Best colleges for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science by graduate earnings are University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ($60,367), Wayne State University ($52,829) and University of Central Oklahoma ($45,804), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN): $60,367, 37 graduates a year
- Wayne State University (Detroit, MI): $52,829, 37 graduates a year
- University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond, OK): $45,804, 30 graduates a year
- Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (Cincinnati, OH): $44,110, 74 graduates a year
- Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (Carbondale, IL): $33,688, 32 graduates a year
Compare 73 U.S. colleges offering Funeral Service and Mortuary Science by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 38 states.
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,804 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 12.03 and the Funeral Home Managers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs
The Funeral Service and Mortuary Science program prepares students for a career in the funeral industry, focusing on the care and handling of deceased bodies. This curriculum is designed for those who wish to become morticians or funeral directors, providing essential knowledge and skills to support families during their time of loss. Students in this program may also study embalming, as many states require funeral directors to be licensed embalmers. The program encompasses various specializations, including general funeral service, funeral direction, and embalming, catering to diverse interests within the field of mortuary science.
Core coursework in this program covers essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Students gain knowledge in customer service, administration, and the legal aspects of funeral service, preparing them for the multifaceted responsibilities of a funeral director.
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,367 | 37 | 85% | — | $24,875 |
| 2 | Wayne State University Detroit, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,829 | 37 | 58% | — | $23,648 |
| 3 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,804 | 30 | 37% | — | $27,143 |
| 4 | Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science Cincinnati, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,110 | 74 | — | — | $25,956 |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,688 | 32 | 62% | — | $31,000 |
Top 25 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc Pittsburgh, PA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $50,340 | 112 | 89% | — | $21,812 |
| 2 | Worsham College of Mortuary Science Wheeling, IL Private for-profit · Associate degree | $50,043 | 95 | 74% | $24,081 | $15,333 |
| 3 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · Certificate | $49,355 | 75 | 39% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | Brightpoint Community College Chester, VA Public · Associate degree | $49,205 | 58 | 38% | — | — |
| 5 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL Public · Associate degree | $48,929 | 33 | 38% | — | $22,898 |
| 6 | Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service Houston, TX Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $46,268 | 209 | 55% | $43,376 | $11,625 |
| 7 | John A Gupton College Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $46,141 | 46 | 38% | $20,804 | $17,257 |
| 8 | Vincennes University Vincennes, IN Public · Associate degree | $44,581 | 24 | 39% | — | $15,625 |
| 9 | Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZ Public · Associate degree | $39,549 | 27 | 30% | — | $9,682 |
| 10 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC Public · Associate degree | $35,693 | 102 | 33% | — | — |
| 11 | Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service Decatur, GA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $23,293 | 87 | 75% | $20,825 | $20,000 |
| 12 | Antilles School of Technical Careers San Juan, PR Private for-profit · Certificate | $14,526 | 23 | 59% | $5,832 | — |
| 13 | FINE Mortuary College Norwood, MA Private for-profit · Associate degree Online | $52,580 | 21 | 100% | — | $34,677 |
| 14 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NC Public · Certificate | $51,522 | 131 | 24% | — | $23,668 |
| 15 | Arapahoe Community College Littleton, CO Public · Associate degree | $50,953 | 48 | 29% | — | $22,675 |
| 16 | Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, AL Public · Associate degree | $49,566 | 123 | 26% | — | — |
| 17 | American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $47,982 | 66 | 25% | $21,683 | $28,400 |
| 18 | Goodwin University East Hartford, CT Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $45,261 | 18 | 58% | $30,133 | $29,243 |
| 19 | Nassau Community College Garden City, NY Public · Associate degree | $44,695 | 34 | 23% | — | $11,942 |
| 20 | Dallas Institute of Funeral Service Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Online | $40,962 | 138 | 33% | $20,058 | $20,000 |
| 21 | Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PA Public · Associate degree Small program | $39,949 | 18 | 24% | — | $18,500 |
| 22 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA Public · Associate degree Small program | $39,431 | 12 | 32% | — | — |
| 23 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · Associate degree Small program | $37,506 | 19 | 40% | — | $13,219 |
| 24 | Mid-America College of Funeral Service Jeffersonville, IN Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Online | $35,564 | 83 | 32% | $28,174 | $20,437 |
| 25 | Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton, MO Public · Associate degree Small program | $32,964 | 17 | 21% | — | — |
Specializations within Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
4 of the 4 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 12.03 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Funeral Service and Mortuary ScienceCIP 12.03012,338 graduates / yr62 institutions33 states
- Funeral Direction/CIP 12.0302
Service 232 graduates / yr11 institutions10 states - Mortuary Science and Embalming/CIP 12.0303
Embalmer partial data51 graduates / yr6 institutions5 states - Funeral Service and Mortuary ScienceCIP 12.0399partial data25 graduates / yr3 institutions2 states
Offered across 38 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9171, Funeral Home Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Funeral Service and Mortuary Science program can pursue careers as funeral directors or morticians. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 4.1% and approximately 2,600 annual openings. The median wage for this field is around $76,830, and a typical education requirement is an associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 12.03.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 12.03 (Funeral Service and Mortuary Science) maps to 4 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9171 | Funeral Home Managersprimary |
| 39-4011 | Embalmers |
| 39-4012 | Crematory Operators |
| 39-4031 | Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Consult with families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording, casket selection, or plans for services.
- Schedule funerals, burials, or cremations.
- Deliver death certificates to medical facilities or offices to obtain signatures from legally authorized persons.
- Offer counsel and comfort to families and friends of the deceased.
- Monitor funeral service operations to ensure that they comply with applicable policies, regulations, and laws.
- Direct and supervise work of embalmers, funeral attendants, death certificate clerks, cosmetologists, or other staff.
Common questions
What is mortuary science?+
Mortuary science is the study of deceased bodies and the practices involved in funeral service.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What are the career prospects in this field?+
The field is expected to grow by 4.1%, with about 2,600 annual job openings.
What education do I need to become a funeral director?+
Typically, an associate's degree in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science is required.
How much do Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates earn?+
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,804, College Scorecard (2019); the Funeral Home Managers occupation pays about $92,840 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science?+
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science maps to CIP 12.03 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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