Bradley vs. IWU

Deciding between Bradley University and Illinois Wesleyan University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Bradley University
Illinois Wesleyan University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bradley Peoria, IL
  • IWU Bloomington, IL
  • Setting
  • Bradley Midsize City
  • IWU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bradley 4,777
  • IWU 1,582
  • Type
  • Bradley Private 4 Year
  • IWU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bradley #192
  • IWU #157
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bradley -
  • IWU -
  • Status
  • Bradley Non-profit
  • IWU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bradley
  • IWU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bradley $42,160
  • IWU $57,704
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bradley $42,160
  • IWU $57,704
  • Room & Board
  • Bradley $13,500
  • IWU $13,370
  • Average Net Price
  • Bradley $23,787
  • IWU $28,644
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bradley $30,808
  • IWU $42,181
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bradley 100%
  • IWU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bradley 9,458
  • IWU 9,558
  • Admitted
  • Bradley 7,260
  • IWU 3,757
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bradley 76.8%
  • IWU 39.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Bradley 11.2%
  • IWU 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bradley 1200
  • IWU 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bradley 28
  • IWU 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bradley 3.83
  • IWU 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bradley A-
  • IWU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bradley Difficult
  • IWU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bradley
  • IWU High
  • ACT Range
  • Bradley 25/31
  • IWU 25/30
  • SAT Range
  • Bradley 1090/1300
  • IWU 1120/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bradley Test-free
  • IWU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bradley
  • IWU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bradley 11:1
  • IWU 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bradley
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (9%)
  • IWU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bradley 75%
  • IWU 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bradley $56,800
  • IWU $60,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bradley 75%
  • IWU 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bradley $27,000
  • IWU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bradley $279
  • IWU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bradley 45%
  • IWU 50%
  • % Women
  • Bradley 55%
  • IWU 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bradley Low
  • IWU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Bradley No
  • IWU No
  • % White
  • Bradley 64%
  • IWU 71%
  • % Asian
  • Bradley 3%
  • IWU 4%
  • % Black
  • Bradley 5%
  • IWU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bradley 6%
  • IWU 7%
  • % Native American
  • Bradley 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bradley 0%
  • IWU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bradley 1%
  • IWU 3%
  • % International
  • Bradley 1%
  • IWU 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bradley 20%
  • IWU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bradley 87%
  • IWU 80%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bradley 11%
  • IWU 15%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Bradley Yes
  • IWU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Bradley No
  • IWU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Bradley Yes
  • IWU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Bradley No
  • IWU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Bradley No
  • IWU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Bradley University in Peoria, IL with Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bradley University is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (4,777 students vs. 1,582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bradley University is located in Peoria, IL (Midsize City setting); Illinois Wesleyan University is in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting).
  • Bradley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bradley University 11:1; Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1.

Bradley vs. IWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bradley or IWU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bradley University than IWU ($23,787 vs. $28,644).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 1% lower than at Bradley University ($13,370 vs. $13,500).
  • Illinois Wesleyan University is 36.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bradley (about $15,544 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $42,160.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36.9% higher at IWU than at Bradley University (about $15,544 more per year; $57,704.00 vs. $42,160.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Bradley University as at Illinois Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 36.9% larger than aid received by Bradley University students ($42,181 vs. $30,808).

Bradley vs. IWU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bradley or IWU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between IWU and Bradley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Wesleyan University (1230) is 30 points higher than at Bradley (1200).
  • Incoming Bradley students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at IWU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bradley University 1090/1300; Illinois Wesleyan University 1120/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bradley University 25/31; Illinois Wesleyan University 25/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bradley - Test-free; IWU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman IWU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Bradley (3.83).
  • Bradley has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than IWU (39.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Bradley vs. 12.3% at IWU.

Bradley vs. IWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bradley and IWU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Illinois Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Bradley University's (75%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than Bradley graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,500 vs. $56,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois Wesleyan University and Bradley graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Illinois Wesleyan University and Bradley graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bradley students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.