Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Memphis, Tennessee
88.4% Acceptance Rate
Christian Brothers University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
88.4%Acceptance Rate
3.67Avg GPA
1069Avg SAT
21Avg ACT
$45,919Annual Cost
$57,478Grad Salary
30.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
88.4%
Avg GPA
3.67
Avg SAT
1069
Avg ACT
21
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1040–1300
ACT Middle 50%
18–23
Need-Based Aid
30.6% receive Pell
Christian Brothers University is a private, Catholic, Lasallian institution in Memphis that emphasizes academic rigor, service, and professional mentorship. Admissions are holistic, evaluating academic potential against a student's capacity for service and community engagement. The university seeks students who are looking for a supportive environment where faculty mentorship and experiential learning are central to the academic experience.
Applicants should highlight any history of volunteering or active community participation, as the university's mission is deeply rooted in service. Demonstrating a balance between academic achievement and ethical leadership is key. A strong application includes evidence of self-motivation and a clear desire to contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven campus community.
Christian Brothers University Acceptance Rate
Christian Brothers University (CBU) maintains an inclusive admission policy. With an acceptance rate of 88.4%, the institution prioritizes accessibility and opportunity for all qualified students.
Admissions Guidelines
- Inclusive Enrollment: Emphasis is placed on meeting basic eligibility and high school completion.
- Launchpad Policy: Ideal for students looking to build a GPA for future transfer or career certification.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 88.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.67 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.47 – 3.66
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.22
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Christian Brothers University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Christian Brothers University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
CBU reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
CBU GPA Requirement
The average GPA of the admitted students at CBU is 3.67. CBU is highly selective.
Mostly A's with a few B's will keep you competitive. Taking AP/IB courses related to your field will improve your chances.
Note: This is an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students with AP or IB courses will typically have a weighted GPA of 3.87-4.07 for this same academic profile.If your GPA is between 3.37 and 3.67, a strong SAT or ACT score is recommended.
CBU GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Admissions at CBU utilize a Holistic Review process. With an average admitted GPA of 3.67, the following table illustrates how your specific academic profile aligns with institutional expectations.
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.67 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.47 – 3.66
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.27 – 3.46
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.26
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Expert Insight: 2026 Evaluation Metrics
- CBU was on SACSCOC "Probation for Good Cause" for financial responsibility from December 2023 to December 2025; it was fully removed from probation on December 9, 2025 and remained accredited and Title IV-eligible the entire time
- No application fee for undergraduates; SAT/ACT is test-optional for admission but required to qualify for any merit scholarship tier
- The Trustee Scholarship (top merit award) requires a 3.6+ GPA, 26+ ACT/1760+ SAT, an essay, and in-person attendance at Trustee Scholarship Interview Day
- The engineering-specific merit scholarship requires a minimum ACT Math subscore of 23, separate from and in addition to the composite score requirement
- The Rigor Metric: At CBU, a slightly lower GPA (e.g., 3.8) in a transcript featuring multiple AP or IB courses is often prioritized over a 4.0 in a standard curriculum.
- The Upward Trend: If your early high school grades were lower, an upward trajectory in 11th and 12th grade demonstrates Academic Resilience.
Data Source: Verified via IPEDS and latest Common Data Set (CDS). Reviewed by our academic board led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at CBU
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Christian Brothers University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Christian Brothers University (CBU) Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into CBU Without SAT or ACT?
Christian Brothers University considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 2 to 3 times to improve their scores.
Christian Brothers University Average SAT Score: 1069
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Christian Brothers University is 1069 on the 1600 SAT scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1069 — Accessible
This score makes it an easy target for SAT test scores. You need to put average efforts to score 1069 on the SAT.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1300 SAT or 23 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. Christian Brothers University allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 1040, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at CBU. Retaking the test multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants take the SAT two or three times to achieve their best score. There is no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 580 | 500 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 590 | 540 | 640 |
| SAT Composite | 1069 | 1040 | 1300 |
It means that if you have scored less than 1040 then you are below most of the admitted students at CBU and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1300 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students.
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into Christian Brothers University (CBU) with a 1300 SAT?
With a 1300 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Christian Brothers University (CBU) are good but the admission staff at CBU tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
Christian Brothers University (CBU) ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at CBU is 21.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 21 — Less Competitive
This score makes Christian Brothers University less competitive for ACT scores. You need to put average efforts to score 21 on the ACT.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 20 | 17 | 23 |
| ACT English | 21 | 18 | 24 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 18 | 23 |
Can I get into Christian Brothers University with a 23 ACT?
A 23 ACT places you at the 75th percentile of admitted students at Christian Brothers University — meaning you score higher than 75% of students who were accepted. This is a strong position, but the ACT is just one dimension of your application. Admissions officers at Christian Brothers University use the ACT as a benchmark to validate your academic readiness, not as a standalone admission ticket.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT measures four distinct subject areas — English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science — each scored on a 1–36 scale. If one of your section scores is significantly lower than the others, admissions staff will notice the imbalance. For example, a weak ACT Science score at a STEM-focused institution carries more weight than the same weakness at a liberal arts college. It is worth reviewing your section-level scores and addressing any outliers before applying.
