The 5 Best Online Mortuary Schools of 2023

If you’re fascinated by the art and science of mortuary service, then check out the best online mortuary schools of 2023. Distance learning is a convenient and cost-effective route toward a successful career. The right online mortician schools could prep you for state licensure and get you on the path to becoming a mortician or funeral director in no time. And in this case, you could balance your regular life with academic scholarship. Consider the details of this degree, the outcomes, the price, and more today. Let’s take a closer look!

Article Navigation: What to Expect from Online Mortuary Schools | Mortuary Science Schools Online Learning Outcomes | The 5 Best Online Mortuary Schools | Do Morticians Go to Med School? | What is the Best School for a Mortician? | Financial Aid for an Online Mortician School | Online Mortuary Science Degree Careers | Use GetEducated to Find the Best Online Mortuary School

What to Expect from Online Mortuary Schools

To become a mortician or a funeral director, you need to go to mortuary school. Thankfully, there are many types of online mortuary schools you can attend.

However, the vast majority of schools offer associate degrees. These are typically Associates of Science (AS) or Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. An associate of applied science in mortuary science online is more hands-on and focused on practical skills. Regardless, the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) accredits the quality of online mortuary schools.

The ABFSE is a programmatic accrediting institution. It checks mortuary and funeral service programs for rigor, accuracy, and overall quality. If a mortuary program holds ABSFE accreditation, you can bet that it’s a great choice.

Fortunately, the ABFSE has a list of all the programs it has accredited. While it is technically possible to get hired as a mortician or by a funeral home without an ABFSE-accredited degree, it’s not recommended. You may find it more difficult to become hired, and you won’t qualify for many higher-paying positions.

It is also a good idea to see if your program comes from a regionally accredited school. Regional accrediting bodies indicate that a school overall is well worth your time and money. They are recognized, specifically by CHEA, the Council for Higher Education. Accreditation proves that a school has ample resources. Also, the school does a great job of ensuring that students achieve optimal learning outcomes.

Where Can I Study Mortuary Science?

You can study mortuary science – which covers all aspects of body preservation, embalming, and burial procedures – at online mortuary science programs. These are usually AS or AAS degrees. There are also bachelor’s degrees in mortuary science you can pursue.

These programs are available at traditional universities and community colleges. However, the most prestigious are from dedicated mortuary science schools. For example, the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science is a specific organization dedicated to training future morticians and funeral directors. It doesn’t have any non-mortuary programs to offer. Here’s a little more information on that school:

• Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science

  Degree Offered: Varies by state (see below)
  Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $390 per credit

  Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science offers several ABSFE-accredited online programs. However, the name of the degree you’ll receive varies based on your state. It can be:

  – Associate in Specialized Technology Degree in Funeral Service Arts and Sciences
  – Associate in Specialized Business Degree
  – Diploma in Embalming and Funeral Directing Program

  Regardless, these online programs take two years to complete. Each program version focuses mostly on asynchronous learning so that students can access the online campus day or night. Clinical or practical requirements are necessary for each program and can be completed at approved funeral homes. Note that this institute, while revered and ABSFE-accredited, does not hold regional accreditation and is not included in the best schools list below.

  All students benefit from experienced online instructors. However, applicants should take a look at the PIMS co-requisite requirements. Students must have completed a variety of basic courses before applying to the program in topics like health, chemistry, education, and much more. That’s because this is a dedicated online embalming school and mortuary school.

  Find Out More:
  Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science

   

Mortuary Science Schools Online Learning Outcomes

The majority of accredited mortuary science schools have specific learning outcomes they wish to achieve. For example:

• Ensuring that all students have a full academic understanding of mortuary science and related topics. These include topics like biology, chemistry, decomposition, embalming practices, and more.
• Teaching students the prerequisites needed to sit for key licensure exams. To become a mortician, you’ll need a license, and licensure requirements depend on your state’s requirements.
• Ensuring that students understand what it takes to run a funeral service or how to prepare a body for burial or cremation.

