Funeral Service and Mortuary Science at Worsham College of Mortuary Science

Worsham College produces funeral service graduates who earn more than 90% of their peers nationally—quite an achievement for a specialized program that keeps debt refreshingly low. At just over $15,000 in median debt, graduates face monthly payments of roughly $170, which amounts to about 4% of their gross income in that critical first year. That's manageable by any standard, and well below the concerning debt loads seen at many mortuary science programs.

The earnings trajectory tells an interesting story: graduates start strong at $50,000 and see modest but steady growth to $53,000 by year four. While that 6% bump isn't dramatic, it reflects the stable nature of funeral service work—these aren't careers with explosive salary growth, but rather solid, recession-resistant income. Compared to other Illinois funeral service programs, Worsham sits right at the state median, though it's worth noting that with only four programs statewide, there's limited local competition to measure against.

The value proposition here is straightforward: specialized training that leads directly to steady employment in an essential field, without the debt burden that could make those first years financially stressful. For students genuinely interested in funeral service—and this requires a specific calling—Worsham delivers strong outcomes at a reasonable cost.