Mechanical Engineering at Christian Brothers University

Christian Brothers University's mechanical engineering graduates start at $71,112—essentially matching the national median while outearning most Tennessee programs. Among the state's 11 mechanical engineering options, this places CBU above University of Memphis and well ahead of Tennessee Tech, though it trails Vanderbilt's $78,000. At $27,000 in typical debt, graduates face a manageable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they owe about 4.6 months of their first-year salary.

The real strength here is the debt side: CBU ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for student debt, meaning 95% of mechanical engineering programs leave students with more to repay. This combination of near-national-average earnings with significantly below-average debt creates a favorable launching point. For context, mechanical engineering graduates typically handle debt well compared to other majors, but starting with $2,500 less debt than the state median gives CBU students extra breathing room.

The caveat matters: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes vary more than they would at larger programs. However, the fundamentals look solid for families prioritizing affordability alongside a respected engineering credential. If your child can handle the academics at CBU's 88% admission rate and relatively accessible SAT range, they're positioned to enter the workforce without the debt burden many engineers carry.