Bradley University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Peoria, Illinois · Private nonprofit · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-optional
- 9,459
- Applicants
- 7,260
- Admitted77%
- 811
- Enrolled
- 11%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access77% admittedRanked #169 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #230 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #44 (tie), Computer Science #350 (tie), Nursing #457 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Bradley University (see the source), read on 2026-06-14.
Is Bradley University a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Bradley University against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Bradley University is a private nonprofit university in Peoria, Illinois that admits about 77% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $22,719 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication and Psychology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 74% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Bradley University is a private institution located in Peoria, Illinois. For the most recent reporting cycle, Bradley University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 77%. Admitted students typically post an ACT composite around 27. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,719 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Bradley University?
54% of enrolled students at Bradley University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.77, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
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What does Bradley University weight in admissions?
Bradley University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
1- Class rank
Considered
11- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered
4- Standardized test scores
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Bradley University typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
| 25th percentile | 1030 |
| 50th percentile | n/a |
| 75th percentile | 1240 |
| % submitting SAT | 20% |
| 25th percentile | 24 |
| 50th percentile | 27 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | 5% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional since fall 2021; SAT or ACT considered if provided.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Bradley University's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 23% |
| Top 25% of class | 47% |
| Top 50% of class | 76% |
| % submitting class rank | 34.25% |
How much does Bradley University actually cost?
Published tuition is $42,160 for in-state students and $42,160 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,500 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,719 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 32% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $41,210 |
| Room and board | $13,500 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $22,719 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 83% |
| Average need-based grant | $31,216 |
| Average merit award, no financial need173 first-year students received one | $22,360 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 69% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $35,728 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $0 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Bradley University
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from Bradley University?
These predict outcomes at Bradley University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Bradley University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Bradley University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication and Psychology, General. Across all programs, Bradley University confers roughly 460 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $78,827 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 79 | $78,827 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 65 | $56,266 |
| Psychology, General | 64 | $58,439 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 56 | $90,408 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 53 | $61,758 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 51 | $44,997 |
| Computer Science | 48 | $88,943 |
| Marketing | 44 | $72,856 |
Is Bradley University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Bradley University disclosed 14 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Bradley University?
About 65% of undergraduates at Bradley University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 28% of men join a fraternity and 17% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Illinois parents ask about
Next steps for Bradley University
Common questions parents ask about Bradley University
What GPA do I need for Bradley University?
54% of enrolled students at Bradley University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.77, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Bradley University typically admit?
Bradley University does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does Bradley University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Bradley University after grants and scholarships is $22,719 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $42,160. Budget against the net figure.
Is Bradley University realistic for my child?
Bradley University admits 77% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $22,719 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Bradley University?
Bradley University accepts about 77% of applicants out of roughly 9,459 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Bradley University test-optional?
Yes. Bradley University is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Bradley University?
About 74% of students at Bradley University graduate within six years, and 59% finish in four years. 82% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Bradley University look for in applicants?
Bradley University rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Bradley University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Bradley University is a private nonprofit institution located in Peoria, Illinois.
What are the most popular majors at Bradley University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Bradley University by annual graduates are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication and Psychology, General. The school awards about 460 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Bradley University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Bradley University reported 14 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Bradley University?
At Bradley University, 65% of undergraduates live on campus, 28% of men are in fraternities, 17% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Bradley University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers