Compare 7 Funeral Direction/Service. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $54,497. Top programs: $77,420+.
With top graduates earning $77,420, Funeral Direction/Service stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $23K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 7 ranked programs, outcomes track program quality, not school reputation.
Topping the list, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities delivers $77,420 in median Funeral Direction/Service earnings—well above the $54,497 field average. Wayne State University (Detroit) and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale follow at $63K and $60K respectively, both regional publics outperforming the national average. The data reinforces a clear pattern: program strength, not school prestige, drives outcomes.
For students borrowing independently, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities stands out: graduates carry $19,500 in student debt and face just a 4.9% payment burden—solidly 'Excellent' by GPS standards. For families factoring in parent loans, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science leads with a combined 6.8% family burden, also rated 'Excellent,' on $15,000 in total family debt. Who's paying shapes which choice wins.
Highest program earnings: $77,420
Strong outcomes ($77,420) with 80% acceptance
4.9% payment burden | Excellent
6.8% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $77,420 | 15 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Manageable | |
| #2 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $62,954 | 31 | $21,250 | Excellent | $16,378 | Manageable |
| #3 | $60,203 | 19 | $21,543 | Excellent | $19,500 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $54,571 | 20 | $21,000 | Good | $15,191 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $52,985 | 44 | $15,000 | Excellent | $0 | Excellent | |
| #6 | $38,289 | 13 | — | — | — | — | |
| #7 | Point Park UniversityPrivate | $35,060 | 6 | — | — | — | — |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
