Est. Earnings (1yr)
$51,694
Est. from TN median (10 programs)
Median Debt
$23,786
5% below national median

Analysis

Accounting programs across Tennessee produce remarkably consistent outcomes, with first-year earnings clustering tightly around $52,000 whether graduates attended flagship public universities or smaller private institutions. Christian Brothers' estimated debt load of $23,786 sits right at the state median for accounting programs, suggesting typical borrowing patterns rather than excessive costs.

The estimated 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates owe less than half their first year's salary—falls into a manageable range for an accounting degree. Based on comparable Tennessee programs, graduates should be able to handle loan payments on entry-level accounting salaries without financial strain. The $51,694 estimated earnings align closely with the state median and aren't far from what Tennessee's largest programs report, which means the smaller campus size and faith-based mission haven't translated into an earnings penalty in this field.

The critical question is fit rather than financial return. With an 88% admission rate and 31% Pell grant population, Christian Brothers serves a specific student demographic in Memphis. If your child values the smaller classes and Catholic tradition enough to attend here over a larger state school with similar accounting outcomes, the estimated debt burden won't derail their financial future. But there's no earnings premium visible to justify choosing this program purely on career grounds—the financial picture looks essentially identical across Tennessee's accounting programs.

Where Christian Brothers University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all accounting bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Accounting bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (28 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Christian Brothers UniversityMemphis$37,300$51,694*$23,786
Tennessee State UniversityNashville$8,568$53,620*$50,033$29,2500.55
Lee UniversityCleveland$22,690$53,577*$70,035$16,7500.31
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville$13,484$53,197*$71,799$22,0000.41
Strayer University-TennesseeMemphis$13,920$52,373*$56,398$54,9891.05
Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro$9,506$51,963*$59,969$24,5530.47
National Median$53,694*$25,0000.47
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with accounting graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Examiners

Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.

$90,400/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Accountants and Auditors

Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

$81,680/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents

Determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.

$59,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

$49,210/yrJobs growth:Some college, no degree

Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks

Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees' time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.

$48,650/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Christian Brothers University, approximately 31% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 10 similar programs in TN. Actual outcomes may vary.