Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Degree

The Funeral Service and Mortuary Science area of study in business focused on deceased bodies. More specifically, the service associated with the rituals, rites, and ceremonies to memorialize and honor a person who has died which can be held with or without the presence of the deceased. Get more details below including other Pennsylvania colleges that offer funeral service and mortuary science degrees.

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Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc (PIMS)

5 Allegheny County Airport, West Mifflin, PA

The Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc., located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offers an education in funerary services and sciences. The school is designed to provide a quality education in mortuary science, a growing industry that has moved away from the tradition of family owned business. Individuals pursuing a career in funeral service will find PIMS beneficial, as it provides assistance for licensure in the state of Pennsylvania.

Academics

The Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc. provides an education in the methods and practices of funeral directors. Additionally, the school offers a program in embalming and funeral directing, covering the skills and methods necessary to preserve a human body and how to assist the bereaved.  Programs include associates degrees in business and specialized technology. PIMS also has agreements in place with colleges and universities that allows students to pursue a bachelor's degree in as little as eighteen months.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Students interested in enrolling at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc. must have graduated high school with a GPA of 2.0 or higher, or if lower than 2.0 must provide transcripts from a college demonstrating a minimum of 12 liberal arts credits earned. Students must provide all pertinent transcripts, personal photo, 2 references (one preferably from a funeral director), medical documentation demonstrating good health and the application fee.

Financial aid is available to eligible students in the forms of scholarships, loans and grants. Interested students must apply for a federal PIN number and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the student aid report from which will be used to determine eligibility and awards.

Students Enrolled in the Funeral Service and Mortuary Science Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. PIMS offers a less than two-year award program in funeral service and mortuary science.

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Funeral Service Managers

Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes. Includes activities such as determining prices for services or merchandise and managing the facilities of funeral homes.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, funeral service managers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 3.3% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Pittsburgh, PA
  • Total Employment: 230
  • Average Hourly Rate: $46.66
  • Average Annual Salary: $97060

Embalmers

Description

Prepare bodies for interment in conformity with legal requirements.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, embalmers employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -6.1% from 2014 to 2024

Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors

Description

Perform various tasks to arrange and direct funeral services, such as coordinating transportation of body to mortuary, interviewing family or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, aiding with the selection of officials for religious rites, and providing transportation for mourners.

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).