Bradley University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Muncie, Illinois · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Bradley University is a public institution located in Muncie, Illinois with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Bradley University admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 72%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1172 and an ACT composite around 24. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,898 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Bradley University is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for Bradley University?
Bradley University admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does Bradley University weight in admissions?
Bradley University reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Interview
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
- • Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Bradley University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 530–620, with an EBRW midpoint near 560. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–30. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1090 |
| 50th percentile | 1170 |
| 75th percentile | 1240 |
| % submitting SAT | 31% |
| 25th percentile | 23 |
| 50th percentile | 26 |
| 75th percentile | 27 |
| % submitting ACT | 1% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does Bradley University actually cost?
Published tuition is $10,758 for in-state students and $28,766 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,064 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $15,898 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 34% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $8,948 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $27,496 |
| Room and board | $12,832 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $15,898 |
| Application fee | $60 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Bradley University
| Regular deadline | Two weeks before start of semester |
| Reply deadline | Start of semester |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Bradley University?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Illinois parents ask about
- University of Chicago7% acceptance
- Northwestern University5% acceptance
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign44% acceptance
- University of Illinois Chicago70% acceptance
- DePaul University55% acceptance
- Loyola University Chicago93% acceptance
- Illinois State University89% acceptance
- Southern Illinois University-Carbondale90% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Bradley University
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Bradley University recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about Bradley University
What GPA do I need for Bradley University?
Bradley University admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does Bradley University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 530–620, with an EBRW midpoint near 560. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–30.
How much does Bradley University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Bradley University after grants and scholarships is $15,898 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is Bradley University realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Bradley University is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Bradley University, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.