Civil Engineering at Christian Brothers University

Civil engineering graduates in Tennessee typically earn around $65,000 in their first year, and that's the baseline this program appears to track. What matters more is the estimated $27,000 debt load—higher than the state median of $21,160 for civil engineering programs but still producing a manageable 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary, putting them in reasonable position to handle loan payments while building toward the solid mid-career earnings civil engineers typically command.

The challenge is that Christian Brothers charges more than Tennessee's public universities while comparable programs at UT-Chattanooga, Memphis, and UT-Knoxville all produce similar earnings outcomes. The school's 88% admission rate and modest test scores suggest it's not selectivity driving any advantage. Civil engineering credentials are fairly standardized—licensing requirements ensure consistent training—so the degree should open the same doors regardless of which Tennessee school grants it.

For parents, this comes down to whether the private school experience justifies roughly $6,000 more in debt than the state average for the same credential. If your child values smaller class sizes or the university's mission-driven environment, that premium might be worthwhile. But if the goal is simply launching an engineering career with minimal debt, Tennessee's public options offer the same professional entry point at lower cost.