Best institutions to study Funeral Direction/Service
A program that prepares individuals for professional licensure as funeral directors and as managers of funeral homes, cemeteries, and related services.
11 U.S. institutions graduated 232 Funeral Direction/Service students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0302, a specialization of Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (CIP 12.03), and leads most directly to the Funeral Home Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-9171).
About Funeral Direction/Service programs
A program that prepares individuals for professional licensure as funeral directors and as managers of funeral homes, cemeteries, and related services. Includes instruction in the sociology of death and dying, psychology of grief and grief counseling, history of funeral service, funeral direction, business law, funeral service law, funeral home management, accounting and related computer operations, and funeral services marketing and merchandising.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Funeral Direction/Service program prepares individuals for professional licensure as funeral directors and managers of funeral homes, cemeteries, and related services. This program is ideal for those interested in providing compassionate support to families during difficult times and managing the logistics of funeral services.
Students will gain knowledge in various areas, including the sociology of death and dying, psychology of grief, funeral direction, business law, and funeral home management. Core skills developed include active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
Credentials awarded
What Funeral Direction/Service graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year75 graduates / yr · 2 institutions32%
- Bachelor's degree70 graduates / yr · 3 institutions30%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years47 graduates / yr · 5 institutions20%
- Associate's degree40 graduates / yr · 2 institutions17%
Graduates over time
Funeral Direction/Service completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 150 |
| 2013 | 146 |
| 2014 | 148 |
| 2015 | 155 |
| 2016 | 168 |
| 2017 | 182 |
| 2018 | 177 |
| 2019 | 203 |
| 2020 | 242 |
| 2021 | 310 |
| 2022 | 278 |
| 2023 | 263 |
| 2024 | 252 |
| 2025 | 232 |
Top 11 institutions for Funeral Direction/Service, 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 | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 63 | 33% | — | $35,693 |
| 2 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicBachelor's | 37 | 58% | — | $52,829 |
| 3 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, WAPublicAssociate's | 26 | 37% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Arkansas Hope - Texarkana Hope, ARPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 24 | 57% | — | — |
| 5 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NYPublicBachelor's | 21 | 38% | — | — |
| 6 | Delgado Community College New Orleans, LAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 15 | 24% | — | — |
| 7 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WIPublicAssociate's | 14 | 25% | — | — |
| 8 | Mid - America College of Funeral Service Jeffersonville, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 32% | $28,174 | $35,564 |
| 9 | John A Gupton College Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 38% | $20,804 | $46,141 |
| 10 | Community College of Vermont Montpelier, VTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 5 | 20% | — | — |
| 11 | Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home, ARPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 5 | 44% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Funeral Service and Mortuary Science field (CIP 12.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where Funeral Direction/Service graduates come from. Each state links to all Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 1 | 63 | Piedmont Technical College63 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 37 | Wayne State University37 / yr |
| Arkansas | 2 | 29 | University of Arkansas Hope - Texarkana24 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 26 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology26 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 21 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton21 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 15 | Delgado Community College15 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 14 | Milwaukee Area Technical College14 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 12 | Mid - America College of Funeral Service12 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 10 | John A Gupton College10 / yr |
| Vermont | 1 | 5 | Community College of Vermont5 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9171, Funeral Home Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Funeral Home Managers or Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a projected growth of 4.1% and approximately 2,600 annual openings. The median wage for these professions is $76,830, typically requiring an associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0302
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Funeral Home Managersprimary SOC 11-9171 | $78,790 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~2,600 | Associate's degree |
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers SOC 39-4031 | $55,010 | +3.1% About as fast as average | ~3,200 | Associate's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Funeral Direction/Service 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
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Other Funeral Service and Mortuary Science specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (CIP 12.03).
Common questions
What is the duration of the Funeral Direction/Service program?+
The program typically awards credentials ranging from at least 12 weeks to a bachelor's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after completing this program?+
You can become a Funeral Home Manager or a Mortician, Undertaker, or Funeral Arranger.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a projected growth of 4.1% and 2,600 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Funeral Direction/Service?+
Funeral Direction/Service is CIP 12.0302 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (CIP 12.03). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals for professional licensure as funeral directors and as managers of funeral homes, cemeteries, and related services. Includes instruction in the sociology of death and dying, psychology of grief and grief counseling, history of funeral service, funeral direction, business law, funeral service law, funeral home management, accounting and related computer operations, and funeral services marketing and merchandising.
How many institutions offer Funeral Direction/Service programs?+
11 U.S. institutions reported Funeral Direction/Service graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 232 credentials in the year. That is 8.8% of all Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates.
How much do Funeral Direction/Service graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Funeral Home Managers occupation, which Funeral Direction/Service most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,790 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Funeral Service and Mortuary Science field report median earnings of $46,141 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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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