Funeral Service and Mortuary Science at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home

Something doesn't add up with this program's earnings trajectory. While national peer programs suggest first-year graduates earn around $44,700, this specific program reports actual fourth-year earnings of just $36,600—a significant drop rather than the growth you'd expect as funeral directors build their client base and reputation. That backward slide raises questions about whether graduates are staying in the profession or finding stable positions in Arkansas's funeral service market.

The estimated debt of $17,000 looks manageable at first glance, particularly against that $44,700 first-year figure. But if the actual fourth-year earnings better reflect this program's outcomes, you're looking at a debt load that represents nearly half a year's income—a tighter picture for a field where salaries don't typically climb dramatically. With 43% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are taking on debt they can't easily absorb if the earnings don't materialize as hoped.

The concern is that we're working largely with estimated figures derived from national programs while the one concrete data point—that $36,600 at year four—tells a less encouraging story. If your child is drawn to funeral service, have frank conversations with the program about job placement rates in Arkansas specifically and why the earnings might dip after graduation. This field requires genuine calling, but the financial foundation here looks shakier than the national estimates would suggest.