Natural Sciences at Christian Brothers University

Christian Brothers University's natural sciences program appears to deliver reasonably consistent outcomes, though the numbers require careful interpretation. First-year earnings of $33,145 land at the 60th percentile both nationally and within Tennessee, meaning graduates earn more than typical natural sciences majors. At $27,000, the debt load sits in the best 5% of all natural sciences programs nationwide—a genuinely strong position. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 suggests graduates earn enough to manage repayment without excessive burden.

However, there's a significant caveat: CBU is currently the only school in Tennessee reporting outcomes for this specific program classification, and the sample size is under 30 graduates. This makes it impossible to know whether these results represent a reliable pattern or just reflect a particularly strong (or weak) cohort. The earnings figures also pale compared to what other STEM fields typically deliver—computer science or engineering graduates often start $20,000-$30,000 higher.

For parents considering this program, the manageable debt is the clearest positive signal. But before committing, verify what "natural sciences" means here—does it prepare students for graduate school in specific fields, or lead directly to jobs? The relatively modest starting salary only makes sense if this is a stepping stone to advanced degrees or if your student has clear career plans where this preparation matters.