Bradley vs. ISU

Should I go to Bradley University or Illinois State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bradley or ISU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bradley University vs. Illinois State University comparison
Bradley University Illinois State University College 3 College 4
Bradley University Illinois State University
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Overview

Bradley ISU
Location Peoria, IL Normal, IL
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 5,552 20,683
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #231 #493
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bradley.edu illinoisstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bradley ISU
Tuition (In State) $37,380 $11,840
Tuition (Out of State) $37,380 $23,681
Room & Board $12,196 $10,602
Avg Net Price $24,053 $20,551
Avg Grant Aid $26,693 $11,619
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Bradley ISU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,352 19,596
Admitted 8,530 16,899
Acceptance Rate 75.1% 86.2%
Enrolled % 12.1% 23.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.41
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/30 21/27
SAT Range 1050/1280 1000/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025

Academics

Bradley ISU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Bradley ISU
Graduation Rate 75% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,800 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $227

Diversity

Bradley ISU
% Men 45% 42%
% Women 55% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 77%
% Black 5% 8%
% Hispanic 6% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 20% 0%

Students

Bradley ISU
% In-State 87% 96%
% Out-of-State 12% 3%

Campus

Bradley ISU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Illinois State University is larger than than Bradley based on total student enrollment (20,683 students vs. 5,552 students)

Bradley vs. ISU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bradley or ISU?

  • Bradley University is 215.7% more expensive to attend than ISU for in-state tuition ($37,380.00 vs. $11,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 57.8% higher at Bradley than Illinois State University ($37,380.00 vs. $23,681.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois State University than Bradley ($20,551 vs. $24,053)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois State University are 15% lower than costs at Bradley University ($10,602 vs. $12,196)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bradley University than Illinois State University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bradley University students is 129.7% larger than aid received Illinois State University ($26,693 vs. $11,619)

Bradley vs. ISU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bradley or ISU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ISU or Bradley .

  • The average SAT score at Bradley University (1163) is 73 points higher than at ISU (1090)
  • Incoming Bradley students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at ISU (24)
  • Accepted freshman Bradley students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at ISU (3.41)
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (86.2%) than Bradley (75.1%)

Bradley vs. ISU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bradley or ISU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ISU and Bradley.

  • The graduation rate at Bradley is higher than Illinois State University (75% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from Bradley University earn on average $7,800 more per year than ISU graduates after ten years. ($56,800 vs. $49,000)
  • Illinois State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Bradley graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,000)
  • ISU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Bradley graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
  • More Bradley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/