Bradley University
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Why Bradley University Matters
Bradley University is a private doctoral / professional university in Peoria, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 9% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 3,574
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Engineering, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Bradley University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,719 a year after grants and scholarships — 33% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $66,852 ten years after enrolling — 64% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 67% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.70 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Bradley University has a graduation rate of 74%, indicating that a majority of students successfully complete their degrees. This is a solid sign of student satisfaction and institutional support. With an acceptance rate of 77%, the university is accessible to a wide range of applicants, making it a viable option for many students.
The earnings potential for Bradley graduates is notable, with a median income of $66,852 ten years after graduation. This figure suggests that students can expect a strong return on their investment. While data on mobility and economic connectedness is not provided, the earning potential points to a positive trajectory for many graduates, particularly in fields like engineering, health professions, and business.
The net price of attending Bradley University is $22,719, and the median debt for graduates stands at $27,000. These figures suggest a manageable financial commitment for many students. Those who thrive here often have a strong interest in practical fields like engineering or business, where job placement and salary potential are typically higher.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Bradley University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bradley University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Peoria, Illinois, Bradley University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 27. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 74%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bradley University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Bradley University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $42,160 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,719 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,269 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bradley University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bradley University earn a median of $66,852, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Bradley Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Bradley University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bradley University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.17%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 2.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 40.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $112,900, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Bradley University produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 17% nationally), with 128 patents tied to its graduates.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Bradley University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bradley University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bradley University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a private institution in Peoria, Illinois, Bradley University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 27. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 74%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bradley University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Bradley University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $42,160 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,719 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,269 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
Is Bradley University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Bradley University earn a median of $66,852, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Bradley University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Bradley University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 1.17%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower — only about 2.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 40.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $112,900, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Bradley University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Bradley University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.70 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bradley University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bradley University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Bradley University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.70 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.