Christian Brothers University

What Christian Brothers University does

Christian Brothers University (CBU) is a private Catholic institution of higher education located in Memphis, Tennessee, operating in the Lasallian tradition (educational mission of the De La Salle Christian Brothers). The institution was founded in 1871, with formal university status conferred in 1952. It serves undergraduate and graduate students through multiple academic schools spanning engineering, business, arts and sciences, and education, with an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 17 NCAA Division II athletic programs.

CBU's programmatic portfolio includes ABET-accredited engineering programs, ACBSP-accredited business programs, and CACREP-accredited counseling programs. Recent portfolio additions include online graduate programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Data Science, signaling a pivot toward STEM graduate education and online delivery formats. Research activity includes a Cognitive Neuroscience Lab that has received external (NSF) grant funding, and a Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation that supports student ventures and external partner engagement. The Lewis University exploratory partnership and a leadership transition (Brother Chris Englert as interim president, Ron Brandon as incoming president) indicate active strategic repositioning.

As a non-profit institution, CBU's revenue mechanics are dominated by tuition (undergraduate residential and graduate online), supplemented by endowment draw, external grants (NSF and others), donations, and auxiliary services. The shift toward online STEM graduate programs represents a diversification of revenue away from traditional residential tuition and toward working-professional, market-priced graduate offerings. ABET/ACBSP/CACREP accreditations and Lasallian affiliation provide credentialing and reputational assets that support enrolment and graduate outcomes claims.

Name

Christian Brothers University

Legal name

Christian Brothers University

Website

https://cbu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Christian Brothers University is a private Catholic university in Memphis, Tennessee, founded in the Lasallian tradition, offering undergraduate and graduate programs across engineering, business, sciences, and education, with a recent expansion into online STEM graduate degrees in AI, Cybersecurity, and Data Science.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Private university education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate business degrees
• Engineering higher education
• Catholic university programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, including full-time, part-time, and online programs. Financial aid and scholarships are awarded from this revenue base.
2. Donations and Alumni Giving: The university solicits donations from alumni, parents, and supporters. The advancement and alumni relations office manages annual giving, major gifts, and planned giving programs.
3. Grants and Research Funding: External funding from government agencies (National Science Foundation mentioned), foundations, and private organizations supporting academic research and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Christian Brothers University is a private Catholic university delivering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across the School of Business, Rosa Deal School of Arts, Gadomski School of Engineering, and School of Sciences. Programs include baccalaureate degrees, master's degrees (including MBA, MS in Data Science, MS in Cybersecurity, MS in AI, MS in Computer Information Systems), graduate certificates, and pre-health pathways, with selected graduate offerings delivered online and in hybrid formats.

