Bradley University is an independent, privately endowed,
coeducational institution. Located on a 75-acre campus in
Peoria, Illinois, Bradley was founded in 1897 as Bradley
Polytechnic Institute by Lydia Moss Bradley as a memorial to
her children and husband, Tobias. It became a four-year
college in 1920 and in 1946 became a university and began
offering graduate programs. Bradley is accredited by the North
Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
With approximately 5,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students, Bradley is the ideal size for living and learning. Bradley provides a broad choice of academic and preprofessional programs with more than 90 programs of study in five colleges: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Education and Health Sciences, College of Engineering and Technology, Foster College of Business Administration, and Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts. Through its Graduate School, Bradley awards 13 degrees in 32 academic areas. Programs offered through Continuing Education extend the resources of the university to promote lifelong learning.
The average class size is 24 students and the student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1. Bradley has over 300 full-time faculty who are both active researchers and committed teachers, providing personalized attention in learning and academic advising. All courses are taught by professors, not graduate assistants, and team projects and collaboration are emphasized in every area of university life. After class, Bradley students have abundant opportunities for involvement in campus life--including more than 200 clubs and organizations, NCAA Division I athletics, intramural and club sports, study abroad, and the Lewis J. Burger Center for Student Leadership and Public Service, to name a few. Technology is integrated across the campus--from the digital editing suites used by communication students to the robotics used in the engineering labs. Students can borrow wireless laptops to use in Cullom-Davis Library, work in computer labs across campus, and have access to the Internet in the residence halls. Of the 200 universities participating in Internet2, Bradley is one of the few non-doctoral research institutions offering access to this high-performance network for faculty research and student-faculty collaborative projects.
Bradley students do exceptionally well in their chosen careers
and advanced studies after graduation. The average placement
rate of bachelor's degree recipients for the past five years
is 96%. Graduates of Bradley University have become leaders in
every field of endeavor.
Bradley University is committed to excellence. Already one of
the best private comprehensive universities in the Midwest,
Bradley will be one of the finest institutions of its type in
the nation.
Bradley University is committed to nurturing the multifaceted development of students to enable them to become leaders, innovators, and productive members of society. Our graduates are prepared for life and professions in a changing world and they are able to cross academic, geographic, and cultural boundaries. A Bradley education is characterized by small classes, active learning, mentoring by highly qualified faculty, challenging academic programs, opportunities for study abroad, and numerous co-curricular activities.
We recruit, develop, and support faculty who are passionate educators and outstanding scholars whose research and creative contributions benefit society. We expect and reward pedagogy and scholarship of exceptional quality and influence.
A distinctive feature of Bradley University is our cohesive sense of community that unites faculty, students, staff, and alumni. Our tradition of collective responsibility is founded on a commitment to the values of academic freedom, civility, diversity, and respect for the individual. Our exemplary system of shared governance both represents and sustains our sense of community and fundamental values.
We promote and facilitate collaboration among all members of
the University community. Students learn teamwork and
leadership through group projects and collaborate with faculty
on research and creative production. Likewise, faculty
collaborate with colleagues across departmental, college, and
institutional boundaries to elevate the quality and impact of
their work. The University's strategic partnerships with
business, cultural, and governmental institutions provide
benefits to the community and society and create additional
learning opportunities for students.
