Christian Brothers University and Purdue sign agreement to create pathways into graduate engineering programs for Memphis students

A new academic pathway aimed at graduate engineering access

Christian Brothers University (CBU) and Purdue University have entered a new partnership intended to expand graduate-level engineering opportunities for CBU students and deepen collaboration between the two institutions. The agreement, structured as a memorandum of understanding signed in February 2026, sets out plans to explore pathways that would allow qualified CBU engineering students to pursue Purdue graduate engineering programs.

The arrangement is framed as a multi-pronged collaboration: increasing graduate education options for CBU students, strengthening academic ties, and developing opportunities for joint engagement among students, faculty, and staff. The universities described the partnership as an early-stage framework that will be developed further through program design and institutional coordination.

What the memorandum of understanding covers

Under the memorandum, the universities will explore ways to connect CBU engineering students with Purdue’s graduate engineering offerings, including pathways into online graduate programs. The announcement also highlights a broader intention to expand faculty collaboration, suggesting future work may include academic coordination and shared initiatives aligned with workforce and engineering education needs.

• Creating structured pathways for CBU engineering students into Purdue graduate engineering programs
• Strengthening inter-institutional collaboration among faculty, staff, and students
• Building an ongoing relationship that could broaden academic and professional opportunities tied to engineering education

Why the partnership matters for engineering education in Memphis

CBU’s engineering identity has historically centered on undergraduate education, supported by small class sizes and accredited engineering programs. The partnership with Purdue is positioned as a way to extend that undergraduate foundation into additional graduate options without requiring CBU to independently build a full portfolio of new graduate engineering degrees.

For Memphis-area students, the pathway concept could lower barriers to entry into nationally recognized graduate engineering programs by formalizing advising, admissions alignment, and program planning between the two institutions—elements that are often fragmented when students pursue graduate study independently.

Graduate engineering options and online delivery

The announcement points to Purdue’s online graduate engineering programs as a major component of the pathway being explored. Purdue has publicly reported strong national rankings for its online engineering master’s portfolio in multiple disciplines, including engineering management and leadership and several core engineering fields. The partnership’s emphasis on online graduate pathways suggests the model may prioritize access and flexibility for students who remain in the Memphis region while pursuing advanced credentials.

The agreement outlines an intent to expand access to Purdue graduate engineering study while building broader collaboration between the two institutions.

What comes next

The memorandum establishes a framework rather than a fully implemented program, and the universities have not publicly released detailed eligibility rules, admissions guarantees, tuition arrangements, or a launch date for specific pathway structures. Next steps typically involve defining academic requirements, advising processes, and operational responsibilities needed to move from concept to enrollment-ready options.

Further announcements are expected as the universities finalize how the pathway will function in practice for CBU engineering students seeking graduate study through Purdue.