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Bradley University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 74/100

Bradley University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Peoria, Illinois

About Bradley University

Bradley University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Peoria, Illinois. It enrolls 3,574 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: bradley.edu

Acceptance: 76.8%
Graduation: 72.8%
Net Price: $22,719
Median Earnings (10yr): $66,852
Enrollment: 3,574
Student : Faculty: 11:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

74/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 79

Value 59

Affordability 42

Selectivity 62

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 76.8%, Bradley University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

76.8%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Bradley University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 6.5 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Bradley University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,719 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$22,719

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

32%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

63%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $42,160
Room & Board (on-campus): $13,500
Room & Board (off-campus): $11,692
Books & Supplies: $1,300
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,684
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,684
Total Cost of Attendance: $54,730

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$17,269
$30,001 – $48,000

$16,539
$48,001 – $75,000

$18,609
$75,001 – $110,000

$22,954
Over $110,000

$30,008

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,500

10% percentile

$12,000

25% percentile

$27,000

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$32,500

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $25,000 ↓ $2,000

No Pell $22,064 ↓ $4,936

Dependent students $23,250 ↓ $3,750

Independent students $23,000 ↓ $4,000

Female students $24,250 ↓ $2,750

Male students $22,500 ↓ $4,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

73% of full-time students who enrolled at Bradley University graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

73%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

84%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Bradley University earn a median of $66,852 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$66,852

Earning > $25K

87%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$50,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$68,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$51,500

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$58,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$60,000

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $18,300, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 8.7 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Bradley University is home to 3,574 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

3,574

Part-Time

First-Generation

24%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 59.5% 2,125

Hispanic 14.9% 531

Black 12.3% 438

Asian 4.6% 163

Other 2.5% 91

International 2.3% 83

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Bradley University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Peoria, Illinois

Housing

Mostly residential 2,007 beds on campus

Adult Learners

2% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Bradley University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 89 distinct programs across 24 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

11 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Mental Health Services $52K ($38K–$69K)

12 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)

15 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

5 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
IT Administration $85K ($59K–$118K)

7 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Arts Therapy $48K ($32K–$65K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)

3 Programs

Communication

Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)
Journalism $56K ($41K–$74K)

3 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Bradley University is 11:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

11:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$510M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$85,669

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

341 instructional faculty across 6 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	79	23%	$111,231
Associate Professors	84	25%	$85,547
Assistant Professors	139	41%	$76,432
Instructors	26	8%	$69,403
Lecturers	11	3%	$59,231
No Rank	2	1%	$79,969

Pros & Cons of Bradley University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Bradley University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price

Best for: Based on the data, Bradley University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bradley University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Bradley University.

Is Bradley University hard to get into?

Bradley University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76.8%.

What is the acceptance rate at Bradley University?

Bradley University has an acceptance rate of 76.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Bradley University cost?

The average net price after aid at Bradley University is $22,719 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Bradley University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $66,852 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,719 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Bradley University known for?

Bradley University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Computer Science, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Bradley University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Bradley University are $66,852, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Bradley University accredited?

Yes. Bradley University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Bradley University?

Bradley University enrolls 3,574 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Bradley University?

Bradley University graduates 73% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Bradley University a public or private college?

Bradley University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Bradley University located?

Bradley University is located in Peoria, Illinois.

What programs does Bradley University offer?

Bradley University offers 89 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Computer Science, Nursing.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Bradley University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Bradley University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.