Morticians help people deal with the grief and loss of a loved one.
The opportunity to help people deal with the grief and loss of a loved one exists for morticians and funeral directors who help families plan funerals, cremations and remembrance ceremonies. Before serving in their official role, morticians and funeral directors need some post-secondary education to prepare them for their job responsibilities. While many are interested in attending school to become a mortician or funeral director, they often wonder how much it costs to go to mortician school.
Degree Types
The cost of mortician school varies based on the type of degree being sought. An associate or two-year degree is the most common degree among morticians, although some have a bachelor’s degree, which takes approximately four years. Earning a bachelor’s degree in funeral services is more costly than an associate degree because students must attend school for an additional two years.
Credit Hours
Each program has its own credit-hour requirements a student must meet to earn a degree. Requirements vary from one institution to another even if the same degree is being awarded. For example, Mt. Hood Community College requires 96 credit hours for an associate degree as a mortician, while Des Moines Area Community College offers the same degree but requires completion of 112 credit hours.
Tuition
The cost of tuition varies based on the program and a student’s residency status. St. Petersburg College in Florida charges $87 per credit hour to students who are Florida residents, while Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon only charges its in-state students $65. Out-of-state students attending Mt. Hood Community College pay $210 for each credit hour they take, while $316 is the cost for out-of-state St. Petersburg College students. To ensure they find a college that is affordable, students must learn the rates for each institution and then compare them based on their residency status and the number of credit hours required.
Books
Besides tuition, another major expense students can face when attending mortician school is the cost of books. Des Moines Area Community College estimates that students spend about $800 on books while attending the program. The cost is significantly higher at Mt. Hood Community College, where the average cost is $2,500.
Financing
Determining finance mortician school can be challenging, but there are several financial assistance opportunities available to help. Many scholarships are given by colleges to their own students while others come from foundations, nonprofit organizations and private donors. In fact, the American Board of Funeral Service Education offers scholarships to students attending a funeral services program. There are also grants and student loans available from the government and private lenders to help students pay for the cost of mortician school.
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