Bradley vs. Northern Illinois

Should I go to Bradley University or Northern Illinois University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bradley or Northern Illinois 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. Northern Illinois University comparison
Bradley University Northern Illinois University College 3 College 4
Bradley University Northern Illinois University
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Overview

Bradley Northern Illinois
Location Peoria, IL Dekalb, IL
Setting Midsize City Small Suburban
Enrollment 5,552 15,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #231 #454
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bradley.edu niu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bradley Northern Illinois
Tuition (In State) $37,380 $9,790
Tuition (Out of State) $37,380 $9,790
Room & Board $12,196 $11,420
Avg Net Price $24,053 $13,884
Avg Grant Aid $26,693 $12,552
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Bradley Northern Illinois
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,352 25,961
Admitted 8,530 18,348
Acceptance Rate 75.1% 70.7%
Enrolled % 12.1% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.3
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 24/30 19/25
SAT Range 1050/1280 940/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Bradley Northern Illinois
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Communication (9%)

Outcomes

Bradley Northern Illinois
Graduation Rate 75% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,800 $47,600
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,859
Median Loan Payment $279 $246

Diversity

Bradley Northern Illinois
% Men 45% 46%
% Women 55% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 57%
% Black 5% 16%
% Hispanic 6% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 20% 1%

Students

Bradley Northern Illinois
% In-State 87% 93%
% Out-of-State 12% 5%

Campus

Bradley Northern Illinois
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

  • Northern Illinois University is larger than than Bradley based on total student enrollment (15,649 students vs. 5,552 students)

Bradley vs. Northern Illinois Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bradley or Northern Illinois?

  • Bradley University is 281.8% more expensive to attend than Northern Illinois for in-state tuition ($37,380.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 281.8% higher at Bradley than Northern Illinois University ($37,380.00 vs. $9,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Illinois University than Bradley ($13,884 vs. $24,053)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Illinois University are 6.8% lower than costs at Bradley University ($11,420 vs. $12,196)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bradley University than Northern Illinois University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bradley University students is 112.7% larger than aid received Northern Illinois University ($26,693 vs. $12,552)

Bradley vs. Northern Illinois Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bradley University (1163) is 134 points higher than at Northern Illinois (1029)
  • Incoming Bradley students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Northern Illinois (22)
  • Accepted freshman Bradley students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Northern Illinois (3.3)
  • Bradley has a higher acceptance rate (75.1%) than Northern Illinois (70.7%)

Bradley vs. Northern Illinois Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bradley or Northern Illinois? 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 Northern Illinois and Bradley.

  • The graduation rate at Bradley is higher than Northern Illinois University (75% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Bradley University earn on average $9,200 more per year than Northern Illinois graduates after ten years. ($56,800 vs. $47,600)
  • Northern Illinois University students graduate with a $3,141 lower median federal student loan debt than Bradley graduates. ($23,859 vs. $27,000)
  • Northern Illinois graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Bradley graduates. ($246 vs. $279)
  • More Bradley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northern Illinois students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 61%)

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