


Christian Brothers University (CBU) traces its origins to 1871, when the De La Salle Christian Brothers established Christian Brothers College in Memphis. Its original purpose was to provide education shaped by the Brothers' Catholic teaching tradition. The institution later adopted the name Christian Brothers University as its academic offerings expanded beyond those of a college.
That history remains relevant to applicants: CBU is a private university with a Lasallian identity, not a public campus or a branch of another institution. Prospective students comparing older descriptions of Christian Brothers College with current university information should use the university's current catalog for degree requirements and policies.
Christian Brothers University offers undergraduate study across the arts and sciences, business, engineering, and health-related fields, along with selected graduate programs. Its academic organization includes schools associated with arts, sciences, business, and engineering; applicants should use the current catalog to confirm the school responsible for a particular major.
Examples of fields represented in institutional records include mechanical and civil engineering, computer science, biology, psychology, education, accounting, and nursing. These programs do not necessarily share the same admissions rules, clinical or laboratory requirements, or accreditation. A student interested in a regulated profession should check the specific degree pathway - not just the university's general accreditation - before enrolling. The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 9 to 1, a campus-wide measure that does not predict the size of any particular class.
Christian Brothers University is in Memphis, Tennessee, in an urban setting. Its campus is on East Parkway South, near the Midtown area, rather than in a separate college town.
Memphis offers access to employers, health-care organizations, cultural institutions, and community-service settings that may matter to students seeking internships or part-time work. Students planning to commute should account for travel time and transportation costs in their budgets. Memphis International Airport is the relevant regional airport for students traveling from farther away, although ordinary trips to campus require local transportation.
Christian Brothers University identifies its educational mission with the Lasallian Catholic tradition: academic learning, personal development, service, and concern for others, particularly people facing disadvantage. The university's stated approach connects professional preparation with ethical responsibility.
That religious affiliation describes the institution's history and educational philosophy; it should not be read as a measure of an individual student's beliefs. Applicants for whom campus religious life or faith-related requirements are important should distinguish the university's stated values from the specific requirements of their intended program and current student handbook.
Name of the institution
Christian Brothers UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Catholic (Roman Catholic Church)School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1871Christian Brothers University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.