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BRADLEY UNIVERSITY

1501 West Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625

Admissions: 800-447-6460 • Financial Aid: 309-677-3089

Email: admissions@bradley.edu • Website: http://www.bradley.edu

From the College

“Bradley University is a private, independent university offering undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal and fine arts, the sciences, business, communications, education, engineering and the health sciences. This residential campus of 5,000 students blends large-school opportunities with a small-school personality. Bradley students experience a balance of academic and co-curricular opportunities that emphasize collaboration, teamwork and active learning. This experience provides an integration of a liberal arts education, professional preparation and personal and social development. Located just three hours from Chicago and St. Louis, Bradley is committed to serving central Illinois through its research, creative production and outreach programs.”

Campus Setting

Bradley, founded in 1897, is a private, coeducational, comprehensive university. Programs are offered through the Foster Colleges of Business Administration, the Slane College Communications and Fine Arts, the College of Education and Health Sciences, the College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School. Its 85-acre campus is located in a residential area of Peoria, Illinois. A four-year institution, Bradley University has an enrollment of 5,800 students. In addition to a large, well-stocked library, the campus also has a global communications center and two art galleries. Bradley University provides on-campus housing with 30 units that can accommodate 2,850 students. Housing options: coed dorms • sorority housing • fraternity housing • single-student apartments • married-student apartments. Recreation and sports facilities include: student recreation center • softball and soccer fields • outdoor tennis courts • outdoor basketball courts.

Student Life and Activities

With 63 percent of students living on campus, there are plenty of social activities. According to the school, Bradley has an active calendar of theatre and musical performances. The new Markin Student Recreation Center and Greek houses are favorite gathering spots. Popular campus events include Late Night BU, Homecoming, Sibling’s Weekend, Parents’ Weekends and Welcome Week activities. Bradley University has 249 official student organizations. Popular groups on campus include Student Activities Council, student government, men’s basketball team and Greek life. For those interested in sports, there are intramural teams such as: 5K run • badminton • basketball • billiards • bowling • diving • flag football • golf • indoor soccer • racquetball • soccer • softball • swimming • table tennis • volleyball • walleyball • wrestling. Bradley University is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (Division I).

Academics and Learning Environment

For the B student, the learning environment of a college is just as important as the quality of its academic program. Bradley University has 345 full-time and 204 part-time faculty members, offering a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. The most common course size is 20 to 29 students. Bradley University offers 99 majors with the most popular being communications, mechanical engineering and nursing and least popular being business, economics and engineering physics. The school has a general core requirement. Cooperative education is available. All first-year students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher to avoid academic probation. Other special academic programs that would appeal to a B student include: self-designed majors • pass/fail grading option • independent study • double majors • dual degrees • honors program • internships • certificate programs.

B Student Support and Success

Bradley’s website states, “We encourage students to apply who feel that they can demonstrate both the academic ability to succeed and the potential to contribute to the total educational experience at Bradley. While our students perform above national averages in strong college preparation curriculums, we do not have a stated minimum rank, grade point average (GPA), or ACT or SAT score. We also recognize that rank and GPA can only be considered meaningful in the context of the quality of the high school attended and the classes that a student takes. It is also very important to our admissions review committee that our students balance academic ability with the other qualities that lead to success at Bradley. Social skills, communications skills, leadership, community service and unique experiences are important qualities in our admission and scholarship review. Finally, different academic areas have different admission requirements.”

Bradley University provides a variety of support programs including dedicated guidance for: academic • career • psychological • minority students. The average freshman year GPA is 2.9, and 87 percent of freshmen students return for their sophomore year. What do students do after college? While many enter the work force, approximately 19 percent pursue a graduate degree immediately after graduation. Among students who enter the work force, approximately 89 percent enter a field related to their major within six months of graduation. Companies that most frequently hire graduates from Bradley University include: OSF Saint Francis Medical Center • Caterpillar Inc. • Menards • Inc. • Enterprise Rent-A-Car • Sargent & Lundy LLC • Nordstrom Inc. • Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. • Chicago Public School District 299 • Peoria Public School District 150 • Target Corp. • ConAgra Foods Inc. • Bradley University.

