Students at Bradley University achieve earnings that place the institution among the top performers nationally, with graduates consistently securing well-paying positions across multiple professional fields.
The university's combination of strong career preparation and alumni networks helps students translate their education into meaningful long-term financial success.
Bradley University ranks among the top private institutions nationally for long-term earnings outcomes, with graduates achieving a median income of $66,852 ten years after enrollment. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this mid-sized private university combines the personalized attention of a smaller institution with the career preparation and alumni networks typically found at much larger schools. Bradley serves a moderately selective student body, with about 29% of students receiving Pell Grants and 24% being first-generation college students.
What distinguishes Bradley is its consistent ability to prepare students for well-paying careers across multiple fields. The university's engineering programs, nursing school, and business offerings create pathways into stable, high-demand professions where starting salaries and career growth potential remain strong. Bradley graduates enter the workforce with practical skills and professional networks that translate directly into earning power, placing the institution in the top tier nationally for return on investment.
As a "Selective Achievers" institution, Bradley demonstrates how a private university can balance academic quality with meaningful economic outcomes. While access is somewhat limited compared to large public universities, students who enroll benefit from small class sizes, dedicated faculty mentorship, and career services that help translate a Bradley education into long-term financial success.
Bradley University's program portfolio reflects a strategic focus on professional fields that lead directly to stable, well-paying careers. Adult Health Nursing emerges as the standout program, combining substantial enrollment of 89 graduates with strong median earnings of $62,165, creating the highest aggregate economic return across the university. This program exemplifies Bradley's strength in health sciences, where graduates enter a high-demand field with clear career pathways and competitive compensation.
Engineering programs form another cornerstone of Bradley's academic strength. Mechanical Engineering, with 73 graduates earning a median of $66,621, represents the university's largest technical program and demonstrates consistent industry demand for Bradley-trained engineers. Electrical and Electronics Engineering achieves the highest individual earnings at $70,680, though with smaller enrollment of 21 students, showing how specialized technical programs can deliver exceptional outcomes for students who complete them.
The contrast between technical and liberal arts outcomes is evident in programs like Psychology, where 52 graduates earn a median of $30,988. While these earnings appear modest, they reflect typical patterns for fields that often serve as stepping stones to graduate school or careers in counseling, social work, and education. Bradley's strength lies in its ability to prepare students across this spectrum, from highly technical engineering roles to human services careers, with each program providing the foundation students need for their chosen career paths.
Bradley University graduates achieve strong long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $66,852 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the 87th percentile nationally for earnings performance. This represents solid return on investment for a private university, with graduates consistently outperforming many peers in similar institutional categories. The university's focus on professional preparation and career-oriented programs helps explain why Bradley alumni command competitive salaries across multiple industries.
Program-level outcomes vary significantly, reflecting Bradley's diverse academic portfolio. Adult Health Nursing stands out as the highest aggregate return program, combining strong enrollment of 89 graduates with solid median earnings of $62,165, creating substantial economic impact. Mechanical Engineering, the largest program by footprint with 73 graduates, delivers median earnings of $66,621, while Electrical and Electronics Engineering achieves the highest individual earnings at $70,680 despite smaller enrollment of 21 students. Psychology represents the more moderate end of the earnings spectrum at $30,988, typical for liberal arts fields that often require additional education or lead to public service careers.
Bradley's strength lies in its engineering and health science programs, which consistently produce graduates who enter high-demand fields with strong starting salaries and clear advancement pathways. The university's location in Illinois provides access to diverse job markets in Chicago, St. Louis, and throughout the Midwest, where Bradley's reputation and alumni networks help graduates secure competitive positions in manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and professional services.
Bradley University's affordability profile reflects its position as a private institution that works to make education accessible across income levels. Low-income students pay a net price of $17,762 annually, which represents significant financial aid support that brings costs well below the sticker price. Middle-income families see net prices around $19,392, while higher-income families pay approximately $29,736, showing how the university's aid formula provides the most support to students with the greatest financial need.
Debt levels at Bradley are manageable relative to the earning outcomes graduates achieve. Typical federal student loan debt is $27,000, which aligns with national averages for private universities and remains well within reasonable bounds given Bradley's strong post-graduation earnings. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $30,213, reflecting the reality that many families choose to contribute directly to their student's education through federal parent loans rather than having students take on additional private debt.
What makes Bradley's debt structure sustainable is the combination of reasonable borrowing levels and strong graduate earnings. With median income approaching $67,000 ten years out, most Bradley graduates can comfortably manage standard loan repayment while building their careers. The university's 0% federal loan default rate demonstrates that graduates successfully transition into stable employment that supports loan repayment, and the institution's strong career services and alumni networks help ensure students find positions that justify their educational investment.
Bradley University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
