Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Peoria, Illinois
76.7% Acceptance Rate
Bradley University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
76.7%Acceptance Rate
3.83Avg GPA
1237Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$52,730Annual Cost
$66,852Grad Salary
29.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
76.7%
Avg GPA
3.83
Avg SAT
1237
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1090–1300
ACT Middle 50%
25–31
Need-Based Aid
29.4% receive Pell
Bradley University is a private, comprehensive institution in Illinois known for its commitment to academic excellence, student-centered learning, and career preparation. Offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across diverse fields, the university fosters a dynamic campus community that encourages critical inquiry, research, and leadership development. Its focus on providing a high-value, well-rounded education makes it a reliable and effective choice for students aiming to reach their academic and professional potential.
Bradley University Acceptance Rate
Admission at Bradley University is inclusive by design: 76.7% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 76.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.83 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.63 – 3.82
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.38
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Bradley University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mark November 1 for Bradley University (Early Action — other plans are listed below).
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 98 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 1
Regular Decision
February 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (Priority scholarship consideration: 2026/11/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Bradley University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Bradley University is 3.83. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.53 and 3.83, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 4.03–4.23.Bradley University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective — this GPA sits within the typical admitted band.
Recommended Strategy: A top-5th-percentile SAT/ACT score makes the strongest case here.
This range is a rough map — where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.83 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.63 – 3.82
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.43 – 3.62
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.42
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Rolling admissions, but direct-entry nursing has a real internal deadline tied to Early Action.
- Bradley is one of only four U.S. universities using Epic's Lyceum training platform in its nursing program.
- Middle 50% SAT is roughly 1030?1240; ACT 25?31.
- International applicants cannot apply to direct-entry nursing or online programs.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself — a 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average — the trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Bradley University
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Bradley University's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Bradley University Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Bradley University — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Bradley University Without SAT or ACT?
Bradley University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Bradley University Average SAT Score: 1237
Admitted students at Bradley University average a 1237 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1237 — Slightly Competitive
A 1237 average tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1300 SAT or 31 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Bradley University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 1090? A retake is worth it at Bradley University — two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 595 | 540 | 650 |
| SAT Reading | 600 | 550 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1237 | 1090 | 1300 |
A score under 1090 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1300+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into Bradley University with a 1300 SAT?
At 1300, your SAT is squarely in Bradley University's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file — GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Bradley University ACT Requirements
Bradley University's admitted students average an ACT of 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — Competitive
An average of 28 is a respectable, above-average national benchmark.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 27 | 23 | 30 |
| ACT English | 30 | 25 | 34 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 25 | 31 |
Can I get into Bradley University with a 31 ACT?
At 31, you're in the top quarter of Bradley University's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections — English, Math, Reading, Science — are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, Bradley University weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily — the ACT opens the door, the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Bradley University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Bradley University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Lead with direct-entry nursing timing
Apply Early Action if aiming for direct-entry BSN. Bradley fills these seats fast and reviews EA files first, so a regular-decision nursing application competes for leftovers.
Use test scores as a tiebreaker, not a requirement
Bradley is test-optional but scholarship tiers are tied to submitted scores. A 27+ ACT or 1170+ SAT can bump merit aid up a tier, so submit if you're above the middle 50%.
Target the Slane College audition/portfolio track early
Music, art, and theatre majors in the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts need a program-specific audition or portfolio on top of general admission. Book that slot the moment you apply - theatre is NAST-accredited and reviews on a rolling calendar, not a single deadline.
Frame your essay around Peoria's health system access
Bradley's pitch to admissions readers is hands-on clinical and industry access (OSF HealthCare, Epic's Lyceum platform, Caterpillar-area engineering employers). An essay that names a specific local partnership shows you did the homework, not just the brochure read.
Expert Insight:
Counselors see students treat Bradley's 77% acceptance rate as a safety and submit a recycled essay. Direct-entry nursing and Slane College programs are quietly far more competitive than the overall rate suggests - a generic application gets waitlisted into a different major.
Bradley University Profile
Full Name
Bradley University
City
Peoria
State
Illinois
ZIP Code
61625-0001
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Bradley University Degree Worth It?
At $52,730/year against a $66,852 median graduate salary, Bradley University is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $74,100, and graduates see a 2.96% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Bradley University Cost?
Listed tuition runs $52,730/year at Bradley University; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land typically much lower.
At Bradley University, 29.4% receive a Pell Grant and 63.6% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Bradley University on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Bradley University Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Bradley University graduates report a median income of $66,852, about 65% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Bradley University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Bradley University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
| Oglethorpe University | Atlanta, GA | 1230 | 27 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | 1242 | 29 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, IL | 1242 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Bradley University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
Degree Programs at Bradley University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Bradley University Admissions
Bradley University graduates earn a moderate median salary of $66,852/year, with some variation by field.
Tuition at Bradley University runs high — roughly $52,730+/year — so financial aid planning matters.
29.4% of Bradley University students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Bradley University's acceptance rate is 76.7%, comparatively higher than most selective universities — admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Bradley University students is 3.83, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.53 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Bradley University. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3.43 or below makes admission tougher at Bradley University, but strong test scores, activities, and essays — plus AP/IB coursework — can still keep you in contention.
Bradley University weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1237, and within the 1090–1300 range, keeps you competitive.
Bradley University's deadline is November 1 (Early Action).
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before Priority scholarship consideration: 2026/11/01 — that's Bradley University's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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