Highlights

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois (Pop. 113,546)

Location: Medium city

Four-year private

Founded: 1897

Website: http://www.bradley.edu

Students

Total enrollment: 5,800

Undergrads: 5,061

Freshmen: 1,135

Part-time students: 5%

From out-of-state: 13%

From public schools: 85%

Male/Female: 46%/54%

Live on-campus: 63%

In fraternities: 35%

In sororities: 27%

Off-campus employment rating: Fair

Caucasian: 81%

African American: 8%

Hispanic: 4%

Asian or Pacific Islander: 4%

Native American: 0%

International: 1%

Academics

Calendar: Semester

Student/faculty ratio: 14:1

Class size 9 or fewer: 23%

Class size 10-29: 58%

Class size 30-49: 15%

Class size 50-99: 3%

Class size 100 or more: 1%

Returning freshmen: 87%

Six-year graduation rate: 78%

Most Popular Majors

Communications

Mechanical engineering

Nursing

Support for Students with Learning Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities may take advantage of specific support programs offered by Bradley University. The school’s Center for Learning Assistance can assist those students with certain learning disabilities by providing “select coordinated accommodations” as defined by standardized national service-delivery models. This includes the provision of a contact person, generic support services, peer tutors and student referral service for off-campus testing resources. These services are available only during the academic year. Students with learning disabilities will find the following programs at Bradley University extremely useful: tutors • learning center • untimed tests • extended time for tests • tape recorders • videotaped classes • early syllabus. Individual or small group tutorials are also available in: time management • organizational skills • learning strategies • writing labs • math labs • study skills. An advisor/ advocate from the LD program is available to students.

How to Get Admitted

For admissions decisions, non-academic factors considered: interview • extracurricular activities • special talents, interests, abilities • character/personal qualities • volunteer work • work experience • state of residency • geographical location • minority affiliation • alumni relationship. A high school diploma is required, although a GED is also accepted for admissions consideration. SAT or ACT test scores are required of all applicants. SAT Subject Test scores are not required. Academic units recommended: 5 English, 4 Math, 3 Science, 3 Social Studies, 2 Foreign Language.

How to Pay for College

To apply for financial aid, students should submit the following: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Bradley University participates in the Federal Work Study program. Need-based aid programs include: scholarships and grants • general need-based awards • Federal Pell grants • state scholarships and grants • college-based scholarships and grants • private scholarships and grants. Non-need-based aid programs include: scholarships and grants • state scholarships and grants • creative arts and performance awards • special achievements and activities awards • special characteristics awards • athletic scholarships.

Highlights

Admissions

Applicants: 6,221

Accepted: 4,573

Acceptance rate: 73.5%

Average GPA: 3.6

ACT range: 22-27

SAT Math range: 510-640

SAT Reading range: 480-600

SAT Writing range: Not reported

Top 10% of class: 26%

Top 25% of class: 60%

Top 50% of class: 91%

Deadlines

Early Action: No

Early Decision: No

Regular Action: 3/1 (priority)

Notification of admission by: 10/1

Common Application: Accepted

Financial Aid

In-state tuition: $23,950

Out-of-state tuition: $23,950

Room: Varies

Board: Varies

Books: $1,050

Freshmen receiving need-based aid: 69%

Undergrads rec. need-based aid: 72%

Avg. % of need met by financial aid: 66%

Avg. aid package (freshmen): $14,032

Avg. aid package (undergrads): $13,798

Freshmen receiving merit-based aid: 18%

Undergrads rec. merit-based aid: 23%

Avg. debt upon graduation: $17,116

Prominent Alumni

Ray LaHood ‘71, U.S. Secretary of Transportation; Aaron Schock ‘02, youngest congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois,18th District; Rene C. Byer ‘80, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, senior photograher, Sacramento Bee.

School Spirit

Colors: Red and white

Song: Hail Red and White