John A Gupton College

This isn’t a typical college experience—there are no dorms, Greek life, or football games. Students describe days packed with lab work (including embalming practicums) and funeral home internships, leaving little time for extracurriculars. The college leans into its Nashville location for cultural outings (‘Music City’ concerts, museums), but the student handbook suggests most socializing happens organically among cohorts bonding over shared challenges. Online students are invited to participate in campus events, though the vibe is decidedly commuter-school utilitarian. Reviews hint at a tight-knit, almost familial atmosphere among those who stick it out.

Graduation rates are notoriously low—just 25% after six years per College Factual, though the college itself claims a 66-67% rate for recent cohorts meeting its internal 60% benchmark. Those who do graduate earn $36,427 median salaries one year out (above the national average for associate degrees), climbing to $38,900 after a decade. The near-guaranteed job placement in funeral homes (though unstated in sources, implied by the niche focus) suggests the real filter isn’t employability but stamina for the work. Alumni likely skew toward family-owned funeral businesses, given the industry’s tradition of generational succession.

Tuition runs $19,334 net price after aid (Niche), with the college reporting an average aid package of $6,208. Notably, 69% of students receive federal grants averaging $6,169, while half get state grants ($3,606). There’s no mention of merit scholarships—unsurprising given the open admissions—but Tennessee Promise, a last-dollar scholarship for state residents, likely covers gaps for eligible students. The net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator warns costs are 'rough estimates,' hinting at variability based on funeral home apprenticeships (a likely source of unofficial stipends).

Gupton is one of the few colleges where students practice embalming on actual cadavers—a rarity even among mortuary programs. Its no-nonsense, vocational approach appeals to those seeking direct entry into funeral service without the distractions of a traditional liberal arts curriculum. The 100% acceptance rate?Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. masks the program’s high attrition, which functions as a brutal but effective filter for commitment. For Nashville locals (or those drawn to the city’s music scene), it’s a pragmatic path to a recession-proof career—assuming you can stomach the day-to-day realities of deathcare.