Product overview

Christian Brothers University (CBU) is a Catholic institution organized into four academic schools/colleges: the School of Business (ACBSP accredited), Rosa Deal School of Arts, Gadomski School of Engineering (ABET accredited), and School of Sciences. The university offers a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate academic programs including bachelor's degrees in fields such as Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Management, Marketing, Cybersecurity, and various engineering disciplines; graduate programs including MBAs, MS in Data Science, MS in Cybersecurity, MS in AI, and MS in Computer Information Systems; and professional certificate programs. CBU also operates the McLaughlin Social Justice Institute, a Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation, and maintains the Plough Library as a student resource. The institution leverages technology platforms including Banner (student information), CashNet (billing), and LiveSafe (campus safety) to support its educational mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School of Business ACBSP-accredited school offering undergraduate BS degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Management, and Marketing, an MBA graduate program, and certificate programs in Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Project Management, Cybersecurity, and Data Science for students pursuing business education.
• Rosa Deal School of Arts School offering undergraduate and graduate programs in arts, humanities, and social sciences including Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Psychology, Religion & Philosophy, Neuroscience, and education programs, with a CACREP-accredited MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Delivered with an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
• Gadomski School of Engineering ABET-accredited engineering school offering BS degrees in Chemical, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering (134 credit hours for Electrical Engineering), plus graduate programs in Engineering Management. Equipped with the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab featuring a Brain Vision actiCHamp system.
• School of Sciences School offering BS degrees in Biology, Biomedical Science (122 credit hours), Chemistry, Nursing, Physics, and Mathematics & Computer Science, plus pre-health pathway programs in physical therapy, dentistry, and optometry. Partners with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and University of Tennessee Health Science Center for research and internship opportunities.
• Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of CBU graduates are employed or in graduate school within six to twelve months of graduation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St. Jude Children's Research HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents in the neuroscience and biomedical science programs have opportunities for research internships and collaborations at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the world's premier pediatric research centers. The partnership provides hands-on research experience for undergraduate students.
• University of Tennessee Health Science CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents engage in internships and research partnerships with UTHSC, contributing to Memphis healthcare ecosystem. The institution is part of the city's growing focus on healthcare, biomedical research, and mental health services.
• FedExminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFedEx is a major anchor employer in the Memphis metro economy recruiting business professionals from CBU. The partnership provides internship and career opportunities for business students.
• Methodist Le Bonheur HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Memphis healthcare system that anchors the regional economy and recruits business and healthcare professionals from CBU graduates. Students may have access to internships and employment.
• Lewis UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBU and Lewis University are exploring a partnership, as indicated in the About CBU navigation. Details of the potential partnership have not been disclosed.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rhodes College: Rhodes College is a private liberal arts college located in Memphis, Tennessee, directly competing with CBU for the same regional undergraduate student pool. Both institutions are small, tuition-dependent, and compete for Memphis-area high school graduates, donors, and employer partnerships in the same metro.
• Belmont University: Belmont University is a private Christian university in Nashville, Tennessee, with comparable undergraduate and graduate programs in business, sciences, and engineering-adjacent fields. It competes with CBU for Tennessee students, faculty, and online graduate enrollees, and operates a similarly tuition-driven model at comparable scale.
• Bellarmine University: Bellarmine University is a small private Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky, with comparable undergraduate programs in sciences, business, and engineering-adjacent fields, plus graduate offerings. It mirrors CBU's size, tuition model, Catholic identity, and dependence on regional recruitment.
• Loyola University Chicago: Loyola University Chicago is a private Catholic (Jesuit) comprehensive university offering undergraduate and graduate programs across business, sciences, engineering-adjacent fields, and health professions. It is a direct institutional analog to CBU at a larger scale and competes for Catholic-affiliated students nationwide.
• University of Dayton: University of Dayton is a private Catholic comprehensive university with strong engineering and business programs and a similar tuition-driven model. It is closely comparable to CBU in mission, program mix, and target student demographics.
• Creighton University: Creighton University is a private Catholic (Jesuit) university offering undergraduate and graduate programs in business, sciences, and health professions with strong healthcare partnerships. Comparable to CBU in faith-based identity and comprehensive program portfolio.
• Xavier University: Xavier University is a private Catholic (Jesuit) comprehensive university with comparable undergraduate programs in business, sciences, and arts plus graduate offerings. It shares CBU's tuition-driven model, Catholic identity, and reliance on regional recruitment supplemented by online graduate programs.

Broad incumbents

• University of Memphis: University of Memphis is the public research university located in the same metro as CBU, offering overlapping undergraduate and graduate programs at lower published tuition. It is the primary local incumbent competitor for Tennessee-resident students and employer relationships.
• Marquette University: Marquette University is a larger private Catholic (Jesuit) research university with engineering, business, and sciences programs. It competes with CBU for faith-affiliated prospective students and operates a similar differentiated Catholic brand, albeit at meaningfully larger scale.
• Saint Louis University: Saint Louis University is a private Catholic (Jesuit) research university with comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs in business, engineering, sciences, and health professions. It is a larger institutional analog to CBU and competes for Catholic-affiliated students seeking health and STEM pathways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FromCBU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCN1-Rp2ut-cmRLHZnQYcyNA?reload=9
• Facebookfacebook.com/52018474519
• Instagraminstagram.com/fromCBU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christian-brothers-university

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Christian Brothers University