National university
#11 Best colleges in IllinoisBradley University
Peoria, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $22,719 a year
Median debt at graduation: $27,000 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#117 of 1,046
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#249 of 1,829
- Best colleges for social work in America#97 of 605
- Best colleges for nursing in America#190 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#204 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#164 of 834
Show 8 more
- Best colleges for business in America#311 of 1,563
- Best colleges for education in America#264 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#263 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#169 of 744
- Best colleges for psychology in America#328 of 1,418
- Best colleges in America#432 of 1,829
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#328 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#310 of 1,283
In Illinois
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Illinois#2 of 36
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Illinois#6 of 57
- Best colleges for nursing in Illinois#4 of 33
- Best colleges for accounting in Illinois#5 of 41
- Best colleges for marketing in Illinois#5 of 35
- Best colleges for education in Illinois#9 of 49
Show 18 more
- Best colleges for social work in Illinois#4 of 21
- Best colleges for business in Illinois#10 of 52
- Best colleges in Illinois#11 of 57
- Best test-optional colleges in Illinois#11 of 56
- Best colleges for English in Illinois#10 of 49
- Best colleges for finance in Illinois#6 of 29
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Illinois#10 of 48
- Best colleges for art and design in Illinois#10 of 47
- Best colleges for mathematics in Illinois#10 of 47
- Best colleges for music in Illinois#10 of 46
- Best colleges for history in Illinois#10 of 45
- Best colleges for psychology in Illinois#11 of 49
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Illinois#11 of 48
- Best colleges for chemistry in Illinois#11 of 46
- Best mid-size colleges in Illinois#6 of 24
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Illinois#11 of 44
- Best colleges for computer science in Illinois#10 of 39
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Illinois#4 of 13
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.76%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.83%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.11 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$17,531
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $54,730 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,883 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 49% · Women 51% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 24% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 13% |
| Total students | 5,217 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $22,719 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $54,730 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 76% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 69% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 69% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 77% |
| First-year retention | 83% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $66,852 |
| Admission rate | 77% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | No application fee |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $818 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 32% |
Value: Good · Top 47% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Industrial Engineering | |
| Manufacturing Engineering | |
| Nursing | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Construction Engineering | |
| Accounting | |
| Finance | |
| Marketing | |
| Management information systems | |
| Business administration | |
| Other health professions and related clinical sciences | |
| Psychology | |
| Design | |
| Criminal justice | |
| Public relations | |
| Political science | |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services | |
| Social work | |
| Secondary education | |
| Teacher education | |
| Broadcasting | |
| Graphic communications |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Apparel and Textiles, Area studies, Arts management, Biochemistry, Biology, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Chemistry, Clinical laboratory science, Communication studies, Computer engineering, Construction Management, Data Analytics, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Economics, Engineering (general), Engineering Physics, English, Entrepreneurship, Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Family and human development, Film and video, Fine arts, Foods, Nutrition,, General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations, General studies, German, Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities, History, Hospitality management, Human resources, Industrial technology, Information science, Information technology, International business, International relations, Journalism, Liberal arts, Literature, Management science, Managerial economics, Mathematics, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Philosophy, Physics, Physiology and pathology, Public health, Religious studies, Romance languages, Sociology, Special education, Statistics, Telecommunications Management, Theatre, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Engineering | |
| Health professions | |
| Business | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Communication |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 2% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 2% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $13,500 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Missouri Valley Conference |
| ROTC | Army |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 11 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 11%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 55%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $75,018IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 52% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA)About 5 miles away · about 10 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)About 123 miles away |
| Town population | 112,169Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | ChicagoAbout 128 miles away · about 3 hours 10 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 26°F in January · 76°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Peoria Gtr Peoria Airport, IL, about 4 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.31 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.10 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.00 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.31 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.31 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Bradley University’s Compass Score?
- Very good (grade B+). It ranks in the top 24% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Bradley University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $22,719 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Bradley University?
- Bradley University admitted 77% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Bradley University’s graduates do?
- 76% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $66,852; the median federal debt at graduation is $27,000.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 143358
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/professional university
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Report an error or a newer source
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