CBU vs. Vanderbilt

Deciding between Christian Brothers University and Vanderbilt University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Vanderbilt University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CBU Memphis, TN
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • CBU Large City
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • CBU 1,772
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Type
  • CBU Private 4 Year
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CBU #525
  • Vanderbilt #16
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CBU Roman Catholic
  • Vanderbilt -
  • Status
  • CBU Non-profit
  • Vanderbilt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CBU
  • Vanderbilt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CBU $38,420
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CBU $38,420
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Room & Board
  • CBU $11,055
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Average Net Price
  • CBU $16,754
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CBU $31,234
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CBU 100%
  • Vanderbilt 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CBU 1,504
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Admitted
  • CBU 1,304
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CBU 86.7%
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Enrolled
  • CBU 13.4%
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CBU 1200
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • CBU 21
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • CBU 3.67
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CBU A-
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Admissions Standards
  • CBU Average
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • CBU
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • CBU 19/24
  • Vanderbilt 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • CBU 1020/1380
  • Vanderbilt 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CBU Test optional
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CBU
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CBU 9:1
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CBU
    • Business (39%)
    • Psychology (18%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CBU 52%
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CBU $50,600
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CBU 53%
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CBU $27,000
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CBU $279
  • Vanderbilt $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CBU 48%
  • Vanderbilt 44%
  • % Women
  • CBU 52%
  • Vanderbilt 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CBU High
  • Vanderbilt High
  • HBCU
  • CBU No
  • Vanderbilt No
  • % White
  • CBU 43%
  • Vanderbilt 55%
  • % Asian
  • CBU 5%
  • Vanderbilt 12%
  • % Black
  • CBU 29%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • CBU 6%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Native American
  • CBU 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CBU 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CBU 3%
  • Vanderbilt 5%
  • % International
  • CBU 7%
  • Vanderbilt 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CBU 6%
  • Vanderbilt 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CBU 66%
  • Vanderbilt 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CBU 26%
  • Vanderbilt 73%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CBU Yes
  • Vanderbilt Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CBU No
  • Vanderbilt No
  • Meal Plan
  • CBU Yes
  • Vanderbilt Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CBU Yes
  • Vanderbilt Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CBU No
  • Vanderbilt Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Vanderbilt University is larger than CBU based on total student enrollment (13,575 students vs. 1,772 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Christian Brothers University is located in Memphis, TN (Large City setting); Vanderbilt University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Christian Brothers University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vanderbilt University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Christian Brothers University 9:1; Vanderbilt University 8:1.

CBU vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CBU or Vanderbilt? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Christian Brothers University than Vanderbilt ($16,754 vs. $25,186).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Christian Brothers University are 49.9% lower than at Vanderbilt University ($11,055 vs. $22,054).
  • Vanderbilt University is 75.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CBU (about $29,078 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $38,420.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 75.7% higher at Vanderbilt than at Christian Brothers University (about $29,078 more per year; $67,498.00 vs. $38,420.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Christian Brothers University than at Vanderbilt University (100% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 106.2% larger than aid received by Christian Brothers University students ($64,404 vs. $31,234).

CBU vs. Vanderbilt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CBU or Vanderbilt? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Vanderbilt and CBU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vanderbilt University (1540) is 340 points higher than at CBU (1200).
  • Incoming Vanderbilt students have a 13 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 21 at CBU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Christian Brothers University 1020/1380; Vanderbilt University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Christian Brothers University 19/24; Vanderbilt University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CBU - Test optional; Vanderbilt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vanderbilt students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at CBU (3.67).
  • CBU has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than Vanderbilt (5.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at CBU vs. 61.2% at Vanderbilt.

CBU vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CBU and Vanderbilt? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Vanderbilt University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Christian Brothers University's (52%).
  • Graduates from Vanderbilt University earn a median of about $32,500 more per year than CBU graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vanderbilt University graduates have a $13,000 lower median loan debt than CBU graduates ($14,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vanderbilt graduates have an estimated $135 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CBU graduates ($144 vs. $279).
  • More Vanderbilt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CBU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.