One important advantage the ACT has over the SAT is that Christian Brothers University — like most US universities — accepts Superscoring for the ACT, meaning they take your highest section scores across multiple test attempts and combine them into a new composite. If you have taken the ACT more than once, confirm whether Christian Brothers University uses Superscoring, as this could meaningfully improve your effective composite beyond what any single sitting shows.
Beyond your score, what ultimately determines admission at this level is the strength of your overall profile. Your unweighted GPA, course rigor (AP, IB, or dual enrollment), extracurricular depth, letters of recommendation, and personal essays all carry significant weight. A 23 ACT gets your application through the first filter — but your essays and activities are what move it forward from there.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for CBU
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
CBU is accessible to students who show core competency. The focus should be on proving readiness for college-level work and securing financial aid.
Treat Trustee Scholarship Interview Day as a real audition
CBU's top merit award (Trustee Scholarship) requires a 3.6+ GPA and a 26+ ACT (or 1760+ SAT), but clearing those numbers only earns you an invitation - you still have to submit an essay and attend an in-person Trustee Scholarship Interview Day to actually win it. Prepare for this like a real interview tied to CBU's Lasallian mission (teaching as ministry, service, community), not a formality, since candidates who show up unprepared lose the scholarship to those who treat the day as the deciding round it actually is.
Chase the ACT Math subscore, not just the composite, for engineering
CBU's engineering-specific merit scholarship requires a minimum ACT composite of 23 with a minimum ACT Math subscore of 23 - a separate, easy-to-miss threshold. A student with a strong overall composite but a weaker Math subscore can be quietly disqualified from this specific award. If you're set on engineering, check your Math subscore specifically and consider a retake focused on that section if it's lagging behind your composite.
Verify your specific major is stable before enrolling
During its 2023 financial restructuring, CBU eliminated several majors including English, history, ecology, and engineering physics, and has announced further faculty reductions targeting a 12:1 faculty-to-student ratio. Before committing, ask your admissions counselor directly whether your intended major is on stable footing or under future review - this matters more for smaller liberal-arts and humanities programs than for CBU's flagship engineering and business tracks, which have been explicitly protected through the restructuring.
Submit test scores even though they're optional
CBU doesn't require SAT/ACT for admission, but every merit scholarship tier - including the Trustee and engineering-specific awards - requires them. Students who skip testing because "it's optional" are opting out of scholarship money, not just a soft admissions factor. If your scores are reasonably competitive, submit them regardless of whether you'd bother at a strictly test-optional peer school.
Expert Insight:
A common and understandable worry is families reading about CBU's 2023-2025 SACSCOC probation and financial exigency and assuming the university is unstable or its degrees are at risk - in fact CBU was fully removed from probation on December 9, 2025 and remained accredited and federally recognized for financial aid throughout. The real thing to watch isn't accreditation; it's whether your specific intended major sits in a program area CBU has been actively downsizing.
CBU Profile
Full Name
Christian Brothers University (CBU)
City
Memphis
State
Tennessee
ZIP Code
38104
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a CBU Degree Worth It?
Getting into CBU can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. CBU offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at CBU is $61,200 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.82%.
How much does a degree from CBU Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Christian Brothers University is $45,919. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Christian Brothers University is much less than this.
30.6% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 31.2 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to CBU and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Christian Brothers University, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist CBU as your choice in the form.
How much does a CBU Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $57,478. An average CBU graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Christian Brothers University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, CT | 1044 | 24 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville, FL | 1045 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Christian Brothers University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | 1077 | 22 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, FL | 1068 | 19 |
| Point University | West Point, GA | 1059 | 19 |
| Piedmont University | Demorest, GA | 1074 | 21 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Christian Brothers University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
Degree Programs at CBU
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About CBU Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a moderate salary, $57,478 annually, with some fluctuation based on the field.
The tuition fee at this university is moderate, around $45,919 per year. Many students seek financial aid and scholarships to manage the cost.
30.6% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
The acceptance rate of Christian Brothers University is 88.4% which is relatively high, above 20%, making it somewhat easier to gain admission compared to other top-tier universities.
The average GPA of admitted students is 3.67. This reflects the competitive academic profile expected from applicants.
While there is no single cutoff that guarantees a rejection, admission staff uses your GPA to determine if you are a best fit. If you have at least a 3.37, you are in the standard pool. If you are below a 3.37, we need to focus on your personal essay and letters of recommendation to explain the context behind your grades.
If your GPA is 3.27 or less, it may make admission difficult. However, your chances may improve if you have strong test scores, extracurricular activities, and essays. But this does not mean that you must not apply, or you do not have any chances. With additional AP courses, you can increase your chances even with this GPA.
While the average GPA of admitted students is 3.67, applicants with lower GPAs can still be considered if they have strong test scores, extracurriculars, and compelling personal essays that demonstrate resilience and potential.
Admission to Christian Brothers University is based on SAT, and a strong SAT score is essential. Aim for scores above 1069 for the best chances, although the overall application strength also matters. Your SAT must be in the range of 1040–1300.
The scholarship priority deadline is February 1, 2026. Submit your FAFSA before this date for maximum aid consideration.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.
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