The online program takes 9 months to complete. This program now includes Cremation Certification!

The AAS program takes 15 months if you do not transfer in the general education courses. If you have all the general education courses, you can complete the program in only 12 months. Online students are required to come to campus for a maximum of one week to complete their labs. This program now includes Cremation Certification!

If you have all the general education courses completed and you plan to transfer them into the AAS degree program, then you can begin in January or July. If you are planning to take one or more of the general education courses with us, then you can begin in April or October.

For the Certificate in Funeral Directing program (offered online only), new classes start in April and October.

The general education courses are core courses often completed at another accredited college or university that can be transferred into our AAS program. The classes are Biology, English, Psychology, College Algebra, and U.S. History II.

Commonwealth does not offer on-campus or off-campus housing.

Our campus class hours are Monday through Thursday from 8am until 1pm. We do not offer evening or weekend classes.

Our online classes normally do not require real-time interaction at a specific time. However, online courses have a weekly schedule, and assigned work must be completed by stated deadlines.

No, we do not charge out of state tuition to our students.

You will need to contact the state agency where you plan to get licensed prior to enrolling at Commonwealth Institute to see if you can get licensed. For students seeking a license in Texas they must contact the Texas Funeral Service Commission prior to enrolling to see if they are eligible for licensure.

We do accept financial aid for the Associate of Applied Science program only. The Certificate in Funeral Directing program is not eligible for financial aid.

We do have a payment plan. After you have been accepted, you will need to contact the college registrar at 281-873-0262, to set up a payment plan. Payment plans must be renewed each quarter.

The entrance exam is not required, however; applicants must meet our minimum standards for admission.  If they do not, they are required to submit a typed, one -page, double spaced essay, answering the following two questions. 1.) Why are you pursing a career in funeral service?  2.) Why did you choose Commonwealth Institute for your funeral service education?  For a full list of the minimum standards for admission, please visit our website at www.Commonwealth.edu. You can waive the essay if you meet ONE of the following: transfer in ALL of the general education credits (AAS degree only) or have successfully completed 16 semester hours of college credit with a 2.0 GPA (Certificate only), have an ACT minimum composite score of 21, have an SAT combined score of 990 (If taken after April 1, 1995), or graduated in the upper one fourth of your high school graduating class and it is reflected on your official high school transcript. 

We would love to have you meet with us and tour the campus. You can set up an appointment with us by email at [email protected] or give us a call at 281-873-0262.