Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Christian Brothers University
Bachelor's Degree
cbu.eduAnalysis
A debt load around $25,400 paired with first-year earnings near $45,300 creates a manageable but hardly inspiring financial picture for this bachelor's degree. Based on comparable entrepreneurship programs nationwide, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 sits in workable territory—not a red flag, but not a confidence-builder either. What's trickier here is gauging whether Christian Brothers delivers advantages that justify choosing it over Middle Tennessee State, where entrepreneurship graduates reportedly earn around $43,000—nearly identical to what peer programs suggest CBU graduates might make, but potentially at lower cost given MTSU's public school tuition structure.
The estimated earnings fall right at the national median for entrepreneurship degrees, which means this program appears neither particularly strong nor weak compared to its 322 peer programs across the country. For a field built around business creation and hustle, starting around $45,000 is reasonable but leaves little margin for error if that degree debt stretches repayment timelines. Tennessee's entrepreneurship landscape shows fairly uniform outcomes, so the real differentiator becomes whether CBU's smaller, faith-based environment and networking opportunities outweigh the cost premium over public alternatives. Without confirmed outcomes specific to this school, you're essentially betting that the program performs at least as well as the typical entrepreneurship degree—a bet that requires confidence in CBU's specific value-adds beyond what the numbers alone can tell you.
Where Christian Brothers University Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all entrepreneurial and small business operations bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (10 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $37,300 | $45,265* | — | $25,396* | — | |
| $9,506 | $43,002* | $35,270 | —* | — | |
| National Median | — | $45,265* | — | $24,125* | 0.53 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with entrepreneurial and small business operations graduates
Chief Executives
Chief Sustainability Officers
General and Operations Managers
Business Teachers, Postsecondary
Personal Service Managers, All Other
Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
Spa Managers
Managers, All Other
Regulatory Affairs Managers
Compliance Managers
Loss Prevention Managers
Wind Energy Operations Managers
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 national median of 67 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.