Christian Brothers University welcomed 253 students in its Fall 2026 entering class, an increase of nearly 26% over last year’s 201 — bringing new faces, new aspirations, and renewed energy to campus.
The incoming group includes 166 first-time freshmen, up from 135 in Fall 2025, an increase of approximately 21%. Transfer and returning students are also a part of this year’s entering class, bringing their experiences and academic ambitions to the CBU community.
A community with local roots and global connections
The new class joins an undergraduate community that spans Tennessee, the country, and the world.
This fall, CBU’s undergraduate students represent 28 states, including Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, California, and Oklahoma. Tennessee remains at the heart of that community: 58.5% of U.S. undergraduate students come from the state.
CBU also enrolls 104 international undergraduate students from 42 countries, including Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Mexico, South Africa, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Canada. Across the University’s Fall 2026 undergraduate population, 51% are male, and 49% are female.
These students bring a range of backgrounds and perspectives to the classrooms and campus spaces they share.
Access remains an important part of CBU’s mission. Federal Pell Grant assistance supports 37.4% of full-time undergraduate students, helping make a college education possible for students with financial need.
Earning recognition
The entering class arrives as CBU earns recognition in three national college rankings.
TIME ranked CBU No. 2 in Tennessee and No. 196 nationally on its firstAmerica’s Best Colleges of 2026–2027 list. CBU was one of eight Tennessee institutions included in the ranking, which emphasizes student outcomes.
In the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, CBU ranked No. 22 among Top Private Colleges in the South. The University also placed No. 44 among Regional Universities in the South and No. 12 among Best Value Schools in the South.
Forbes included CBU on its America’s Top Colleges list for 2026–27, marking the University’s second consecutive appearance among the nation’s top 500 colleges. Only 10 Tennessee institutions earned a place on the list.
These distinctions add to a year of encouraging momentum, bringing more attention to CBU’s educational value and student experience.
Building toward the future
CBU is also strengthening relationships with regional high schools, expanding dual-enrollment pathways, connecting with adult learners, and broadening online outreach.
Recent philanthropic support offers another sign of trust and confidence in CBU’s future. Bob and Paula McEniry’s $6.2 million gift will strengthen the University’s business school, while an anonymous $5 million gift will help launch programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aviation and allied health. These investments support CBU’s plans to expand opportunities for students and respond to the region’s workforce needs.
Academic partnerships are also opening doors. CBU’s partnerships with Purdue University and the University of Dallas create 4+1 pathways that allow qualified CBU undergraduates to begin graduate-level coursework while completing their bachelor’s degrees. Through its course-sharing partnership with Lewis University, a fellow Catholic and Lasallian institution, CBU also offers students access to additional online courses.
This fall’s enrollment gains, generosity and partnerships support President Ronald L. Brandon’s vision of building upon CBU’s legacy. There is more work ahead, but the support of the community — and the 253 entering students now shaping CBU’s next chapter — allows the university to move ahead with confidence.
