Specialized mortuary science college in Nashville offering Associate degrees and certificates since 1946.
John A. Gupton College specializes exclusively in mortuary science and funeral service education. The college offers three credential pathways: an Associate of Arts Degree in Funeral Service (12–16 months), an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Service delivered online (12–16 months), and a Funeral Director Certificate (8 or 12 months). The curriculum combines basic liberal arts education with professional training in funeral arts and sciences. The college is accredited by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the American Board of Funeral Service Education, making it eligible to award transferable Associate degrees.
The college occupies a 20,000 square-foot facility in midtown Nashville at 1616 Church Street, which opened in fall 1992. Student housing is available through a 14-unit apartment building purchased in April 1998 adjacent to the main campus. The Memorial Library is centrally located and provides access to educational resources via LibraryWorld.com, with six Windows 10 computers available for student use. The college maintains a dress code and offers student development services, a bookstore, and online learning platforms (GuptonLearn and MyGupton). The college is approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for veterans education.
Applicants must complete an application for admission available online. The college accepts applications on a rolling basis with semester-specific deadlines: November 1 for Spring, April 1 for Summer, and July 15 for Fall. Returning or previously withdrawn students must submit a Re-Admission Application. The college does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, or disability. Financial aid is available, including FAFSA, loans, and other aid types, with a Net Price Calculator provided on the website.
Founded in 1946 by John A. Gupton Jr. and his wife Bernadean, the college began with 26 students on September 27, 1946, offering a nine-month diploma program. The college expanded significantly after a 1954 merger with the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science, becoming the only mortuary college in the Southeast. It was incorporated as a nonprofit educational institution in 1965 and received regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in December 1971, becoming the first mortuary college accredited by both a regional accrediting agency and the American Board of Funeral Service Education. The college relocated to its current Church Street location in 1992 after selling its original campus to Vanderbilt University.