Because of this, most mortuary schools online have both prerequisite course requirements and teach many of the same topics. Program course composition will depend on the level of program you wish to attend.

Certificate Programs in Mortuary Science

For example, a certificate program in general healthcare online (which may qualify you to start working in a funeral service in a non-hands-on context) may include introductory courses such as:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Medical Terminology

Associate Programs

Meanwhile, AS or AAS mortuary science programs online will include more advanced courses. Plus they can require hands-on or practical coursework completion. Some topics you’ll learn in programs like this include:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Grief counseling
• Ethics surrounding grief

Bachelor’s Programs

Bachelor’s degrees in mortuary science or funeral services often include even more advanced courses. Topics covered may include:

• Advanced anatomy
• Restorative and embalming techniques
• Funeral service processes

Note that practically every accredited mortuary science program prepares you for licensure. However, to prepare for state licensure to become a licensed mortician, you must complete hands-on or practical classes/experience.

To complete an accredited mortuary science program, you must complete between one to three years of clinical practice experience at a local funeral home. If you attend a mortuary science program online, you’ll be allowed to complete these practical requirements at a funeral home or crematorium near your location in many cases. Some schools may require you to visit their campuses for these classes, however.

By the end of most accredited online mortuary science programs, you’ll be ready to take all the relevant licensing exams. Every state has its mortician licensing requirements. These include:

• The right amount of education. You need either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science to be licensed in most states.
• The right amount of practical experience. This is usually between one and three years of supervised work in a mortuary context.
• Passing the relevant licensing exams

Depending on your state of residence, you’ll need to complete one or all three of the below exams:

• National Board Exam (NBE)
• State Board Exam (SBE)
• Laws, Rules, and Regulations Exam (LRR exam)

The 5 Best Online Mortuary Schools

If you want to become a mortician, you can attend one of several excellent mortuary schools online. The best mortuary science schools online will require you to complete some hands-on, in-person training before you are qualified to sit for state licensure exams.

1. Des Moines Area Community College

   Degree Offered: Advanced Diploma in Mortuary Science
   Tuition Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $156 per credit

   At Des Moines Area Community College, you can get an advanced diploma in mortuary science. It’s specifically for students who already have an associate degree and who want to focus on funeral services as a profession. As an accelerated program, the advanced standing diploma can be completed in 12 to 14 months. It’s perfect for future funeral directors and morticians in Iowa. The ABFSE fully accredits the program, and most of the courses are online. A few of the courses must be completed at the Ankeny campus.

   However, there’s only one start date in the fall, so it’s important to check out program requirements and apply quickly. Students must also have a GPA of 2.0 or higher from their previous schooling. In total, the program requires the completion of 46 credits. Students who have completed an equivalent course in human anatomy or funeral law may be able to transfer those credits to the program and shorten their educational time.

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   Advanced Diploma in Mortuary Science

    

2. Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service

   Degree Offered: Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service
   Tuition Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $187 per credit

   The Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service provides an AAS degree in this major. Intended to lead straight to licensure and employment as an embalmer or funeral director, the online funeral service degree is fully ABSFE-accredited. It provides a wide variety of topics, such as the preservation of human remains, the restorative art of embalming, and more.

   Notably, this mortuary science online degree also prepares students to conduct funeral service ceremonies and funeral arrangement conferences. Every graduate will become a certified crematory operator through the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). The training for this certification is completely online.

   All students can complete the program in 15 wants across five 11-week quarters. Some students can complete the program in 12 months if they transfer some general education courses to the program. Note that this online program is not self-paced, so students must attend virtual lectures every week. Students must also complete several externships completed at the Commonwealth Institute’s campus.

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   Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service

    

3. Arapahoe Community College

   Degree Offered: AAS in Mortuary Science
   Tuition Cost (In-State): $357.20 per credit
   Tuition Cost (Out-of-State): $401.25 per credit

   Arapahoe Community College also provides an AAS program with very small class sizes and a variety of online course options. It’s the only online mortuary program of its kind in Colorado, and it’s perfect for future mortuary directors and similar professionals in this state.

