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Bradley University
Most applicants get into Bradley University — 76.8% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Bradley University sits in Peoria proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $107,379 four years out. Faculty pay averages $112,908 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 3,574 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 82.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1090 and 1300 — above the IL middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Bradley University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Bradley University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1090–1300 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Bradley University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 550 | 600 | 650 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 600 | 650 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 29 | 31 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Bradley University received 10,138 applications and admitted 7,772 (76.7%), with 833 enrolling.
How Bradley University compares
| Bradley University | Illinois median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 76.8% | 77% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $42,160 | $31,360 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $66,852 | $58,572 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Bradley University student earns $66,852 — 14% above the Illinois median of $58,572 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Bradley University lists tuition at $42,160 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Bradley University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $42,160 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Bradley University enrolls 3,574 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Bradley University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
76.2% of Bradley University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 21.3 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $42,160 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Bradley University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $107,379 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $100,391 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,896 |
| Industrial Engineering | $89,362 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $88,690 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $86,941 |
| Civil Engineering | $83,801 |
| Construction Engineering | $82,309 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $80,877 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $77,976 |
| Marketing | $76,255 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $74,883 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $73,110 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $67,735 |
| Psychology, General | $64,378 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $60,888 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,636 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $58,515 |
| Political Science and Government | $57,832 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services | $56,489 |
| Social Work | $53,715 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $48,325 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $46,460 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $42,006 |
| Graphic Communications | $37,657 |
Median earnings for these 25 Bradley University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $66,852 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 56 additional Bradley University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Bradley University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1090–1300 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 76.8% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Bradley University's acceptance rate?
76.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 7,772 admitted from 10,138 applicants.
How much does Bradley University cost?
At Bradley University, published tuition is $42,160 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Bradley University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Bradley University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $66,852 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Illinois
- Blackburn College — 63.2% admitted
- Aurora University — 80.8% admitted
- Augustana College — 62.7% admitted
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago — 77.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.