Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science

About Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science

Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science is a narrowly focused institution designed for students preparing to enter funeral service and related death-care work. The college traces its history to the Cincinnati School of Embalming, founded by Joseph H. Clarke in 1882. It adopted its current name in 1966 and became a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt institution under the Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education in 1970. CCMS offers two degree programs: the Associate of Applied Science and the Bachelor of Mortuary Science. Because both require prior college credit, the institution functions more like an upper-division professional college than a traditional entry point immediately after high school. The A.A.S. requires at least 30 eligible transfer credits before enrollment, while the B.M.S. requires at least 60. Students should therefore consider the total time and cost of both prerequisite study and the CCMS program. Institutional accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission, and the campus programs are also presented by CCMS as professionally accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education. CCMS began distance options for both programs in fall 2025 following HLC approval. Its website states that professional ABFSE approval for the online format remains pending, so distance applicants should confirm current status directly with the college and the licensing board in the state where they intend to practice. The college remains operational and publishes current admissions, events, and 2026–2027 tuition information.

CCMS admits students after they have completed specified college-level prerequisites; it is generally not a direct-entry option immediately after high school. Bachelor of Mortuary Science applicants must present at least 60 eligible semester credits, while Associate of Applied Science applicants need at least 30. Transfer work must come from an accepted accredited source or qualifying American Council on Education coursework. Required courses must carry grades of C or better, and applicants need a cumulative 2.5 GPA in their transfer work. Every applicant must complete accounting, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, introductory or general psychology, and either communication skills or public speaking. The college provides a readiness-check process and a transfer-credit worksheet to help candidates determine whether previous study fits these requirements. Applicants submit the online application and transcripts; an unofficial transcript may support an initial review, but the file is not complete until official transcripts arrive. CCMS currently charges no application fee. The published admissions FAQ states that completed applications and documentation are due no later than orientation, but students should not treat that as a reason to wait. CCMS recommends applying when approximately half of the prerequisites are complete. Accepted students also face medical documentation requirements related to clinical work. CCMS states that it is not certified to accept international students. Applicants whose first language is not English may need official TOEFL results unless prior education in English qualifies for a waiver. All candidates should review licensing requirements in the state where they intend to practice before enrolling.

The academic portfolio is intentionally concentrated in mortuary science. The Associate of Applied Science is a 47-credit, three-semester program normally completed in 12 months. The Bachelor of Mortuary Science comprises 62 CCMS credits over four semesters and approximately 16 months. Both campus programs run full time and year-round, combining classroom instruction with clinical laboratory work. Entry requirements shape the distinction between the programs. A.A.S. applicants need at least 30 eligible semester credits completed elsewhere; B.M.S. applicants need at least 60. Both pathways require prior work in accounting, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, psychology, and communication or public speaking. The correct degree depends on a student’s previous education and the rules of the jurisdiction where they hope to become licensed. Facilities support practical instruction in embalming, gross anatomy and dissection, restorative art, and cremation. Graduation requirements extend beyond passing courses: the college identifies clinical and funeral-director requirements, a comprehensive examination, financial good standing, and a minimum resident GPA among its conditions. The programs are designed to prepare graduates for the National Board Examination, but passing an academic program or national examination does not by itself satisfy every state’s licensing process. Distance delivery was introduced in fall 2025, with a transition from synchronous to asynchronous instruction announced for fall 2026. HLC has approved distance education, but CCMS states that ABFSE accreditation of the online format is pending. Online candidates should obtain written confirmation about clinical arrangements, professional accreditation, state authorization, and licensing eligibility before committing.

Key Highlights

• Specialized private nonprofit college governed by the Cincinnati Foundation for Mortuary Education
• Founded in 1882 and operating under its current name since 1966
• Offers an Associate of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Mortuary Science
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

Student Life & Environment

Student life at CCMS is organized around small professional cohorts and an intensive, year-round curriculum rather than a broad residential-university model. Campus resources include classrooms, a student lounge, a theater-style auditorium, specialized laboratories, and a mortuary-science library. The library provides print holdings, computers, printing, textbook borrowing, and electronic research resources through the college’s learning system. CCMS does not provide on-campus housing. Students must arrange apartments, roommates, or other accommodation independently. The college supplies relocation links and directs students to a cohort social-media group for roommate connections, but it does not endorse the listed housing providers. Some students may explore working and living at a funeral home, depending on employer availability and individual circumstances. The professional environment creates opportunities to build practical experience. Qualified enrolled students may apply for paid clinical lab or intake-assistant roles, and the college maintains employment information and a job board. Campus activities appear limited compared with those at a comprehensive university, although the college recognizes strong academic performance and provides student-focused events and resources. Prospective students should weigh the close occupational focus and accelerated schedule against their preferences for residence halls, extensive clubs, athletics, or a conventional undergraduate social experience.

Location & Surroundings

CCMS is located at 645 West North Bend Road in Cincinnati, near the Finneytown area. The college describes the privately owned campus as occupying 16 acres with access to Interstates 75 and 275. Its current instructional building was constructed in 1995 for funeral-service education and contains classrooms, a lecture auditorium, student space, and dedicated clinical facilities. A later Educational Cremation Center expanded the practical-training environment. The setting is separate from Cincinnati’s central urban campuses, so students should evaluate commuting and housing logistics carefully. Because CCMS has no residence halls, location decisions may involve rent, transportation, parking, and travel to clinical or employment sites. The college provides housing-search and relocation resources but does not guarantee or endorse accommodations. Cincinnati offers the services and cultural amenities of a major metropolitan area, including museums, parks, professional sports, and entertainment. For applicants visiting from outside the region, CCMS offers individual tours and scheduled information events, including virtual options. A visit can be particularly useful for assessing the specialized laboratories, neighborhood, commute, and nonresidential format.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For students entering in fall 2026 or spring 2027, CCMS lists total tuition and fees of $34,149 for the Bachelor of Mortuary Science and $26,088 for the Associate of Applied Science. Textbooks are excluded. These figures cover the CCMS professional programs, not the cost of prerequisite credits earned elsewhere, housing, transportation, living expenses, or every possible licensing-related expense. Rates are subject to trustee-approved change, so students should use the applicable semester schedule and request a personalized aid estimate. Students can use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to seek eligible federal and state assistance; CCMS identifies federal school code 010906. The college also provides financial-aid and scholarship information. Borrowing decisions should account for the accelerated year-round schedule and the absence of college housing, as living costs must be arranged independently. The curriculum is directed toward regulated funeral-service work, including preparation for the National Board Examination. State requirements vary, and graduates may still need examinations, registration, apprenticeship, or other state-specific steps. CCMS reported that among first-time test takers within one year of graduation in 2024, its National Board pass rates were 87% for Arts and 88% for Sciences. Its published 2024 program information reported 95% overall employment and 61% employed in funeral service, using the institution’s stated eligibility methodology. These historical outcomes are useful context, not guarantees for an individual graduate. The college maintains career and job-placement resources for students and alumni.