   Knowledgeable professionals in the industry teach each course, and there’s only one start date in the fall. The ABFSE accredits the program, and it prepares students to sit for the national board examination. It’s 66 credit hours in total and includes an externship at the end of the program’s duration.

   In addition, this is a fairly accessible online mortician school, as students only need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter Arapahoe Community College. Credits from previous programs may be applied to this AAS in Mortuary Science.

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   AAS in Mortuary Science

    

4. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

   Degree Offered: Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science
   Tuition Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $321.25 per credit

   Southern Illinois University-Carbondale’s BS in Mortuary Science is perfect for those looking to become morticians or funeral directors in states with bachelor’s degree requirements. Indeed, the program qualifies graduates for mortician licensure in all 50 states and has a 92% graduate rate.

   The online version of the bachelor’s degree is intended for working professionals, especially working funeral directors and embalmers looking to enhance their credentials. The required coursework can be completed in two years (assuming that a student already has an associate degree). Completion of the bachelor’s degree requires finishing a capstone project.

   Southern Illinois University encourages every student to complete an internship, working side-by-side with a mentor in person. The ABSFE accredits this program, and in this case, students can join a mortuary science in funeral service business fraternity called Sigma Phi Sigma.

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   Bachelor of Science in Mortuary Science

    

5. American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service

   Degree Offered: Associate in Funeral Service
   Tuition Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $525 per credit

   The American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service offers an associate degree that takes three to four semesters. This comprehensive program is flexible, perfect for students who may need to study part-time.

   Students can transfer an associate’s degree or credits from a previous bachelor’s degree to the program in some cases. All students must complete at least eight credits or semester, at which pace they will complete the program within three years. The program provides a sound foundation for funeral director licensure.

   However, students should make sure they have the right technology to complete the program. Generally, tablets and laptops are not supported for online learning materials, so every online student must have access to a capable desktop to complete its requirements.

   Find Out More:
   Associate in Funeral Service

    

Do Morticians Go to Med School?

Technically speaking, online mortuary science degrees can be types of:

• General healthcare degrees online
• Science degrees online

However, morticians are not required to attend “med school,” which usually refers to a college program for nurses, doctors, and other practicing healthcare professionals.

That’s because morticians deal with the already-deceased. They require a greater-than-average knowledge of chemistry, body decomposition, and embalming techniques. They also need to know how to preserve bodies for funeral services. However, morticians do not need to know how to cure diseases or help injured people. They require some knowledge of biology and anatomy, but not on the level of a practicing nurse or doctor.

Therefore, you do not need to worry about getting anything over a bachelor’s degree to enter the mortuary science field. Even if you want to be a funeral director, you need more on-the-job experience than you do a graduate or master’s degree.

What is the Best School for a Mortician?

Determining the best school to become a mortician can be difficult, but you can figure out the right online mortuary program by considering a few key factors.

Accreditation – The Best Online Mortuary Schools

To begin with, always make sure online mortuary programs are ABSFE-accredited. Even if you find an attractive program that isn’t accredited – for example, maybe it’s affordable – you shouldn’t attend it. If your program is not ABSFE-accredited, your degree will not be worth as much in the eyes of prospective employers. Therefore, you could find it difficult to get your license as a mortician or to get work as a mortician later on.

Regional accreditation is also a determining factor in choosing a college to attend. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes regional accrediting bodies for traditional and online schools to reach certain academic standards of practice. You may have noticed that The Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science holds ABSFE accreditation but no regional accreditation. That indicates why it is not on our “best schools” list, as GetEducated specifically reviews colleges with regional accreditation.

Cost

Of course, you should also consider the cost that a given program requires. Many of the best online mortuary school programs are relatively affordable, especially since many of them take two years or less to complete. Accelerated programs, which can be completed in 1 to 3 years, depending on the program you attend, are even more affordable in many cases.

