Best institutions to study Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
A program that generally prepares individuals for careers in the funeral service industry and for licensure as funeral service directors or morticians.
62 U.S. institutions graduated 2,338 Funeral Service and Mortuary Science students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0301, 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 Service and Mortuary Science programs
A program that generally prepares individuals for careers in the funeral service industry and for licensure as funeral service directors or morticians. Includes instruction in the basic elements of mortuary science and the business, counseling, and operational aspects of funeral service.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Funeral Service and Mortuary Science program prepares individuals for careers in the funeral service industry, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to become licensed funeral service directors or morticians. This program is ideal for those who are compassionate and wish to support families during difficult times while managing the operational aspects of funeral services.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in areas such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers topics like customer service, administration and management, and the legal aspects of funeral services, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for their roles in the industry.
Credentials awarded
What Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree1,646 graduates / yr · 53 institutions70%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years407 graduates / yr · 15 institutions17%
- Bachelor's degree189 graduates / yr · 8 institutions8.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year96 graduates / yr · 5 institutions4.1%
Graduates over time
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,566 |
| 2013 | 1,721 |
| 2014 | 1,668 |
| 2015 | 1,875 |
| 2016 | 1,856 |
| 2017 | 1,791 |
| 2018 | 1,717 |
| 2019 | 1,633 |
| 2020 | 1,658 |
| 2021 | 1,917 |
| 2022 | 1,800 |
| 2023 | 2,072 |
| 2024 | 2,332 |
| 2025 | 2,338 |
Top 50 institutions for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, 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 | Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 209 | 55% | $43,376 | $46,268 |
| 2 | Dallas Institute of Funeral Service Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 138 | 33% | $20,058 | $40,962 |
| 3 | Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 131 | 24% | — | $51,522 |
| 4 | Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 123 | 26% | — | $49,566 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 112 | 89% | — | $50,340 |
| 6 | Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 95 | 56% | — | — |
| 7 | Worsham College of Mortuary Science Wheeling, ILPrivate for-profitAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 95 | 74% | $24,081 | $50,043 |
| 8 | Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service Decatur, GAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 87 | 75% | $20,825 | $23,293 |
| 9 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 75 | 39% | — | $49,355 |
| 10 | Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science Cincinnati, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sAssociate's | 74 | — | — | $44,110 |
| 11 | Mid - America College of Funeral Service Jeffersonville, INPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 71 | 32% | $28,174 | $35,564 |
| 12 | San Antonio College San Antonio, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 68 | 26% | — | — |
| 13 | American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 66 | 25% | $21,683 | $47,982 |
| 14 | Brightpoint Community College Chester, VAPublicAssociate's | 58 | 38% | — | $49,205 |
| 15 | NUC University Bayamon, PRPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 54 | 54% | $9,377 | — |
| 16 | Arapahoe Community College Littleton, COPublicAssociate's | 48 | 29% | — | $50,953 |
| 17 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FLPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 44 | 37% | — | — |
| 18 | Miami Dade College Miami, FLPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 40 | 46% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 37 | 85% | — | $60,367 |
| 20 | Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 36 | 25% | — | — |
| 21 | John A Gupton College Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 36 | 38% | $20,804 | $46,141 |
| 22 | Cypress College Cypress, CAPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 35 | 37% | — | — |
| 23 | American River College Sacramento, CAPublicAssociate's | 34 | 37% | — | — |
| 24 | Nassau Community College Garden City, NYPublicAssociate's | 34 | 23% | — | $44,695 |
| 25 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FLPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 33 | 38% | — | $48,929 |
| 26 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, ILPublicBachelor's | 32 | 62% | — | $33,688 |
| 27 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 30 | 37% | — | $45,804 |
| 28 | Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake City, UTPublicAssociate's | 27 | 29% | — | — |
| 29 | Chandler - Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZPublicAssociate's | 27 | 30% | — | $39,549 |
| 30 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicAssociate's | 27 | 19% | — | — |
| 31 | Vincennes University Vincennes, INPublicAssociate's | 24 | 39% | — | $44,581 |
| 32 | Terra State Community College Fremont, OHPublicAssociate's | 22 | 39% | — | — |
| 33 | Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KSPublicAssociate's | 21 | 42% | — | — |
| 34 | Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, GAPublicAssociate's | 21 | 43% | — | — |
| 35 | FINE Mortuary College Norwood, MAPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 21 | 100% | — | $52,580 |
| 36 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAssociate's | 19 | 40% | — | $37,506 |
| 37 | Goodwin University East Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 18 | 58% | $30,133 | $45,261 |
| 38 | Mt Hood Community College Gresham, ORPublicAssociate's | 18 | 24% | — | — |
| 39 | Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PAPublicAssociate's | 18 | 24% | — | $39,949 |
| 40 | City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, ILPublicAssociate's | 17 | 18% | — | — |
| 41 | Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton, MOPublicAssociate's | 17 | 21% | — | $32,964 |
| 42 | North Shore Community College Danvers, MAPublicAssociate's | 15 | 18% | — | — |
| 43 | Cape Cod Community College West Barnstable, MAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 22% | — | — |
| 44 | Point Park University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 59% | $23,704 | — |
| 45 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VAPublicAssociate's | 12 | 32% | — | $39,431 |
| 46 | Eastwick College - Hackensack Hackensack, NJPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 11 | 43% | $36,020 | — |
| 47 | Hudson Valley Community College Troy, NYPublicAssociate's | 11 | 35% | — | — |
| 48 | Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SCPublicAssociate's | 11 | 33% | — | $35,693 |
| 49 | Delgado Community College New Orleans, LAPublicAssociate's | 10 | 24% | — | — |
| 50 | University of Arkansas Hope - Texarkana Hope, ARPublicAssociate's | 9 | 57% | — | — |
* 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 33 states & territories
Where Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates come from. Each state links to all Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs offered there.
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 home managers, morticians, or embalmers. 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, typically requiring an associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0301
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 |
Embalmers SOC 39-4011 | $58,780 | +1.3% Little or no change | ~600 | 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 Service and Mortuary Science 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 degree do I need to work in funeral service?+
An associate's degree is typically required for most positions in funeral service.
What skills are important for this career?+
Key skills include active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for funeral service professionals?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.1%.
How many graduates are there each year in this field?+
Approximately 2,338 graduates complete programs in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science each year in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science?+
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science is CIP 12.0301 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 generally prepares individuals for careers in the funeral service industry and for licensure as funeral service directors or morticians. Includes instruction in the basic elements of mortuary science and the business, counseling, and operational aspects of funeral service.
How many institutions offer Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs?+
62 U.S. institutions reported Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 33 states & territories, awarding 2,338 credentials in the year. That is 88.4% of all Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates.
How much do Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Funeral Home Managers occupation, which Funeral Service and Mortuary Science 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 $45,804 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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