by our College Data Analytics TeamExperiencing the death of a family member or loved one is difficult and emotional for most people. Families and friends rely on funeral directors to arrange services and handle the logistics of the funeral. If you are a compassionate person who would like to provide this personal service, consider majoring in Funeral and Mortuary Science.
In this major, you will take classes in embalming, funeral service management, biology, chemistry, and psychology to learn everything from handling the funeral to preparing legal documents to consulting with the family. It is just as important to understand how to prepare the deceased and run a funeral home and it is to speak with families with tact and understanding. Those involved in the funeral services industry are providing a personal service to the community and must learn how to deal with this delicate matter.
Along with the option to major in general Funeral Service and Mortuary Science, students have the option to specialize in areas such as Funeral Service or Mortuary Science and Embalming.
In 2020-2021, funeral and mortuary science was the 196th most popular major nationwide with 2,354 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 296 over the prior year, a growth of 12.6%.
This year's Best Funeral & Mortuary Science Schools ranking compares 37 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of mortuary science programs later in this article.
Since most Funeral and Mortuary Science professional work with grieving family members, strong interpersonal skills are a must. Death can be very emotional, making compassion a top priority for those pursuing a career in this professional. Time management and organization are other required skills since professionals are often working with multiple families at once.
A career within Funeral and Mortuary Science is a full time job. Funeral directors often work long hours, nights, and on weekends to ensure arrangements are properly made and all details are complete. This career is often stressful as funerals are often arranged within a few days after death.
The requirements to become licensed as a funeral director vary from state to state, so it is best to contact the licensing board of the state you intend to practice in when choosing between programs to ensure you are fulfilling all requirements. Typically, students must have at least 2 years in an American Board of Funeral Service Education certified program and complete a 1-3 year internship after graduation before taking a licensing exam. The licensing exam may be state administered or be a national board exam. Although the length of the internship and type of exam vary, both aspects are required.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most mortuary science degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic funeral and mortuary science program qualifications, to serve in some mortuary science careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of mortuary science degrees. You can get anything from a in funeral and mortuary science to the highest mortuary science degree, a . Different funeral and mortuary science degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to mortuary science, with approximately 60.6% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for mortuary science workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 64.0% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 13.5% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 9.4% |
| First Professional Degree | 4.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.0% |
About 86.4% of workers in careers related to mortuary science obtain at least associate degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in funeral and mortuary science have received.
This of course varies depending on which mortuary science career you choose.
Almost all graduates with a degree in Funeral and Mortuary Science go into the funeral services industry. Graduates often pursue a career as a funeral director or embalmer. The economy does not play a large role in the need for funeral services, so jobs in this field grow at a steady pace. Graduates who are willing to relocate or have the skills to embalm should find jobs quickly.
Want a job when you graduate with your mortuary science degree? Funeral & Mortuary Science careers are expected to grow 5.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to funeral and mortuary science.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors | 29,800 | 3.8% |
| Funeral Service Managers | 27,500 | 7.0% |
| Embalmers | 3,700 | 0.0% |
Funeral & Mortuary Science graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $35,484 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $12,144 to as high as $51,139. As you might expect, salaries for mortuary science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for funeral and mortuary science graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers mortuary science grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Funeral Service Managers | $93,820 |
| Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors | $57,620 |
| Embalmers | $46,640 |
With over 117 different mortuary science degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased mortuary science school rankings to help you with this.
Funeral & Mortuary Science is one of 4 different types of Personal & Culinary Services programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Funeral Service & Mortuary Science | 1,917 |
| Funeral Direction/Service | 310 |
| Other Funeral Service & Mortuary Science | 67 |
| Mortuary Science & Embalming/Embalmer | 60 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cosmetology | 107,895 |
| Culinary Arts | 19,806 |
| Casino Operations and Services | 192 |
| Other Personal & Culinary Services | 81 |