However, keep in mind that many online schools will charge you extra if you attend online and out-of-state. It may be cheaper to attend an online program based at a school in your same state of residence.

Location

You’ll also want to consider the location of a prospective program before applying for it. Remember, to become licensed as a mortician, you must have one to three years of supervised mortuary science experience. That must take place at a funeral home or a similar location.

Many schools will work with you to let you complete your one to three years of experience at the same time as your academic education. They’ll also allow you to complete your practical experience requirements at a local funeral home. But other schools may require you to visit their physical campuses.

Given this fact, pay attention to where an online mortuary school is based. If you are required, for example, to visit that campus for a few weekends over the program, that could add to your costs significantly for airfare, accommodations, etc.

Timeline

As noted earlier, most mortuary science programs are associate-level. Thus, they take about two years to complete from start to finish, assuming you haven’t completed any general education credits/courses.

However, some programs take place in an accelerated time frame. Some associate-level mortuary science programs can be completed in 18 months. Even bachelor’s level programs can be completed in four years or less, depending on which credits you transfer into the program.

Basically, if you want to begin working as a mortician as quickly as possible, try to get into an accelerated program. This will likely require you to commit to full-time education, however. Such a program might not be the best choice for everyone.

Job Placement Assistance

Lastly, consider whether a given online mortician school has any job placement assistance resources. Because mortuary science is a very specialized field, many online mortuary schools have student resources to help new graduates find employment shortly after graduation.

Job placement assistance can be invaluable, particularly at the beginning of your career. When you are trying to build up your experience as a new mortician, getting a job right after graduation will help you pay down any student loans you had to take out and prove that you know what you are doing.

Financial Aid for an Online Mortician School

Paying for mortuary school can be difficult if you don’t have enough money saved up ahead of time. Fortunately, you can apply to the FAFSA no matter which school program you plan to attend. This is a great way to get low-cost student loans from the government. Applying for the FAFSA takes some time, so be sure to visit the FAFSA website and apply early to see if you qualify for loans or grants.

Alternatively, you can check out the National Funeral Directors Association’s list of state-based mortuary school scholarships. Scholarships are available in every state, making this a great way to pay for your education more easily.

Some examples of funeral service and mortuary scholarships you can apply for include:

• American Board of Funeral Service Education National Scholarship – $2500. This scholarship is available for any students who have already completed at least one semester or quarter of study in a program in mortuary science or funeral services
• STEM to Flowers Scholarship – $500. This scholarship is available to high school or college freshmen who want to pursue an undergraduate degree in any STEM field
• IFDA Jack G. Dodds Scholarship -$1000. This scholarship is available for Iowa students who intend to practice funeral service in Iowa upon graduating from a mortuary science or funeral services program

Online Mortuary Science Degree Careers

Once you earn your degree from an online mortuary school, you’ll qualify for a wide variety of careers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, funeral service workers of all types earn about $58,900 per year. This is a fast-growing occupation with an 8% job growth outlook until 2031. These include all funeral services workers who manage the details of ceremonies surrounding deceased individuals.

If you are licensed as a mortician, you can also earn about $58,430 per year. Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangers earn about the same money. For instance, the highest-paid morticians earn over $90,000 per year. You can earn this salary by working at the same funeral home for a while and building up your experience.

Eventually, however, you can get enough experience to become a funeral home manager. Funeral home managers often have mortuary experience since they know exactly what it takes to prepare a body for a respectful service. But they also have some business and management experience. Funeral home managers earn about $84,770 per year, and this occupation should grow by about 3.3% over the next decade.

Use GetEducated to Find the Best Online Mortuary Schools

To summarize, an accredited, flexible, affordable degree in mortuary science is attainable. The right online mortuary school program is just waiting for you to apply. With GetEducated, you can find the perfect program for your preferences, budget, and other needs. Check out our online school and course catalog today!