Funeral Service and Mortuary Science at Jefferson State Community College

Jefferson State's mortuary science program appears to deliver stronger-than-average outcomes despite modest debt. First-year earnings of $49,566 place graduates at the 83rd percentile nationally for this field—well above the typical $44,695—while estimated debt of $17,063 from peer programs suggests manageable borrowing. That 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would owe roughly four months' salary, which is reasonable for a career-focused associate degree.

The catch is the earnings trajectory: income dips to $44,675 by year four, a 10% decline that's unusual for most careers. This might reflect the realities of funeral service work—stable but not fast-growing compensation, or possibly graduates moving between different types of employers with varying pay structures. Still, even at the four-year mark, earnings remain competitive with national norms for the field.

For parents weighing this path, the numbers suggest solid entry-level prospects with limited debt exposure. The lack of reported debt data for this specific program means some uncertainty exists, but the combination of above-average starting salaries and below-median borrowing (compared to the $20,000 national figure) points to better value than most mortuary science programs. Just understand that growth in this profession typically comes from ownership or advancement within firms, not automatic salary increases.