Best institutions to study Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer
A program that prepares individuals for licensure as embalmers and morticians.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 51 Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 12.0303, a specialization of Funeral Service and Mortuary Science (CIP 12.03), and leads most directly to the Embalmers occupation (BLS SOC 39-4011).
About Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer programs
A program that prepares individuals for licensure as embalmers and morticians. Includes instruction in pathogenic microbiology, systematic pathology, thanatochemistry, gross anatomy, clinical mortuary science, embalming, restorative art, applicable laws and regulations, and special services such as cremation and preparations required by specific religious communities.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer program prepares individuals for licensure as embalmers and morticians. This program is ideal for those interested in providing essential services in the funeral industry, focusing on the care and preparation of the deceased. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to support families during their time of loss with compassion and professionalism.
Core coursework includes subjects like pathogenic microbiology, systematic pathology, thanatochemistry, and clinical mortuary science. Students will also learn about applicable laws and regulations, restorative art, and special services such as cremation, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of their clients.
Credentials awarded
What Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year31 graduates / yr · 2 institutions61%
- Associate's degree20 graduates / yr · 4 institutions39%
Graduates over time
Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 149 |
| 2013 | 175 |
| 2014 | 139 |
| 2015 | 153 |
| 2016 | 192 |
| 2017 | 144 |
| 2018 | 107 |
| 2019 | 83 |
| 2020 | 105 |
| 2021 | 60 |
| 2022 | 66 |
| 2023 | 64 |
| 2024 | 64 |
| 2025 | 51 |
Top 6 institutions for Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer, 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 | 28 | 33% | — | $35,693 |
| 2 | Carl Sandburg College Galesburg, ILPublicAssociate's | 11 | 50% | — | — |
| 3 | University of the District of Columbia Washington, DCPublicAssociate's | 7 | 33% | — | — |
| 4 | Cape Cod Community College West Barnstable, MAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 22% | — | — |
| 5 | City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, ILPublicAssociate's | 1 | 18% | — | — |
| 6 | Wayne County Community College District Detroit, MIPublicAssociate's | 1 | 22% | — | — |
* 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 5 states
Where Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer 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 | 28 | Piedmont Technical College28 / yr |
| Illinois | 2 | 12 | Carl Sandburg College11 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 7 | University of the District of Columbia7 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 3 | Cape Cod Community College3 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | Wayne County Community College District1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 39-4011, Embalmers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program typically pursue careers as embalmers, with some also working as crematory operators. The job outlook for this field shows little or no change, with an annual opening of approximately 600 positions. The median wage for embalmers is around $56,280, and an Associate's degree is the typical educational requirement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 12.0303
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Embalmersprimary SOC 39-4011 | $58,780 | +1.3% Little or no change | ~600 | Associate's degree |
Crematory Operators SOC 39-4012 | $43,650 | +3.3% About as fast as average | ~600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
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 Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer 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
- Conform to laws of health and sanitation and ensure that legal requirements concerning embalming are met.
- Apply cosmetics to impart lifelike appearance to the deceased.
- Join lips, using needles and thread or wire.
- Close incisions, using needles and sutures.
- Incise stomach and abdominal walls and probe internal organs, using trocar, to withdraw blood and waste matter from organs.
- Clean and disinfect areas in which bodies are prepared and embalmed.
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 credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year or an Associate's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and science.
What tasks will I perform as an embalmer?+
Tasks include conforming to health laws, applying cosmetics, and preparing the deceased for burial.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 6 colleges offering the Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer program in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer?+
Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer is CIP 12.0303 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 licensure as embalmers and morticians. Includes instruction in pathogenic microbiology, systematic pathology, thanatochemistry, gross anatomy, clinical mortuary science, embalming, restorative art, applicable laws and regulations, and special services such as cremation and preparations required by specific religious communities.
How many institutions offer Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 51 credentials in the year. That is 1.9% of all Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates.
How much do Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Embalmers occupation, which Mortuary Science and Embalming/Embalmer most directly leads to, pays a median of $58,780 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Funeral Service and Mortuary Science field report median earnings of $35,693 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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