Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
Offered at 95 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 26 | $42,338 | $53,384 | $19,467 |
| Associate | 58 | $44,998 | $54,717 | $20,000 |
| Bachelor's | 11 | $51,033 | $58,936 | $26,000 |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
One year after finishing, a typical certificate program in this field reports median earnings of $42,338, versus $51,033 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines Area Community College | IA | $54,564 | $66,810 | $23,363 |
| 2 | Worsham College of Mortuary Science | IL | $34,855 | $56,280 | $15,333 |
| 3 | Jefferson State Community College | AL | — | $54,129 | $9,462 |
| 4 | Fayetteville Technical Community College | NC | $42,338 | $52,640 | $19,467 |
| 5 | Piedmont Technical College | SC | $47,718 | — | $17,248 |
| 6 | Dallas Institute of Funeral Service | TX | — | $37,737 | — |
| 7 | Antilles School of Technical Careers | PR | $17,831 | $30,001 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FINE Mortuary College | MA | $55,901 | $68,176 | $32,040 |
| 2 | American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service | NY | $46,776 | $68,088 | $24,300 |
| 3 | Brightpoint Community College | VA | $49,165 | $63,996 | $12,000 |
| 4 | Tidewater Community College | VA | $57,792 | $61,980 | — |
| 5 | Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science | OH | — | $60,868 | — |
| 6 | Miami Dade College | FL | $40,164 | $60,302 | $15,000 |
| 7 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | WA | — | $59,660 | $13,365 |
| 8 | St Petersburg College | FL | $60,716 | $58,995 | $19,933 |
| 9 | Amarillo College | TX | — | $58,985 | — |
| 10 | Eastwick College-Hackensack | NJ | — | $58,951 | $25,921 |
| 11 | Kansas City Kansas Community College | KS | $42,805 | $58,059 | $13,270 |
| 12 | Worsham College of Mortuary Science | IL | $44,833 | $58,042 | $20,000 |
| 13 | Jefferson State Community College | AL | $50,016 | $56,622 | $10,548 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc | PA | $40,522 | $55,301 | — |
| 15 | Vincennes University | IN | $37,464 | $54,896 | $19,220 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | $62,908 | $80,697 | $26,000 |
| 2 | Wayne State University | MI | $56,637 | $76,377 | $20,500 |
| 3 | Mid-America College of Funeral Service | IN | — | $61,990 | $32,234 |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | IL | $51,033 | $60,532 | $30,288 |
| 5 | Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science | OH | $40,642 | $57,340 | $25,000 |
| 6 | Point Park University | PA | — | $57,179 | — |
| 7 | University of Central Oklahoma | OK | $50,151 | $53,712 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc | PA | — | $38,237 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do funeral service and mortuary science graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in funeral service and mortuary science reports median earnings of $51,033. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
