Our Academic Programs

Steps to apply for admission:

1. Complete an Application for Admission on the CIFS website and electronically submit the $50.00 application fee. The application fee is valid for one (1) year from the date of application. A new fee is required for all subsequent applications after one year AND when applying for a different program.
2. Mail an official, sealed copy of your final high school transcript directly to CIFS. If you have a GED certificate, then contact your state education agency and request that the certificate and certificate transcript be mailed directly to CIFS.
3. Mail an official, sealed transcript from EACH university, college, or vocational/technical school that you attended directly to CIFS. This is required regardless of the credit earned, degree path, or transferability.
   • Digital transcripts from E-Script and/or Parchment are acceptable.
   • Official digital transcripts should be sent to: [email protected]
4. (For AAS Degree ONLY) If you plan to receive benefits from the Veteran’s Administration, then you must also submit a certified copy of your DD 214, official military transcripts, a Letter of Eligibility, and any other documents that are requested by the school certifying official (SCO). Please contact CIFS prior to applying for VA benefits.

After CIFS has received the completed application, fee, and all other required supporting documents, the CIFS Admissions Counselor will review the application and notify the applicant of the next step(s) necessary in the application process.

The minimum standards for admission to the programs at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service are:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Graduate from an accredited four-year high school or its equivalent (such as a recognized G.E.D.). If any official school documents are in a foreign language, they will need to be translated and certified that the applicant has completed formal education requirements equivalent to high school graduation in the United States. The translated documents need to be accurate before submission.
• Satisfy ONE of the following academic requirements:
  • Graduate in the upper one-fourth of the applicant’s high school class
  • Transfer ALL General Education credits (AAS degree only) OR have successfully completed 16 semester hours of college credit with a 2.0 GPA (Certificate only)
  • ACT composite score of 21
  • SAT combined score of 990 (If taken after April 1, 1995)

If none of the above 4 academic requirements are met, then an applicant must submit a typed, one-page, double-spaced essay. The college’s admissions committee will review the essays of these candidates for the purpose of acceptance selections. An applicant’s essay must answer the following two questions:

• Why are you pursuing a career in funeral service?
• Why did you choose Commonwealth Institute for your funeral service education?

Once application is successfully submitted, the applicant can mail or email their admission essay to [email protected] with the email subject line of: first and last name – Admission Essay; example: John Doe – Admission Essay.

Applicants are encouraged to complete all preparations for enrollment early. The following is the recommended timetable.