Bradley University Climbed National Rankings
The Peoria institution moved up 14 spots to 169th in the latest U.S. News & World Report national university standings.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in College Applications
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Bradley University has achieved a national ranking of 169th place in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report list. The school rose 14 spots from its 2026 ranking of 183rd.
Why it matters
These rankings provide students and families with a standardized metric to evaluate academic quality, using 17 factors such as graduation rates, faculty salaries, and student retention.
Bradley University is now ranked the seventh-best school in Illinois and 36th as a best value school. It also holds a spot among the top 40 undergraduate engineering programs in the nation.
The players
Bradley University
This private university located in Peoria, Illinois, provides undergraduate and graduate programs.
U.S. News & World Report
This media company publishes annual rankings that evaluate the performance and quality of colleges and universities.
The details
The university's placement is determined by a scoring system that evaluates institutional performance across graduation rates, student retention, and research output. Bradley also maintains recognition as a top institution for veterans and active-duty military members.
Timeline
The 2026 national ranking for the university was 183rd place.
The 2027 national ranking for the university is 169th place.
Culture Shift
This upward move reflects a shifting focus on institutional performance metrics that emphasize social mobility and student outcomes. The rise aligns with a broader national trend where universities are increasingly measured by their ability to provide value and career preparation.
Prospective students in the Peoria area can use these rankings to gauge the long-term value and academic prestige of a local degree. The new status may also influence regional scholarship opportunities and future enrollment demand.
The takeaway
Students evaluating schools should look beyond numerical rankings to see how individual departments, like engineering, align with their specific career goals. Balancing prestige with financial value metrics remains a critical step in the college selection process.
Further reading
Learn more about the current landscape of College Applications for students in the region.
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