Bradley University

About Bradley University

Bradley is an independently accredited university rather than a college system, branch campus, or specialized training provider. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the university as a whole, and Bradley reports that its next institutional reaffirmation is scheduled for 2030–31. It remains active in 2026, with current admissions pages, a 2026–27 tuition schedule, and newly updated academic programs. The institution began as Bradley Polytechnic Institute in 1897, founded by Lydia Moss Bradley. It became a four-year college in 1920 and adopted the Bradley University name in 1946 as it expanded into graduate education. Today it is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Bradley's academic structure includes the Foster College of Business, Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts, College of Education and Health Sciences, Caterpillar College of Engineering and Technology, and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This creates a broader academic range than students might expect from a relatively compact private university. Professional preparation is prominent, but liberal arts and sciences remain part of the institution's stated educational approach. For prospective students, Bradley's main practical distinction is the combination of a residential undergraduate environment, professional programs, and access to graduate education on one Peoria campus. Applicants should compare the specific accreditation, clinical requirements, portfolio or audition expectations, and delivery format of their intended program rather than assuming every option follows the same academic or admissions process.

Bradley accepts first-year applications through its own application and the Common Application. As of the university's current admissions page, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with November 1 identified as the priority deadline and Early Action date. Early Action is nonbinding; Bradley also describes an Early Decision option as binding. Applicants should confirm the period they select because scholarship access and commitment terms can differ. First-year applicants submit an application, a high-school transcript, and a personal statement. A recommendation is optional. Bradley describes itself as test-free for admission and merit-scholarship review, meaning ACT and SAT scores are not required or used in the general admissions decision. This current policy should take precedence over older Bradley materials that still describe score submission. International first-year applicants who are neither US citizens nor permanent residents must demonstrate English proficiency unless they qualify for a waiver. The current page lists accepted examinations and minimum results, including IELTS Academic 6.5, Duolingo 115, and PTE Academic 56. Bradley lists different TOEFL scales depending on whether the examination was taken before or after January 21, 2026. Visa-seeking first-year applicants are advised to apply by February 1, with later files considered case by case. Transfer and graduate applicants follow separate procedures. Graduate requirements vary by program, so applicants should consult the relevant program rather than applying the undergraduate rules to advanced study.

Bradley advertises more than 100 degree programs across five colleges. Its offerings cover business; engineering and technology; education and health sciences; communications and fine arts; and the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, and computing. Current program pages also show continued curriculum development in 2026, including bachelor's programs in artificial intelligence and data science. The university awards several forms of bachelor's degree, including arts, science, fine arts, music, nursing, construction, and discipline-specific engineering degrees. Graduate study includes master's degrees and professional doctorates in fields such as education, nursing practice, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Bradley reports more than 60 master's, doctoral, and certificate options, including campus-based and online study. Students should verify whether a graduate program is designed for initial professional preparation, advanced practice, research, or working professionals. Experiential education is embedded in Bradley's academic model. The university's 2024–25 first-destination report defines eligible experiences broadly, including internships and co-ops, practica, faculty-led research, capstones, service learning, and study abroad. It reports that 99% of that year's baccalaureate graduates completed an experiential activity, while 32% registered an internship for academic credit. Those measures are not interchangeable: the larger figure includes several forms of applied learning beyond internships. Selected majors also have three-year pathways using summer and January-term study. This can reduce time on campus, but the year-round pace may affect internship, employment, and study-abroad plans. Students should review the exact curriculum sequence and additional summer charges before choosing an accelerated route.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1897 and known as Bradley University since 1946
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees
• Organized around five principal academic colleges

Student Life & Environment

Bradley's campus-life page lists more than 200 student organizations, alongside fraternity and sorority life, service opportunities, recreation, health and wellness support, and NCAA athletics. This gives students multiple ways to participate, but the experience will depend on which organizations remain active and how frequently they meet; applicants should check the current involvement directory when visiting. Housing is a central part of the early undergraduate experience. University policy generally requires full-time first- and second-year students to live in residence halls. Published exceptions include qualifying age, veteran status, living with immediate relatives within 40 miles, and documented medical circumstances that cannot be accommodated. Approved fraternity or sorority housing may also apply for some second-year students. Bradley provides residence halls, a university apartment complex, and St. James Apartments, with different eligibility and living arrangements. Residential options include living-learning communities and gender-inclusive housing. Dining, counseling and wellness services, campus recreation, student engagement, and career support are organized through university offices. Students comparing rooms should review current building status carefully: Bradley announced in July 2026 that Harper Hall would undergo a major renovation expected to conclude in fall 2028 and that Wyckoff Hall would be taken offline. Housing availability and assignments may therefore change during the project.

Location & Surroundings

Bradley's primary campus is in Peoria, Illinois, at 1501 West Bradley Avenue. Peoria is a midsize city in central Illinois, so the setting differs from both a rural college town and a major metropolitan campus. The university describes the city as offering music, dining, shops, gardens, festivals, arts, and entertainment. Students can also pursue internships, practica, research, and service work with regional businesses, schools, health organizations, and nonprofits. Bradley estimates that Peoria is about three hours by road from Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. Interstate 74 provides the main regional road connection. General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport serves the area, though students should check current routes and schedules rather than relying on the destinations shown on an undated campus page. The campus address places students near established residential and commercial areas rather than in downtown Peoria. Prospective students should visit both the campus and surrounding neighborhoods, considering whether they will need a car for clinical placements, internships, shopping, or travel beyond university services.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–27, Bradley publishes undergraduate tuition of $43,718 for 12–16 credits per semester across the academic year, required university fees of $1,010, and standard room and board of $14,330. These direct charges total $59,058. The university's full on-campus cost-of-attendance estimate for a double room is $63,278 after adding books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and estimated loan fees. Course fees and charges for enrollment above 16 credits may add to the bill. These are sticker-price estimates, not the amount every student pays. Applicants should review Bradley scholarships and need-based aid, file required financial-aid forms, and compare the resulting net cost with other institutions. Housing choice changes the estimate: the published 2026–27 on-campus total is higher for a single room, while living off campus or with parents uses different living and transportation allowances. Career results should be read with their methodology. Bradley's 2024–25 first-destination study reports that 94% of baccalaureate graduates with known outcomes were employed or continuing education. The knowledge rate was 86%, representing information on 776 of 901 graduates; 74% were employed, 20% continued education, and 6% were still seeking. Results varied by college, and salary reporting was incomplete, so the university's salary ranges should not be treated as typical earnings. The Smith Career Center supports internships, job searches, résumés, interviews, networking, and career planning. Bradley reported that 94% of the 2024–25 baccalaureate graduates used its services, while 393 employers hired graduates from that class across 31 states and five countries.