Education at Christian Brothers University

In Tennessee, education programs typically produce first-year earnings around $36,540, and Christian Brothers University's estimates align closely with both state and national patterns—suggesting initial compensation of about $38,660 with roughly $27,000 in debt. That 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within a manageable range for education majors, where income grows steadily over time as teachers gain experience and advance on salary schedules. The estimated debt burden here is slightly above Tennessee's median for education programs but remains below what many other fields require for similar starting salaries.

The challenge with education degrees isn't the immediate return—it's the trajectory. Teaching offers stable employment and pension benefits that don't show up in first-year earnings data, but the salary ceiling is well-documented. With 88% of applicants admitted and 31% of students receiving Pell grants, Christian Brothers serves a broad student population, though these estimates can't tell us how this specific program's graduates fare compared to those from the state's other ten education schools.

For a family weighing this investment: if your child is committed to teaching and values the smaller class sizes of a private institution, the estimated debt load shouldn't be prohibitive. However, Tennessee education majors at other schools are graduating with similar or lower debt for comparable outcomes. The key question is whether Christian Brothers' particular program qualities justify any premium over state university alternatives.