Body Donation Programs: University vs Private Compared

US body donation programs come in two broad kinds: academic programs run by medical schools, and private non-transplant anatomical donation organizations that supply researchers, device makers and training courses. Costs, eligibility and timelines differ by program, and no federal agency licenses them. That makes it worth asking the same questions of every program you consider.

This guide explains the differences that matter and what has been verified about two large private programs.

What kinds of body donation programs are there?

Academic programs are run by medical schools and universities. Their main use is teaching anatomy and supporting research. A 2023 study of donor paperwork identified 117 academic body donor programs in the US.

Non-transplant anatomical donation organizations are private, and may be for-profit or not-for-profit. Science Care defines them as organizations that recover human tissue donations not intended for transplant into living patients. They place donors with surgical training, device testing and education programs.

A third route is organ and tissue donation for transplant, which is separate. See body donation vs organ donation.

How do two private programs compare?

The table uses what each program says on its own FAQ page. We could not verify published terms for individual medical school programs, so check those directly.

Science Care says it does not operate in Alaska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma because of state laws.

Who regulates body donation programs?

Mostly no one at the federal level. The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, whose most recent version 46 states have adopted, allows gifts for transplantation, therapy, research and education. A 2026 review in Anatomical Sciences Education says that federal law and the uniform act bar sale only for transplantation or therapy, not for education and research, and that only a few states (Florida, Missouri, Nebraska and the District of Columbia) have broadened the ban.

Some states have added rules. The same review lists Arizona, which began requiring licensing and accreditation in 2016, and Colorado, which bars dual interests in funeral homes and body donation companies. The review also describes cases of misuse, including a 2018 FBI raid in Colorado. A federal bill, the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act, has been introduced repeatedly since 2019, including in 2025, and that review says it has not advanced and lacks informed-consent requirements.

What this means for you: accreditation and a transparent consent document are your best protection.

How do programs decide who they accept?

Every program screens at the time of death. Every program sets its own exclusions. Science Care lists HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or C, extreme BMI and the condition of the body among its reasons for declining.

• Infectious disease: a 2026 paper says HIV and viral hepatitis are the most common exclusions, cited by more than 80% of US programs.
• Weight: 90.6% of the 127 programs specified weight-related criteria. The most common upper BMI limit was 30.
• Other reasons: Science Care also lists consent issues, location, legal issues and an inability to place the donation.

Only 14 of the 127 programs explained their numeric weight limits, so you may not know how a limit is applied until you ask.

What should you ask any program?

The American Association for Anatomy says ethical programs share a foundation of informed consent, clear and public descriptions of how they operate, and oversight by a committee that is independent of daily operations. Use that as a checklist.

1. Are you accredited by AATB, and do you hold any state license?
2. Are you a university, a nonprofit or a for-profit company, and who pays you?
3. What exactly do you cover, and what might I or my family pay?
4. What are your age, weight, residence and health exclusions?
5. How do you track my body from pickup to cremation, and do you keep remains separate?
6. How long until ashes come back, and how are they returned?
7. Can I limit uses, such as photography or use in training courses?
8. What happens if you decline?

What if a program says no?

Acceptance is never certain until death. A declined donation leaves the family with a short time to arrange something else. Decide on a backup plan now, and compare what it would cost.

Our guide to direct cremation cost and our explanation of why donations are rejected can help. Once a donation is accepted, what happens to donated bodies and how cremains are returned explain the rest.

What to do next

• Shortlist two programs and ask them the questions above.
• Follow the steps in how to donate your body to science to register.
• Tell your family and keep your backup plan with your other papers.