Funeral Service and Mortuary Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Students in this field receive comprehensive training to pursue professional roles within the funeral service sector, with a focus on preparing for state licensure as funeral service directors or morticians. The curriculum integrates scientific, ethical, and administrative knowledge to equip graduates for meaningful, responsible careers in end-of-life care and memorial services.
- Mortuary Science Fundamentals: Core principles of human anatomy, decomposition processes, and preservation techniques essential for respectful and hygienic preparation of the deceased.
- Restorative Artistry: Advanced training in cosmetic application, wound closure, and facial reconstruction to ensure dignified presentation of the body.
- Death Investigation and Legal Compliance: Understanding of death certification, coroner procedures, and state-specific regulations governing the handling and disposition of remains.
- Funeral Service Counseling: Development of empathetic communication skills to support grieving families through sensitive discussions about services, rituals, and personalization options.
- Business and Operations Management: Instruction in financial planning, staffing, facility operations, and regulatory compliance for managing funeral homes and related services.
- Memorialization and Ceremony Design: Exploration of cultural traditions, religious practices, and creative approaches to crafting personalized services that honor the life of the deceased.
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degrees, including Funeral Home Managers, Embalmers and Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 42,240 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral Home Managers 11-9171 | $76,830 | $45,820 - $132,470 | 13,120 | $36.94 |
| Embalmers 39-4011 | $56,280 | $35,160 - $78,740 | 3,420 | $27.06 |
| Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers 39-4031 | $49,800 | $31,470 - $85,940 | 25,700 | $23.94 |
Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $42,870 in Arkansas to $90,125 in Connecticut—a 110% difference. The highest-paying states include Connecticut, Minnesota, and Delaware. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 42,240 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 58 institutions offering Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science is found at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (CIFS) (170 graduates), Dallas Institute of Funeral Service (DIFS) (168 graduates), Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) (145 graduates), Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) (144 graduates), and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc (PIMS) (121 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,332 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (CIFS) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
170 | Houston, Texas | Private | commonwealth.edu |
| Dallas Institute of Funeral Service (DIFS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
168 | Dallas, Texas | Private | dallasinstitute.edu |
| Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
145 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | jeffersonstate.edu |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
144 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Public | faytechcc.edu |
| Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc (PIMS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
121 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | pims.edu |
| Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service |
Associate's
|
114 | Decatur, Georgia | Private | gupton-jones.edu |
| Worsham College of Mortuary Science |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
103 | Wheeling, Illinois | Private | worsham.edu |
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
88 | Ankeny, Iowa | Public | dmacc.edu |
| Mid-America College of Funeral Service |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
83 | Jeffersonville, Indiana | Private | mid-america.edu |
| American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service (AAMI) |
Associate's
|
82 | New York, New York | Private | funeraleducation.org |
| Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
72 | Mount Pleasant, Texas | Public | ntcc.edu |
| San Antonio College (SAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
62 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
54 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| John A Gupton College |
Associate's
|
51 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | guptoncollege.edu |
| Cypress College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
48 | Cypress, California | Public | cypresscollege.edu |
| Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
47 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | ccms.edu |
| Brightpoint Community College |
Associate's
|
45 | Chester, Virginia | Public | brightpoint.edu |
| Arapahoe Community College (ACC) |
Associate's
|
41 | Littleton, Colorado | Public | arapahoe.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
36 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
34 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
33 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) |
Associate's
|
33 | Kansas City, Kansas | Public | kckcc.edu |
| Mt Hood Community College (MHCC) |
Associate's
|
28 | Gresham, Oregon | Public | mhcc.edu |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) |
Associate's
|
28 | Chandler, Arizona | Public | cgc.maricopa.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
26 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) |
Associate's
|
26 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | ogeecheetech.edu |
| FINE Mortuary College |
Associate's
|
25 | Norwood, Massachusetts | Private | fmc.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
24 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Associate's
|
24 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Northampton County Area Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
24 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Public | northampton.edu |
| Goodwin University |
Associate's
|
22 | East Hartford, Connecticut | Private | goodwin.edu |
| Eastwick College |
Associate's
|
20 | Hackensack, New Jersey | Private | eastwickcollege.edu |
| Cape Cod Community College (4Cs) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | West Barnstable, Massachusetts | Public | capecod.edu |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) |
Associate's
|
16 | Senatobia, Mississippi | Public | northwestms.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Scooba, Mississippi | Public | eastms.edu |
| Terra State Community College |
Associate's
|
15 | Fremont, Ohio | Public | terra.edu |
| Piedmont Technical College (PTC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Greenwood, South Carolina | Public | ptc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAHT) |
Associate's
|
13 | Hope, Arkansas | Public | uaht.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Vincennes University (VU) |
Associate's
|
12 | Vincennes, Indiana | Public | vinu.edu |
| Delgado Community College |
Associate's
|
12 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ccbcmd.edu |
| Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) |
Associate's
|
11 | Troy, New York | Public | hvcc.edu |
| North Shore Community College (NSCC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Danvers, Massachusetts | Public | northshore.edu |
| Point Park University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | pointpark.edu |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College |
Associate's
|
10 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | southwest.tn.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Columbus Technical College (Columbus Tech) |
Associate's
|
8 | Columbus, Georgia | Public | columbustech.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| Arkansas State University (ASUMH) |
Associate's
|
7 | Mountain Home, Arkansas | Public | asumh.edu |
| Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Weyers Cave, Virginia | Public | brcc.edu |
| Gannon University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | gannon.edu |
| Liceo de Arte-Dise-O y Comercio |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | liceocaguas.com |
| Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Nanticoke, Pennsylvania | Public | luzerne.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs
How much can I earn with a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degree?
Salaries for Funeral Service and Mortuary Science graduates vary by role and location. Funeral Home Managers earn a median of $76,830 annually, while Embalmers earn around $56,280. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Connecticut average $90,125 compared to $42,870 in Arkansas. Approximately 42,240 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Funeral Service and Mortuary Science programs?
Currently 58 accredited institutions offer Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service (CIFS) (170 graduates), Dallas Institute of Funeral Service (DIFS) (168 graduates), and Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) (145 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,341 in 2010 to 2,332 in 2023-24. This represents a 74% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Funeral Home Managers, Embalmers, and Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers. Related occupations employ approximately 42,240 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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