Christian Brothers University
#1 Best Business Colleges in Tennessee- Graduation Rate
- 55% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $57,478 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $9,854 B
- 42% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 87% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 35.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $35.8 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Business Colleges in Tennessee.
Every $1 spent returns $35.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,370,514.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 41% above the national college median.
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Inventor rate in the top 21% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
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Social mobility rate of 2.65% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $35.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.1%
- Top 21%
- Patents
- 21
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 0
- Downstream influence
Why Christian Brothers University Matters
Christian Brothers University is a private university in Memphis, TN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 905
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Christian Brothers University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 87% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1020–1380. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,854 a year after grants and scholarships — 42% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $57,478 ten years after enrolling — 41% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 15% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.42 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Christian Brothers University is a good fit for students seeking a supportive community in a smaller setting, with an enrollment of just 905 students. The acceptance rate is 87%, which opens doors for those who may not have traditional academic backgrounds. You’ll find strong programs in Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Engineering, Psychology, and Computer Science & IT, catering to a range of interests and career goals.
When it comes to life after graduation, the numbers tell a promising story. Graduates earn an average of $57,478 within ten years of completing their degrees. This is a reasonable outcome for many students, especially when considering the affordability of attending. The net price after aid is about $9,854, making it accessible for a diverse range of students. While 31% of students receive Pell Grants, which are aimed at those with significant financial need, the overall picture remains encouraging in terms of upward mobility.
Looking at the financial bottom line, graduates carry a median debt of $27,000. This is manageable compared to potential earnings, especially for those who enter fields such as health and engineering, where job prospects are generally strong. Students who thrive here are often those who appreciate a close-knit environment and are ready to engage in both their studies and the campus community.
Rankings
- #1 Best Business Colleges in Tennessee
- #1 Best Nursing Colleges in Tennessee
- #2 Best Bachelor's Programs in Tennessee
- #2 Best Master's Programs in Tennessee
- #2 Best Online Colleges in Tennessee
- #3 Best Engineering Colleges in Tennessee
- #4 Best Colleges in Tennessee
- #4 Best Computer Science Colleges in Tennessee
Can I Get In?
How selective Christian Brothers University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Christian Brothers University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Christian Brothers University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,098. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- SAT Average
- 1098
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- SAT Range
- 1020–1380
- ACT Range
- 19–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,036
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.82
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
- Applicants
- 877
- Admitted
- 767
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Christian Brothers University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Christian Brothers University is $38,420, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,854. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,466 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $38,420
- Out-of-State
- $38,420
- Avg Net Price
- $9,854
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 29%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,466
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,657
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,023
- Family Income $110K+
- $5,843
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Christian Brothers University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Christian Brothers University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Christian Brothers University earn a median of $57,478, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,592
- 8 Years
- $50,578
- 10 Years
- $57,478
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.47x
- Earning > $25K
- 66%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (130)
- 37%
- 100% (130)
- 37%
- 100% (130)
- 37%
- 100% (130)
- 37%
How Christian Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Christian Brothers University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Christian Brothers University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,854/year ($39,416 total). Graduates earn $57,478 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,409,930 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,370,514 (35.8× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 55% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $39,416
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,409,930
- Net Return
- $1,370,514
- ROI Multiple
- 35.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,854
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Christian Brothers University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Christian Brothers University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.65%, among the highest in the country. About 6.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 40.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $97,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.65%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 40.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $132,604
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Christian Brothers University produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 21% nationally), with 21 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 1.13%
- Top 21% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 21
- Linked to graduates
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 2.00%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,901,525
- Investment Income
- $-1,675,976
Top Programs
The fields Christian Brothers University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 33% $47,206 early-career
- Health Professions 19% $80,393 early-career
- Engineering 12% $76,630 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8%
- Psychology 6% $45,318 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- English & Literature 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Christian Brothers University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Christian Brothers University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Christian Brothers University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,098. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Christian Brothers University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Christian Brothers University is $38,420, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,854. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,466 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Christian Brothers University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Christian Brothers University earn a median of $57,478, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Christian Brothers University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Christian Brothers University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.65%, among the highest in the country. About 6.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 40.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $97,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Christian Brothers University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Christian Brothers University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Christian Brothers University.
- University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield, IL · Close peer57% grad $57,103 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Saint MaryLeavenworth, KS · Close peer46% grad $59,483 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of JamestownJamestown, ND · Close peer47% grad $56,621 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cedar Crest CollegeAllentown, PA · Close peer59% grad $59,460 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Waynesburg UniversityWaynesburg, PA · Close peer63% grad $58,537 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bay Path UniversityLongmeadow, MA · Close peer51% grad $55,383 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Christian Brothers University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Christian Brothers University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.42, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note