Bradley vs. KU

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

Bradley KU
Location Peoria, IL Lawrence, KS
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 5,552 26,708
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #231 #252
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bradley.edu ku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bradley KU
Tuition (In State) $37,380 $10,092
Tuition (Out of State) $37,380 $26,960
Room & Board $12,196 $10,136
Avg Net Price $24,053 $18,950
Avg Grant Aid $26,693 $11,140
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 87%

Admission

Bradley KU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,352 16,204
Admitted 8,530 14,234
Acceptance Rate 75.1% 87.8%
Enrolled % 12.1% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.83 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/30 21/28
SAT Range 1050/1280 1090/1340
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Bradley KU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Bradley KU
Graduation Rate 75% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,800 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $211

Diversity

Bradley KU
% Men 45% 45%
% Women 55% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 72%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 5%
% International 1% 6%
% Unknown Race 20% 1%

Students

Bradley KU
% In-State 87% 58%
% Out-of-State 12% 39%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than Bradley based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 5,552 students)

Bradley vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bradley or KU?

  • Bradley University is 270.4% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($37,380.00 vs. $10,092.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.6% higher at Bradley than University of Kansas ($37,380.00 vs. $26,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than Bradley ($18,950 vs. $24,053)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 20.3% lower than costs at Bradley University ($10,136 vs. $12,196)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bradley University than University of Kansas (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bradley University students is 139.6% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($26,693 vs. $11,140)

Bradley vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Bradley University (1163) is 18 points higher than at KU (1145)
  • Incoming Bradley students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Bradley students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at KU (3.66)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Bradley (75.1%)

Bradley vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bradley or KU? 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 KU and Bradley.

  • The graduation rate at Bradley is higher than University of Kansas (75% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from Bradley University earn on average $2,200 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($56,800 vs. $54,600)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Bradley graduates. ($20,500 vs. $27,000)
  • KU graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than Bradley graduates. ($211 vs. $279)
  • More Bradley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 66%)

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