institutions to study Geropsychology
A program that focuses on the psychology of aging and of elderly individuals and populations, with reference to growth and decline across the life span.
1 U.S. institutions graduated 2 Geropsychology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 42.2809, a specialization of Clinical (CIP 42.28), and leads most directly to the Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3033).
About Geropsychology programs
A program that focuses on the psychology of aging and of elderly individuals and populations, with reference to growth and decline across the life span. Includes instruction in gerontology, developmental and adult psychology, age-related development and decline of cognitive processes, age-related psychological and neurological disorders, social and personality development in aging populations and individuals, and applications to the clinical treatment and care of older adults.
See also: 19.0702 - Adult Development and Aging., 30.1101 - Gerontology.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Geropsychology (Clinical) program focuses on the psychology of aging and elderly populations, addressing growth and decline throughout the lifespan. This program is designed for those interested in understanding the unique psychological needs of older adults and applying this knowledge in clinical settings.
Students will gain core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active listening, along with knowledge in psychology, therapy, and counseling. Coursework covers gerontology, age-related cognitive processes, and psychological disorders, preparing graduates for effective clinical treatment of older adults.
Credentials awarded
What Geropsychology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution100%
Graduates over time
Geropsychology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Top 1 institutions for Geropsychology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OHPublicMaster's | 2 | 52% | — |
Offered in 1 states
Where Geropsychology graduates come from. Each state links to all Clinical programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 1 | 2 | University of Akron Main Campus2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3033, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Geropsychology program typically pursue careers as Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 11.2% and approximately 4,800 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $95,830, with a typical education requirement of a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 42.2809
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Clinical and Counseling Psychologistsprimary SOC 19-3033 | $100,580 | +11.2% Much faster than average | ~4,800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1066 | $80,340 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~4,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Geropsychology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
Tools and technology used
Other Clinical specializations
The 17 other 6-digit CIP codes under Clinical (CIP 42.28).
- Counseling PsychologyCIP 42.280312,264 graduates / yr277 institutions
- Applied Behavior AnalysisCIP 42.28147,215 graduates / yr143 institutions
- Clinical PsychologyCIP 42.28016,396 graduates / yr205 institutions
- School PsychologyCIP 42.28053,734 graduates / yr205 institutions
- Industrial and Organizational PsychologyCIP 42.28043,169 graduates / yr127 institutions
- Applied PsychologyCIP 42.28132,999 graduates / yr96 institutions
- Forensic PsychologyCIP 42.28122,718 graduates / yr59 institutions
- Educational PsychologyCIP 42.28061,874 graduates / yr84 institutions
- ClinicalCIP 42.2899711 graduates / yr46 institutions
- Family PsychologyCIP 42.2811partial data630 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Community PsychologyCIP 42.2802464 graduates / yr34 institutions
- Health/CIP 42.2810
Medical Psychology 428 graduates / yr25 institutions - Performance and Sport PsychologyCIP 42.2815318 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Clinical Child PsychologyCIP 42.2807partial data101 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Transpersonal/CIP 42.2817
Spiritual Psychology limited data40 graduates / yr1 institutions - Environmental PsychologyCIP 42.2808partial data22 graduates / yr3 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Somatic Psychology42.2816
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What is Geropsychology?+
Geropsychology is a field that focuses on the psychology of aging and the unique needs of elderly individuals.
What degree do I earn in this program?+
Students earn a Master's degree in Geropsychology.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
Graduates can work as Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for Geropsychology?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 11.2% and 4,800 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Geropsychology?+
Geropsychology is CIP 42.2809 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Clinical (CIP 42.28). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the psychology of aging and of elderly individuals and populations, with reference to growth and decline across the life span. Includes instruction in gerontology, developmental and adult psychology, age-related development and decline of cognitive processes, age-related psychological and neurological disorders, social and personality development in aging populations and individuals, and applications to the clinical treatment and care of older adults.
How many institutions offer Geropsychology programs?+
1 U.S. institutions reported Geropsychology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 1 states, awarding 2 credentials in the year. That is 0.0% of all Clinical graduates.
How much do Geropsychology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation, which Geropsychology most directly leads to, pays a median of $100,580 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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